“The Communists have taken over the World Bank!” So far, this phrase hasn’t appeared on Glenn Beck’s infamous chalkboard. I’m still waiting for Beck or Rush Limbaugh to make a big stink that the World Bank’s chief economist is from Mainland China. Justin Yifu Lin has been in his position for more than two years and the right-wing crazies have been largely silent. Maybe they’re too busy attacking their fantasy version of President Barack Obama – the Muslim/elitist/socialist-in-chief – to pay much attention to what’s going on in the real world.
Trying to Make Alarm About Overpopulation Politically Correct Again
Fears of an aging planet and becoming outnumbered by immigrants have helped to make overpopulation a political third rail in the West.
With a Lot of Help from Our Friends
The Pentagon has more on its plate but, because of domestic factors, will have comparatively less money to deal with it all. Washington has concluded that the only way to solve this particular dilemma is to rely more on partners in the region. The United States has always emphasized its partnerships with Japan, South Korea, and (less so) Taiwan. At times of austerity, Washington is putting more emphasis on burden-sharing. Today, however, the United States will be pushing for more than just additional resources from its allies. More and more, these allies will have to do the heavy lifting themselves.
Fighting Finance from Below
At the onset of the Third World debt crisis in the 1980s, many economic justice activists were afraid to engage on the issue because they felt it was just too complicated. Then, in the 1990s, the hot issue was trade. And again, many people thought, “I’ll never understand the World Trade Organization.” But eventually, in both of these cases, large numbers of people bit the bullet and learned enough to have a voice in these debates. And they built strong movements for debt and trade justice that continue today.
It’s a Shame Chalmers Johnson Did Not Live to See the U.S. Air Base on Okinawa Closed
One of Chalmers Johnson’s last concerns, closing Futenma air base in Okinawa, may yet come to pass.
Criminally High Interest Rates Foul the Wellsprings of Microcredit in India
Skeptics of microlending argue that exorbitant interest rates reduce the practice to little more than formalized loan sharking.
Note to Washington: China’s Monetary Moves Are Not a Conspiracy Against U.S.
The U.S. is ill-served by its paranoia about Chinese moves to enter its market. It needs Chinese savings to energize its economy.
The Battle of Okinawa 2010: Japan-U.S. Relations at a Crossroad
Five decades after the adoption of the (revised) US-Japan Security Treaty, and two decades after the end of the Cold War, Cold War assumptions still underpin the relationship between the world’s leading industrial democracies. A belated Japanese attempt to change and reform the relationship in 2009-2010 ended in failure and the collapse of the Hatoyama government. Whether the Kan government can do better, remains to be seen. The “Client state” relationship proves difficult to transcend. The “Okinawa problem” has emerged as a crucial bone of contention, not only between the US and Japanese governments but between the people of Okinawa and both governments.
U.S. Wins the Merchant of Death Sweepstakes
What effect will Bout’s extradition to the United States by Thailand have on recent efforts by both Washington and Moscow to “reset” US-Russian relations”?
Contingencies, Not Domination, Behind Build-up of Chinese Navy
A close inspection of Chinese naval policy indicates that the Chinese are likely preparing for strategic contingencies and not for hegemonic domination of the high seas.