Article Alert

November 2006

ALERT, a monthly publication of the Information Resource Center at the American Center for Educational Exchange, offers abstracts of current articles in major areas of U.S. domestic or international affairs. Full-text articles are available to you upon request. To request articles, please contact the Information Resource Center by telephone , fax, e-mail ircacee@state.gov, or by mail. To request by mail, please circle the articles you wish to receive, include your name, address, and telephone number and return this list to us.  DISCLAIMER: articles and links to non-U.S. government Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.

The Rule of Law

 

1.    AGAINST THE GRAIN

       Goodman, Josh

       Governing, Vol. 20, No. 1, Oct. 2006, pp. 32-38

 

Despite claims that American politics is highly divided between "blue" and "red" states, local gubernatorial races contradict that claim, with many Republican states electing Democratic governors and vice versa. And with a few exceptions, most governors from the minority party have enjoyed success in their states and are expected to win reelection bids. There are several theories for why citizens continue to elect governors with opposing views to the majority. There is a perception that a minority governor will keep the state legislature (usually dominated by the majority party) in check. Others think that the prevalence of minority governors disproves the idea that America is really polarized between conservatives and liberals. Scholar Morris Fiorina asserts that American voters are generally moderate and that the reason the presidential race is so divided is that party leaders refuse to support moderate leaders for the nomination. In governor's races, ideology is often overlooked in favor of budget issues, education and transportation, things not as easily divided along political lines.

 

2.    BAKER’S CHOICE

       Lizza, Ryan

       New Republic, Nov. 13, 2006, pp. 21-23

 

This piece profiles James Baker, examining his relationship with the Bush family and his role in the Iraq War. His recent reemergence as co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group has garnered a lot of attention in Washington, with his group’s report being largely anticipated by Republicans and Democrats alike. Baker has kept mum about the panel’s operations but leaks have revealed two possible plans. One is a ‘redeploy and contain’ strategy, where troops would be moved to neighboring countries and would only reenter in strikes against terrorist attacks. The second is a ‘stability first’ plan that would focus on stabilizing Baghdad with most of the troops centered in the city. Washington insiders predict that the Democratic victory in Congress will increase Baker’s leverage with the administration and will affect the direction of the committee.

 

3.    DEMOCRATS TO WATCH

       --

       National Journal, vol. 38, no. 46-47, November 18, 2006, pp 20-34

 

This cover story profiles numerous House Democrats -- those expected to be leaders, renegades, power brokers, policy wonks, deal-makers, or even just expected to provide amusement to Congress-watchers. Among those to watch, there are representatives considered by the authors to be "old bulls," whom insiders are watching to see if they will follow House Speaker Pelosi's agenda or rebel. Also, there are the "sages," who are the experts Democratic leaders can depend on to "provide frank advice or inject a dose of reality when party colleagues begin dreaming too big." Additionally, there are many new "Blue Dog" Democrats, who are moderate-to-conservative-leaning and could likely play an influential role because of their increase in numbers. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus may also be very influential because at least five House committees are likely to be chaired by their members. The article also lists representatives who are likely to be influential on Iraq, human rights and security. The authors mention which representatives are known to get along with Pelosi and which ones do not. The article also identifies leaders who will and will not get along with Republicans. Additionally, the article identifies those representatives linked to special interest groups, those who are "potential magnets for controversy," those who will likely will be seen as "media-hounds" and those who will be "the life of the party."

 

4.    THE ESTABLISHMENTARIAN

       Roth, Zachary

       Washington Monthly, Vol. 38, No. 11, November 2006, pp. 30-36

 

This article profiles House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, a Democrat from Maryland. Little-known Hoyer is poised to be one of the most powerful elected officials in Washington in 2007, Roth writes. As the number-two Democrat in the House, if the Democrats win control, he will become the majority leader. If they don't, he'll be in a good place to challenge Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi for her job, Roth says. Hoyer, who has been in Congress since 1981, is a centrist, making him one of the more conservative Democrats. Because of this, Hoyer could earn the trust of some Republicans, meaning he could play a crucial role in bringing the parties together, in a way that Pelosi may not. Roth examines Hoyer's past political experiences and discusses his potential future.

