Embassy of the United States Beijing, China

December 2006

The Rule of Law

1.    THE BIG EXPERIMENT
       Peisner, Lynn
       American  City & County, vol. 121, no. 12, November 2006, pp. 2-5

Seeking "fiscal restraint and accountability," the community of Sandy Springs in Fulton County , Georgia , broke away from the county government. The residents of Sandy Springs , which has sought incorporation since 1975, were dissatisfied with the lack of services and resources compared to their tax payments. When the Republicans gained a majority in the state General Assembly in 2004, a referendum to break away from the county was granted. In June 2005, Sandy Springs became independent -- but in need of system to run the city. With the exception of police and emergency services, a Colorado-based firm was selected to run the city as a result of a bidding process. The quality and turnaround time on services provided by the city manager exceeded performance under the county government. Impressed by the satisfaction and the savings, other communities are also seeking incorporation.

2.    CONSTITUTIONAL COURTS: A PRIMER FOR DECISION MAKERS
       Horowitz, Donald L.
       Journal of Democracy, vol. 17, no. 4, October 2006, pp. 125-137

When newly emerging democracies are drafting constitutions, drafters are adding judicial review of government action as a necessary limitation on the power of the executive branch. Some countries allow the Supreme Court to declare legislation or executive actions as unconstitutional, while other countries have created constitutional courts to hear these cases. Horowitz's article describes the strengths and pitfalls of each approach. He contends that careful constitution drafting is necessary to limit the powers of the executive by allowing the judicial branch the opportunity of judicial review.

3.    ELECTIONS: RELIABILITY TRUMPS COMPETENCE: PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES IN THE 2004 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
       Wattenberg, Martin P.
       Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 36, no. 4, December 2006, pp. 705-713

The author, professor of political science at the University of California at Irvine , argues that while partisanship, issues and the characters of presidential candidates are thought to be the main determinates in voting behavior, character trumped these other issues in the 2004 election. Wattenberg rates the character of candidates using five factors: competence, integrity, reliability, charisma and personal qualities. Using this evaluation system, he found that President Bush had a net personality rating of +20, while it was –30 for Senator Kerry, the largest divide between candidates since 1972. Kerry’s lowest marks were on the reliability trait, with one out of five voters evaluating him as weak or indecisive. He also scored low for integrity. President Bush scored low on competence, making him the first incumbent president to be rated below his opponent. The author concludes that Bush’s higher ratings on strength and integrity were deciding factors in 2004 because voters wanted a president who would be steadfast and decisive in a time of war.

4.    NEW FACES OF 1946
       Leuchtenburg, William E.
       Smithsonian, Vol. 37, No. 8, November 2006, pp. 48-54

The author describes the political atmosphere of post-World War II America and the mid-term elections of 1946. When President Harry Truman took office in April 1945, opinion polls showed that Americans believed in a 2-1 margin that Democrats were better at managing domestic problems. But food and construction material shortages, coupled with post-war inflationary prices had turned the tide against the Democrats by autumn 1946. The Republicans gained 54 seats in the House of Representatives –- the largest number since 1894. Truman and his party were sunk politically. But the incoming Republican Congress misinterpreted the public’s exasperation and put into place policies that antagonized many citizens. In the 1948 elections, 35 of 50 new Republican House members lost their seats. Historian Leuchtenburg concludes that the party that wins mid-term elections needs to understand why, or their win will evaporate when the voters turn out again.

5.    RAW MATERIAL
       Cannon, Carl M.
       National Journal, vol. 38, no. 49, December 9, 2006, pp. 30-34

The author analyzes Illinois Democratic Senator Barack Obama's potential for becoming the next president. Obama is very popular, despite having served as a U.S. senator for only 22 months; he does not have the experience other presidents have had, such as service as a governor or a military officer. On the other hand, Obama appeals to many who feel he is similar to John F. Kennedy. Additionally, he is a "fresh face with an uplifting story at a time when Americans, always susceptible to a fad, are looking for the Next Big Thing, particularly when it comes to their governance," the author writes. Even some Republicans contend that Obama represents hope, talent, diversity, and a personality much different from President Bush, the author notes.

