REFERENCE UPDATE

Reference Update January 2008

ECONOMIC AND TRADE

1. Global Rebalancing
John H. Makin
Economic Outlook #22249, October 2007, 4 pages.
The global economic and financial picture is changing rapidly.  The U.S. economy has slowed, the Federal Reserve has cuts rates, the Bank of England has pushed one of its largest mortgage lenders to near collapse, Japan has slipped into negative growth, and China’s growth has accelerated though in the face of rising inflation.  The author reviews these developments and makes predictions.

2. The Global Savings Puzzle
Mohamed A. El-Erian and Michael Spence
Hoover Digest, No. 4, 2007, 4 pages.
For the past few years, the United States has generated insufficient domestic savings to cover its investment needs.  The difference has been covered by large capital inflows from abroad.  Why does the world’s richest country appear to be saving at such a low rate that it has to borrow from poorer, developing countries to maintain its consumption and investment?  The authors analyze the puzzle of the configuration of global savings.

3. Vietnam: Country outlook
Economist Intelligence Unit - ViewsWire, January 3, 2008, 3 pages
The article provides brief and updated information on Vietnam's development including economic growth, international relations, domestic politics and policy trends.

4. Who's to Blame for the Brave New Economy?
Robert Kuttner and Robert B. Reich
The American Prospect, November 2007, 5 pages.
Who are the culprits in the erosion of economic stability in American life, the people, as well as the corporate and financial elites?  The authors, each of whom has authored a new book on the political economy, argue the question while on how to fix what ails the U.S. economy.

5. Privatization: A Summary Assessment
John Nellis
SAIS Review of International Affairs, Summer-Fall 2007, 25 pages.
Despite the fact that a large number of studies praise privatization's positive impact at the corporate level, as well as its positive macroeconomic and welfare contributions, public opinion in the developing world is still unfriendly to privatization.  As the percentage of respondents with a negative view of privatization rose from 55% in 2001 to 80% in 2003, it fell back to about 70% in the latest 2005 poll.  The author examines the political economy of privatization and explains the reasons why privatization is unpopular.

REGIONAL SECURITY

6. U.S. Policy in Southeast Asia: Limited Re-engagement after Years of Benign Neglect
Diane K. Mauzy and Brian L. Job
Asian Survey, July/August 2007, 20 pages.
The article views American foreign policy in Southeast Asia from 1975 to the present as exhibiting varying degrees of benign neglect, with episodic attention to perceived security threats.  With the George W. Bush presidency moving into its final years, what direction does one foresee for U.S.-Southeast Asian relations?

7. Winning Asia
Victor D. Cha
Foreign Affairs, November/December 2007, 16 pages.
According to critics, the Bush administration has been distracted by Iraq, failed to deal adequately with China's economic and political rise, and alienated many Asians with its singular focus on counter-terrorism.  Detractors charge that the lack of U.S. leadership after the Cold War has made Asia ripe for conflict.  The author argues that this conventional wisdom is wrong.

8. Stability and Change in U.S. Grand Strategy
Barry R. Posen
Orbis, Fall 2007, 7 pages.
This article offers a brief characterization of globalization and speculates on its positive and negative results.  The three grand strategies that remain visible in the U.S. public policy debate and their suggested resolutions are discussed.  Also, the U.S. military strengths and weaknesses are evaluated in order to gauge which remedies are most feasible for the strategy.

9. Security and Opportunity for the Twenty-First Century
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Foreign Affairs, November/December 2007, 17 pages.
The article presents Clinton’s foreign policy proposals as part of her 2008 U.S. Democratic presidential campaign.  Foreign policy principles and proposals discussed include multi-lateralism in international affairs, rebuilding alliances, repairing and modernizing the U.S. military, pursuing nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, addressing Iran's nuclear aspirations, ensuring respect for human rights, and confronting climate change.

10. A Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower
U.S. Martine Corps
U.S. Department of the Navy, and U.S. Coast Guard. October 2007, 20 pages.
The Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard have come together to create a unified, maritime strategy that integrates U.S. seapower with the seapower of its allies.  This report describes how this coordinated effort will be employed around the world to protect the way of life and to prevent war.

GLOBAL ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENT

11. World Energy Prospects and Challenges
Fatih Birol
Asia Pacific Review, May 2007, 12 pages.
The world is facing dual energy-related threats.  First, that of not having adequate and secure supplies of energy at affordable prices and, second, that of the environmental harm caused by its use.  The author examines the essential role affordable energy plays in economic growth and human development, in addition to the vulnerability of the global energy system to supply disruptions.

