In The News

US Says It Has Withdrawn from World Judicial Body

Adam Liptak March 10, 2005
The US administration has angered many countries in its lack of deference to international institutions, particularly the United Nations. Most recently, a US State Department announcement essentially revoked International Court of Justice jurisdiction to review disputes within US courts. Washington's withdrawal from this optional protocol, part of the Vienna Convention on Consular...

A Less Super Superpower

Jonathan Schell March 9, 2005
To some, the United States is history's only all-encompassing empire – from military to economics to culture – but according to philosopher Thomas Hobbes, power is only a "present means to obtain some future apparent good." In this sense, writes Jonathan Schell, distinguished fellow at the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, America's superpower status seems less...

An End to Killing Kids

March 2, 2005
This week, the US Supreme Court abolished the execution of juveniles, leaving only a handful of nations still using capital punishment for minors. While convicted adults still face the death penalty, the popularity of capital punishment may be waning in America. According to The Economist, recent developments indicate that the United States no longer wishes to be out of step with its allies and...

Bush to Europe: Let's Move On

Shada Islam February 23, 2005
Speaking of transatlantic relations during his recent European tour, President Bush emphatically claimed that "no temporary debate, no passing disagreement of governments, no power on earth will ever divide us." As journalist Shada Islam explains, there is some basis for the President's optimism. The United States and Europe have agreed to disagree on a number of issues, favoring...

'Fox, Lula and Leadership for the Americas

Fred Rosen February 21, 2005
Despite encouraging signs of growth in Latin American countries, the United States continues to dominate the Western hemisphere, both politically and economically. As a result, countries like Mexico and Brazil have been forced to implement strategies of resistance, accommodation, and/or self-protection. Capitalizing on its close US proximity, Mexico's President Fox has positioned himself...

The Kyoto No-Show Can Still Go Green

James Gustave Speth February 16, 2005
The Kyoto Protocol to combat global climate change goes into effect today, February 16. This treaty, signed on December 11, 1997, is an international effort to protect the earth's climate and slow down global warming. Today, 141 countries have ratified the agreement, and 34 economically advanced countries have accepted the Protocol's targets on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions....

Dealing with a Declining Dollar – Part II

David Dapice February 9, 2005
If today's US budget deficit raises concerns, then tomorrow's projections should sound an alarm, writes economist David Dapice. As the United States descends further and further into debt – by several trillion dollars over the next ten years – the value of US currency will decline. Should a worldwide "run on the dollar" result, shockwaves would resonate throughout the global...