In '74 thesis, the seeds of McCain's war views

An essay written for the National War College in 1974 illuminates some of the themes of Sen. John McCain’s political career and the development of his views on foreign policy. (May need to register) Click here for full story

AP photo essay on Cuba's low infant mortality rate

Associated Press photo essay on Cuba's low infant mortality rate

BOOK REVIEW: Head and heart join beautifully in 'At Large and At Small'

Would someone please hire Anne Fadiman to edit another magazine so she'll keep writing essays?

As editor at large of Civilization magazine, Fadiman produced the wonderful pieces, mainly about books, collected in 1998 in "Ex Libris," a volume I've probably bought for more people than any other in my life.

She wrote 11 of the 12 essays in "At Large and At Small" for The American Scholar, which she edited from 1997 to 2004. Their publication in book form is cause for rejoicing.

Elections can't solve all ills

T his year has seen many national elections in Latin America: in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama and Uruguay. And elections are scheduled in Colombia and Brazil, among other countries, in 2010.

Some of these elections are historic -- in El Salvador and Chile, for example -- signifying major changes in political structures and alignments. Almost all are interesting, bringing into view new personalities with diverse, sometimes colorful backgrounds and/or testing the durable appeal of old stalwarts, parties and coalitions.

Elections are worthwhile as a means of popular consultation and participation. They can and should also be important as a means of helping to achieve accountability, by comparing incumbents and their parties with the promises on which they were elected.

quiet revolution in Japan

WASHINGTON -- Some revolutions bring about a dramatic change in government without general strikes or fierce street demonstrations. Such a revolution just took place in Japan, where half a century of almost uninterrupted conservative rule under the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) abruptly ended with the recent elections. In its place, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) will try to establish a European-style labor-party government.

DPJ-led governments will probably be in power for close to a decade, if not longer. It is unlikely that Japan will go socialist under the DPJ, though the party's largest source of support is the 6.8 million-member Rengo labor confederation. Nevertheless, the coming era is likely to bring a paradigm change in how benefits are doled out by the political system.