WQ WHERE HAVE ALL THE WILSON QUARTERLY THE JOBS GONE? SURVEYING THE WORLD OF IDEAS

STILL, GOD HELPS YOU A MODERN SLAVE’S STORY

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

SUMMER 2013 W THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 SURVEYING THE WORLD OF IDEAS V. 37, NUMBER 3 Q PUBLISHED BY THE WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS

COVER STORY FEATURES WHERE HAVE ALL THE “STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” by MELISSA PRITCHARD JOBS GONE? William Mawwin was six years old when Is the American dream over? Chronically high Sudanese raiders snatched him from a unemployment and a widening divide between marketplace and sold him into slavery. rich and poor don’t point to a happy answer. A novelist who befriended him many years But there are good reasons to think such prob- later in Arizona tells his extraordinary story. lems can be conquered. TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM by JOSHUA KUCERA The Central Asian nation has high hopes for what it can accomplish by exploiting the only resource it possesses in abundance.

EDITOR’S COMMENT FINDINGS IN ESSENCE Our survey of notable articles from other journals and magazines

CURRENT BOOKS Reviews of new and noteworthy nonfiction 1. AUTOMATION ANXIETY by DANIEL AKST ABOUT US

2. GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Woodrow Wilson by SARAH CARR International Center for Scholars. ABOVE LEFT: Job seekers line up at a New York City 3. THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS employment fair in 2009 • Photograph: Don Emmert / AFP / Getty by SCOTT WINSHIP ON THE COVER: Pleading for work Photograph: Odilon Dimier / PhotoAlto / Corbis EDITOR’S COMMENT STEVE LAGERFELD is the editor of The Wilson WHAT’S PAST IS Quarterly. Before joining the magazine’s staff in the NOT ALWAYS PAST 1980s, he worked at The The word “slavery” has an antique Public Interest and the Insti- tute for Educational Affairs. sound, like “musket” or “forsooth,” but, His articles and reviews have as headlines periodically remind us, appeared in The Atlantic, the condition remains all-too contem- Harper’s, The New Republic, porary in many parts of the world. In The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. this issue we present an extraordinary essay on slavery that deals not with the headlines but with the life of one crisis of the 1960s, the last period in man, William Mawwin, and the years which new technologies seemed to he spent as a slave after white-robed pose a great threat to American work- raiders swept him away from a Suda- ers. His essay reveals how differently nese marketplace at the age of six. we viewed such economic challenges If Mawwin can be called lucky, it just a few decades ago, and shows that is because he found his way to free- there is much to be learned from that dom and went on to create a new life earlier experience. in the United States and because he Learning is Sarah Carr’s subject, befriended the teacher and novelist specifically the shortcomings of the Melissa Pritchard, who tells his story schooling we provide to the millions with uncommon eloquence. of young people who do not complete Misfortune of a very different kind a bachelor’s degree. And economist is the subject of this issue’s cover “clus- Scott Winship takes a wide angle view ter” of articles on Americans’ anxiety of our current travails, offering some over the economy’s meager produc- surprising grounds for optimism. tion of solid, well-paid jobs. (See the As regular WQ readers know, every video at right for more on this cluster.) issue is packed with more serious writing In keeping with the WQ’s emphasis than I can describe in this space. Let me on historical perspective, we asked quickly point you to Joshua Kucera’s arti- Daniel Akst to revisit the automation cle on Tajikistan’s quest for a silver bullet

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013

EDITOR’S COMMENT EDITOR’S solution to its problems and to Martin articles from other thought-leader pub- Walker’s essay-length review of a new lications, a more relaxed, essayistic char- book on the Battle of Gettysburg, fought acter. We would love to know what you 150 years ago this summer. And we think about this new approach—and have given the pieces in our In Essence about anything else you read in the WQ. section, where we report on significant — Steven Lagerfeld

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 FINDINGS BRIEF NOTES OF INTEREST ON ALL TOPICS 1. 4. The World Next Door Leveling Leviathans Groundhog, yes; Greenwich, no The dimensions of fairness American cities routinely vie to host ... In 2011 Ralph Nader praised the ... 2. 5. Lights Out A Composer Rewrites The right marketing Sour Notes Pollsters consistently find a partisan... As a composer and conductor, Leonard Bernstein was accustomed ...

3. Laws of the Poet A balance of rights from an unbalanced mind “Poets are the unacknowledge...

6. Born Enemies Geopolitics, Freudian Style In The Art of War, Sun Tzu admonishes ...

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Smaller tried cities and towns to snag New York Times reporter uncharitablyNew York noted one of the headlines, “Gangland “Gangland headlines, of the noted one North Side.” on Murder too. the international organization, touted the New Jersey, Morristown, troops Washington’s George site where campedhad duringRevolution. the a - - CHARLES E. ROTKIN / CORBIS building rises in loss: the United Nations Greenwich’s New York City in 1949. New York

- - - New York New York ). The lobbying began in began in The lobbying Univ. Press Univ. host the Olympics, political political Olympics, host the fairs. and world’s conventions, they con In the mid-1940s, the prize: tended for a bigger Charlene United Nations. tells the storyMires in Capital The Race Host to World: of the ( Nations United the Groundhog, yes; Greenwich, no Greenwich, yes; Groundhog, routinely vie to American cities THE WORLD WORLD THE DOOR NEXT 1944, while diplomats met met while diplomats 1944, to discuss the Washington in possibility of a global organi for and continued more zation, Philadelphians years. than two Hall Independence nominated “the shrine which around as buildings the United Nations Bosto should be grouped.” nians argued that European feel at home delegates would operating on with railroads in their city, “rem squares and model” European “the not to mention London,” . . iniscent of . a hear At the Longwood Cricket Club. ing of the UN Preparatory- Commis Chicagoans held up a newspaper sion, livelyto demonstrate the city’s doings;

FINDINGS - - - The New Yorker, The New Yorker, THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Although UN officials initially - officials UN Although re During1945, sites in over the quarrels Some towns proved immune to Unit immune Some proved towns ed Nations mania. When out got word mania. ed Nations was con committee that the selection the Connecticut, sideringGreenwich, else it look that urged meeting town learning that Concord, Upon where. be in the running, might Massachusetts, siting UN that protested residents some their destroy would headquarters there tranquility and desecrate the memory of Let other cities Thoreau. Henry David the capitalangle to become of the world, declared; local author Allen French “pleasantly ought to remain Concord the world.” apart from City—they wanted to York jected New but not in it—the be near a major city, suburbs seemed less appealing after the In late rebuffs. and Concord Greenwich the offered Rockefeller Jr. D. John 1946, UN $8.5 million for of 17 the purchase Deeming it a the East River. on acres satisfactory location at an ideal price, the General Assembly to accept voted gift.Rockefeller’s White that the ideal remarked B. E. be adjacent forhome the UN would in the an attraction to Dinosaur Park, Black Hills featuring life-size beasts cast “Here let the new halls concrete. from White wrote in be built,”

- - - “FDR Interested in Hills as “FDR in Hills as Interested Champions of Rapid City, South South Rapidof Champions City, Peace Capital.” Peace Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, proffered proffered Pennsylvania, Punxsutawney, its claim of the home as the to fame Punxsutawney Day, star of Groundhog the Tuskahoma, Supporters of Phil. former capital Choctaw Nation, of the about diplomats reassure sought to “The residents: Indians . . town’s . the fully are civilized mingle with and that they now are other people so well scarcely noticeable.” especiallywere persistent. Dakota, What appropriate site, more could be a Mount around area the than theysaid, Wash which George from Rushmore, Theodore Thomas Jefferson, ington, and Abraham Lincoln were Roosevelt, influences their beneficent “extending they the world”? add throughout Plus, the of one Black the Hills, helpfully, ed just weren’t attractions, leading area’s they were “beautiful interesting,” and city any that distant from “safely also for of newthe target a be might threat to Rap In response bomb.” the atomic Franklin President id City boosters, Roosevelt sent perfunctory thanks D. a and “interesting suggestion” forthe full- con “receive that it would promise a letter prompted FDR’s sideration.” giddy headlineRapid in The City Daily Journal:

FINDINGS

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ( June 4), Dena M. Gromet, Gromet, ( Dena M. June 4), Proceedings of Academy the National In HENRIK SORENSEN / GETTY IMAGES me green. call Don’t a postdoctoral research fellow at the fellow at the a postdoctoral research Wharton University of Pennsylvania’s coauthors and two School of Business, with Presented the reportresults. on liberals- and conser the alternatives, tended to choose alike the vatives researchers But the bulb. fluorescent of Sciences that compared to the incandescent bulb, to the incandescent bulb, that compared last 9,000 bulb would the fluorescent and cut energyhours longer costs by 75 percent.