6.    TELEVISION AND THE INCUMBENCY ADVANTAGE IN U.S. ELECTIONS
       Ansolabehere, Stephen Et Al.
       Legislative Studies Quarterly, vol. 31, no. 4, November 2006, pp.469-90

The incumbency advantage is a well-known phenomenon in the United States in all levels of politics. The advantage grew from one to two percentage points in the 1940s to the eight to ten percentage points today. There are many theories as to the reasons for this. The authors studied the relationship between television and electoral competition; after reviewing the data from gubernatorial and Senate elections from the 1940s to the 1990s, the authors conclude that "television has a small, directionally indeterminate, and statistically insignificant effect on the incumbency advantage."

Economics and Trade

7.    CAN CORRUPTION AND ECONOMIC CRIME BE CONTROLLED IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES, AND IF SO, IS THE COST WORTH IT?
       Budima, Gjeneza
       Journal of Financial Crime, vol. 13, no. 4, 2006, pp. 408-419

Budima, a professor of philosophy at the University of Pristina , says the definitions of economic crime and corruption vary across societies, and developing countries are more prone to these activities than the developed world. Regardless, she notes, they rank amongst the most costly of all criminal activities, and have dire consequences. Corruption is a crime without borders, not a localized crime, she notes. So, efforts to control crimes of corruption need to come from multiple fronts. Effective domestic control requires state mechanisms, along with the support of society and the media, she explains. Internationally, Budima continues, successful control requires absolute cooperation between governments to enforce anti-corruption regulations. Global action in fighting economic crimes is vital to developing countries, she writes, because development needs a business environment with fair and manageable risk.

8.    CHINA BANKING AND FINANCE
       Clouse, Thomas
       Institutional Investor, November 2006, pp. 1-3

Clouse, a Beijing-based journalist, says the excitement surrounding recent Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) in China ’s banking industry is based on banks' future prospects, rather than their past troubles. When China made its World Trade Organization commitments in 2001, he reports, its fragile banks were riddled with bad loans, cronyism, and corruption. China ’s banks have made a lot of progress since then, writes Clouse, but a strong economy means reforms have yet to be truly tested. Poor loan decisions are generally masked by overall loan growth, he explains, but an anticipated global economic slump in 2007 will show how good reform has been. Clouse notes areas of concern such as the government’s continued heavy involvement in the banking industry and caps on private and foreign ownership, which limit competition. Conversely, he adds, even limited participation of foreign banks will bring technology transfer and “best practices” into the Chinese market. Prospects are bright for the banks that manage to capitalize on reforms and new technologies, he states, but investors will need to choose wisely. ’s banking industry is based on banks' future prospects, rather than their past troubles. When

9.    A FISCAL CHALLENGE FOR THE NEW CONGRESS
       Crook, Clive
       National Journal, vol. 38, no. 46/47, November 18, 2006, pp. 18-19

Crook says the biggest economic challenge facing Congress is restoring the long-term balance between taxes and spending, but the Democrats don’t appear to be any more willing to face this challenge than the Republicans. On trade, he predicts the protectionism trend to continue and doubts Congress will renew the president’s trade-negotiating authority – which makes the prospect of a successful Doha Round of global trade talks even more remote. He also expects Congress to pass a minimum wage increase, despite its lack of effectiveness. The poorly designed Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) is another issue on the Democratic agenda. A fix for the AMT is long overdue, he explains, but legislators have procrastinated because, without an offset of spending cuts, fixing it will mean increasing the federal deficit. Overall, Crook is pessimistic that the new Congress will have the discipline to implement the higher taxes and lower public spending needed for fiscal recovery.

10.   THE HIJACKING OF THE DEVELOPMENT DEBATE: HOW FRIEDMAN AND SACHS GOT IT WRONG
        Broad, Robin; Cavanagh, John
        World Policy Journal, vol. 23, no. 2, Summer 2006, pp. 21-30

The authors refute two books, Thomas Friedman's THE WORLD IS FLAT and Jeffrey Sachs' THE END OF POVERTY with the claim that they have "narrowed the debate with simplistic slogans of 'more aid' and 'more trade,'" and they have done this by putting forward myths about the poor, economic development, and the global economy. Broad and Cavanagh argue that this one-sided approach harkens back to the Reagan "free market" era of privatization, government deregulation and unfettered trade. They are dubious of Friedman's and Sachs' claim that aid, development and increased trade will start a linear process of economic improvement, or that there is no middle ground between wide-open global markets and protectionism. In the end, the authors give Sachs and Friedman credit for embracing the idea of ending poverty and of spreading prosperity, and for bringing these issues to wider public notice, but they also believe that they have hijacked the development debate by basing their arguments on "simplistic myths."

