The left leaning Guardian newspaper in the UK thinks war is coming to a Middle East near you, quite probably in the fall of 2012.  That is the message of this article by reporter Chris McGreal.The basic argument is simple. First, Washington has despaired of sanctions.  They will not change the Iranians’ minds about the […]

That is the theory of a legal process wending its way through the Iowa court system.  A class action suit filed on behalf of African-Americans in the state alleges that an insidious pattern of unconscious racism led to whites being preferred over African-Americans in thousands of decisions over hiring and promotion.The suit does not allege […]

Slick high-speed trains, imposing bridges, gleaming towers reaching towards the heavens–infrastructure in the 21st century has become a surprisingly sexy topic. While infrastructure projects are meant to solve mundane logistical problems, the sort of grandiose, white elephant undertakings that have been popping up all over China for the past decade can also serve as powerful […]

Here at Via Meadia, we’ve been thinking extensively about the future of education in America. While nobody seems to have a clear picture of what it will look like, it seems virtually certain that education at the end of the 21st century will look nothing like it does now. Charter schools, homeschooling, online learning, and […]

By now, many of you have probably heard of Jeremy Lin, the undrafted basketball phenom who has set records and electrified NBA crowds since debuting this month for the New York Knicks. What makes Lin so compelling to so many, beyond his athletic prowess, is his unique biography. He is the first American-born player of […]

Robert Zoellick, who has served as the World Bank’s president since George W. Bush appointed him in 2007, is leaving when his term expires in June. The United States  traditionally has the power to nominate replacements for the post, but that could be changing.Zoellick noted that his departure coincides with a tectonic shift in the […]

Sean Penn, it seems, has a grudge against Great Britain. He also doesn’t think highly of imperialism. The Hollywood star, two-time Oscar winner (and a great actor, in our opinion) for some reason has decided to wade into the political tussle over the Falklands. Here’s Penn in his own words: The world today is not […]

President Obama’s strategic “pivot” towards Asia and the Pacific Rim has led to perhaps the greatest foreign policy success of his administration to date. Over the course of one week, Obama solidified relationships with nations around China’s periphery while China, outmaneuvered, was forced to turn the other cheek. Since November China has remained generally courteous […]

Earlier this week I was in Washington, teaching a class and attending some events connected to the visit of China’s vice president.  It was an instructive time; in meetings with U.S. officials, with experts who follow China closely, and at the “state lunch” when Vice President Xi was the guest of honor at a State […]

Gallup has a very interesting poll out this week that charts Americans’ perceptions of foreign countries. The top three favorites? Canada, Australia, and Great Britain. The Anglosphere still rules the roost when it comes to Americans’ attitudes toward the world.Other results of this Gallup poll are worth noting. Israel comes in at 71 percent favorability, […]