- - - A recent experiment that the A recent suggests “so that earnest statesmen, glancing up up glancing that earnest statesmen, “so the instructions from secret their from gaze may the out upon office, home who kept on sovereigns prehistoric they another until perished one fighting the earth.”from gap between Republicansgap between and Democrats hold implicationsmay not just for pol icymakers, but also for marketers. Each but also for marketers. icymakers, participant $2 study was given in the and asked to choose an incan between which cost 50 cents, descent light bulb, which bulb, fluorescent compact a and explained The researchers cost $1.50. divide over global climate change. In a climate global divide over change. Demo- survey in March, Pew conducted twice as likelycrats were as Republicans that shows evidence” “solid that to agree A survey the earth warmer. is getting Polling, Public Policy by conducted of found that 58 percent also in March, Republicans deemed global warming a of Dem to 11 percent compared hoax, those Democrats, among In fact, ocrats. who discerned a global warming hoax Bigfoot by believers outnumbered were (14 percent). The right marketing Pollsters consistently find a partisan LIGHTS OUT LIGHTS OUT

FINDINGS

- - - - - Without Without THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In 1918, while living in London and In 1918, American provid law at the time ed for a 28-year copyright term, re copyrighted for term, a 28-year newable 28 years. for an additional believed that copyright pro Pound Stocks be perpetual. ought to tection reasoned; he expire, don’t bonds and should copyrights? In addition, why limited-term copyright America’s could be sold meant that older works because didn’t publishers cheaply, living authors.” living authors.” have to pay royalties. As Pound saw it, saw it, As Pound royalties. to pay have au- “dead the existing system enabled unjust terms on with thors to compete LAWS OF THE POET POET OF THE LAWS ofA balance rights from mind. an unbalanced legisla the unacknowledged “Poets are Bysshe Shelley Percy world,” tors of the em one century A later, wrote in 1821. inent poet tried at lawmaking, his hand as Robert Spoo in recounts the and Publishing, Piracy, Copyrights: Press). Public Domain (Oxford Univ. writing the poet forliterary reviews, declared that criticand Ezra Pound the United States desperately needed without so decent copyright law, “a He set forth his flummydiddle.” much in a British proposal literary magazine, The New Age.

With time, conservatives and liberals With time, E.O. HOPPE / CORBIS “Flummydiddle” in American copyright law vexed poet Ezra Pound (shown in 1918). It isn’t easy being green. It isn’t change. For now, though, a manufacturer a manufacturer though, now, For change. promoting ought to think twice before friendly. as environmentally products found that placing a small sticker small a found sticker that placing bulb made fluorescent the alongside stickerThe no effect had a difference. conservativesit made but liberals, on markedly less likely choose to the green “Protect message: sticker’s The option. the Environment.” climate global on to agree come may

FINDINGS

- - -

Pound would have have would Pound

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

In the years since, Pound’s literary Pound’s since, In the years been pleased. estate has authorized reprints of his The trust and letters. criticism, poetry, speechesfascist his kept have could ees they allowed Instead, out of print. to collect and publish Press Greenwood In light of his notions them in 1978. about copyright, The dimensions of fairness In 2011, Ralph Nader praised the Occupy Street for movement demand Wall of corporate “the deconcentration ing to Gerald F. But according power.” the University at a professor Davis, Ross School of Busi of Michigan’s and plenty Nader of others got ness, a major issue view, In Davis’s it wrong. movement, that animates the Occupy - actu inequality, income of growth the the demise of theally from has resulted American corporation. LEVELING LEVIATHANS insane, and committed to St. Elizabeths to St. and committed insane, The poet D.C. Washington, in Hospital, who considered MacLeish, Archibald very silly“a some man who had Pound succeeded in getting gifts,” remarkable to moved Pound in 1958. him released he died in 1972. where Italy,

- Along with properly with Along compensating major flaw, one model had Pound’s came copyrightto proposal Pound’s was charged with Pound After the war, writers, Pound wanted to encourage to encourage wanted Pound writers, old to make books—both publishers Un- and new—available to the public. or if an author system, der his proposed work a keep to heirs failed author’s the have publisher would then any in print, the right to print a new of it and edition royalties. the copyright fixed pay owner author ashamed of an earlyAn novel of keeping it out lose the option would of the marketplace. authoriz Constitution The U.S. though. “limitcopyrightsset to for - Congress es perpetual a Times”; copyright would ed Spoo Nonetheless, be unconstitutional. balance “daring” struck a thinks Pound of writers the interests between and those of readers. ventures poet’s of the Another naught. internation- into unfamiliar territory, consequences. graver had al politics, he wrote and 1941 and 1943, Between radio hundred a than more broadcast Aiming at fascist Italy. speeches from the Unitedand in England audiences he ranted and rambled against States, and the Allied Roosevelt, President Jews, military effort. declared in the United States, treason

FINDINGS

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY According to Davis, corporate be Davis, to According Davis notes that income inequality income notes that Davis in employ between This relationship hemoths won’t be returning to the to the be returning hemoths won’t thinks He United States anytime soon. ment concentration and income in and income ment concentration too, equality seems to exist elsewhere, to an earlier Davis. according study by highest which has the world’s Colombia, also has low inequality, level of income in a na concentration; employment no company people, of 47 million tion By than 10,000 people. more employs lowest the of one has Denmark contrast, levelsinequality of the high of one and est levels concentration. of employment the human resourc that Davis suggests may es bureaucracy companies of huge pay a fixed Typically, inequality. reduce scale increases forprovides incremental rises the ranks. through as an employee salaries receive may The top executives but they else’s, than anyone far larger only smallthea of proportion represent force. work company’s Facebook bought it for bought $1 billion. Facebook Statesthe United point in 1968, hit a low concentration—the when employment employed force of the work percentage employers— 10 largest the nation’s by Since the 1980s, its highest. was near has fallen concentration employment inequalityand income risen. has

- - - - - ( June), some U.S. ( and Society Politics U.S. some June), Starting in the 1960s, Davis explains Davis Starting the 1960s, in In the 1990s, cameNext outsourcing. technology outsourcing, without Even in corporations and diversified. ballooned acquired for example, ITT Corporation, and bakeries. mines, copper hotels, analystsfinancial in the 1980s, Then, concluded companies huge that many dis valuable if they were be more would worthwas whole mantled—the than less Often hostile take through the parts. mammothof control took investors overs, sold the them apart, broke corporations, and pocketed the profits. pieces, began jobbing out man companies many ufacturingor distribution com to other some As a result, often overseas. panies, have brand don’t names biggest today’s of annual revenue Nike’s employees. many to Davis, according is nearly $21 billion, the sportswear only giant employs yet With of revenue annual people. 38,000 fewer employs Apple than billion, $156 Meanwhile, 73,000 people worldwide. makes mostthat Chinese company the than has more Foxconn, products, Apple a million employees. boom create lets entrepreneurs now force. a small with ing companies work users and fewer has a billion Facebook Instagram had than 5,000 employees. when only in 2012, a dozen employees

FINDINGS

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY review. “First the Times review. New York “Such goings-on at the New York York “Such New at the goings-on in chiding alone the Schonberg wasn’t During a daylong interview with jour- Brahms’s dynamic indications.” Bern - dynamic indications.” Brahms’s “inagree total he said, was not, stein conception.” Gould’s Mr. ment with “so he felt was that Gould Nonetheless, seriousvalid and an artist must that I take seriously in anything he conceives Hardly an intemperate rant, faith.” good scandalizebut it was enough to classical aficionados. music afterPhilharmonic concert- yesterday Schonberg wrote in a C. Harold noon!” chatty a speech. out to read comes conductor the like the way He says that he doesn’t He . . . concerto. pianist will the play Schonberg washes his hands of it.” to Bernstein’s space devoted as much (He performance. as to Gould’s remarks care for either.) didn’t critic Another faulted Ber conductor. Three soloist. of his “betrayal” nstein’s the Associated days after the concert, are . . . lovers Press“music reported that When about his disclaimer. still talking” Gould stopped performing publicly in In the Bernstein. fans blamed some 1964, Bernstein and Gould biogra since, years endlesslyhave phers episode. the rehashed Bernstein in 1989, Cott nalist Jonathan Excerpts of the told his side of the story.

