From Tanzania, the Hadzabe, one of the last remaining tribes of hunter-gatherers on the planet, is on the verge of vanishing into the modern world. An article on the uprising in Guinea and problems facing African liberation. Pushers' paradise: The drugs trade in Guinea-Bissau, the continent's first narco-state, is booming. A Continental Voice: An article on the urgent need for an African magazine. South Africa's Thabo Mbeki promises an "African renaissance". But why does that include hostility to Israel and the west? As China becomes a major influence in Africa, it faces mounting resistance and a profound dilemma: How does a nation devoted to nonintervention become a global power? Finding Refuge in Literature: Three recent books raise awareness of African refugees in America. A review of The Invisible Cure by Helen Epstein and 28: Stories of AIDS in Africa by Stephanie Nolen. Raising the "bottom billion": Paul Collier on how aid made the G8 headlines, but it is a sideshow alongside the real-world anti-poverty measures people in Africa. The G-8 aren't the only ones: What good are the Group of Eight's promises without rapidly developing countries like China and Brazil?
Europeans are now taller than Americans for the first time in history, thanks to better national health-care systems in most European countries. Europe’s Christian Comeback: Alarmist pundits prophesize that a secular Europe risks being overcome by its fast-growing Muslim population. Yet for all we hear about Islam, Europe remains a stronger Christian fortress than people realize. Recent geopolitical developments have raised the question of whether allowing European judges to operate independently from political powers might enable them to fight international criminals. Transcitizens of the world unite: Not quite resident, not quite alien, John Sutherland describes the peculiar state of living between two countries.
From TNR, Al Gore explains what went wrong with democracy. Even now, after grudging recognitions that Gore was often right and even prescient, the major news media still can’t let go of its reflexive habit of demeaning him. The media's assault on reason: Such is life for Al Gore when dealing with the Beltway press, where his vociferous critics cannot be bothered with the simplest fact-checking task.
The System at Work: Politicians' tendency to blame the system is a convenient way of leaving no one accountable. Why Washington can’t get much done: On issues ranging from immigration to global warming, lawmakers are paralyzed by partisanship, fear, denial (and the Constitution). What's the Matter with Massachusetts? An article on defending one of America's most enlightened states. Here's a revealing look at how state politics works. Okay, wonks: Think you know how the political game works? Now you can actually play it, or at least one part of it, from within the window of a computer browser. MAPlight.org, a Berkeley-based online watchdog, is breaking ground by using technology to track how political contributions shape legislation. More Money, More Problems: Any serious campaign finance reform must recognize that money is the mother's milk of politics.
Bush no money magnet: Financial projections for the President’s Dinner confirm that Republican confidence in the president is in a state of collapse. Is even Texas becoming a tough business climate for conservative operatives? Or is this lobby and consulting firm motivated by something other than money? And Still They Rise: Conservative pols booted out of office have a way of hanging around Washington. From The Politico, with signs of hope in the gloom enveloping Republicans, how do Democrats capitalize on this opportunity to begin building up a new Modern Majority?
