In The News

Is America Losing Its Edge?

Adam Segal November 17, 2004
The long-standing pre-eminence of US technology and innovation worldwide may now face a challenge, as the changing face of the global marketplace takes its toll. As US trade and development has expanded overseas, partner nations have taken advantage of this access. Particularly in Asia, nations are making large strides in research and development (R&D) and other scientific technology. Budget...

Microentrepreneurs' Contribution to Microcredit Too Long Ignored

Ron Luhur November 17, 2004
Banks and credit facilities have long been hailed for providing small loans, or microcredit, to the poor so they can start businesses and thus raise themselves from poverty. And indeed, thanks to these loans, 94 percent of the business entities in Indonesia are small businesses, employing over 136 million people, or two-thirds of the population. But credit institutions are not alone in igniting...

Grassroots Versus Globalism

Janadas Devan November 12, 2004
When India's ruling party suffered a surprising defeat in April elections, a myth that had been woven through the nation came unraveled. Though the Indian government had beamed optimistically about its robust economic growth and burgeoning urban middle class, most Indians remained in rural areas mired in poverty. The losing BJP party had failed to reconcile the major paradox of globalization...

UK Allies Among Worst Abusers of Human Rights

Richard Norton-Taylor November 11, 2004
A UK government report issues a sharp reprimand to current foreign policy makers within the country. Many of Britain's allies and weapons trade partners are guilty of violating human rights. These criticisms were corroborated by human rights organizations: The thinktank Saferworld stated that the British government fails to uphold its own professed human rights criteria when licensing arms...

Full Steam Ahead for America's Empire

Peter Hartcher November 6, 2004
In his pre-election campaign, John Kerry pledged that the United States under his administration would exercise restraint and follow a multilateral strategy alien to the last four years of US foreign policy. With the presidency of George W. Bush reconfirmed, many observers anticipate an even more brazen US international agenda. Officials close to the president reveal that the hurdles and pitfalls...

Globalization's Missing Middle

Geoffrey Garrett November 5, 2004
The World Bank classifies each country into one of three groupings: high income, middle income, and low income. The top 25 percent of all countries make up the first category, 30 percent fall into the bottom, and the remaining 45 percent – mostly comprised of Latin America, the former Soviet bloc, Asian tigers, and the Middle East – are "middle income" countries. Political science...

Images and Tasks: Before and After the US Election

Rami G. Khouri November 3, 2004
The outcome of the US presidential election overshadows some of the very real conflicts facing the United States in the Middle East. The author suggests that the challenges to future US foreign policy are mounting, and need to be addressed well – and quickly. The current situation is polarized to a fault, he writes, with civil discourse on both sides hijacked, in a sense, by small groups in...