Overview

This annually updated reader is a compilation of current magazine, newspaper, and journal articles. Annual Editions titles are supported with study tools and links to related websites at our student website, Dushkin Online.

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Author:   Robert M. Jackson
Publisher:   McGraw-Hill Education - Europe
Imprint:   McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
Edition:   21st Revised edition
Dimensions:   Width: 20.30cm , Height: 1.40cm , Length: 27.40cm
Weight:   0.510kg
ISBN:  

9780073112176

ISBN 10:   0073112178
Pages:   240
Publication Date:   01 May 2005
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Replaced By:   9780073516035
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

UNIT 1. Global Issues in the Twenty First Century: An Overview1. A Special Moment in History, Bill McKibben, The Atlantic Monthly, May 1998The interconnected dangers of overpopulation, climate change, and pollution have been in the headlines for years, but doomsday has not yet arrived. Bill McKibben examines two important questions: What if we already have inflicted serious damage on the planet? and, What if there are only a few decades left to salvage a stable environment? 2. America's Sticky Power, Walter Russell Mead, Foreign Policy, March/April 2004Military force and cultural appeal have kept the U.S. at the top of the global order. Beyond these attributes is what the author labels sticky power. Economic institutions and policies attract other countries to the U.S. system and hold them to it, which helps bring stability to the international system. 3. Five Meta-Trends Changing the World, David Pearce Snyder, The Futurist, July/August 2004The author identifies five trends that he predicts will fundamentally reshape both the personal and social aspects of our lives. Human adaptabiltiy will help keep our future from spinning out of control. 4. Holy Orders: Religious Opposition to Modern States, Mark Juergensmeyer, Harvard International Review, Winter 2004In an era of rapid globalization, there has been a decline in both the power of the nation-state and secular nationalism. The author asserts that religion fills the vacuum by providing social cohesion and affiliation.UNIT 2. Population and Food Production5. The Big Crunch, Jeffrey Kluger, Time, April/May 2000A general overview is offered of the changing global demographic trends of fewer children and increased longevity. Jeffrey Kluger describes variations between different geographic regions and the varying patterns of consumption among the world's rich and poor. 6. Scary Strains, Anne Underwood and Jerry Adler, Newsweek, November 1, 2004Infectious disease experts focus on preventing a new influenza virus from getting loose and spreading around the world--creating a pandemic.7. Bittersweet Harvest: The Debate Over Genetically Modified Crops, Honor Hsin, Harvard International Review, Spring 2002In this essay, the growing debate over genetically modifed crops is described with specific examples of both pro and con perspectives. Honor Hsin concludes that careful scientific research must be seriously considered in this debate rather than just corporate interests or public fears.UNIT 3. The Global Environment And Natural Resources Utilization 8. Deflating the World's Bubble Economy, Lester R. Brown, USA Today Magazine (Society for the Advancement of Education), November 2003Lester Brown is one of the leading commentators on global environmental issues. In this article he argues that unless damaging trends are reversed, depleted aquifers and exhausted soils could lead to the abandoment of rich agricultural areas. Brown also provides case studies of a number of successful transitions to sustainable practices.9. Shifting the Pain: World's Resources Feed California's Growing Appetite, Tom Knudson, The Sacramento Bee, April 27, 2003California is the world's fifth largest economy. The people of the state have long consumed more natural resources than they produce. Today the desire to protect natural resources within the state, while importing them in record amounts, is creating serious environmental consequences in countries far removed from the Golden state.10. Water Scarcity Could Overwhelm the Next Generation, Janet L. Sawin, World Watch, July/August 2003In the last half century, demand for fresh water has tripled. The social and health consequences of growing water scarcity are described in this brief overview of the topic. 11. Vanishing Alaska, Margot Roosevelt, Time, October 4, 2004This case study explores the impact of global warming on villages in Alaska.UNIT 4. Political EconomyPart A. Globalization Debate12. The Complexities and Contradictions of Globalization, James N. Rosenau, Current History, November 1997Globalization is a complex concept that means different things to different people. James Rosenau first defines the concept and then contrasts the process of globalization with localization. Rather than conclude that one force will prevail over the other, Rosenau argues that the two forces will contradictorily and simultaneously accommodate each other. 