Analyses
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By Noam ChomskyThe Contours of Global Order The democracy uprising in the Arab world has been a spectacular display of courage, dedication, and commitment by popular forces -- coinciding, fortuitously, with a remarkable uprising of tens of thousands in support of working people and democracy in Madison, Wisconsin, and other U.S. cities. If the trajectories of revolt in Cairo and Madison intersected, however, they were headed in opposite directions: in Cairo toward gaining elementary rights denied by the dictatorship, in Madison towards defending rights that had been won in long and hard struggles and are now under severe attack. Each is a microcosm of tendencies in global society, following varied courses...
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This interview was first published by Knowledge@Wharton on September 14, 2011. Warning signs are flashing red. Bond markets are projecting a 98% chance of default on Greece's debt. Stock prices for French banks, heavily invested in that debt, have plunged 10% in recent days. Has the European debt crisis hit the breaking point, with Greece -- and perhaps others -- soon to exit the eurozone? Or, will officials once more cobble together new agreements that keep Greece in the club and prevent a huge contagion effect likely to cripple an already slowing global economy? And might Europe be better off splitting into two economic co-operations zones, roughly along north/south...
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An editorial commenting on the rapid decline of law-enforcement and the increase in violence related to drug trafficking in Mexico. When I was a child in the 1970s, Mexico was in the midst of one of its most dramatic transformations. Almost unannounced, the demographic explosion experienced during the years that followed the massacre of Tlatelolco became one of the country’s most significant and overwhelming problems. During the 1990s, the country reached 90 million people and by the end of the century the population exceeded more than 100 million. A large percentage of this fairly young population reached their economically active age by the mid-1990s, just in time for the...
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A gallery review. This past week Jeu de Paume, a leading gallery for global photography, closed their summer exhibit, “Chasseur d’ombres,” celebrating 30 years of work by South African photographer Santu Mofokeng. Shown for the first time in Europe, a selection of his most prized features were on display. Born in Johannesburg in 1956, Mofokeng’s works are heavily influenced by his Soweto heritage, with early photography capturing daily life in farms and townships. He gained momentum and a reputation for highlighting the very best and the very worst of South African life. As his career progressed, Mofokeng’s photography moved its focus to landscapes and...
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By Trita ParsiBacked by Israel, it's the only foreign policy issue that unites the GOP. The rise of the Arab masses has pushed Iran out of the headlines -- for now. Even Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, whose theatrics rarely pass unnoticed, has lately failed to grab the attention of the U.S. media. America's attention has instead turned toward Egypt, Syria and Libya. This is likely to change in the next few months. Not as a result of any particular developments in Iran or between the United States and Iran, but because of the 2012 presidential elections. As the Republican presidential hopefuls turn their criticism toward President Obama and not each other, Iran will likely be one of the few foreign...
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A reflection on Africa’s burgeoning potential. The demographic dividend discussion is broad and encompasses a variety of disciplines. If one reviews the diverse literature on the subject, its most common aspect is the idea that some countries, particularly those in Sub-Saharan Africa, may well be the exception to the rule. The focus presented here will not be on the arithmetic around “the demographic dividend” subject, but rather on the implications of poor policy decisions in some countries in Africa as viewed from a young person’s perspective. As a young development actor, privileged with the experience of interactions with similar and exceptional actors from...
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In the Middle East, a claim to the past is a claim on the future. In the case of the Assyrian people of Iraq, however, no matter how profound their claims of belonging to the history – both ancient and modern – of their homeland, their future is in grave peril. Contrary to the racialist mythologies espoused by many of the proponents of Arabism in the 20th century, the Assyrians are a discrete people, with a heritage that pre-dated and then ran simultaneous to Arab history. In fact, a 2007 University of California study - concludes, as several similar studies have, that “Assyrians… have a distinct genetic profile that distinguishes their population from any another...
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By Ben FreemanCritical insight into the Department of Defense's policies on hiring independent contractors. In the ten years since the tragic events of September 11th 2001, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has undergone a metamorphosis, adding hundreds of thousands of personnel to its payroll. But, the vast majority of them do not wear military uniforms and many are not even American citizens – they are service contractors. In Iraq and Afghanistan contractors outnumber DoD uniformed personnel and nearly 75% are not U.S. citizens, according to a recent analysis by the Congressional Research Service. In fact, the DoD could fire more than 100,000 contract workers in Iraq and Afghanistan...
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By Ahmad MarriInsight into the problems plaguing one of South Asia's most unstable and volatile regions, Baluchistan. Baluchistan, the largest and most resourceful province of Pakistan, has been declared the most insecure place in the world today by the Obama Administration. The toxic mix of Taliban actors and nationalist militants, poverty, illiteracy, and lawlessness exacerbates the situation, leaving civilians incredibly worried. The paramilitary force in the region has been accused of running a parallel government by the Chief Minister of Baluchistan, Aslam Raisani, on a number of occasions. Nationalist forces accuse the FC (Frontier Constabulary, a military police branch of Pakistan’s...