- - - In what he termed a “small disclaim “small In what he termed a For those who hope to level to eco- hope who the those For er,” Bernstein Carnegie told the Hall er,” a rathhear to about - are “You audience, unorthodox performance say, shall we er, a of the Brahms D Minor Concerto, performance distinctlyfrom different of, even dreamt ever heard—or I’ve any for that matter—in its remarkably broad for broad that matter—in its remarkably departures from tempi and its frequent he made before the eccentricthe before pianist made he Glenn Gould performed with the New Philharmonic. York nial reviews. But in 1962, critics slammed But in 1962, nial reviews. a brief statement him for his words: As a composer and conductor, Leonard Leonard conductor, and composer a As - to unconge Bernstein was accustomed Sour notes A COMPOSER A COMPOSER REWRITES Americans may end up working forAmericans small working end up may organized some locally entities, based er, corporationsas employ as and others shrinkingThe cooperatives. ee-owned in his of the publicly traded corporation, local and more “a foropens the way view, - not he as even though, democraticpath,” likely this path isn’t e-mail, ed in a recent inequality. to diminished income to lead seems that small it playing nomic field, beautiful after all. isn’t

FINDINGS slow” pace. According According pace. slow” THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY I’d personally anything never heard I’d At the rehearsal, “I came stage out on the rehearsal, At and told the audience that they were about and told the audience that they were to hear an extraordinary performance, that introductory remarks about “your new “your introductory about remarks revelatory interpretation of the piece.” and they collaborated Gould agreed, at a first say, what Bernsteinon would and then at the concert public rehearsal the next afternoon. - but I was go life, in my quite so slow because with it ing along this guy was Bernstein recalled. a very talent,” special the piece at Gould came out and played an “extravagantly it lasted nearly 90 minutes. to Bernstein, - (Oxford (Oxford in Stone Rolling In Bernstein’s account, Gould insist account, In Bernstein’s ed that “the answer to the Brahms D to the Brahms D “the answer ed that a glaciallyit to play was slow Minor” triedThe conductor to dissuade tempo. Bernstein was adamant. Gould but him, want warned the orchestra—“I don’t anybody to laugh or protest”—and he warnto needed - he audi thought the have “otherwise would we ence as well; an empty hall at the end of that first he told Diplomatically, movement.” Gould that he wanted to make a few 1990. Cott has now published the whole published Cott has now 1990. Dinner Withthing in Dinner Lenny conversation appeared in appeared conversation Press). Univ. MARVIN KONER / CORBIS MARVIN The photo is from the mid-1950s. to different drummers. marched Gould (left) and Glenn Leonard Bernstein

FINDINGS

- - Dinner (Yale Univ. Press), Press), Univ. (Yale THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY

, Sun Tzu admonishes , Sun Tzu admonishes The Art of War In classical music circles, the flap the flap In classical circles, music ilitary strategists to know the enemy. ilitary strategists the enemy. to know slow. Then, in 1985, critic Alan Rich in 1985, Then, slow. “News unearthed concert. of the a tape Rich in wrote Bernstein,” Mr. for you, “The is 53 total time magazine. Keynote which hap 51 seconds, minutes and than a per- faster 23 seconds pens to be ago.” not long recorded formance you When Cott interviewed Bernstein four apparently the conductor later, years he claimed Now his defense. rejiggered Gould rehearsal, that at the unrecorded sluggishly more than much played had concert. at the recorded of disclaimer” “small Bernstein’s over a century. 1962 has lasted half With it to rest. not lay Lenny may Return From the Natives Return the Natives From BORN ENEMIES style Freudian Geopolitics, In m the British anthro in the 1940s, Twice tried Gorer to help pologist Geoffrey lesson, Tzu’s the United States apply Sun analyzingWorld the Japanese during II and the Soviets of at the dawn War the took Though Gorer War. Cold the to both Japan and the same approach University of Cambridge Soviet Union, Mandler explains in historian Peter - - - - Before the next afternoon’s concert, concert, afternoon’s the next Before a Pulitzer-winning music Tim Page, that Gould As for the contention this time with Schonbergthis time crit and other sim Bernstein made ics in the audience, came Gould then out and, ilar remarks. surprised him by to Bernstein, according playing the concerto brisker at a much “We in rehearsal. he had tempo than like 50 or it in something through got As a result, said Bernstein. so minutes,” his disclaimer and seemed ill tempered bother Gould, But it didn’t gratuitous. men and the two Bernstein maintained, was my angel,” “Glenn close. remained he told Cott. critic and the editor of The Glenn Gould that the 1962 agrees Reader (1984), “I blood. bad any produce concert didn’t talked and we knew Glenn quite well, interview. a recent said in Page about it,” was grate Gould being miffed, from Far conductors between Disagreements ful. Gould told common, and soloists are always in give don’t and conductors Page, as graciously Bernstein as had. changing theblindsided Bernstein by be skepticism may some though, tempo, points out that Bernstein Page in order. the flap at length in a 1983 recounted difference any mention he didn’t essay; performanc two Gould’s between achingly were he implied, es—both,

FINDINGS - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY cogent and useful. The Office of War In- War of The Office and useful. cogent formation distributed memo the Gorer to analysts studying propa Japanese Army it in assigned The U.S. ganda. Under the headline training programs. Time respectfully “Why Japs Japs?,” Are theorysummarized and cited Gorer’s “virile his belief that only discipline from could bring Japan into line. outside”

- - DREW MYERS / CORBIS in the making? Totalitarian - - - American found the theory officials After the attack on Pearl After Pearl the attack on he an After four months, nounced his bold conclusions. nounced his bold conclusions. “Early toilet train and severe ing is the most important sin gle influence in the formation char Japanese of the adult - he wrote in a memo. acter,” cleanliness lapse from is “Any scolding, severe punished by expressing voice the mother’s and often also by and disgust, horror shaking or other physical punishment.” The trauma of toilet training, Gorer rea Gorer The trauma of toilet training, rise gave to a lifelong aggression soned, that foundfew socially out acceptable lets in Japan—hence the “overwhelming lets in Japan—hence the brutality of the Japanese and sadism QED. at war.” the two studies met with with met studies the two sharply receptions. different set Gorer Harbor in 1941, He had Japan. out to master In- never the country. visited “All he told a colleague, deed, the on could go that I know and back stamp of a postage for a couple of room still leave he Undaunted, letters.” love interviewed experts, consulted and read Japanese Americans, in translation. Japanese novels

FINDINGS

- - - - —Stephen Bates —Stephen also published a a also published

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY - anthropolo Led Mead, Margaret by The New LeaderThe New the fools we are.” served, commercial diaper services diaper commercial were served, As a disrupting the mother-child bond. the modern-day American baby result, ripe “psychologically up was growing world up the entire vain in a to blow effort identity.” his own to regain been struggling the gists had to prove swad The social relevance of their work. a setback. dling represented controversy anthropol another In a letter to Mead, a cheerless provided Golden, John ogist, “that Golden wrote, “I fear,” assessment. obviousness kindness and the only pure successes amongst of our discipline’s being branded us from save ‘primitives’ parody, purportedly a Soviet professor’s parody, analysis of the American character: “The bornlog infant proletarian a in cabin was swaddled- in the coarse mus hard-working, lin which the fearless, straight-shooting American frontier primitive her own rippedfrom woman ob “professor” the But, underskirt.” relentlessly. One writer One the his likened relentlessly. scoffedat the Another ory to Nazism. who of anthropologists, pretensions believed that they for could establish - “in caneign policy less time than you unswaddle a baby.”

