Thomas Friedman once said the hidden hand of the market needs the hidden fist of the military. The TPP and the Obama administration’s Pacific Pivot pack both.
A Tale of Two Jesuits
Pope Francis trending up, nuke-activist priest down.
NAFTA at 20: A Model for Corporate Rule
NAFTA gave multinational corporations the right to sue governments to block regulations they don’t like, undermining democracy and local sovereignty.
Foreign Policy Thin-Sliced (1/13)
From nuclear weapons to rising oceans, Israel to Kiribiati.
Nepal’s Disputed Election: Managing Pandora’s Box
After a contentious and disputed election, Nepal’s centrist parties are struggling to reach an accord with the Maoists who helped bring down the country’s monarchy.
Overpopulation Makes a Mockery of Citizenship
“Countdown” by Alan Weisman: required reading for earthlings.
U.S. Continues to Stand by Bahrain
Chuck Hagel’s paeans to “political reform” in the Gulf must have sounded strange to political prisoners in repressive Bahrain, where he delivered his remarks.
Reasons To Be Cheerful
Before we get cynical about 2014, let’s recount the good news from 2013: declining U.S. militarism, a resurgence of diplomacy, and a more forceful global discussion about inequality.
Tax Dollars for Sweatshops
While feigning outrage at worker abuse in Bangladesh, the U.S. government has been quietly supporting the same sweatshop factories used by Wal-Mart and the Gap.
More Sanctions on Iran = Uranium Enriched to a Higher Grade
Both U.S. members of Congress calling for new Iran sanctions and hard-liners in Iran assault President Rouhani from each side.