Civil Society

Failing States

Christopher Holshek | Posted 04.02.2012

Read More: Wealth Inequality, Governance, National Security, Economy, Wealth Disparity, Failed State, Liberia, Civil Society, Corruption, International Development, Globalization, Human Security, Fragile States, United Nations, United States, Racism, Nation Building, International Relations, World News
Christopher Holshek

Failing states are failing states. The difference between over there and over here, however, is that we have been stacking the deck against ourselves.

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Are You Decent?

Sarah O'Leary | Posted 05.26.2012

Read More: Law, Patriots, Acts of Kindness, George Washington Cherry Tree, Broadcast Indecency, Kindness, United States, Morals, Citizens United, Common Decency, Handicapped, Moral Values, Politics, Decency, Handicapped Parking, Patriotism, Wheelchair, Preamble, George Washington, American History, Communications Decency Act, Freedom, Self-Respect, Regular Acts of Kindness, Respect, Morality, Society, Civil Society, Sprituality, Gratitude, Impact News
Sarah O'Leary

I learned long ago not to use God to justify my actions, to act like I'm superior to anyone else, or to rationalize my false need to control the lives of my fellow man and woman. Instead, I try my level best to cultivate my decency, and pray for other Americans to do the same.

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2012-2020: Where Mythologies Clash

Kingsley Dennis, Ph.D. | Posted 05.07.2012

Read More: Industrial Revolution, Third Industrial Revolution, Cultural Evolution, Geopolitics, Sustainability, Community, Communications, Future, Civil Society, Civilization, Consciousness, Healthy Living News
Kingsley Dennis, Ph.D.

The decade ahead will be a testing time as it marks the peak clash between two mythologies -- or rather, two defining eras.

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Harvest America or Invest in America

Stan Sorscher | Posted 04.23.2012

Read More: Lesser America, Social Contract, Industrial Policy, Social Investment, Civil Society, Vulture Capital, Harvest Strategy, Prosperous Customers, Corporate Citizenship, Trade Policy, Business News
Stan Sorscher

We have strong historical and constitutional values about one-person one-vote and a government responsive to local communities. Right? Well, no. That's not right. Quite the opposite.

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Religious Freedom Or Freedom Of Choice?

Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski | Posted 04.16.2012

Read More: Catholic Church, Religion and Politics, Birth Control, Civil Society, Pro-Choice, Freedom, Obama Birth Control, Religious Freedom, Religion News
Rev. Dr. James A. Kowalski

Employees may decide not to use such services for religious reasons, but an employer cannot deny them access for religious reasons.

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Renaissance for Change: A New Civil Order?

Kingsley Dennis, Ph.D. | Posted 03.14.2012

Read More: Healthy Living, Consciousness, Mindfulness, Social, Renaissance, Sustainability, Community, Future, Civil Society, Healthy Living Spirit, Healthy Living News
Kingsley Dennis, Ph.D.

A renaissance for change is coming into being, and it heralds an epoch for opportunity like none other.

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How, Exactly, Does Trade Bring Prosperity?

Stan Sorscher | Posted 03.12.2012

Read More: Free Trade Agreements, De-Industrialization, Trade Deficit Agreements, Trade, Industrial Policy, Wto, Trade Policy, Civil Society, Nafta, Business News
Stan Sorscher

I work for a labor union in the aerospace industry. We are 100% in favor of trade. We make products the rest of the world wants to buy. With increas...

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The Afghan Road to Peace Could Start in Bonn

Lisa Schirch | Posted 01.31.2012

Read More: Negotiation, Peace Process, Afghanistan, Civil Society, Group of Friends, Bonn Conference, Afghan Peace Talks, Afghanistan Peace Process Taliban, Afghanistan War Withdrawal, World News
Lisa Schirch

A more comprehensive Afghan peace process will enjoy greater public support, legitimacy, sustainability, and ultimately lead to more democratic governance.

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C Plus: China's Civil Society Groups Stand Up and Get Counted in Durban

Lucia Green-Weiskel | Posted 01.31.2012

Read More: Durban, Climate Change, Ngos, Civil Society, Cop17, Durban Climate Conference, China, Green News
Lucia Green-Weiskel

With greenhouse gas emissions hitting record levels, a new group of Chinese activists traditionally silenced by an authoritarian government is making its voice heard at the United Nations climate talks in Durban, South Africa.

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Civil Society at Ground Zero

Rebecca Solnit | Posted 01.22.2012

Read More: Oakland, 9/11 Anniversary, Occupy Wall Street, 9/11, Zuccotti Park Eviction, Zuccotti Park, Civil Society, Ground Zero, Politics News
Rebecca Solnit

It's rarely noted that Zuccotti Park is within sight of, and kitty-corner to, Ground Zero. What was born and what died that day a decade ago has everything to do with what's going on in and around the park, the country, and the world now.

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Libya and Palestine

Daoud Kuttab | Posted 01.03.2012

Read More: Intifada, Revolution, Radio, Graffiti, Libya, Palestine, Benghazi, Tv, Civil Society, Tripoli, World News
Daoud Kuttab

A visitor to Libya now, be it to Benghazi or Tripoli, cannot help but make some comparisons between the Libyan revolution and the Palestinian Intifada.

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Prosper or Plunder? Extractive Industries' Checkered Past With Development

Rebecca Harris | Posted 11.30.2011

Read More: Extractive-Industry, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Civil Society, U.S. Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Obama EITI, Eiti, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative Obama, World News
Rebecca Harris

The U.S. implementation of EITI is an important milestone, as for each success story of well-managed natural resource wealth lifting a country out of poverty, seemingly endless counterexamples exist.