 

5.    FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

       Mandel, Jenny; Peters, Katherine Mcintire

       Government Executive, vol. 38, no. 18, October 15, 2006, pp. 9-16

 

The authors look at the challenges faced by chief financial officers in the government. Among the agencies, the Defense Department gets an extensive analysis by the Comptroller General David M. Walker. He concludes that, because of the Defense Department's deficiencies, it cannot produce reliable financial statements, even though sixteen years has passed since the enactment of the Chief Financial Officers Act in 1990. Many of the chief financial officers in the government, including the ones from DHS, OMB, GSA etc, agree that the lack of internal controls to generate clear and concise financial reports is the main problem. Even with laws requiring standardization of fiscal process, "the biggest challenge that CFOs face is providing useful, timely information for decision-makers," said Linda Combs, comptroller, Office of Management and Budget.

 

6.    RISE OF THE BLACK REPUBLICANS

       Dingle, Derek T.

       Black Enterprise, vol. 37, no. 4, November 2006, pp. 101-114

 

It is a historical time for black Republicans in the United States, with GOP candidates thought to have a shot at many local and national races. The rise of black Republican candidates is seen as an attempt by the GOP to make inroads into the African-American community. Black Republican view this as progress, making the community less reliant on the Democrats and giving African Americans a voice in politics regardless of which party is in power. Issues of discrimination remain a problem for Black politicians, with Republicans 25 percent more likely to vote Democratic when a black candidate is running for the GOP. Support from the black electorate isn’t guaranteed for African-American candidates either. Some voters are reluctant to break with the Democrats to support an African-American Republican candidate. However, it can no longer be assumed that African-American voters will exclusively support the Democratic Party.

 

7.    WHEN CONGRESS CHECKS OUT

       Mann, Thomas E.; Ornstein, Norman J.

       Foreign Affairs, Vol. 85, No. 6, November/December 2006, pp. 69-82

 

This article examines Congressional oversight, which is meant to "keep mistakes from happening or from spiraling out of control," the authors write. In the past six years, Mann and Ornstein argue, congressional oversight of the executive, especially on foreign and national security policy, has virtually collapsed. While foreign policy, the Iraq war, the NSA's surveillance program, treatment of detainees and homeland security top Americans' interests, Congress has not asked how these policies have been carried out, how the laws are executed or how taxpayer dollars are spent to deal with these issues. Mann and Ornstein say the reason for the lack of oversight is because of the executive branch's "willful denial of accurate and meaningful information to Congress," the growing partisan divide in Congress, the reluctance of congressional Republicans to criticize the Bush administration and the lack of time members of Congress spend in Washington. Fixing the oversight problem is part of a larger challenge "to mend the broken legislative branch and restore a healthy balance to U.S. democracy," the authors write.

 

Economics and Trade

 

8.    AGING AND FINANCIAL MARKETS: GOVERNMENT AS RISK MANAGER

       Groome, W. Todd, Et Al.

       Finance & Development, vol. 43, no. 3, September 2006, pp. 44-47

 

According to the authors, aging populations will present major challenges to the financial stability of governments. They say the age-related risks need to be shared by the public, private, and household sectors. The authors discuss the role of financial markets in addressing some of the challenges and the role of the government as a long-term risk manager. Societies worldwide share these risks, which include healthcare, pension plans, and long-term care, the authors note. However, only a few are prepared to tackle the cumulative effects of the aging population. The authors urge policymakers to immediately address the current needs as well as plan for the long-term impacts.

 

9.    BUILDING ON SUCCESS: THE NEXT CHALLENGES FOR MICROFINANCE

       Wendt, Henry; Eichfeld, Robert

       Development Policy Outlook, No. 4, 2006, pp. 1-7

 

Microfinance institutions have spread across Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, yet many more of the world's poorest people could benefit from the tiny loans the institutions make. While microfinance demand probably exceeds $300 billion, supply so far has amounted to only about $4 billion. The kind of money needed can only come from big banks and major capital markets. As these big institutions learn more about the success of the small ones, they could find a way to collaborate on bringing a proven solution to poverty up to the scale of the immense problem.

 

10.    FINANCIAL DIPLOMACY

         Field, Alan

         Journal of Commerce, September 4, 2006, pp. 18-19

 

Even as China's trade surplus with the United States continues to soar, U.S. businesses operating in China are pressing diplomacy to diffuse trade tensions between the two countries. The Bush administration has, in fact, turned away from confrontation with China over the exchange rate of the yuan. Instead, U.S. officials are working with the Chinese on making the reforms to their financial system that would make possible a fully floating currency.

