Reference Update

January 2009

ECONOMIC SECURITY AND TRADE

1. “Can Asia Emerge Stronger?”
Ajay Chhibber. Far Eastern Economic Review, December 2008, 4 pages.
What should Asia do to sustain growth during the fast-spread financial crisis?  According to the author, an Asian monetary facility, better financial policies, and social programs are all pertinent to the region’s survival and future strength.   

2. "The Great Crash, 2008: A Geopolitical Setback for the West"
Roger C. Altman. Foreign Affairs, January/February 2009, 13 pages.
The reduction in Western resources and credibility will reduce the influence of the United States in international affairs.  The author discusses the 2008 financial crisis, noting that the economic collapse, the worst since the depression of the 1930s, was a significant geopolitical reverse for the West. 

3. “What Will Follow the Demise of Privatised Keynesianism?”
Colin Crouch. The Political Quarterly, October-December 2008, 12 pages.
In the period between the World War II and the crisis of 2008, major economies have been dominated by Keynesian economics or a privatized variation on the original theory advanced by John Maynard Keynes.  The author speculates on the future of political economics following the 2008 financial crisis.

4. “The Politics of Hunger”
Paul Collier. Foreign Affairs, November/December 2008, 13 pages.
The author argues that policymakers have the power to end the food crisis by bringing food prices down.  In the short term, by changing regulation to increase supply, in the medium term by encouraging organizational changes to raise the growth of production, and in the long term by encouraging innovations in technology.  The author examines these three politically challenging steps in order to feed the world.

5. “From Sustainable Companies to Sustainable Economies: Corporate Governance as a Transformational Development Tool”
Aleksandr Shkolnikov and Andrew Wilson. CIPE’s Economic Reform Issue Paper, October 2008, 15 pages.
Corporate governance is an effective transformational development tool, helping countries improve both private and public governance institutions. Institutions required for a functional corporate governance framework are the ones that are key for democratic governance and market reforms. Corporate governance is applicable beyond listed companies – it is relevant for small and medium-sized businesses, family firms, state-owned companies, and others. Sound corporate governance frameworks benefit companies, industries, and national economies.

6. “Ethics and Corporate Governance in the Fight against Corruption”
Global Corporate Governance Forum, CIPE’s Economic Reform Feature Service, October 2008, 8 pages.
Building ethical businesses around the world commands the full spectrum of leadership and commitment within firms, countries, and the international community. Private sector efforts to fight corrupt practices should start with corporate governance, effective transparency, and disclosure mechanisms.  A more integrated approach should also include codes of conduct, compliance programs, and initiatives to improve the ethical behavior and culture at all levels of a firm. Developing countries are not only sources of corruption, they are also the emerging frontiers in the global fight against bribery and extortion.

REGIONAL SECURITY

7. “The United States and Southeast Asia: Toward A Strategy for Enhanced Cooperation”
Derek. J. Mitchell, ed. A Conference Report of the CSIS Southeast Asia Initiative, December 2008, 33 pages.
The report discusses the United States’ role in Southeast Asia, trends in ASEAN affairs, shifting external power dynamics in Southeast Asia, and the status of U.S. alliances and emerging partnerships in the region.

8. “The United States and Asia after Bush”
Michael Green. The Pacific Review, December 2008, 12 pages.
The author provides some specific insights into Chinese and U.S. alliances, the U.S. policy toward North Korea, and regional integration and, in doing so, illustrates the difficult choices for U.S.-Asia policy, as well as demonstrates why the next administration will likely stay on the course set by George W. Bush.

9. "Managing Foreign Policy and National Security Challenges in Presidential Transitions"
Kurt M. Campbell and James B Steinberg. The Washington Quarterly, Autumn 2008, 14 pages.
The article examines the management of U.S. foreign relations and national security policy during presidential administration transition periods between the election of a new President, his inauguration, and the early months of the new administration.  The reasons why this transition is different from all the others are also discussed.

10. "The Shifting Face of Violence"
Theodor H. Winkler. World Policy Journal, Fall 2008, 8 pages.
Most conflicts in the 21st century are no longer of a traditional nature.  They are fought between a government and such forces as politically- or ethnically-based militias and armed bands.  The author examines these new conflict patterns and the trend that the author opines will continue to build in the next 25 years.

11. “The Next Wave of Nuclear Proliferation”
Nader Elhefnawy. Parameters, Autumn 2008, 12 pages.
What would a globally expanded use of nuclear energy mean for nuclear proliferation specifically?  The author examines the risk of nuclear proliferation as a result of a worldwide increase in the use of nuclear energy and looks at what the options are for ameliorating those risks.

GLOBAL ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENT

12. "Oil Dependence as Virtue"
Daniel W. Drezner. The National Interest, November/December 2008, 9 pages.
Imagine a world free of oil—one with diversified Arab economies divorced from the dollar, African nations devoid of the resource curse, and China and India ascendant.  According to the author, a world without oil dependence is a world that does not need an American superpower.  In this article, he looks at the geopolitical implications of oil's demise as an essential fuel. 