11.   WHO CARES ABOUT CORRUPTION?
        Cuervo-Cazurra, Alvaro
        Journal of International Business Studies, no. 37, 2006, pp. 807-822

Cuervo-Cazurra, a professor of international business at the University of South Carolina , analyzes the relationship between corruption and foreign direct investment (FDI). Many empirical studies support the premise that corruption in a host country has a negative relationship with FDI, he writes. However, he adds, some scholars argue that corruption can have a positive impact on investment by facilitating transactions in countries with excessive regulation. His analysis compared countries that had signed the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials versus those countries that did not sign it. Countries that signed the OECD Convention attracted more FDI from other countries with strong anti-corruption laws, he says. And, the composition of FDI from non-signers of the OECD Convention primarily came from countries with weaker anti-corruption regulation.

Global Issues

12.   AN EFFICIENT SOLUTION
        Jochem, Eberhard K.
        Scientific American, Vol. 295, No. 3, September 2006, pp. 64-67

The author, a Swiss economist, asserts that the least expensive way to reduce carbon emissions is to waste less energy. He notes that buildings and houses are very energy inefficient and contribute more than one-third of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Benefits from energy-efficient features should be calculated into the 50- to 100-year lifetime of new buildings, even though such features may increase construction costs. Retrofitting existing structures requires a coordinated series of changes to maximize savings. And, governments can implement energy policies which recognize the benefits of efficiency. Illustrations highlight energy-efficient features of new buildings in cities around the world and used in construction and appliances in homes.

13.   THE LAST DROP
        Specter, Michael
        New Yorker, October 23, 2006, pp. 61-71

Veteran public health and science writer Michael Specter offers a seemingly encyclopedic look at the supply, delivery, and shortage of fresh water in the world, focusing on the water situation in India . Specter notes that the situation seems dire: "somehow, the country has to sustain nearly twenty percent of the earth's population with four per cent of its water." The article does not limit itself to India, but provides a global, historical view about water that encompass political conflicts, sanitation, health, desalination, wells, dams, rural electrification, bureaucratic bungling, and the global economy. Specter's conclusions are somehow very positive in spite of the appalling statistics of waste, shortages and mismanagement. "The biggest potential new source of water, not just in Delhi of Dar es Salaam, but in Tokyo and San Francisco as well, is us. By conserving water and pricing it more realistically, we can dramatically reduce our needs."

14.   THE NEW GLOBAL SLAVE TRADE
        Kapstein, Ethan B.
        Foreign Affairs, vol. 85, no. 6, November/December 2006, pp. 103-115

Human slavery may be more widespread in the 21st century than ever in the past, says Kapstein, Professor of Sustainable Development at INSEAD in Fontainebleau , France , and a visiting Fellow at the Center for Global Development, in Washington , D.C. In June 2006, the U.S. government estimated that some 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across national borders each year. Slavers enjoy huge profits -- about $10,000 per person -- and face fewer risks and penalties than do narcotics traffickers. Human trafficking is corrosive, Kapstein says, because “the same people who engage in human trafficking also contribute to the deepening criminalization of the world economy overall.” Advanced industrial states denounce slavery, but they have failed to take much action to address the issue, Kapstein says. “The problem is one of political will, not capability,” he says. Kapstein calls for tougher law enforcement, tougher penalties, and strong cooperative efforts among nations to sanction those countries that currently turn a blind eye toward human trafficking.