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Our Social Crises -- From Breakdown to Breakthrough

Kingsley Dennis, Ph.D. | Posted 10.11.2011

Read More: Social Change, Consciousness, Tipping Point, Revolution, Crises, Future, Society, Civil Society, Civilization, World News
Kingsley Dennis, Ph.D.

Leading sociologists have shown that societies are far more likely to break down when they're overloaded by converging stresses; for example, rapid population growth, resources depletion, and economic decline.

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What Conflict Minerals Legislation Is Actually Accomplishing in Congo

Sasha Lezhnev | Posted 10.09.2011

Read More: Dodd-Frank Act, Conflict Minerals, Drc, Dodd-Frank, Motorola, Kivu, Free the Slaves, Special Mixed Court, Congo, Oecd, Bosco Ntaganda, Mining, Sasha Lezhnev, World Gold Council, New York Times, Enough Project, Civil Society, Usaid, David Aronson, Great Lakes Region, Rwanda, Igsci, Kajemba, Impact News
Sasha Lezhnev

Ending the world's deadliest conflict is no easy task, but a growing consensus of Congolese civil society, electronics and metals companies, investors, and governments are now taking action to do so.

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School Reform Is a Dead End, Unless...

James Gee | Posted 08.13.2011

Read More: School Reform, Digital Media, Job Market, Civil Society, Neo-Liberalism, Education News
James Gee

Could it be that all our talk about school reform helps us to ignore issues too divisive and too threatening to our own slim hold on ever decreasing middle-class privilege to really engage with?

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The Age of Activism

John Feffer | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Financial Crisis, Civil Society, Greece, Middle East, Activism, Croatia, Wisconsin Protests, World News
John Feffer

Let me rashly and prematurely propose a name for our era: the Age of Activism. Here's a preliminary sketch for a history of the age in which we are currently immersed, as well as a diagnosis of where this activism is heading.

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Why Southern Sudan Should Be Watching Egypt

Ruth Allen | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Egypt, Sudan, Southern Sudan, Governance, Civil Society, Impact News
Ruth Allen

Global lessons -- from the Balkans to elsewhere in Africa -- should be analyzed for southern Sudan's unique situation.

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Corruption Threatens India's Growth

Jayshree Bajoria | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Corruption, Growth, India, Poverty, Civil Society, Business, Development, Manmohan Singh, Investment, Foreign Investment, World News
Jayshree Bajoria

A spate of high-profile corruption scandals has rocked the Indian government in the last few months and is threatening foreign investor confidence.

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Diplomacy in Action: the U.S., UNESCO and Civil Society

Don Kraus | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Egypt Protests, David Killion, Civil Society, Unesco, United Nations, World News
Don Kraus

I recently had a wonderful opportunity to interview Ambassador David T. Killion, the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

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Korea-U.S. Deal Undercuts Civil Society

Stan Sorscher | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Lesser America, National Industrial Policy, Industrial Policy, Civil Society, Korea Free Trade Agreement, Free Trade Agreement, Free Trade Policy, World News
Stan Sorscher

I am 100% in favor of policies that raise our standard of living. What I oppose are trade policies that deindustrialize America, erode the middle class and compromise long-term prosperity.

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Elise Foley

Obama Proposes Cuts To Democracy-Promoting Programs Abroad, Despite GOP Rebukes Over Egypt

HuffingtonPost.com | Elise Foley | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Egypt, 2012 Budget, National Endowment for Democracy, Budget, Gop, Obama Budget, Funding, Mubarak, Democracy, Democracy Fund, Ngos, Civil Society, Democracy in Egypt, Republicans, Middle East Protests, World News

WASHINGTON -- Amid the tumultuous revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt, Republicans have criticized President Barack Obama for failing to adequately suppo...

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A 3D Approach to US Foreign Policy

Lisa Schirch | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Usaid, Politics, Department of Defense, Search for Common Ground, Diplomacy, Development, Civil Society, 3d-Security-Initiative, State Department, Military Budget, Foreign Policy, Human Security, Politics News
Lisa Schirch

What does it mean for the US to take a 3D -- development, diplomacy, and defense -- approach to foreign policy?

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"The People Are Not Ready for Democracy!" Announces the Tyrant

Benjamin R. Barber | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Omar Suleiman, Hosni Mubarak, Democracy, Civil Society, Egypt Revolution, Egypt, World News
Benjamin R. Barber

Egyptian protesters are being asked to choose between revolution and democracy, and if this is the only choice they are allowed to have, then I say go for revolution.

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Egypt: From Revolt to Change

Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Civil Society, Middle East, Wael Ghonim, Egypt Protest, Hosni Mubarak, Khaled Saeed, Egypt Revolution, Alexandria Protests, World News
Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi

Torture and intimidation of citizens are routine and unpunished in Egypt. This will change only if there is a seismic shift in the country's leadership.

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Making Business Succeed

Stan Sorscher | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Fair Trade, Lesser America, Social Contract, Middle Class, Globalization, Make Business Succeed, Free Trade, Gilded Age, National Industrial Policy, Civil Society, Industrial Policy, Bill Moyers, Winner-Take-All Politics, Business News
Stan Sorscher

To get into balance, we need to restore the social contract -- the deal that public resources are rightly used to promote business, and in exchange, businesses recognize a duty to shared prosperity.

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