13. Three Cheers for Global Capitalism, Johan Norberg, The American Enterprise, June 2004In response to critics of globalization, the author focuses on economic prosperity and increased personal choices that are associated with access to global markets.14. The Five Wars of Globalization, Moises Naim, Foreign Policy, January/February 2003The dark side of globalization takes the form of illegal trade in drugs, arms, intellectual property, people and money. It is growing rapidly, and governmental efforts to combat it are failing. The five wars are described along with proposals for new strategies to deal with this unprecedented struggle that now shapes the world as much as confrontations between countries.15. Will Globalization Go Bankrupt?, Michael Pettis, Foreign Policy, September/October 2001The author argues that global integration is driven not by politics, the Internet, or world trade but primarily by monetary expansion. Credit booms, he argues, spark periods of economic integration, while credit contractions squelch them. Is the world on the verge of another globalization bust?Part B. Case Studies 16. Soccer vs. McWorld, Franklin Foer, Foreign Policy, January/February 2004The global sport of soccer is an interesting case study, for the author asserts that it reveals more about globalization's limits rather than its possibilities.17. Croesus and Caesar, Richard Rosecrance, The National Interest, Summer 2003The interdependent relationship between the U.S. and Europe is described in terms of security issues and the financial role Europe plays in supporting the American economy. The future role of the euro in the world economy is examined along with the enduring reasons for continued transatlantic cooperation on a variety of policy issues. 18. Where the Money Went, James S. Henry, Across the Board, March/April 2004In the literature on international economics, little attention is devoted to corruption and other illegal acitivites. Scandals bring short-term attention to these issues, but systematic study of corruption is difficult and dangerous. The author focuses on broad structural processes that transfer wealth from poor countries to rich, magnifying underdevelopment and debt.19. Render Unto Caesar: Putin and the Oligarchs, Marshall I. Goldman, Current History, October 2003From the outset, the transition from the communist, planned economy in Russia to a market economy was flawed in fundamental ways. A major consequence has been the creation of an oligarchy whose wealth was created by pirating the former state enterprises. This process is described along with its impact on the contemporary Russian political process. 20. Is Chile a Neoliberal Success?, James M. Cypher, Dollars & Sense, September/October 2004Chile is often heralded as the global South's best case for free-trade economic policies, but according to the author the facts tell a different story.21. The Fall of the House of Saud, Robert Baer, The Atlantic Monthly, May 2003Saudi Arabia has long been considered a reliable partner of the U.S. in the Arab Middle East. The author, a former CIA operative, argues that Saudi Arabia can't last much longer, and the social and economic fallout of its demise could be calamitous. 22. Thirty Years of Petro-Politics, Daniel Yergin, The Washington Post, October 17, 2003Daniel Yergin is one of the leading experts on the political-economy of oil. In this brief article, he summarizes what has and has not changed in the global oil market since the Arab oil embargo of 1973. 23. India's Hype, Hope, and Hazards, Mahmood H. Butt, The World & I, June 2004A broad overview of India's two societies is presented: the emerging urban middle class and the rural poor. The author argues that economic development has obscured disparities between regions and segments of the country's population. 24. How Nike Figured Out China, Matthew Forney, Time (Bonus Section), November 2004For years marketing experts have predicted the opening of the huge Chinese consumer market. The reality has been slow coming, but in this case study the long-anticipated populartity of Western products is described along with the social status that owning these products conveys.25. What's Wrong With This Picture?, Mark Crispin Miller, The Nation, January 7-14, 2002This article describes the rise of an international media cartel. Of 10 highly integrated conglomerates, each has subsidiaries that include newspapers, publishing companies, television networks, movie studios, Internet providers, and even amusements. The author claims that the consequence of this concentration of economic power is a blurring of the distinction between entertainment and news reporting coupled with a reduction in the number of news sources.UNIT 5. Conflict26. The Transformation of National Security, Philip Zelikow, The National Interest, Spring 2003An overview of the President Bush's national security policy is presented. It includes a discussion of the fundamental redefinition of policy assumptions and how these have shaped the administration's foreign policy decisions.27. Nuclear Nightmares, Bill Keller, The New York Times Magazine, May 26, 2002In the aftermath of September 11, more and more attention has been focused on other types of terrorist threats. One threat that concerns many experts has been labeled the nuclear nightmare. A comprehensive overview of various terrorist scenarios is provided in this essay. 28. Lifting the Veil: Understanding the Roots of Islamic Militancy, Henry Munson, Harvard International Review, Winter 2004This article explores the question, Why do they hate us? Using public opinion polls to examine attitudes in the Middle East, Professor Munson identifies two sources of anti-American militancy: U.S. support of Israel and a backlash to the strategy and tactics of the war on terrorism. 