 

11.    NO CONTROLS

         Slaughter, Bob

         Exploration & Processing, Winter 2006, pp. 10-13

 

Slaughter, president of the Petrochemical & Refiners Association, says our energy policy should continue to rely on market forces. Reliance on market forces -– rather than price controls -- provided appropriate market signals to help balance supply and demand during the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, he notes. And, he explains, the U.S.’s ten-year experiment with energy price controls in the 1970s showed that price controls lead to inefficiencies that ultimately result in higher prices for consumers. Slaughter makes several recommendations to reduce artificial controls on the energy market, such as allowing access to offshore oil and natural gas supplies, resist tinkering with market forces when the supply/demand balance is tight, and removing disincentives for investment in refining infrastructure.

 

12.    THE OTHER OIL THREAT

         Garten, Jeffrey

         Newsweek, October 23, 2006

 

While the U.S. economy has become somewhat less vulnerable to a sharp drop in foreign oil, it has become more vulnerable to financial turmoil that hostile oil-producing countries could create. Because of the $3 trillion debt owed by the United States to creditors in the rest of the world, central banks in unfriendly countries such as Iran and Venezuela could, for example, sell off their own massive reserves of dollars to create a plunge in the value of the dollar and a stampede against the U.S. economy. OPEC countries stand to gain more leverage over foreign policy in the United States and other developed countries.

 

13.    THE TRADING WORLD, POST-DOHA

         Stokes, Bruce

         National Journal, vol. 38, no. 43, October 28, 2006, pp. 62-63

 

Stokes says that in a post-Doha world of proliferating preferential trade agreements, rich countries will lose their commitment to the fundamental principles of multilateralism. The delays in multilateral negotiations that are likely because of pending changes in both the U.S. and E.U. administrations (2008 and 2009, respectively) mean that serious talks probably will not resume until 2010 at the earliest, he explains. In the interim, he adds, bilateral trade deals are expected to reign along with narrow sector-specific deals. These deals will reduce developed countries incentives to support multilateral actions and drain off politically influential business-community support, he writes, since they will have already gotten what they wanted.

 

14.    WHY WE SHOULD EXPAND TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE

         Mastel, Greg

         Challenge, vol. 49, no. 4, July/August 2006, pp. 42-57

 

For more than four decades the United States has provided retraining benefits to U.S. factory workers who have lost their jobs because of imports. This so-called trade adjustment assistance (TAA) is part of the political bargain aimed at supporting freer trade. Yet the Labor Department has done a poor job implementing TAA, and TAA does not cover U.S. workers in service sectors or U.S. factory workers that lose their jobs to foreign workers. Making TAA more worthwhile would cost money, but the amount is tiny in proportion to the benefits that accrue to the U.S. economy from a policy of liberalized trade.

 

Global Issues

 

15.    HOW TO BUILD AN INVISIBILITY CLOAK

         Glausiusz, Josie

         Discover, Vol. 27, No. 11, November 2006

 

Great media excitement met the announcement in May 2006 that Duke University physicists had made an object invisible. The object, a small metal cylinder, was invisible to microwaves because shielding with a metamaterial bent the waves to prevent the object from reflecting or absorbing them. But, this experiment does not mean that all sorts of objects will soon become invisible to human sight. Achieving a similar result for visible light is much more complex because visible light is composed of a range of wavelengths which are much shorter than microwaves, thus requiring the shielding elements to be designed on a nanometer scale. Other physicists have used a mathematical approach to develop a superlens that cancels light waves to make dust particles invisible. How quickly the research will develop to enable a large object, such as an airplane, to become invisible is only speculation, but the military is funding such research and exploring applications of invisibility technology in communications and energy generation.

 

16.    IMMIGRATION NATION

         Jacoby, Tamar

         Foreign Affairs, vol. 85, no. 6, November/December 2006

 

In this essay Jacoby, Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute, argues that the overwhelming majority of Americans want a combination of tougher enforcement and “earned citizenship” for the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the country. He says the best way to regain control is not to crack down on illegal immigrants, but to liberalize U.S. laws by expanding quotas and establishing a guest-worker program more in line with the half-million new workers now needed each year to keep the U.S. economy growing. Jacoby also calls for “a national, mandatory, electronic employment-verification system” that informs employers in a timely way whether job applicants are authorized to work in the United States. Acknowledging the serious fears that immigrants will not or cannot assimilate, Jacoby says that eliminating “the vast illegal world of second-class noncitizens” would remove barriers to Americanization.

