Global-related Feb 25, 2013

Reining in the welfare costs

by Hugh Cortazzi

British welfare reform advocates want to replace the current array of benefits with a single system of tax credits. This won't happen soon, however.

Commentary Mar 8, 2012

Rethinking the welfare state

by Hugh Cortazzi

A Japanese father, mother and grownup son were recently reported in the British press to have starved to death rather than face the shame of applying for public relief. Self-reliance and the work ethic are important for economic prosperity and social cohesion, but it ...

Commentary Jan 16, 2012

British influence and the EU

by Hugh Cortazzi

At the European crisis summit in December, David Cameron was snubbed by his European colleagues. His “veto” on accepting treaty changes believed by other members to be necessary to save European economies left Britain isolated. All the other 26 countries were prepared to enter ...

Global-related Dec 16, 2010

Is open diplomacy possible or even desirable?

by Peter Singer

PRINCETON, New Jersey — When the furor erupted over WikiLeaks’ recent release of a quarter-million diplomatic cables, I was reminded of U.S. President Woodrow Wilson’s 1918 speech in which he put forward “Fourteen Points” for a just peace to end World War I. The ...