Huffington Post 02/24/2012 By Michael Shank and Thorben Albrecht As Germany continues to rise as lead survivor — and decision-maker — in the European Union’s economic mire, the U.S. would do well to take a lesson from the country’s economic model, particularly in manufacturing. Losing 4 million jobs over the […]
International Analysis
Consumers, Business Carry the Ball on Climate Change
Vancouver Sun 12/26/2011 By Michael Shank and Melissa Powell As Canada withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol and United Nations climate talks conclude – postponing carbon cuts until 2020 – it is clear that something more than mere nation-state commitments will be needed to counter climate change and reduce global warming. […]
What River Phoenix and $38 Trillion Can Teach Us About Peace
Huffington Post 12/05/2011 By Michael Shank, Joaquin Phoenix and Dot Maver Look at 2011’s most significant events, those that will have an indelible impact on our future. We saw new wars, revolutions, record-breaking global population growth, climate-related disasters and poverty and income inequality statistics. We also witnessed innovative efforts to […]
Iraq’s Lesson for Libya: Thousands of Armed, Young, and Unemployed Men Now Need Jobs
Huffington Post 12/01/2011 By Michael Shank and J.J. Messner With the excitement about Moammar Qaddafi’s downfall beginning to fade, Libya’s new management has begun governing and reconstructing the war-torn nation. Plenty of attention is being paid to the governance angle: Is the National Transitional Council a legitimate, representative body? When […]
US Can Contribute By Acknowledging Cuba’s Reforms
FINANCIAL TIMES 11/23/11 By Michael Shank Sir, With reference to “Come on – Cuba needs help, not hindrance to progress” (November 18): as illuminated in a 98-page report this month from the Center for Democracy in the Americas, Cuba’s recent economic reforms are indicative of a new resolve. President Raúl […]
Cuba’s Economic Reforms Herald New Resolve by Castro; Time for US to Reform Relationship
Huffington Post 11/14/2011 By Michael Shank Things are changing quickly in Cuba. Last week, on November 10, the Cuban government, under President Raul Castro’s leadership, launched its most progressive economic reform initiative yet by legalizing the sale and purchase of private property. For Cuba watchers and Castro critics, this was […]
Economic Reforms Herald Cuba’s New Resolve
Politico 11/12/2011 By Michael Shank Things are changing quickly in Cuba. This week, on Nov. 10, the Cuban government, under President Raul Castro’s leadership launched its most progressive economic reform initiative yet by legalizing the sale and purchase of private property. For Cuba watchers and Castro critics, this is noteworthy […]
For Reconstruction, Put Libyans to Work
ROLL CALL 11/01/11 By Michael Shank and J.J. Messner With the excitement about Moammar Gadhafi’s downfall beginning to fade, Libya’s new management has begun governing and reconstructing the war-torn nation. Plenty of attention is being paid to the governance angle: Is the National Transitional Council a legitimate, representative body? When […]
On 10th Anniversary of Afghan War, Time to Exit Militarized US Foreign Policy
Huffington Post 09/28/2011 By Michael Shank This October 7, 2011, marks the tenth anniversary of the US war in Afghanistan. After expending $4 trillion and thousands of lives, the US needs an exit from the depressing impasse of its militarized foreign policy. With the Pentagon and the CIA countenancing a […]
How the Arab Spring Sprung From a Nonviolent Source
Huffington Post 09/22/2011 By Michael Shank This year, as the world witnesses revolutions erupting throughout North Africa and the Middle East and watches autocrats give way to people power, there is increasing fascination in the West with the nonviolent nature of some of these movements. From policy-makers to the press, […]