The Obama Doctrine and the Arab Spring

http://www.economist.com/node/18714050

The Oil and the Glory | FOREIGN POLICY

The Oil and the Glory | FOREIGN POLICY

Steve LeVine, outlines the background of a confrontation that's shaping up in Russia between Medvedev and Putin over the presidential office with Caspian oil and energy as a backdrop.

The Story of Laurent Gbagbo

The Story of Laurent Gbagbo, Stephen W. Smith

An enlightening essay regarding the complexity of an obscure news story, that did not receive the attention of the "Arab Spring," yet might prove more indicative of the state of global politics today.

Summer Reading

Four recent publications that I would like to bring to your attention and that you should consider are:

Henry Kissinger: On China (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/10/books/on-china-by-henry-kissinger-review.html)

Francis Fukuyama: The Origins of Political Order (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/books/review/book-review-the-origins-of-political-order-by-francis-fukuyama.html)

Robert Putnam: American Grace (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/10/books/review/Wright-t.html)

Thomas Friedman: Flat Hot and Crowded (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/books/review/Freedland-t.html)

Andrew Bacevich: Limits of Power (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/books/review/Tepperman-t.html)

and of course the First Year Reading

Rebecca Skloot: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/29/AR2010012902147.html)

Danger: Falling Tyrants - The Atlantic

Danger: Falling Tyrants - The Atlantic

Wallowing in Decline or Clashing Moon Shots

Have Thomas Friedman and others since September 11, wallowed in the decline of America? As a matter of fact, Thomas Friedman in his recent Sunday column does compare negatively the American versus Chinese economic trajectory Their Moon Shot and Ours. However, there are increasing voices on the opposite end urging not Wallowing in Decline - By James Traub | Foreign Policy

Beware of Greeks Bearing Bonds Business: vanityfair.com

A very sad sad but very true story, which points not only to the case of Greece, but unfortunately the world of easy credit and lack of transparency that has dominated the recent wave of globalization. Beware of Greeks Bearing Bonds Business: vanityfair.com