Fall 2007, No. 6

Every three months Democracy brings you the latest in progressive thinking, whether it be Mark Schmitt’s widely read critique of the campaign finance reform movement (“Mismatching Funds,” Issue #4) or Elizabeth Warren’s influential proposal for a Financial Product Safety Commission (“Unsafe at Any Rate,” Issue #5), which quickly appeared as a plank in John Edwards’ campaign platform.

Our current issue, which you have just received, is one of our most important yet. Eschewing our usual format, we have dedicated the bulk of our front section to a groundbreaking symposium on the future of American policy in the Middle East. Entitled “After Iraq,” the symposium includes contributions from a dozen leading foreign-policy progressives, from terrorism expert Peter Bergen to Carnegie Endowment President Jessica Tuchman Mathews. We also have two other features, both on pressing economic issues: One, by Bill Clinton’s economic adviser, Gene Sperling, examines how progressives can embrace policies that both raise the economic tide and make sure that the tide lifts all boats equally; the other, by business leader Bernard Schwartz and New America Foundation Fellow Sherle Schwenninger, argues that progressives should resist pressure to focus on budget reduction and instead look for ways to boost public investment. We also have several strong book reviews in the issue, with contributions from Gregg Easterbrook, Tom Bender, and Mary Frances Berry.

Back Issues Archive

Symposium

After Iraq: A Symposium

When it comes to Iraq, Washington is still debating what Americans have already decided: that a withdrawal of troops is needed and is coming. Whether it happens under the watch of George W. Bush or the next president, we can...

By Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny

2 MIN READ

Restore Trust in America's Leadership

By Ivo Daalder and James Lindsay

8 MIN READ

Reinvigorate Nuclear Nonproliferation

By Jessica Tuchman Mathews

7 MIN READ

Pursue a New Freedom Agenda

By Larry Diamond

8 MIN READ

Strengthen Regional Cooperation

By Charles Kupchan

7 MIN READ

No Genocide, No Al Qaeda, No Division of Iraq

By Shawn Brimley Michèle Flournoy

7 MIN READ

Rejoin the Battle of Ideas

By Will Marshall

7 MIN READ

Engage Iran

By Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh

8 MIN READ

Tend to Turkey

By Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall

8 MIN READ

Fight Al Qaeda

By Peter Bergen

9 MIN READ

Promote Liberal Democracy

By David Makovsky

8 MIN READ

Features

Public Investment Works

Since 1993, balanced budgets have been liberals' holy grail. It's time to reconsider.

By Sherle Schwenninger

22 MIN READ

Rising-Tide Economics

In the twenty-first-century economy, growth and equality must go hand in hand.

By Gene Sperling

26 MIN READ

Book Reviews

Brown Out?

The Supreme Court's landmark decision is coming under fire. Why it's worth defending.

By Mary Frances Berry

15 MIN READ

Green Day

To fight climate change, progressives need a vision of the future that's worth fighting for.

By Gregg Easterbrook

11 MIN READ

Power Broken

To build great cities, we need more citizen input - not another Robert Moses.

By Thomas Bender

15 MIN READ

The Great Oil Race

Will the new African oil rush doom these countries or save them?

By Stèphanie Giry

15 MIN READ

Responses

System Failure

Shaking up the bureaucracy is the first step to improving America's schools. A response to Jason Kamras and Andrew Rotherham.

By Eli Broad

9 MIN READ

Not Left for Dead

Why red scare attacks on liberalism are red herrings. A response to Fred Siegel.

By Paul Starr

10 MIN READ

Recounting

The War on the War on Poverty

Hey, hey, the case for LBJ.

By Clay Risen

9 MIN READ

Editor's Note

Editors' Note

The editors introduce Issue #6.

By Kenneth Baer and Andrei Cherny

3 MIN READ

Letters

Letters to the Editor

Letters from our readers

By Democracy Readers

4 MIN READ

Back Issues Archive