In The News

Strength in Numbers for Globalization's Critics

Christine Elsaeßer May 30, 2007
Criticism of globalization is commonplace, with calls to limit corporations’ power streaming from environmentalists, church groups, trade unions, farmers and more. Political scientist and author of Die Globalisierung und ihre Gegner, or Globalization and Its Critics, Claus Leggewie divided the critics of globalization into five groups: leftists and radical leftists, the academic left, reformers...

Militants Widen Reach as Terror Seeps Out of Iraq

Michael Moss May 29, 2007
US leaders described the war in Iraq as a defensive measure and a way to contain terrorists, and for the past four years, militants from around the world flocked to Iraq to fight US forces. But chaos is plentiful in Iraq, and experts report that organizers have expanded their mission to thwart Americans and any governments that support US goals, by dispatching fighters to other nations, including...

Global Rush to Energy Crops Threatens to Bring Food Shortages and Increase Poverty, Says UN

John Vidal May 25, 2007
No one denies that there are benefits when a country adopts biofuel to supplement oil as a source of energy. But while production of biofuels could help stabilize oil prices and create new markets, the poor could also experience higher commodity prices. Not surprisingly a recent UN report warns governments to take into consideration the human and environmental impacts, which could have dire...

Bush May Turn to UN in Search for Iraq Solution

Simon Tisdall May 24, 2007
The Bush administration is considering an alternative to the surge, and is in the process of internationalizing the Iraq crisis. This plan involves an expanded role for the United Nations, and also a greater role for regional countries, who must realize that their security depends on success in Iraq. Should these options fail, the US might, as a last resort, try to seek an arrangement with Mr....

Tainted Chinese Imports Common

Rick Weiss May 24, 2007
US inspection records are showing that imports from China are unfit for human consumption.The US Food and Drug Administration has detained more than one thousand shipments at ports containing tainted Chinese dietary supplements, toxic cosmetics and counterfeit medicines. Consumer activists and politicians, upset about contaminated food products, are demanding action. With the numerous pet deaths...

Was Osama Right?

Bernard Lewis May 22, 2007
Wars of ideology extend over the long term, and the patient believer waits and allows, even encourages, his various enemies to destroy one another. Bernard Lewis, professor emeritus of Princeton, analyzes how the former Soviet Union and the US had contrasting responses to attacks throughout the latter part of the 20th century. In general, the Soviets had less trouble interacting in Muslim nations...

A Book Review: Bound Together

Paul Freedman May 17, 2007
Globalization, the process of growing interconnectedness, is not a new phenomenon. All that’s new is the ease and speed of the connections. In his book, Nayan Chanda, editor of YaleGlobal Online, follows the exploits of historical traders, preachers, adventurers and warriors in shaping our world, and identifies their modern counterparts at work today. The categories provide insights into...