15.   THE OTTOMAN EXPERIENCE
        Greene, Molly
        Daedalus, vol. 134, no. 2, Spring 2005, pp. 88-99

The author, associate professor of history at Princeton University , notes that the Ottoman Turks were able to maintain a vast empire of highly diverse territories for a period of five centuries, because they had an extraordinary ability to figure out how affairs were conducted locally throughout their empire, work with local elites, and adjust their rule accordingly. This effective, though high-maintenance arrangement encouraged a provincialism on the part of their Arab subjects, who were ill-equipped to deal with the sudden changes that were forced upon them after World War I. Says Greene, “their inability to resist Western colonialism would have serious and fateful consequences that are still with us today.”

16.   YOUTUBE VS. BOOB TUBE
        Garfield, Bob
        Wired, December 2006, pp. 222//266

If one thought that YouTube.com was a lot of video doodling from online extroverts who want to put themselves in front of a camcorder, then think again, writes Garfield . Rather, the online video-sharing site represents the first ripples of a media tsunami that will crush the business model that sustains television as a profit-making enterprise. The fast-growing popularity of YouTube means that the 21st century audience has lost interest in the type of programming traditionally produced by the big U.S. television networks, the article argues. Without an audience, television won’t attract the advertisers who provide the revenue stream for big media. Advertisers, known to be shy of controversy, venture with caution into an online world where the weird, wacky, vulgar and sarcastic are prevailing cultural values. Further, the freewheeling world of make-it-yourself content defies the conventional legal structures for copyright protection and creators’ rights. These uncertainties make the future of YouTube unclear, but Garfield argues its 100 million streams a day guarantee its longevity. 

Regional Security

17.   CULTURAL DIPLOMACY: HARD TO DEFINE, BUT YOU’D KNOW IT IF YOU SAW IT
        Schneider, Cynthia P.
        Brown Journal of World Affairs, vol. 13, no. 1, Fall/Winter 2006, pp. 191-203

The author, former U.S. ambassador to the Netherlands , argues that in the current period of conflict between the U.S. and the Muslim world, cultural diplomacy can be an effective or even the only viable way to communicate between peoples, since creative expression and the emotional appeal of art can help people from different societies find common ground. In the post-Cold War period, the U.S. has only paid “lip service” to cultural and public diplomacy (PD); Schneider quotes Walter Lacquer in arguing that PD has increased in importance, whereas traditional diplomacy and military power “are of limited use” in coping with the challenges of the Information Age. PD is a long-term engagement with more depth than merely supporting government policies and has the long-term goals of increasing understanding and building relationships and trust. PD initiatives will be all the more effective if they are perceived as being “separate from any goal of advancing specific policy objectives.” Likewise, she argues that it is “unreasonable” to expect PD to achieve short-term goals such as repairing damage caused by unpopular policies. Schneider advises greater awareness of cultural differences and suggests initiatives such as supporting independent Arab filmmakers, sending popular U.S. hip-hop artists to perform overseas and increased funding for Arabic book translations, including for Internet use. hip-hop artists to perform overseas and increased funding for Arabic book translations, including for Internet use.

18.   DIALOGUE WITH ADVERSARIES
        Bradish, Christopher; Specter, Arlen
        Washington Quarterly, Vol. 30, no. 1, Winter 2006-2007, pp. 9-25

This article encourages bilateral and multilateral talks between the United States and adversaries, specifically Iran and North Korea . Sen. Specter argues that the U.S. must engage with Iran and North Korea regardless of feelings about the countries’ policies and leadership. The senator gives examples of successful diplomatic efforts with Cuba and Syria , two other nations viewed as adversaries. He also describes a recent trip to Venezuela where he met with Hugo Chavez and convinced the president to meet with the U.S. ambassador, something Chavez had initially been unwilling to do. Specter concludes that in his experience, engaging political leaders, regardless of America ’s position on their leadership, will lead to more successful diplomacy and may even prevent armed conflict.

19.   EUROPE AND CHINA : IT’S NOT JUST THE ECONOMY
        Stokes, Bruce
        National Journal, Vol. 38, No. 46-47, November 18, 2006, p. 41

The author points to several potential points of contention between the European Union and China . He notes that EU member countries often favor short-term commercial advantage over longer-term political objectives, such as the recent confrontation with the U.S. over arms sales to China . The Europeans decided to maintain the ban, but the issue is likely to resurface since the Europeans believe that “if they don’t sell arms to the Chinese, the Russians will.” Stokes also expects friction between Europe and China over oil, since both depend heavily on imports from the Persian Gulf . He concludes that “on a range of geopolitical issues [such as human rights], Europe is still reluctant to step up to the plate when it comes to China .”

