Blogs

The Schengen Agreement has long been part of what makes Europe unique. With the elimination of domestic border controls, the agreement allows for unprecedented freedom of travel between member countries. One common border now stands between much the European Union and the rest of the world. As soon as international travelers pass through a checkpoint, they are welcome to visit 26 different countries. This arrangement, however vaunted, is now the subject of increased scrutiny from across the continent. full story »

NASA’s glory days are over. Since the end of the space shuttle, the world’s fascination with space and its exploration has begun to wane. In tough economic times, it has become increasingly difficult to justify NASA’s extravagant budget, while other more socially relevant programs have gotten the axe. What, then, is the future of space exploration? Is it to discover how to make space tourism a viable option? Exploit space’s natural resources for consumption? No one is quite sure how to profit from space yet, but there are certainly many ambitious (and incredibly wealthy) entrepreneurs out there who see space as what it is: the largest unexploited resource in, well, the universe. full story »

Undoubtedly, the Syrian regime and its security apparatus are emboldened and empowered by the Moscow's and Beijing's two vetoes of a UN Security Council resolution which was not calling for a military intervention or a comprehensive regime change but for a peaceful transition to democratic system of governance in Syria. The failure of the UN Security council to pass the resolution which was embracing an Arab League plan and being endorsed by the majority of demonstrators in Syria particularly in the city of Homs led to the escalation of violence across the country. Russia and China’s veto contributed to the belief held by the Syrian government that brutal use of force could eventually put an end to a popular uprising. full story »

The One-State Conference
March 3rd-4th, 2012
The Harvard Kennedy School of Government

When is an idea so dangerous that it should not be voiced?  When does political discourse become hate speech?  Which proposals are appropriate for the university, and which should not even receive the tacit acknowledgment that comes with the permission to use its space? full story »

How do you define a generation?

Not easily. With countless exceptions and contentions, the characterization of an era is a project for the masochist. It is an endeavor far easier to criticize than to realize. This point proves especially true when one seeks to define the present generation, as the task is undertaken without the benefit of hindsight. Difficult as it may be, characterizing the present era offers the social sciences a useful predictive tool to gauge what the future holds for politics, economics, and society as a whole. full story »