------, a weekly maga LeaderNew The , After the defeat of the Axis, Gorer Gorer After the defeat of the Axis, Gor Six after years his Japan study, zine published by liberal anticommu zine published by after went Gorer York, nists in New er’s “diaperology,” as one critic as one termed “diaperology,” er’s seemed so compelling. no longer it, have racism may As Mandler notes, of acceptance contributed to the ready while the swaddling the Japan analysis, faith theoryWest’s with the conflicted forthat all freedom peoples yearned and democracy. In addition, such reduc In addition, and democracy. hardlytionism international fostered started Gorer to appear understanding. in the Soviet as—in the words press article—a sin“the of one member of a ister ensemble of the instigators of newwar.” accepted an invitation from Margaret Margaret from invitation an accepted anthropologist prominent the Mead, and founder of the Institute for Inter the Soviet to assess cultural Studies, After a fewof research, months Union. - the treat again zeroed on once in Gorer Soviet mothers tightly ment of infants. he said in 1948. swaddled their babies, the Soviet why people toleratedThat’s a and was unresponsive that government “The often earliest harsh: constraining ‘authority’—the swaddling—is partnot and is not personified.” of the self,

FINDINGS William Mawwin in 2010 JILLIAN ROBINSON

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

Memories of a Sudanese child slave

ARTICLE BY MELISSA PRITCHARD

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY He does not look forwardHe does not look to school has begun to hurt him, but he cannot he but hurtto begun has him, four his left On hand, new a afford one. to the second down missing are fingers His naked back chest and are knuckle. some pinkish scars, with raised, welted More burns. others from beatings, from and skin grafts, knife wounds from scars, careful way In the slow, map his body. socks, he puts on he has taught himself, shoes dress shirt, a neatly ironed jeans, his bed from Across with pointed tips. stands empty a guest room except room, for a twin bed and a chest of drawers. teddy bear sits propped His daughter’s who is six feet William, the pillow. on just sits on sometimes tall and slender, her bed and holds the stuffed bear. Each to spring or winter breaks. holidays, the classroomlengthens from away day openings for mem bad leaves his exile, the public bus to school He takes ories. His car, walks. if he is short of money, or, sat unused has van, an old silver Nissan test. emission since it failed last year’s Surviving it. money to fix got He hasn’t grant disabilityand payments, Pell a on William sparingly lives still but is some His apartment times short the rent. on and management, has changed complex the new policies include strict penalties

MELISSA PRITCHARDMELISSA

T IS MONDAY MORNING IN PHOENIX, IN PHOENIX, MORNING T IS MONDAY William and 33-year-old Arizona, for school. dressed getting Mawwin is Mawwin attends a kickball tournament with Mawwin attends a kickball tournament with By his daughter, Achol, in Arizona in May 2013. Achol, in Arizona in May his daughter,

His right the arman old prosthetic is The prosthetic syrup. color of Hershey’s I

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY When a stranger walks into one’s When walks into one’s a stranger The evening I formallyWilliam met over this tense instinct for instinct this tense over self-preser man this young much how was vation, to offer and me. daughters my two had materially—for Not and has he had his loyalty and by next to nothing—but story his exceptional and by of integrity, survival. a giftdisguised as a potential life, guarded to the narrowest rebuke a gentle burden, then the strengthening of family, notion the capacity to risk generosity, of one’s courage, in one’s increase incremental like some theology, feels like uncreeded loftiest hu ideal made love’s new faith, man by a series of small, ordinary acts. was with his he his hand, and shook a filmmaker friend Ashhurst, Edward hoping to make a documentary about Ed asked for my pro life. William’s what I intrigued by and, fessional help, I agreed. might learn about his process, and WilliamHe and began visiting me, a periodover fell of several we weeks William tell his would into a routine. and then listen, Ed and I would story, possible talk over of us would all three one At strategiesfor the documentary. even flew we Losto to Angeles point, inter shown who had meet a producer I stalled. the project long, But before est. and became busy teaching and traveling,

- -

I was hosting a small fundraiser for the Lost Center in Phoenix, Boys N A SEPTEMBER EVENING IN 2005, N A SEPTEMBER EVENING

too busy to notice the young Sudanese young too busy to notice the man sitting quietly in my beneath a tree his stillness camouflage. like backyard, he will tell isolated how me later, Years was poor, English His felthe night. that emo- and experience kept him cautious, not trust He did people’s tionally distant. his real told no one had and motives introduced Less later, a year than story. Williamto at another Lost event, Boys I extended my hand and was startled by I touched, the plastic palm and fingers when Eventually, lifeless. shiny, brown, “Mom,” man began callingthis young me I felt wary of what I might be obligated what I was com beyond to do or to give fortable with, which, frankly, was not frankly, which, fortable with, is a mythic “mother” word the If much. plen I owned selflessness, of invocation tyin my life, at that point selfishness of What I with a slewalong of richexcuses. shame with some to realize, come would

for late payments. This morning, he he morning, This for payments. late so he for is late and overslept school, bright green his friend’s needs to borrow He drives to geology Cab. Discount ignoring calls the dispatcher, from class, palm of his fingerlessthe heel and hand blackguiding the steering wheel. O

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In Sudan, slavery new is not a phenom In Sudan, enon. Intertribal slave raids, Sudanese Intertribal raids, slave enon. Arabs enslaving southern tribal peoples and the for use and export, personal 19th-centurylucrative slave European tragic partstrade all played in Sudanese during century, 20th the in But history. scarcely two interrupted civil Sudan’s northern raids by slave Arab militia wars, became an especially brutal strategy of the Arabs white-robed Murahaleen, north. down swept armed with Kalashnikovs, raiding and the north horseback, on from seizing villages, burning Dinka and Nuer dec and children, thousands of women imating southern Sudanese tribes de fenseless against modern weaponry and and slavery, government-supported rape, population With the north’s genocide. tribal and the Muslim, predominantly account for the largest number, close to number, for largest the account but slavery is epidem people, 15 million the worldic around and increasing. beings more human Today, than suffer enslavement and a half during the three transatlanticcenturies of the slave trade.

- - - -

ODAY, MORE HUMAN BEINGS SUFFER MORE HUMAN BEINGS SUFFER ODAY, than duringenslavement the and a half centuries three of the

only saw William from time to time. I I Williamonly saw to time. time from slight, some of aware also become had As myself. within opposition unsettling story of being a child William’s as much its I was resisting haunted me, slave terrible to things confided He had pull. never said he had things he Ed and me, the I reasoned, perhaps, told anyone; was simply of I resisted one connection less comfortable Even bearing witness. with the was my fascination to admit again his suffering, details and depth of to get offset an obdurate reluctance by implies after all, Closeness, too close. doesn’t. voyeurism a responsibility that So for a very time my relationship long in uneasy ter Williamwith stalled too, at I held him time, a long For ritory. length. arm’s transatlantic slave trade. The Inter trade. transatlantic slave

national Labor Organization, a Unit Labornational Organization, agency focused labor ed Nations on say would recently—and some rights, conservatively—raised its worldwide estimate of the number of individu als unable to escape various forms of 12 trafficking labor and forced from Africa million to nearlymillion. 21 together region and the Asia-Pacific T