20.   HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION AND THE WAR IN IRAQ : NORMS, DISCOURSE, AND STATE PRACTICE
        Heinze, Eric A.
        Parameters, vol. 36, no. 1, Spring 2006, pp. 20-34

Dr. Heinze, Political Science Professor at the University of Oklahoma , analyzes the doctrine of humanitarian intervention as justification for the exercise of military power, specifically in the war in Iraq . With the failure to find weapons of mass destruction, the resort to force in Iraq has been justified on human rights grounds. The six factors that Heinze uses to determine if a war is a legitimate humanitarian intervention, include, motive, level of human suffering, war as a last resort, prospects for success, proportionality and right authority.   has been justified on human rights grounds. The six factors that Heinze uses to determine if a war is a legitimate humanitarian intervention, include, motive, level of human suffering, war as a last resort, prospects for success, proportionality and right authority.: NORMS,.”.  

21.   THE PROLIFERATION SECURITY INITIATIVE: CORNERSTONE OF A NEW INTERNATIONAL NORM
        Doolin, Joel
        Naval War College Review, Vol. 59, No. 2, Spring 2006, pp. 29-57

The author, a Navy commander and lawyer, examines the Proliferation Security Initiative from a lawyer's perspective, and maintains that PSI should be used within its legal limits to make the search of ships at sea for weapons of mass destruction a new international norm. He makes recommendations to improve interdiction operations, such as joint participation by the U.S. Coast Guard (which has law enforcement authority) and the Navy (which does not). He also recommends using NATO's multinational communication and coordination scheme with non-NATO participants in PSI activities. He notes that no counterproliferation convention has created the right to interdict the shipment of weapons of mass destruction on the high seas, but shows that U.N. Security Council Resolution 1540, which contains two of PSI's four interdiction principles, "can be cited as the legal basis to persuade a flag state to cooperate with counterproliferation activities."

22.   WHAT MAKES A MUSLIM RADICAL?
        Esposito, John; Mogahed, Dalia
        Foreign Policy, Web Exclusive, Posted November, 2006

Esposito, professor of religion and international affairs at Georgetown University ’s Walsh School of Foreign Service, and Mogahed, executive director for Muslim studies for the Gallup Organization, present some of the findings from a Gallup World Poll of more than 9,000 interviews in nine Muslim countries. The results counter many common perceptions and show that “Muslim radicals have more in common with their moderate brethren than is often assumed.” For instance, radicals are no more likely to attend religious services regularly than are moderates, and radicals are actually better educated and wealthier than moderates. The poll also showed that both moderates and radicals admire the West, especially its technology, democratic system, and freedom of speech. “Although almost all Muslims believe the West should show more respect for Islam, radicals are more likely to feel that the West threatens and attempts to control their way of life.” Moderates would like to build ties with the West through economic development. Policymakers could use this information to develop strategies “to prevent the moderate mainstream from sliding away.”
 

U.S. Society and Values

23.   DR. HELENE GAYLE: A DIFFERENT KIND OF CARE PACKAGE
        Holloway, Lynette R.
        Ebony, vol. 62, no. 2, December 2006, pp. 146-147, 150

Dr. Helene Gayle is the first African-American to serve as president and chief executive of CARE, a global poverty-fighting organization. In this biographical sketch, Holloway traces Gayle’s career from the late 1970s, when she was one of the few African-American women enrolled in medical school, to the present, emphasizing the determination, energy, and empathy that have characterized her life. Under Gayle’s leadership, CARE recently kicked off its “I Am Powerful” campaign, whose goal is to improve the health, education and economic opportunities for women in developing countries. Believing that improving the lives of women can have a positive impact on their communities, Dr. Gayle contends that “if you can give individuals the tools to access [their] basic needs, it can lift people out of poverty ... My hope is to make a difference.”

