In The News

Study Warns of Stagnation in Arab Societies

Barbara Crossette July 2, 2002
Arab intellectuals specializing in sociology, economics, and cultural life have compiled the Arab Human Development Report 2002 which uncovers the obstacles to development in the Middle East. The report, which is the result of a year of planning, was initiated by Rima Khalaf Hunaidi, director of the United Nations Development Program's Arab regional bureau. Ms. Khalaf Hunaidi put the...

How to Rig a Democracy

Susan Sachs June 30, 2002
President Bush's ultimatum to Palestinian leadership that it must democratize raises an interesting quesion: “What if the United States were as serious about saving the Arabs from corrupt autocrats and radical Islam as it once was about saving the world from communism?” If the US were to employ all of its Cold War methods, it could make inroads in bringing democracy to the region. However...

U.S. Defends Its Farm Subsidies Against Rising Foreign Criticism

Elizabeth Becker June 27, 2002
Thanks to record high US farm subsidies, American farmers can produce cheap crops that drive drown prices in foreign markets. Even though the US maintains that its farm subsidies are within WTO limits, countries around the world believe that the subsidies are contributing to the underdevelopment of agriculture-dependent African and Latin American economies. The US contends that it is trade...

Pakistanis Fume as Clothing Sales to the U.S. Tumble

Keith Bradsher June 23, 2002
Local and domestic interests are often at odds with broad issues of global concern. However, a recent New York Times dispatch from Pakistan shows how competing global policies can also create conflict in the local sphere, resulting in global ramifications. By pursuing trade 'fast-track' authority, the Bush administration has adopted a course of action that could directly impinge upon...

A Shrinking World’s Cup

June 16, 2002
In the world of soccer, globalization has done its job. With the upset of two teams favored to win the World Cup in the first round – France and Argentina, traditional soccer powerhouses – developing countries are finally getting their due in soccer. Open borders have allowed soccer players from developing countries to migrate to places like England and Germany, perfect their skills on wealthy...

Globalization Narrows Gender Gap: World Bank

June 13, 2002
Andrew Mason, an economist with the World Bank, has found that globalization not only reduces poverty and raises income but also helps narrow gender inequalities in education, nutrition, and health. However, he cautions, governments need to continue their efforts to reduce inequalities. Although export promotion has created millions of new jobs for women "at wages higher than in traditional...

Managing Terrorism: An Indonesian Perspective

Matori Abdul Djalil June 4, 2002
Matori Abdul Djalil, the Minister of Defense of Indonesia, argues for a multilateral approach to fight terrorism in an address before the Asian Security Conference. He also notes the worry that this war will be seen as battle between the Western and Islamic world. Djalil places the war against terrorism as one priority in many for Indonesia. In the post-Suharto period, fostering democracy and...