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY tle for 50 more. He has dozens of has dozens sons He tle for 50 more. Duringdry the daughters. and season in conical his family lives cattle camp, roofs thatched mud-walled homes with with Manyuol, while village his in herds cattle the other men and boys, sleeps He in rich savanna grassland. They are his his cattle at night. close to God, to Nhialac, spiritto connection who breathes and moves in all living Manyuol Like all Dinka men, things. beaded is naked but for an elaborately his readiness corset signifying status, and skin forHis another marriage. ash with a ghostly white face are coated made from cattle dung fires. hair, His with cow urinedyed and powdered considered color is a red-gold with ash, is his Manyuol very be beautiful. to name, his grandfather’s name, father’s be the name of nine male generations fore him and unnumbered generations Mawein, is bull-name His him. after color brown-and-white the rare after com He his song-ox. of bull, chosen his stron of Mawein, in praise songs poses caresses of and noblest gest all his bulls, twin curvingthe beast’s horns and his Manyuol Mawein is the tallest of of MaweinManyuol is the tallest the is also He giant. an eight-foot men, a tribal chiefwealthiest, who owns a stars, like thousands, herdvast of cattle, cat 50 wives, has He counting. past - - - After 50 years of war and six years afterAfteryears six and war of years 50 Of the thousands of Dinka and Nuer William free, Mawwin did break peoples of the south mostly of the south peoples animist either and cul divisions religious or Christian, historical, with complex along tural rifts, factors, and environmental agricultural, discoveryoilof vast includingChevron’s reserves and the the south in the 1970s in of Sudaneseintroduction government’s unfortunate, created sharia1983, in law for civil war. conditions if not inevitable, Agreement Peace the Comprehensive the South Sudanese was signed in 2005, in Janu in a historicvoted referendum On July ary Sudan. from 2011 to secede the Republic of South Sudan, 2011, 9, Salva Kiir Mayardit, President led by newest sovereign became the world’s of the Islamist president Today, nation. to continues Omar al-Bashir, Sudan, as 35,000 of as many the existence deny South in Sudanese who remain slaves to cooperate and refuses his country, with South Sudanese- rep government these who want to restore resentatives people to their tribal homes. captured in and children women, men, few es have raids, murahaleen Sudan’s caped to tell their story. and his story begins with his ancestors, the among birth, his before generations Dinka of southern Sudan.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY has largely replaced such has largelyjallabah replaced In 1982, on the cusp of what would what would the cusp of on In 1982, though many men have only one wife. onlywife. men have one many though can marry woman A male a of ghost the rela of his live one infancy, who died in and man, standing in for the dead tives Dinka among exist fathers” “ghost many Because of the early of influence people. Dinka have many British missionaries, to Christianityconverted animist from imported Dressing in cheap, belief. clothes or the loose-fitting Western Arab practices as wearing beaded traditional the naked body corsets or whitening a form dung fires, cow with ash from against protects of decoration that also malarialtsetse flies. mosquitoes and Sudanese the second become civil war, critically was Manyuol two-year-old accident, burned cooking-fire in a home even today, an incident that his family, William is uncomfortable about. talking particularly guesses they feel guilty, that among knows and he his mother, about the whatever is bad Dinka people, dis To past is carefully kept in the past. memories is unhappy on cuss or dwell Because of even inappropriate. impolite, though he still this bears scars from this, William his side and back, on accident never learn may the he that understands details of what happened to him that day. What is that following he does know - - - , “the men mony-jang, Manyuol Mawein was born Feb on Mawein Manyuol belly, and brushes and day each him clean belly, cres white high, Mawein’s ash. with from swaying black tassels cent horns, pierce in the sky new stars their tips, Raisingarms his high, as he walks. the curving imitates Manyuol horns of the he sings as his song-ox, Mawein, the of and number his cattle, beauty the beneficentlongevity of his people, ofspirit God. of Nhialac, ruary 19, 1979, in an army in hospital 1979, ruary 19, children. of six the third southern Sudan, His birth him to nine name connected grand of Dinka - generations or more in group ethnic As the largest fathers. from live Dinka the southernSudan, of the Nile the Bahr el Ghazal region pas- a are and Nile Upper the to basin cattle duringthe herders toral people, whichDecember, begins in dryseason, corn, beans, peanuts, cultivators of and and other grains during the wet millet, The which begins in the spring. season, of Afritallest the continent people on often the Dinka seven or more reach ca, While early European feet in height. giants,” “ghostly calledexplorers them they Upper Nile in the giants,” “gentle or call themselves jieng and in the Bahr el Ghazal region, polygamous, The Dinka are of men.”

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY As for me, obeying was one voice that As for me, was wakened from a sound sleep by a sleep by a sound from was wakened “voice”—one things I strangest of the and nearlyim ever experienced, have describe—butpossible to was this voice not yet me, from coming a command, pay I MUST simple: its directive “me,” for tuition his schooling, William’s for this voice Whatever its source, and books. William Calling not be ignored. would Find out to the point. I got that day, will and books tuition your much how You and let me know. cost next semester, to need you backschool, need to go to Scarcely believing this degree. your get William quit his wild turn of fortune, registered securitynight a as job guard, and with his tuition and, for classes, never miss anoth would paid for, books Up to that point, er semester of college. tried had he to job, with each low-wage classesset aside money for or two one starting with the college, community at (English as a Second Language) ESL when he had his airport At job, series. schedule to accommo asked for a work Each he was fired. date his class times, an uphill struggle become had month life in William’s Somehow, bills. to pay America turned- futile exer had into a trumped poverty. his dreams by cise, and practical, least irrational, most the of in my life. ever done things I have finest - - My first memory Joc, is walking with the river to down to my grandmother, A fisherman me my water. gave get first fish love I used to bring home. to my lie down and next to talk, walk, to She would always make grandmother. first. sureate I feltnever I was a she she was just like a moth grandmother; I hadlife. I joyful a With her, me. erto I think of love my grandmother a lot. and know I canher never every day, that lifehave with her again. William his bills, Unable to pay several months’ stay in a hospital, he he in a hospital, stay several months’ in the city to his parents was returned his grandmother, Soon after, Wau. of - the com him from protect wanting to seven walked days from ing violence, bringto to Ajok of Manyuol village her Becausehis injuries of and with her. live he was the most vulnerable age, young be safer He would of her grandchildren. in the city. than with her, in Ajok, college classcommunity out of dropped es to take a job as a night security guard Hearing this from at a bank in Phoenix. William I worried that his friend Ed, the economic between plummet would hope of an education his sacri - cracks, struggle in the monotonous for ficed I dawn, before One morning, survival.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - - suffer. Put fear a huge suffer. THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY in your heart. The day you got captured got day you The heart. in your job. your start is the day you Simple intimacy sprang up between Simple intimacy sprang up between to you Theyteach I began to find it natural, I began to find as much a matter of pride as affection, to call him my “son.” borrowed his friend’s taxicab; occasion taxicab; friend’s his borrowed to answer he had ally during our sessions, his speech switching rap call, a phone idly English to Arabic to Dinka, from these He kept the caller. on depending increasingly often, shortexchanges or, go let we Together, turned phone. off his in backward and moved of the present that winter morn began with we time; William’s, childhood, ing when a boy’s changed irrevocably. us during these afternoons. At some some At us during these afternoons. across sitting indeterminate moment, as room him in that shadowy from entrusting with terrible me he talked, I memories, pleasant and sometimes a matter of it natural, began to find to call him pride as affection, as much my “son.” - - - To get to my house each day, William to my house each day, get To Soon afterward, William Sooncall began afterward, ing me “Mom.” I found it impossible I found it impossible “Mom.” ing me It felt “Son.” call to him to reciprocate, when he casually And ill-fitting. false, that I might writementioned his story Skittish. was politely I evasive. day, one in a kind of parallel spring, But this past I instinctively, “the voice,” experience to came to feel that though less mystically, So tellto story. his come had time the William came straight weeks, forthree Every to be interviewed. to my home afternoon sat in my back guest room, we the dimness offering a blinds drawn, twilight I hoped would kind of sedative him from sat across I help him feel safe. trying not to a smallon white couch, feel impostoring like some journalist/ and as I asked questions psychologist rapidly of ev word each wrote down William Hours passed with ery answer. a deep white chair, out in stretched white my couch, His chair, talking. hardly and solid in the semidarkness, Remembering details of us. anchored he would his capture and enslavement, - some and cry, down break sometimes each Still, thing he tries never do. to time he left my house he was lighter of in the neutral sanc as if, cheerful, step, literally he had tuary of that back room, left behind. baggage more