24.   HERE IS NECESSITY
        Bodwell, Joshua  
        Poets & Writers, November-December 2006, pp. 48-54

Two decades after novelist Richard Ford created his prototypical American character, Frank Bascombe, in The Sportswriter, and ten years after bringing him back in the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Independence Day, Ford is reintroducing readers to Bascombe in what the novelist says is the sportswriter-turned-real estate agent's final appearance in the pages of a Ford tale. Bascombe, who, for readers, is this generation's version of Arthur Miller's Willy Loman and John Updike's Rabbit Angstrom, is a self-aware yet self-effacing everyman who embodies both the American Dream and an American brand of self-consciousness. As for the novel itself, it is littered with ominous and potentially life-changing events looming in the background. Over the years, Ford, the writer, emerged gradually in the public eye and matured with each successive publication. "I try to connect emotions to experience in a way that is different from what convention tells us is true," the novelist says about his characters and their feelings. "In a kind of Wordsworthian way, I want to write books that elicit strong feelings in readers."

25.   JOHN HAMMOND’S JAZZ
        Teachout, Terry
        Commentary, vol. 133, no. 3, October 2006, pp. 55–59

The author recounts the career of record producer John Hammond, “one of the very first people to think seriously about jazz -- to treat it not as commercial jazz music but as an art form deserving of wider and deeper consideration.” Hammond was known for his ability to discover young and underappreciated talent, and discoveries and signings included Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson. He was an instrumental force for the integration of jazz groups, and originated the idea of expanding Goodman’s trio to a quartet by adding the African American vibraphonist Lionel Hampton. Rejecting the be-bop style that predominated during the 1950s, Hammond shifted his focus to rock and folk music, eventually signing both Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to their first recording contracts.

26.   STEEPED IN HISTORY
        Kandell, Jonathan
        Smithsonian, vol. 37, no. 6, September 2006, pp. 98-104

The scenic Finger Lakes region, a 4,692-square-mile section of New York State anchored by Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo on the north and Corning, Elmira, and Ithaca on the south, has inspired many prominent Americans, says Kandell in this account. Writer Mark Twain, women's rights pioneer Elizabeth Cacy Stanton, banker Frederick Ferris Thompson, and abolitionist Harriet Tubman are among those who called the Finger Lakes district home. The area was also home to the Seneca Indians, whose lives are depicted at the Ganondagan State Historic Site, and continues to be home to many Amish and Mennonite families, intent on preserving their traditional way of life. Other attractions described include Letchworth State Park , site of "The Grand Canyon of the East;" local wineries; the Corning Museum of Glass; and the Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion.

27.   SURVIVAL BY SONG
        Mcdonough, John
        Down Beat, vol. 73, no. 10, October 2006, pp. 34-41

Focusing on some of the reasons Tony Bennett has had such a long and prosperous career, McDonough describes his visit to the studio where Bennett is recording his album of American classics with a number of top contemporary artists. Prompt, courteous, and professional, Bennett reminisces about his career, his standard repertoire, his love of jazz, and his legacy. At 80, Bennett "still works as hard as ever, grateful that he has the opportunity to entertain audiences around the world." An interview with three of Bennett's musical directors, John Bunch, Lee Musiker, and Torrie Zito, accompanies the article.

28.   UNDERSTANDING ISLAM: IS ISLAM COMPATIBLE WITH WESTERN VALUES?
        Jost, Kenneth
        CQ Researcher, vol. 16, no. 39, November 3, 2006, pp. 913-936

This in-depth survey of Islam in contemporary society addresses the apparent contradictions between a religion that teaches "piety, virtue and tolerance" and the view that Islam encourages violence more than other religions. While mainstream Muslims assert that Islam is wrongly blamed for the violence and intolerance of a few, critics contend that moderate Muslims have not done enough to oppose terrorism and that Islam is incompatible with Western values. At the same time that radical Islamist ideas are attracting a growing number of young Muslims overseas, some Muslims are advocating a more progressive form of Islam. Using charts, graphs, and other sidebars, the article also provides background information on the history of the faith, Islamist movements, and the "war on terror." In addition, it includes discussions of Muslim identities and religious clashes and misunderstandings between Islam and the West, as well as a chronology, a bibliography, and a list of organizations to contact for more information.

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