So We’re Not Very Socially Mobile
The theme for this week’s Issues in Education Policy class is social mobility. Specifically, the general consensus is that America, the swash-buckling, individualism-driven, land of opportunity doesn’t provide as many “rags to riches” stories as other industrialized nations around the world. You know that feeling of reading through pages and pages of depressing statistics, to the point that your eyes start to glaze? To save you from horrendous reminders of grad school, here’s a brief summary of the findings: Read more
Raila Odinga To Be Appointed Prime Minister
by Wangari Kebuchi on February 28, 2008 in Blog
Raila Odinga will be Kenya’s new Prime Minister as of the agreement signed today by himself and President Kibaki.
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=117874
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7268903.stm
Took Negotiations? I Have The Perfect Job For You!
by Wangari Kebuchi on February 27, 2008 in Blog
As constitution review is on the mind of Kenyans and Cameroonians alike, and South Africa reels from yet another shocking racist event, Kofi Annan and President Kikwete (TZ) are pulling out their hair at the frustrations of negotiations (woe is me for not having taken Professor Mandell’s class…..).
Apparently things disintegrated when one minister on the PNU side got all hot and bothered by the process - and didn’t appreciate Annan’s interjection while he was trying to explain just why Kibaki should retain all his constitutional powers. But Kikwete was as swift as a swara (antelope) and got the process back on track. I’m feeling a BATNA coming on (like I really know what that means)!
So polish those resumes negotiators! Annan is looking like he wants to leave (my friend Philip told me that we are hogging him anyway).
Bright side to events this week? No more planned ODM riots in Kenya on Thursday!!!! YEAH! (though for those who had cleared their schedule for some good ol’ rioting, never fear, South Africa has scheduled theirs for the same day)
More on the Lack of a National Urban Agenda
Two articles talk about the presidential candidates’ lack of comprehensive urban agendas. Harvard economist Edward Glaeser wrote an article in January that analyzes the policies of the major presidential candidates and explains why they fall short. The recent article by Bruce Katz from the Brookings Institution argues that candidates should pay more attention to cities because they are the drivers of the nation’s economy. Katz goes on to summarize how cities spur innovation. Both articles talk about how the lack of clear, overarching goals leads to policies that pull in different directions. The articles also argue that changes in the national economy require policies focused on innovation and people. However, the Katz article emphasizes the importance of investing in certain industries and places, which is an approach that Glaeser rejects in his article.
The Katz article reads like a call for help, whereas Glaeser goes beyond the argument for why cities matter and critiques each candidate’s urban policies. For example, Glaeser makes the good point that education policy is a central part of urban development and applauds Clinton for focusing on the issue. The following quote from the Glaeser article is especially interesting: “Republicans now ignore cities altogether, and Democratic urban policies cater too much to well-organized urban interests. We need national politicians to pay more attention to urban problems, and this will only happen when we start judging them on their urban policies.”
International Idols
by Naseem Khuri on February 27, 2008 in Features
Lincy Zhu (MPA/ID1), Yang Wang (MPP1), Carol Yu (MPP1) and Chun Bao (MPP1) belt out a spirited rendition of a Chinese song at the inaugural HKS International Night on February 22. Credit: Naseem Khuri
Curling to Victory
by Naseem Khuri on February 27, 2008 in Culture
Tucked away in the anonymous Boston suburb of Wayland is Broomstone’s, a club dedicated solely to the arcane sport of curling. Mostly unknown to the American public, the pastime affectionately known as “Canadian shuffleboard on ice” is gaining a (tiny) following south of the border.
The Big Hassle to the Big Apple
by Teal Pennebaker on February 27, 2008 in Culture
Before I moved to New England, I had this really romantic notion of life “out East,” as we Texans referred to cities along the eastern seaboard. I envisioned myself wearing a cute pea coat and fashionable go-go boots (hey, this was in the ‘90s when Dawson’s Creek was innovative television) and commuting regularly to New York.
Talking Heads
by Naseem Khuri on February 27, 2008 in Culture
The question: When you think of Executive Education, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Faith Lines
by Tomohiro Hamakawa on February 27, 2008 in Features
Serta Larung Monastery
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No Longer a Beacon of Hope
by Alagi Yorro Jallow on February 27, 2008 in Features
The Editor