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY screams. His uncle is shouting, trying His uncle is shouting, screams. stands the boy but Manyuol, to reach all hypnotized the noise, by very still, He has never the horses. the excitement, When touch wants to one. seen a horse, he thinks him, of in front a man is shot lying dirtthe figure the reddening in is the of one Suddenly, wake up. to going grabs and men Manyuol white-robed back, a horse’s across him hard throws tying his arms and behind the saddle, of 70 is one Manyuol legs with rope. captured and women girls, Dinka boys, Arab militia. that winter morning by - - - nies one of his unclesnies one to ary 1985, six-year-old Manyuol Manyuol six-year-old ary 1985, accompa N A BRIGHT WINTER MORNING IN FEB IN WINTER MORNING N A BRIGHT ru

Mawwin (squatting, lower left) poses in 1994 with friends he describes as fellow Khartoum street persons. friends he describes as fellow Khartoum street persons. Mawwin (squatting, lower left) poses in 1994 with the marketplace. Hearing gunshots, Hearing gunshots, marketplace. the Manyuolbe men must imagines that again days later, Two hunting close by. the boy of his uncle, in the company white robes as men wearing long stares gallop reckless and white headpieces ly into the marketplace on horseback. ly horseback. on into the marketplace children, They seize cattle, Murahaleen. mosquito clothes, blankets, women, Dust is every winter supplies. netting, terrified gunshots, confusion, where, O

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY A A girls and First they shot all the boys four- the walk anymore, who couldn’t five-year-olds.and a ties soldier One “If you us, telling a tree, to little boy this will happen walk anymore, can’t a metal takes the boy, shoots He you.” to from rod the fire, shoves it up the boy’s the There was a party that night, anus. still hanging dead fromboy the tree. tache—he wore a white headscarf, wore headscarf, white a tache—he mus a with guy Arab young ordered them the kids with an AK-47, infrontnotherguy stood of allof “If your open you shut their eyes. to will or you a bullet will hit you eyes, close So you another kid.” shoot to have fires He eyes. your off the gun in front it might or might not hit you. of you; is One little boy jump like a bullet. You the but me,” help mom, “Mom, crying, ankles hands to bound mother is tied, with a rope. time I heard William, with not a trace with not a William, heard I time to the Arab had refer man who of irony, “Master.” held him captive as they shot all the shot all they “First girls who couldn’t boys and and the four- walk anymore, .” five-year-olds

- As William recalled that forced walk, WilliamAs walk, recalled forced that WilliamSometimes what is relates Jotting everything down, I slowly I slowly everythingJotting down, Half will perish before reaching the the willHalf perish reaching before who those walk; forced a 15-day end of less worth of than survive will be sold, into slavery. cattle, Then it expressionless. was flat, his voice stopped to cry. and he broke, the person, second in the remembered a buffer safe providing distance, “you” forward concept dissolves. William’s William’s forward dissolves. concept and syntax is heavy; his diction accent self- hybrid, cobbled from unique, are he uses times, At taught languages. clinical sociology culled phrases from or his grammar psychology often, classes; (In his sentences confusing. is incorrect, lightly I have edited some this essay, phrasing for clarity while William’s of preserving as his his meaning as well style past of speech and transitions from to present.) came is no proper to realize that there no perfect grammar tense for trauma, when he used the word And for pain. strange I thought how for escape, “skip” using a word that was, a contradiction to describemost of us associate with play each I was jarred captivity. running from from overwhelming emotions. When he overwhelming from emotions. Past his tenses frequently blur. speaks, Time as a straight overlap. and present

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY I Y A I One mor Yes. One ofkids was a cousin of the Yes. still in captivity today. he’s mine; two a rope, holding line, In a straight Everyone naked, is together. tied people If ground. cold on you sleep to have you everyonethen has ask, you pee, to need can’t At night you you. up with get to a on step might anything—you see and die. bitten get a scorpion, snake, It happened. yourself. save to ou have If smile, you die. die. you you f are weak, you are then his mother and sister is sick, he dead isshot because nother boy they because are killed with a machete, weeping. die. my grand you I kept thinking about showf emotion, you tied up with be little to too boy, year-old tries go to wakes up cold, the older kids, the firenearer to everyone is sleeping thisthree- orfour- ning, shot. gets around, thinking my grandmother mother, Somehow she me. will come and save me. will save Did you know any of the women or or women of the any know you Did other children? walk? they did make allHow of you oy lay right next to me. He me. lay right nextoy to That little b where we were going. You walk and walk, walk and walk, You where we were going. know where are. you don’t so tired, get you We walked at night because it was cooler it walked at night because We tell we and because couldn’t for cattle, the Rice with insects in it. They forced you Rice with insects in it. diarrhea. you It gave eat it. to blood jerking, was foot His age. my was was coming out of his mouth and nose, he turned his head and smiled straight is the That little boy died. my eyes, into never never, I wouldone person never, me. is a hero He to forget in my life. carried this grabbed rope—he a white when she laughing started girl, little dragged He tried away. push him to we off her tore clothes; tree, a herbehind naked, brother, Her werewatching. all his to jumped up like us, tied my age, his sister leave to yelling started feet, The Arab one said anything. No alone. three times in shot the boy guy turned, The Put chest. in his holes the chest. They taped crying. mother was crying, shot and the next day, her mouth shut, tryingkept baby Her hermouth. the in from milk get to dead the mother. Can you describe the walk? Can you What to eat? you did they give

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY W This A I didn’t understand anything. When anything. understand I didn’t real I ate house, a temporary we to got know I still don’t milk. drank food, fall I sit under a tree, on. going what’s still there. I’m day, Next asleep there. able for sex. By the age of 15 or 16, a of age By the or 16, 15 forable sex. twogirl will have three by or children she will raise and her owners, slave slaves. be to like her, them, five from cite pray the Quran, a times “Dad,” call him had I to with him. day I was Their children, “Mom.” his wife “brothers were my and sisters.” told, two of man, Then with the old more. e walkedoneandahalf days and a Dinka woman her with his sons, I walked four days more with daughter, Arabic. Everyone spoke all the cattle. child to raise as a slave. Girls are valu a slave. as raise to child fiveus, ended up I two and girls. boys name His master. my man, old the with of seven bought family rab picked He was Ahmed Sulaman Jubar. To a little Arabic. I spoke me because more made valuable. you Arabic speak re and I had to “Ali,” named me He “At the slave market everyone is naked, sitting on the ground.” - [a , maybe 30 maybe , lue skirt. lue skirt. e reach Babanusa Babanusa e reach I keep seeing that b A The Ev By the time w By the Do you ever dream about it? ever dream Do you town in western Sudan] in western town Half died or were left, kids are alive. or water. with no food the road, by sick, ked, sitting on the ground. They test They test sitting on the ground. ked, They you— divide over. you look you, If ladies. you young children, women, They you. they separate arerelated, name, your Now one. one by count you, number: Arabic an is identity, your The some girls. 30 kids, six women, They are women Arab do the selecting. do clean, to cook, for to slaves looking The older kids are taken iron. laundry, Then first, olds. the eight-to-11-year children takes seven-to-five. Nobody under five a is with unless that child woman or one of the the women takes everyone market t theslave isna dream sometimes about it. it. dream sometimes about or five wearing a long blue old, years onlyfour re girl, wasonelittle They hung it ripped off her skirt, skirt. a lot of men. by raped She got on a tree. “When will Afterward I die, she said, She walked for my father?” tell you bleeding, naked, that, three days after until she was free.until she died, ery Istill 17. nightuntilIwas