MEDIA, COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

13. “To Friend or Not to Friend?”
Steven Mendoza. American Journalism Review, October/November 2008, 2 pages.
The impact of the online social networking site Facebook on reporters and reporting is examined.  Some journalists worry that accepting a source’s friendly invitation to join the network may create a conflict of interest, but most believe that being connected to a list of people does not compromise their objectivity.  The author discusses whether becoming friends on social media sites change the reporter-source relationship.

14. “Charticle Fever”
Dane Stickney. American Journalism Review, October/November 2008, 4 pages.
A fast-growing trend in newspapers is the “charticle” -- a bite-size combination of words, images and graphics.  The author examines the role and impact of charticles on newspapers as it has become a popular method of conveying information that may not be substantial enough for an entire article.

15. “Government Sociability”
Peggy Garvin. Searcher, November 2008, 4 pages.
More and more U.S. government entities have established a presence on social networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook, which are evolving well beyond the teen and college circles that gave them their start.  The author discusses how the U.S. government is testing its role in the online networking world and is developing its own social media strategy.

16. “Dealing with Information Overload: Bring It on”
Shirley Duglin Kennedy. Information Today, November 2008, 2 pages.
The author discusses how to manage information overload and describes her strategy for keeping current with developments in the fields of library science and information technology.  She also explains what she does with email overload and how she sets up and reads her RSS feeds.

U.S. SOCIETY AND CULTURE

17. “Transcripts of VTV interview Ambassador Scot Marciel”
U.S. Embassy Hanoi, January 23, 2009, 1 page.
The United States of America has a new President, a new administration and a new diplomatic policy.  What effects do these new changes make on U.S. foreign policy for Vietnam?   Reporters of the Vietnam television (VTV) in Washington D.C. had an interview with Ambassador Scot Marciel, Deputy Assistant Secretary to newly appointed U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  This interview shows the U.S. viewpoint on the U.S. – Vietnam bilateral relation and some other important issues of Vietnam.

18. “Rating the Rankings: Deja Vu All Over Again”
Marty Elkins. Education Week, December 3, 2008, 2 pages.
Discussing the systems employed by popular magazines for college and university rankings, the author takes a critical look at the U.S. News & World Report and Forbes for shifting their focus away from quality of classroom education in order to increase magazine sales. 

19. “The Secret to Success”
Daniel Goleman. Education Digest, December 2008, 2 pages.
Research has shown that students’ academic achievements are likely to increase when they gain more social competency and emotional intelligence.  The author examines the benefits of social-emotional learning strategies.

20. “Asian American Immigrants as the New Electorate: Exploring Turnout and Registration of a Growing Community”
Louis DeSipio, et al. Asian American Policy Review, 2008, 21 pages.
The potential consequences of immigration and naturalization on the Asian American political behavior are explored.  The authors examine how Asian-American partisanship patterns may evolve as a result of increased naturalization and voter turnout.

21. “Year One”
James A. Barnes. National Journal, December 13, 2008, 6 pages.
Will Barack Obama really transform the customs and culture of Washington?  Will he help de-escalate partisan hostilities?  National Journal surveyed 129 members of Congress and 232 political insiders, e.g. party chairmen, political strategists, pollsters, lobbyists, fundraisers and media consultants, to get some insight on what they expect in the first year of the Obama administration.

22. “Affirming Democracy as an Asian Value”
Rana Siu Inboden. Far Eastern Economic Review, November 2008, 4 pages.
The author examines why Asia's first regional democracy organization, the Asia Pacific Democracy Partnership, is becoming a force for change and why its existence creates uncomfortable questions for authoritarian rulers in the region.

23. “Madison and the Smart Mob: The Promise and Limitations of the Internet for Democracy”
Robert Faris and Bruce Etling. The Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Summer 2008, 21 pages.
The authors examine the potential impact of digital networks on democratic processes.  The authors argue that to understand the real potential impact of the Internet, it is necessary to look at how the Internet will strengthen the quality of democracy in individual states over the long term. 

24. “Democracies in a League of Their Own? Lessons Learned from the Community of Democracies”
Theodore J. Piccone, Policy Paper#8, October 2008, 23 pages.
The author discusses a few lessons U.S. policymakers can learn from the Community of Democracies experience and offers some recommendations for strengthening multilateral approaches to the promotion of democracy and human rights, which the authors opine should remain a central goal of a new administration in Washington.

25. "U.S. Think Tanks and the Politics of Expertise: Role, Value and Impact"
Mahmood Ahmad. The Political Quarterly, October-December 2008, 27 pages.
The author examines a number of issues surrounding the formation and use of U.S. research organizations known colloquially as "think tanks," including their funding, marketing, public relations, and the degree of influence such organizations exert on popular opinion and government policy.

26. “Hillary Clinton Seeks to Renew U.S. Leadership Through Diplomacy”
Michelle Austein Brooks. America.gov, January 13, 2009, 2 pages.
Hillary Clinton says that as secretary of state she would work to “renew America’s leadership through diplomacy that enhances our security, advances our interests and reflects our values.”

TRANSLATED DOCUMENTS

27. “President Obama’s Inaugural Address”
America.gov, January 20, 2009, 5 pages.

28. “USA Literature in Briefs”
America.gov, May 2007, 20 pages.
USA Literature in Brief pinpoints and describes the contributions to American literature of some of the best-recognized American poets, novelists, philosophers and dramatists from pre-Colonial days through the present.