29. The Great War on Militant Islam, Andrew C. McCarthy, The American Spectator, July/August 2004The author led the 1995 prosecution of the leader of the first bombing of the World Trade Center. He argues that we are not at war with terrorism but in fact with militant Islam, which is an intimidating and carefully nurtured cultural force that threatens the West.30. Changing Course on China, Elizabeth Economy, Current History, September 2003Following the September 11th terroist attacks, the Bush administration's China policy was redefined. The article provides an overview of the changes and the underlying reasons for the dramatic improvement in bilateral relations. In addition, the author looks ahead to the significant challenges that remain, including human rights, Taiwan, and nuclear weapons in North Korea.31. The Korea Crisis, Victor D. Cha and David C. Kang, Foreign Policy, May/June 2003The authors answer basic questions about the motives of the government of North Korea and various diplomatic approaches to defusing the nuclear threat North Korea poses to its neighbors.UNIT 6. Cooperation32. Strategies for World Peace: The View of the UN Secretary-General, Kofi A. Annan, The Futurist, May/June 2002The secretary-general of the United Nations observes, Our era of global challenges leaves us no other choice but to cooperate at the global level. An overview of human rights issues is provided as a context of establishing priorities for the United Nations. 33. Peace in Our Time, The Economist, September 25, 2004The article focuses on peace in Europe and the expansion of the European Union (EU). Membership in the EU requires that countries adhere to principles of democracy, human rights, and peaceful resolution of disputes. The article discusses important issues related to the proposed membership of Turkey. The EU is an excellent example of an International Governmental Organization. 34. The Ultimate Crop Insurance, Janet Raloff, Science News, September 11, 2004The new international treaty designed to break down obstacles and bolster the gene-banking system to preserve the genetic heritage of crops is an excellent case study of international governmental cooperation. 35. Medicine Without Doctors, Geoffrey Cowley, Newsweek, July 19, 2004The AIDS epidemic in Africa is overwhelming the health care system. In response, a grassroots effort has evolved to deliver life-extending medications and offer more people reason for hope.36. Countdown to Eradication, Anne Stein, The Rotarian, July 2002In 1988 polio paralyzed more than 1,000 children every day. In 2001 there were fewer than 1,000 cases for the entire year. Rotary International, a service organization, has played a central role in reaching the goal of a polio-free world. The challenges of completing polio eradication are now located in some of the world's hot spots.37. The New Containment: An Alliance Against Nuclear Terrorism, Graham Allison and Andrei Kokoshin, The National Interest, Fall 2002The American and Russian coauthors are well-known national security experts. They describe the threat of nuclear terrorism and provide a five-point plan of international cooperation that is designed to do everything possible to prevent criminals or terrorists from stealing nuclear weapons or weapons-usable material.UNIT 7. Values And Visions38. Are Human Rights Universal?, Shashi Tharoor, World Policy Journal, Winter 1999/2000Shashi Tharoor, who works in the office of the secretary-general of the United Nations, responds to criticisms of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Contrary to those who argue that the declaration is an attempt to impose alien, Western values on the rest of the world, Tharoor examines a variety of cultural and ethical issues and concludes that a universal idea of human rights can help make the world safe for diversity. 39. The Grameen Bank, Muhammad Yunus, Scientific American, November 1999A small experiment, begun in Bangladesh to loan money to poor people as a way of helping them become more productive, has turned into a major new concept in the eradication of poverty. 40. America's Looming Creativity Crisis, Richard Florida, Harvard Business Review, October 2004America's competitive advantage in attracting creative people and leading the world in innovation is being challenged on a number of fronts. These challenges are examined, and the author asks whether the U.S. is losing its advantage in this all-important area.41. Women Waging Peace, Swanee Hunt and Cristina Posa, Foreign Policy, May/June 2001Swanee Hunt and Christina Posa argue that you cannot end wars by simply declaring peace. Inclusive security rests on the principle of fundamental social change to prevent renewed hostilities. The authors describe the role that women have played in bridging problems and ask why the role of women is not growing more rapidly in promoting peace.42. Exploring the Singularity , James John Bell, The Futurist, May/June 2003The author observes, Singularity can be thought of as the point at which technology and nature become one. At this juncture the world as we have known it will become extinct. The concept of singularity is examined by reviewing rapid developments in new technologies and their profound implications for the future.43. Why Environmental Ethics Matters to International Relations, John Barkdull, Current History, November 2000The dominant worldviews of Western culture do not have core assumptions that are defined in terms of an environmental ethic. After examining alternative environmental ethics and then applying them to realism and liberal institutionalism, the author calls for a new political dialogue that only a more authentic democracy can generate in order to better integrate social choices with a vision of the natural world we create.

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