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY W F for Babanusa firstthe to him It time. mewith took Master hen Iwas10, so wewas Ramadan, buy stuff went to The city sheep. goats, cows, sell and to hadbeau this Master was so beautiful! in it live We a city house. tiful house, days the four most beautiful four days, “Why do we asking him, I start ever. why can’t in the jungle with cows, live I ask Why, in the city?” here, we live with rules? tied up, am I living myself, cookies. me buys Master Babanusa, In sweets I see before. I had never tasted cars everywhere,everywhereand I see parents did not Your me: told Master anywhere. go Ididn’t or four years, care of taking you. now I’m you, want one day. yours be All to this is going findI will areThese your wife. a you are part of our family. You brothers. So you cow. special your This will be But it work very hard. feel motivated, Sweet manipulation. psychological is Mind control. talk. youngest son, three months younger three younger months son, youngest loved more the son he than me, than Whenwas around, this son anything. get cattle camp, to go leave, I had to when I lost One time, beaten. at, yelled the fourth son, Ahmad, one of the cows, me find told me, stabbed the cow or After I findhe will kill me. he still it, really gets rough. me, beats me, slaps - - In the mor Y I going to cattle camp, rotating with his rotating cattle camp, to going Master would pray five would Master pray he times a day, Then I start the Quran. was really into black tea with milk, his bread. I cook I cook his bread. with milk, black tea his cook I fold I bed. his too. bread, the I do his laun usually chicken. lunch, bring histea, ning Icook, and using a bucket with water dry, dry. clothes in the sun to Lay his soap. try with his cattle and sheep. When try with his cattle and sheep. she was terrible, his wife would visit, really mean. really, mean like hell, it is the worst time When she comes, there She sits cooking for everybody. yelling, complaining, her coffee all day, crying. have you don’t you the language, understand slapped, beaten, ou’re two For memorize what theyto say. hands and feetmonths they tie your sleep on the ground you every night, Therego. nowhereis to cattle. the with care of take picked to I got After that, his nurse, be My duties: man. the old the mosque for walk him to companion, in Babanusa wife stayed His prayers. and grandchildren. with the children in the coun liked staying My master five later. years rest skip I until down sit never to Two days later, I got my first my got I order— days later, Two take sons, with one of go master’s the water. get to goats the sheep and

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY On Ali’s fifth trip, he walks into Baba- into walks he fifth trip, Ali’s On Babanusa with three other slave kids he kids slave other three with Babanusa are other boys These cattlemet in camp. Af- all Ali. than older 12, and 13, 15, the four of them talk Chol, ter meeting they might escapeabout how captivity next trip their on into the city. They boys. three nusa with the other lets He buys food, them Chol. find they’vethem keep the money just made When Ali says milk. selling cow’s from an- Chol to El Obeid, he wants to go but “I there, can a job for get you swers, four trucks I have me. to pay have you with cattleleaving tonight and peanuts. friends.” three and your I can take you makes his milk money, Chol Ali gives too. out, a way have the other boys sure any allThey runaway now; are slaves get caught gets who body will beaten, be If Ali or be killed. a foot chopped off, the other he knows his own, skips on possibly punished, will boys blamed, be He decides he can onlyif leave killed. so he invents he helps them escape too, telling he will the boys wait in a story, watching the cows, Babanusa overnight, while they in trucks go to other cities bringand cows them back more buy to of the two Believing him, the next day. and trucks, of Chol’s in one off go boys himself in a different by goes the third they have Like Ali, truck to another city. - - - - Ahmed Jubar takes the boy, Ali, to the Ali, Jubar takes the boy, Ahmed people looking like me, Dinka peo like me, looking people Before, I working for themselves. ple, son or may my master’s thought I was all of but when I see grandson, his be Dinka especially in the city, these people my first I get Back people, skip. idea to Babanusa. my dream becomes at camp, I be thinking how I will skip. I start me with will take well have so Master myself I dedicate the city. to back him, his best Become him. to loyal be him, to so he will trustslave me. returns 11, now Ali, Six later, months market in Babanusa for a second time, time, in Babanusa for a second market On a third to sell cattle and buy supplies. with Ahmed’s to go Ali is made trip, who had the one Ahmad, fourth son, beaten him for stabbed and once losing washing and all day, works Ali a cow. taking mountains of clothes, ironing staying four children, care of Ahmad’s al awake all night to watch the cattle, ways terrified Ahmad will kill him. Still, Still, will ways kill terrified Ahmad him. he has an extra in Babanusa with day tea stall, at a and, and his family, Ahmad who tells him about meets an older boy “Babanusa El Obeid. city, an even bigger says. the boy is nothing!” to the tea stall for to look that same boy, a 29-year-old Chol, meets but instead Ali is in This time, Dinka truck driver.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” I [Saint THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Sometimes I walk past this church. church. this past walk Sometimes I runningkids see I fielda in nearby, playing laughing, shouting, falling, day, One them. watch I ball. a with a priest hair and a white with gray name, His me. comes up to mustache speaks He Tarticchio. is Father he says, a red robe, and wears Arabic a white and uses a stick Sudanese slippers, hat, I find walk. to all the out that he helps feeds them clothing, gives street kids, When school. to go them to helps them, kind some car, white little his drives he everybody at waves jeep, of Italian The well loved in El Obeid. He’s him. with a T-shirt me a greenday he gives pictureon ofComboni Daniel Bishop wearing I start it all the time. it, was a missionaryDaniel Comboni conversions with numerous credited in Africa in the 19th century.] start going to Bible study at the church study Bible at the church to going start fish, and drink cow’s milk. Here, inside inside Here, milk. drink and cow’s fish, He works escape. is no there this house, has he months, two The first all the time. walk them children, to watchfamily’s the do all the washing school, to and from to he is made After that, and ironing. and gets all the cleaning, do everything, right. is not done beaten if something even a new name, respite, But a happy Tarticchio. when he meets Father comes

- He will work seven months for seven this months He will work Chol drives to El Obeid, the capital the capital Chol drives to El Obeid, oftruck because that today I am alive my life saved trafficking He driver. me to selling my money, taking me, There given is no help another master. for free. I was a transaction. family and never be paid. Sharing room a familynever and paid. be a 17-year-old with another Dinka slave, lifein El Ali willfind called boy Deng, at where Obeid than cattle worse camp, could hunt, least he could be outdoors, ting down and eating with the man of and eating ting down using the cussing, laughing, the house, the same cups. drinking from same plates, examines him, The wife brings Ali food, he is there. seems happy touches him, of North Kordofan state, and at four the state, of North Kordofan next afternoon Ali to a Muslim delivers sit Chol to see astonished Ali is family. given Chol their money. After they are money. their Chol given to leave dark until Ali waits safely gone, He scared. shaky, is boy The with Chol. El Obeid until they reach relax the can’t next afternoon. free. I was a transaction.” “There is no help given for

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Ea As he did with Ahmed Jubar, William Jubar, As he did with Ahmed a slave. You’re Desperate. poor. You’re believe and want to too, naive, You’re you. tell what people get You then turns mean. he wants, theway you influences person ch care anymore. don’t You it. used to “That was the most most “That was the playing ever, beautiful thing being a kid.” soccer, loyaltyfamily, of the to show a on puts walking the Before even harder. works extra he puts on clothing, kids to school, One house. it off at the cousin’s drops I “Please, he tells the wife, later, month him, Trusting clothes.” need to buy some shopping. money to go him she gives punish you, kill you, for running away. for running away. kill you, you, punish William beaten gets After Chol leaves, to he has to ask permission now more; Deng tells him Chol the house. leave “earned” William’s stealing has been and startstalk about to money all along, city a bigger than El Obeid. Khartoum, William plans Withhim, helping Deng to work He agrees he will how skip. cousin in Khartoum for one for Deng’s and then he will free. be month, -

- - -

HOL STOPS BY THE HOUSE AFTER HOL STOPS BY THE HOUSE AFTER bap now When Ali, four months. tized William, tellshim he has tizedWilliam,