 

17.    RETHINKING THE FALL OF EASTER ISLAND

         Hunt, Terry

         American Scientist, vol. 94, no. 5, September-October 2006, pp. 412-419

 

The author, an anthropology professor at the University of Hawaii, notes that conventional wisdom has it that the fall of the Rapa Nui (Easter Island) civilization was the result of deforestation and environmental destruction by human activity. However, in doing archaeological research on the island, Hunt found evidence that did not fit in with the standard theories of how human civilization on Easter Island collapsed. He believes that a major culprit was a ballooning population of Polynesian rats, which fed on palm seeds, prevented the palm trees from regenerating; deforestation by rats had occurred on other islands in the South Pacific. Virtually all the palm-seed shells Hunt’s team found on Easter Island showed signs of being chewed by rats. Whether the rats were stowaways on the vessels of earlier arrivals, or if they were brought in as a source of protein, remains unclear. Hunt notes that Easter Island is often pointed to as a case study of what humanity faces in today’s global environmental crisis, and he expresses “some unease ... that Rapa Nui does not provide such a model.” Ecosystems are complex, he writes, and we urgently need to understand them better.

 

18.    TEN IMPERATIVES FOR PEACE

         Richardson, John

         Futurist, vol. 40, no. 6, November-December 2006, pp. 14-17

 

The author, a development expert who spent 17 years in the midst of Sri Lanka's civil wars, says peace must move beyond diplomacy and into the development arena, and outlines 10 imperatives. Many are simple and obvious, but still frequently ignored when a country is strangling on the rage and violence of civil strife. Some of Richardson's maxims: maintain public order; meet the aspirations for opportunity of young men of fighting age; aim for development policies that fulfill commonly held aspirations in order to keep conflict at bay; development should strike a middle ground between capitalism and socialism; craft development strategies with a long-term view beyond the next election; rigorously examine the costs of military options if a military solution is sought for complex development solutions.

 

19.    THE THIRTEENTH TIPPING POINT

         Whitty, Julia

         Mother Jones, vol. 31, no. 6, November/December 2006

 

The author notes that John Schellnhuber, science adviser at the U.K.-based Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, has identified twelve global-warming “tipping points”, such as changes in the Greenland ice sheet, shifts in the North Atlantic or Antarctic Circumpolar currents, or melting of snow cover on the Tibetan plateau, which if triggered, could initiate sudden and unpredictable changes in the global climate. Most humans may have never heard of them, although the well-being of future generations may depend on what happens. Whitty wonders, “what will it take to trigger what we might call the thirteenth tipping point: the shift in human perception from personal denial to personal responsibility?” She notes that “we are born with powerful tools for overcoming our perilous complacency”; Americans changed “with breathtaking speed” in 1941 to fight global enemies in Germany and Japan. While tipping points can happen “dizzyingly fast, the good news is ... that we can change, and change fast, even in the absence of perfect knowledge.”

 

20.    TINY SLICE, BIG MARKET

         Shirky, Clay

         Wired, November 2006, pp. 163-168

 

One billion people are now regular Internet users, and their sheer numbers have changed the basic strategy for building a successful Web site. “Get big, get niche, or get out” is the former conventional wisdom, Shirky writes, but the vastness of the online audience now allows a Web site to serve a meganiche, an audience with very specialized, even obscure, interests. If a Web site identifies the right niche – devotees of cell phone software, or Japanese animation, for instance – it may attract a large, active and loyal audience from the vast universe of Web users. The trend is also causing advertisers to reevaluate their standards for placement of their brand. Not long ago, an advertiser was cautious about placing his brand in chat groups or audience-made content. Now advertisers are dropping some of those old conventions of the print world, and are willing to place their product, and spend advertising dollars, to reach targeted audiences.

 

Regional Security

 

21.    AMERICA'S ASYMMETRIC ADVANTAGE

         Dunlap, Charles J. Jr.

