International Interagency Process

Description

Bernard Carreau of the National Defense University, Nadia Schadlow of the Smith Richardson Foundation, Heather A. Coyne of the United States Institute for Peace, and Frank Offman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute discuss several questions related to international interagency policy: "Who has the lead on the ground overseas?," "Is the military the supporting or supported actor?," "What are the implications?," "How can the interagency process contribute to complex operations?," "Should the military prepare to take on more state-building functions?," and "What are the possible problems?"

Dealing with the North Korean Nuclear Threat

Description

Don Oberdorfer of Jon Hopkins University outlines the history of U.S. foreign relations with Korea, from World War II and its division into North and South Korea, through the Korean War, up to the present day and the President George W. Bush's inclusion of North Korea in his "Axis of Evil." Oberdorfer looks particularly at North Korean nuclear production and U.S. and global reactions (and possible future reactions) to this development.

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Islam, Democracy, and the West

Description

Fawaz Gerges of Sarah Lawrence College and Barry Rubin of the Global Research in International Affairs Center explore the political turmoil currently taking place in the Middle East, including the rise to prominence of Islamists in politics. Gerges argues that the Islamist powers rise to fill a vacuum of legitimate political authority. Rubin emphasizes the importance of Arab nationalism in the region's internal and global politics and the staying power of some of the region's regimes.

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Islam, Law, and Human Rights

Description

David Forte of Cleveland State University discusses the development of Islam away from its original written texts, arguing that the legal community, the needs of empire, and tribalism have distorted the religion's spiritual message, resulting in the current harsh treatment of apostates and religious minorities. He includes some comparison of Islam's development to that of Christianity and Judaism.

Video and audio options are available.

Islam in Europe

Description

Jytte Klausen of Brandeis University and Michael Radu of the FPRI Center on Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, and Homeland Security discuss the history and identity of Islam and Muslims in Europe, examining the differences in identity, political activity, and acceptance of Muslims in Europe and in the U.S.

Audio and video options are available.

Islam and Islamism

Description

S. Abdallah Schleifer of the Washington News Bureau, Al Arabiya, compares and contrasts the interpretations of Islam that lead to Islamism and that lead to coexistence with or under other political systems. He focuses particularly on defining what, precisely, Islamism is and what adherents to the ideology believe.

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China's Economy: Problems and Prospects

Description

Nicholas Lardy of the Institute for International Economics examines China's economy as it stands today, including current vast internal gaps in wealth and increasing presence in global trade. He also looks at the changes that led to China's economic growth and at the possible economic future of the country, as well as the impact of China's growth on the world at large. On October 21-22, 2006, FPRI's Marvin Wachman Fund for International Education hosted 50 teachers from 26 states across the country for a weekend of discussion on teaching about China. The History Institute, held in Kenosha, WI, was cosponsored by the Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College.

What Every American Needs to Know about Taiwan

Description

Shelley Rigger of Davidson College outlines what she believes all U.S. students should know about Taiwan, looking also at how the media represents Taiwan internally and globally. On October 21-22, 2006, FPRI's Marvin Wachman Fund for International Education hosted 50 teachers from 26 states across the country for a weekend of discussion on teaching about China. The History Institute, held in Kenosha, WI, was cosponsored by the Clausen Center for World Business, Carthage College.