Far from an improbable, uncharismatic president, Francois Hollande has been working quietly for decades as the bearer of a clear — if utopian — vision shared by many Europeans. He has studied the failures of the Fifth Republic’s only other socialist leader, François Mitterrand, and is determined not to repeat his mistakes.
Mafia States: Organized Crime Takes Office
Around the world, criminal organizations and governments are fusing to an unprecedented degree, blurring the distinction between national interests and what suits the gangsters. Mafia states enjoy the unhealthy advantages of their hybrid status: they’re as nimble as gangs and as well protected as governments, and thus more dangerous than either.
[video]
George Kennan Explains Why He Needs to Be “X”
In this 1947 letter, George Kennan informs Byron Dexter that he has obtained clearance from the State Department to publish his manuscript “Psychological Background of Soviet Foreign Policy” under a pseudonym.
It appeared in the July 1947 issue of Foreign Affairs as “The Sources of Soviet Conduct.” (We like to think it’s a better title.)
Read the full essay here: http://fam.ag/JdrU0v
Prioritize the Poorest: Helping the Bottom Billion is Good — and Good Business
UNICEF officials explain why development approaches that emphasize equality are also the most cost-effective. Read the full article.
How is it possible that this nation became so successful if its public schools, which enroll 90% of its children, have been consistently failing for the past generation or more?
more.
A fan-made endorsement that now lives on our wall of fame. We are -ahem- still waiting to see similar results.
Of each dollar the federal government spends, how much goes to defense? How much goes to Social Security? How much goes to interest on the debt? And how has this sort of thing changed over time?
This graphic answers these questions. It shows the major components of federal spending 50 years ago, 25 years ago, and last year.
Read more here.
(via npr)
It is rare to find at a Mexican restaurant/bar/store chain something this cool. Wait, is Foreign Affairs cool? Of course it is. It is the definition of awesome in IR lectures. Anyways, I just had to share it.
This makes us so happy!
What’s it like writing an essay for Foreign Affairs? Charli Carpenter just wrote the book blog post.
An Associate Professor of International Affairs at UMass-Amherst and Foreign Affairs author, Dr. Carpenter recently conducted an experiment in her doctoral level seminar on Human Security. She wanted to help her students navigate the theory vs. policy divide, and she did that by requiring students “to go through the process of convincing Foreign Affairs Magazine to publish their analysis of some policy-relevant topic…”
If you’re interested in the editorial process for a publication like Foreign Affairs or you just want to see an example for a successful pitch, this is a must-read.