         Armed Forces Journal International, September 2006

 

A Major General and deputy judge advocate general of the Air Force, Dunlap argues that air power in all its forms -- from air superiority fighter jets to precision bombers to ground attack planes and transport to unmanned surveillance planes -- is America's asymmetrical military advantage, not its ground forces. He says the volunteer army is too costly to generate the numbers of troops needed for a true occupation force in Iraq, while air power's real-time intelligence-gathering capability, paired with precision-guided weapons, can put at risk any adversary's high-value assets.

 

22.    CHINA'S LEADERSHIP GAP

         Thornton, John L.

         Foreign Affairs, vol. 85, no. 6, November/December 2006, pp. 133-140

 

The pace of change in China is accelerating, while the ability of the state to manage change is not keeping pace, says John Thornton, a professor at Tsinghua University's School of Economics and Management. China is facing a leadership gap because the very prosperity and economic development that is lifting the country upward is also draining the potential pool of talent to draw from for government positions. It is precipitated by a one-party political system with minimal popular participation. The government, Thornton says, will have to eliminate the wall that keeps talented private sector professionals out of public service. Compounding the crisis the government faces is that the country's bureaucracy stifles initiative and promotes mediocrity, he says.

 

23.    LINK HUMAN RIGHTS TO IRAN'S NUCLEAR AMBITIONS

         Ebadi, Shirin; Sahimi, Muhammad

         New Perspectives Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 2, Spring 2006, pp. 39-42

 

The authors provide a history of Iran's nuclear program, as well as recommendations for effectively deterring the threat of its nuclear power. They suggest that the U.S. enter direct negotiations with Iran; secondly, they propose that the U.N. appoint a special human rights monitor for Iran, the World Bank stop providing loans to the Tehran regime, and Western nations downgrade diplomatic relations with Iran. The EU should also cease investments in Iran until this country establishes a democratic political system because, only as a true democracy, will this nation feel secure enough to avoid nuclear options.

 

24.    THE NEW MIDDLE EAST

         Haass, Richard

         Foreign Affairs, vol. 85, no. 6, November/December 2006, pp. 2-11

 

Haass, president of the Council on Foreign Relations, identifies the Iraq war as the primary factor precipitating the end of the American era in the Middle East. Other factors include the collapsed peace process, the rise of radical Islamism and satellite television. He predicts rising challenges to U.S. influence from regional and outside actors, a stagnant peace process, a chaotic Iraq, high oil prices, more militias, more Islamic radicalism and continued terrorism. He says the U.S. should favor multilateral diplomacy over military force to address the region’s problems and curb its oil consumption.

 

25.    OUTFITTING A BIG-WAR MILITARY WITH SMALL-WAR CAPABILITIES

         Melillo, Michael

         Parameters, Vol. 36, No. 3, Autumn 2006, pp. 22-35

 

“Unfortunately, it took the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks and the challenges posed by an adaptive enemy for the United States to realize it was not prepared to fight war on terms other than its own choosing.” The author, a field artillery officer in the U.S. Marines, discusses how the changing character of warfare has forced the U.S. military to adapt in order to deal with the asymmetric or irregular approaches used by enemy forces. He describes the Iraq War as two wars -- the first, a conventional war won handily by the U.S., and the second a counterinsurgency, or “small war,” which is continuing. “The American experiences in Iraq over the past three years have spurred a progression of changes within the US military.” These changes in strategy; doctrine; roles, missions, and force structure; and training and education will lead to a shifting of the military culture, which will allow the U.S. military to be better prepared to meet the uncertain challenges it will certainly face in the future. “Only by creating a force that is just as adept at conducting small wars against irregular enemies as it is at conducting big wars against conventional foes will the United States be able to ensure security in the 21st century.”

 

26.    RUSSIA RULES THE WORLD'S ARMS BAZAAR

         Ahrari, Ehsan

         Asia Times, online edition, posted October 31, 2006

 

The author, head of a defense consultancy based in Alexandria, Virginia, cites a recent report by the Congressional Research Service and the Pentagon’s 2006 Annual Report to Congress in his analysis of recent developments in world arms trading. He notes that last year, Russia surpassed the U.S. and France as the leading supplier of arms to the developing world, racking up USD 7 billion in weapons sales to Asia, Africa and Latin America, an increase from $5.4 billion the year before. Russia's top customers are China, India and Iran. China’s arms sales are another source of concern since Iran and North Korea are reportedly among their missile technology customers. He notes that the Bush administration hopes that “Iran's neighbors in the Persian Gulf will read this latest arms-transfer report closely and start to share America's threat perception related to Iran's military preparedness.”

