U.S. Domestic Policy Publications
U.S. Firearms Trafficking to Guatemala and Mexico
May 13, 2013Goodman's paper discusses U.S. firearms trafficking to Mexico as well as the lesser known phenomenon of the illicit movement of U.S.-origin firearms to Guatemala. more
Congress Takes Recess From Pro Formas
Apr 22, 2013So far this Congress has been spared the brief “pro forma” sessions used to block presidential recess appointments in previous Congresses. Both parties have done it to prevent a president of the other party from filling judicial or executive branch vacancies while Congress is away. A recent court decision however, may change all that. more
Rubber-Band Politics' Snapback Sting
Mar 12, 2013Sometimes Congress’s budget gimmicks snap back and sting. Sequestration (or across the board spending cuts) wasn’t supposed to happen, but something snapped, and everyone got stung. more
Setting Priorities for U.S. Policy in Latin America
Mar 05, 2013The Obama administration will need to establish clear priorities for U.S.–Latin American relations that advance U.S. interests in remarkably changed circumstances. No single approach to the region can guide U.S. policy, nor can policy be successful if it does not recognize the changes in the region over the past decade that are reflected in the hemisphere’s economic and political vitality. more
Educating for Democracy: The Taube Discussion Series on Teaching American Values
Mar 05, 2013What are core American values, and how should they be taught in the nation's classrooms? Four lectures on the subject were presented by the Hon. Sandra Day O'Connor, Dr. Donna E. Shalala, Prof. Erwin Chemerinsky, and Prof. Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot. The lightly edited version of their talks provides thoughts about both basic values and the approaches most likely to be successful with K-12 students. more
Process Gimmicks Can't Replace Policymaking
Jan 24, 2013It is often said that process is policy; that he who makes the rules controls policy outcomes. But in recent years, process has often been used to avoid tough policy choices, especially when it comes to getting government spending under control, writes Don Wolfensberger. more
Manufacturing Matters
Nov 28, 2012Manufacturing plays a key role in the U.S. economy and will continue to do so. Looking ahead, the United States needs a manufacturing strategy that can support the emergence of advanced manufacturing processes that, in conjunction with low-cost energy, can revitalize the U.S. manufacturing sector. more
Strengthening America: Inventing the Future
Nov 28, 2012The U.S. innovation system has enormous strengths, including public and private support for research and development, the world’s best university system, and an entrepreneurial risk-taking culture. But those elements of the system now face
several domestic and international challenges. The United States will need to maintain support for research and development (R&D), improve its education system, and learn from best practices around the world if it is to compete in the 21st century.
more
The Next Industrial Revolution
Nov 20, 2012The next industrial revolution will fundamentally change the way we make things, and where. Government needs to create policy frameworks that support the transition to a new manufacturing paradigm and we also need to have a public conversation about what this world should look like and what policies are needed to make sure that both society and the planet will benefit. more
A 21st Century Vision for U.S. Global Media
Nov 15, 2012Drawing on past work supported by the Cold War International History Program, the A. Ross Johnson and R. Eugene Parta apply lessons from successful U.S. international broadcasting during the Cold War to today’s transformed geopolitical, media, and technological world. They suggest a restatement of mission and corresponding organizational changes to ensure that international broadcasting remains an effective instrument of U.S. soft power – one supporting freedom and democracy abroad in the national interest. more
