Spring 2009, No. 12

As the the Bush presidency recedes into the past and the Obama era begins, America stands at the crossroads of history. Will we stick to the same stale ideas that have failed us before? Or will we embrace new thinking that truly lives up to the challenges of the moment and tries to shape our future for the better?

Democracy has always believed that the second question must be answered with a resounding “Yes!” In this issue, Charles Kupchan and Adam Mount, international affairs experts at Georgetown, propose a new, post-Bush progressive foreign policy doctrine: “The Autonomy Rule.” Dalton Conley, an NYU professor and author of the recently released Elsewhere, U.S.A., calls for the creation of an American sovereign wealth fund to strengthen our economy. And Elaine Kamarck, who oversaw some of the most essential reforms of the Clinton years, advises the Obama Administration on the difficulty of not just passing reforms, but implementing them over the long-term. Finally, in addition to our other pieces, take a look at Matt Bai’s article on the political implications of the Internet. Bai, whose reporting for The New York Times Magazine is often agenda-setting, writes that while not all the evidence is in, it seems that the Web is indeed a good thing for our democracy.

Back Issues Archive

Features

Seeking SWF

In this time of global financial crisis, America needs a sovereign wealth fund of its own.

By Dalton Conley

24 MIN READ

TV Guidance

Educators should embrace—not castigate—video games and TV.

By James Paul Gee Michael Levine

22 MIN READ

The Autonomy Rule

The end of Western dominance means a new foreign policy principle is needed to advance international order.

By Charles Kupchan Adam Mount

27 MIN READ

Miracle Mets

Our fifty states matter a lot less than our 100 largest metro areas.

By Bruce Katz Mark Muro Jennifer Bradley

26 MIN READ

Making Crime Pay

We need a new justice system that turns criminals into productive citizens.

By Jim Kessler

20 MIN READ

Book Reviews

Bloggers at the Gate

The Internet hasn't perfected democracy. But it might.

By Matt Bai

13 MIN READ

Ponzi-conomy

When it comes to the financial crisis, everyone carries some blame. Realizing that is the first step toward recovery.

By Paula Dwyer

17 MIN READ

Wrong on Race

Why Barack Obama shouldn't listen to Tom Sugrue.

By Richard Kahlenberg

18 MIN READ

Reinventing Reform

How to make sure big reforms work after the political limelight dims.

By Elaine Kamarck

17 MIN READ

Responses

Passing on Petraeus

Progressives should avoid claiming the surge in Iraq as a validation of their views. A response to Rachel Kleinfeld.

By Spencer Ackerman

10 MIN READ

Moving the Movement

To protect the right to choose, the women's movement must defend not just reproductive rights, but reproductive justice. A response to Gloria Feldt.

By Jessica Arons

10 MIN READ

Recounting

Playground Politics

American education policy isn't the problem. It's education politics that needs to change.

By Clay Risen

10 MIN READ

Editor's Note

Editor's Note

Andrei Cherny introduces Issue #11.

By Andrei Cherny

4 MIN READ

Letters

Letters to the Editor

Letters from our readers

By Democracy Readers

5 MIN READ

Back Issues Archive