 

27.    THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO "THE END OF HISTORY"

         Fukuyama, Francis

         New Perspectives Quarterly, vol. 23, no. 2, Spring 2006, pp. 35-38

 

Fukuyama, who teaches at the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, points to several illusions that led to the current American position in the Middle East. These include the existence of weapons of mass destruction, the speed with which Iraq would transition to a successful democracy, and the reaction of the world to the invasion of Iraq. To remedy its current predicament, America needs more of a political strategy and less of a military one. We should not reshape the world through the use of force, but by establishing multilateral institutions that will create long-term incentives for stability.

 

28.    THEY ALL FALL DOWN

         Allison, Graham

         Foreign Policy, web exclusive, posted October 2006

 

According to the author, "In the battle of wills between North Korea and the United States, the score is Kim Jong Il, 8; George W. Bush, 0. And yet, the White House doggedly pursues a strategy that has repeatedly failed to achieve American objectives. Despite the overwhelming power of the United States and the abject weakness of North Korea, David has so far bested Goliath with superior strategy and tactics. It's a situation no one should applaud." Countries around the world should think carefully about how North Korea's new nuclear status affects their own national interests. North Korea's test is a blow to the nonproliferation regime; it is also likely to trigger proliferation in East Asia, particularly in Japan and South Korea, in spite of the U.S. nuclear umbrella, and increases the risk that terrorists will explode a nuclear weapon in the U.S. Since China is the only actor with real leverage, the U.S. will need to "endorse Chinese-led assurances that North Korea will not be attacked as long as it observes agreed-upon constraints." And to reduce the risk of North Korea selling nuclear weapons to terrorists, "the United States and its allies should announce a new policy of nuclear accountability. Kim Jong Il must be put on notice that the explosion of any nuclear weapon or material of North Korean origin on the territory of the United States or its allies will be treated just like a North Korean nuclear attack and will be met by a full retaliatory response that guarantees that this could never happen again."

 

U.S. Society and Values

 

29.    FOUR CENTURIES: HOW JAMESTOWN GOT US STARTED

         Davidson, Carla

         American Heritage, vol. 57, no. 5, October 2006, pp. 29-31

 

In a country where “we’re not used to measuring history in great swaths of time”, the author notes that the 1607 founding of America’s first permanent English colony in Jamestown was already celebrated on its two hundredth anniversary, during Virginia’s Grand National Jubilee in 1807. In 1957, Queen Elizabeth II appeared at the 350th anniversary celebrations; now, Virginia is gearing up for the four-hundredth anniversary of the birth of English America in May of next year “in the presence, it is hoped, of the Queen.” Davidson describes the extensive renovations that have been carried out in the Jamestown area, including the discovery of the location of the settlement’s original 1607 fort.

 

30.    NOAH’S MARK: WEBSTER AND THE ORIGINAL DICTIONARY WARS

         Lepore, Jill,

         New Yorker, vol. 82, no. 36, November 6, 2006, pp. 78—87

 

The author recounts the difficulties faced by lexicographer Noah Webster. His plans, announced in 1800, to create a dictionary depicting how common Americans actually wrote and spoke were attacked bitterly across the U.S. political spectrum. Elitist Federalists criticized Webster’s permissive linguistic standards, argued against acknowledging a uniquely American variant of English and linked the project with the perceived Jacobin excesses of the French Revolution. Republicans opposed Webster’s own high Federalist politics. Because Webster’s Dictionary did not appear until 1828, political objections faded, removing a prime obstacle to the work’s acceptance.

 

31.    WHO'S WHO IN THE TECHNOLOGY BOOM

         Henderson, Shirley

         Ebony, October 2006, pp. 52-60

 

Not well known is that some of the industry players behind many of the technological innovations in recent decades have been African-Americans, notes the author. Among those profiled in the article are wireless LAN expert John Terry, inventor Thomas Mensah, physicist Shirley Ann Jackson, software engineer Kerrie Holley and scientist James West. The author notes that African-American scientists and engineers have a major role to play in encouraging more students from minority backgrounds to go into professions related to science and technology.

 

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