12. Combating the Twin Epidemics of HIV/AIDS and Addiction
David A. Fiellin
A Report of the CSIS Task Force on HIV/AIDS Center for Strategic and International Studies. October 2007, 21 pages.
This paper outlines why drug maintenance therapy is an effective HIV prevention intervention.  The authors offers a snapshot of treatment availability in 12 developing countries and concludes with a recommendation to more fully integrate drug treatment services and HIV-prevention efforts in the next phase of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

13. How the Media Shape Elections
Dotty Lyncy
America, October 22, 2007, 4 pages.
In the early part of 2007, the media spent a lot of time asking, Can a woman, an African American or a Mormon be elected president?  The typical answer was a definite maybe.  However, the question in and of itself increased recognition of the female, African American and Mormon candidates.  This article examines how media coverage affects the elections in the United States.

14. Goodbye to All That
Steve Wasserman
Columbia Journalism Review, September/October 2007, 11 pages.
The article reports on the decline of book reviewing by U.S. newspapers.  The author discusses the cultural premises behind and problems facing book coverage, including the financial challenges of newspapers, in general, and the cultural shift away from in-depth reading and toward fast-paced consumption of images and sound bites.

15. Developing Media in Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations
Yll Bajraktari and Emily Hsu
Stabilization and Reconstruction Series No. 7, October 2007, 20 pages.
The authors believe that an independent, pluralistic, and sustainable media is vital to long-term peace and stability.  An effective media can elevate moderate voices and dampen those which are extremist, while an ineffective media can reinforce divisions between warring parties.  This report offers recommendations for developing a strong media strategy in reconstruction operations.

16. Found in (My) Space
Jason Spencer
American Journalism Review, October/November 2007, 4 pages.
This article examines the role of social networking web sites such as MySpace and Facebook in contemporary journalism.  As the popularity of these sites grows, so does their potential as virtual background tools.  The author suggests some tips for journalists when using social networking sites in their reporting.

U.S. SOCIETY AND CULTURE

17. All in the Family
Richard Sousa
Hoover Digest, No. 4, 2007, 2 pages.
When we look at education reform initiatives and schooling options, we often overlook homeschooling.  The number of students who are homeschooled is a matter of some dispute, but their numbers appear to be increasing and some consider the performance of homeschooled children superior than those enrolled in traditional schools.  Why does homeschooling work? 

18. American Families
Michael B. Katz and Mark J. Stern
Dissent, Fall 2007, 4 pages.
What narrative best characterizes the history of American families?  Did a singular American family ever exist or has diversity been the hallmark of American families throughout the twentieth century?  The article discusses not only the history of families in the United States, but also the diversity and trends that affect American families, including the reduction of marital fertility, the partial disconnection of marriage and parenthood, and the living in of elderly with their families.

19. Reform of Global Governance: Priorities for Action
Colin I. Bradford Jr. and Johannes F. Linn
The Brookings Institution Policy Brief #163, October 2007, 7 pages.
The authors argue that global institutions are not working well individually nor as a group.  To help avoid crises and create a better future, the creation of a global governance system that reflects the new economic and demographic realities and responds effectively to new global challenges of the 21st century is urgently needed.  The authors outline the goals and prospects of global governance reform.

20. Polarized Politics and Policy Consequences
Diana Epstein and John D. Graham
Pardee RAND Graduate School Occasional Paper, 2007, 41 pages.
America’s two political parties are becoming more distinct, especially where political elites – members of Congress, party activists, and other influential players – are concerned.  This paper examines the causes, dimensions, and consequences of partisan political polarization in the United States.  It also discusses potential remedies and examines some of the long-term policy challenges created by this phenomenon.

TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS

The following articles from “The Long Campaign: U.S. Elections 2008”, an Electronic Journal of the U.S. Department of State, October 2007

21. Congressional Elections
L. Sandy Maisel
Colby College, Waterville, Maine
As the legislative branch of the U.S. government, Congress shares decision-making authority with the president, and the results of congressional elections are important to U.S. policy making.

22. The Changing U.S. Voter
Daniel Gotoff
Lake Research Partners, Washington, D.C.
Recent polls reveal the concerns, beliefs, and sentiments of U.S. citizens as they approach the 2008 election, and results indicate that Americans are looking for change.

23. Women Voters in the United States
Kellyanne Conway
The Polling Company, TMInc., Washington, D.C.
Comprising more than half of the U.S. electorate, women significantly influence election outcomes, and, contrary to some opinion, polls show that women care about a variety of issues.

24. Covering the Presidential Campaign: The View from the Press Bus
Jim Dickenson
Washington Post
A veteran journalist describes life on the road with a presidential candidate, from 6 a.m. departures to 11 p.m. briefings.

25. Political Polls: Why We Just Can’t Live Without Them
John Zogby
Zogby International, Washington, D.C.
Polls reveal much more than which candidates may be ahead in the race for citizens’ votes. They also delve into voters’ values and concerns about current issues.