I want t I st

field, but don’t know how. Father Tar Father know how. field, but don’t withthekidson o play munion wafer is food, bread, so every bread, munion wafer is food, The up thereSunday I go and eat it. make explanation of what it is doesn’t fed. be up there but I go to me, sense to slaps Nobody it is peaceful. In church, free and there’s hurts you, nobody you, know any don’t you As a kid, food. clothes, the for go food, the you thing, a bathroom. teaches makes me a goalkeeper, ticchio I sneak out of the After that, me how. soccer play house whenever I can to That was the most with the other kids. soccer, playing thing ever, beautiful a kid. being think the Com I church. Tarticchio’s Father art onSundaysto going Scottish warrior, also called Braveheart. Scottish warrior, because it is so peaceful. One Sunday, One Sunday, so peaceful. it is because me gives me, baptizes Tarticchio Father AfterWilliam. Christian name, a new, that? A Who’s he says. WilliamWallace,

not been paid for any of his work, Chol not been paid for of his work, any to pay have becauseyou that’s answers, price my me back for years, the next two Either that or I will out. for you getting and he can master, to your you return C

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Life the street on has different values. becomes Work Thereemotion. no is the kid who and a silent language, my friend might be me up today beats tomorrow. marketplace is huge, beautiful. The next The next beautiful. is huge, marketplace cousin, he starts for Deng’s working day, selling of cold drinking cups at water he is still After months, two the market. cousin and Deng’s selling water, cups of Since this of his money. is taking half William not the agreement, is not fair, William The cousin finds try leaves. beats his own, ing to sell water on to threatens money, his takes up, him William is learning a pattern kill him. then nice at first, with people—they act He with fear and beatings. you control tries hustling for money at starts over, the days later, Three the marketplace. him and robs beats him, cousin finds So mar- a different he discovers again. and at night he ketplace in the city, He spends rooftops. church sleeps on warehouses, his days hanging around Some trucks. loading forwaiting work offering door-to-door times he goes to is all Work clean houses. wash clothes, He takes pride in how a refuge. he has, forfree. does extra work he works, well William like this for will live 13, Now years. the next five - - - Forgetting. Forgetting. Still A W Emotionless. W Y thing. You wonder, who will treat who will me wonder, You thing. Whowith honesty will and kindness? forlove me just who I am? William his charges off at school drops you. helps God , Nuer. Dinka, if are Nubian, you tell everybody can in Khartoum, nd are cruel of you, advantage Theytake are poor. you because who has al- a person become you you, care for nofamilyto have hen you nothing with life, up on his ready given people nobody, have When you lose. to If have you and they you. beat know it, are protected. you a family,

and cry reach a point and and cry, That feelwhere nothing anymore. you have force to yourself You you. protects who is bad relations with that person you. to cry you are astreet hen you kid, notworth any you’re ou decide and keeps going. When the family re and keeps going. alizes he has run off with the money for they looking him. go him, they gave a few place cousin’s He hides at Deng’s cousin take the the and until he days, a 12-hour to Khartoum, bus together capi the national In Khartoum, ride. William of other Dinka lot a sees tal, He thinks the people standing around.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY A Y At the prison farm, you work 16 hours you At the prison farm, Ninety sleep in this little hut. a day, percent of prison-farm workers are - some Nu Dinka, southern Sudanese, work children, women, Men, bians. ing on this huge, huge farm huge the size of ing on this huge, growing for food Khartoum. a city, working at the stay We no money. have twofter monthswe free, get but forfarm pay an extra week a bus to we decide Instead, Khartoum. ride to earned the money and keep we’ve to Atride in the farm truck the city. to unload the we to have the marketplace, then load wait aroundtruck, all day, can head see. so you light bulb on your putthis to have ou wakeat3a.m., dark, packing in the you’re By 4 a.m., to loading trucks with vegetables, Every corn. other week, okra, matoes, dies from Ifsomebody you a snake bite. in prison bury people you. die there, the trucks for leave By 5 or 6 a.m., the are in you a week, days Seven market. up working at 3 a.m. 8 p.m., by bed stealing from him. The police arrest the the police arrest The him. from stealing water freezing Every in prison, day boys. beaten and they are them, on is thrown is no courtThere date, with switches. driven they are Seven days later, no trial. prisona to farm several outside hours Khartoum. - - -

KEC, ANOTHER STREET KID, BECOMES BECOMES KID, STREET KEC, ANOTHER Hot friend. real first William’s Akec is quick but loyal, tempered

ing, they are riding together theybus public a are ing, climb soldiers when government aboard seven They find and seize all the boys. and includingWilliam and Akec, boys, The young. too who are two release later forsoldiers in Khartoum looking are to put into 17 and up, kids 16 or street military training and then send south William and people. their own to fight with the a bus on to get made Akec are driven toward are and boys three other When the a training camp hours away. all the en route, bus stops somewhere Akec jump out and startboys running. Williamand soccer sta hide in a nearby up looking dium until the soldiers give Catching a public bus back to for them. too frightened they are to go Khartoum, and stop going days, outside for three with work They find center. to the city’s Sleeping an older Dinka man. Manyon, do they sell things, outside his house, for whatever he finds construction work, two for Manyon They work them to do. they he is cheat before discover years of than half less them giving them, ing When he earned. the money they have calls the Manyon out they know, figures William Akec and police and accuses of

to defend William in fights. One morn Williamto defend in fights. A

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY I don But aft T After story. my him tell to want don’t he findsthree weeks, me in the market afraid, Iam trust’t Majok. just work with OK, “OK, and says, world of darkness. ina Ilive er Akec me, leaves Egypt. I like everybody to is going itseems oward theendof 1997, him help asks me to He meet Majok. - help I start a truck, onto load things I am his only Dinka we talk. ing him, since but my Dinka is terrible, worker, I mostly learned it from Akec. you get free get you of accused of being killing like the toughest it becomes someone, when you so happy You’re thing ever. the freedom have your out, start get to did in The same work you dream life. when But do. to paid get you prison, Akec killed in a car accident, gets Wael bad luck it’s out of get this city, says let’s Sudan. for leaves Port He here for us. At least I know where stay. I decide to familiar. it’s I am, William remembers Wael Wael remembers William person sinceas the first to sit was captured he off him and eat down with the same plate.

- - The one nice thing that happens to you you to The one nice thing that happens are to get in prisonwhen you is you will what you all day long about talk Who will be. you out. get do when you or when say, When married, you I get I or what I will eat when a job, I get When a person. when I become out, get you a second life, a dream have life, you when Then, in prison. can forget you’re But misfortune dogs the boys. On On But misfortune dogs the boys. the truck before up again back we are really free. ern Sudanese just run man has off after William Akec and are killing someone. mur of the accused and apprehended Sitting another in shackles in yet der. every lashed beaten, interrogated, jail, be William and his friend won’t night, when later, until seven months released is found and arrested. murderer the real and 1997 when they out, get It is May with a Dinka work find the boys soon They sell used clothes Wael. man named pays them and Wael and market, the in He is like a father to them food. gives as William Wael remembers them. since he was captured person the first him and eat off the with to sit down same plate. their first day of freedom, they wander of freedom, day their first of Khartoum a south into an area where

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- - [a town [a town aying in Wadi Halfa, Halfa, Wadi aying in THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY [a Nile River town northeast town River [a Nile I end up st I am st In “ port, don’t tell anybody you areleaving you anybody tell don’t port, for Egypt,” he says. make money forhustling to a boat boat the Every night, Friday ticket. forleaves Aswan [in Egypt] so after , the place I was supposed to I go six days, tomor leave you me,“OK, when he tells You’ll you. take guy is ready this to row, Majok feel closerarting to to ride in his car between and Khartoum Shendi everybody you Tell Khartoum]of . work for me.” Halfa Wadi to on a train jump I ticket, no with Shendi, lake that straddles a large on the Egypt-Sudan no I have . border] sleep—I’m no place to money for food, Egypt. to on the boat get just waiting to arrestedThen I get for not having a released until get I don’t ticket. train has already left.the boat When I find meet this guy at. to him, “The at 5 p.m. leaves boat me, he tells not Meet me tomorrow at 4 p.m., not 4:05.” 4:01, Sudanese pounds, that’s maybe around maybe that’s pounds, Sudanese crying I am for passport. a fake $200, Later, him that money. when I give I will find me. he overcharged out me. Cheated apass have you anybody tell Don’t - ell Majok I want to go to to go to I want Majok ell F “ Majo “ “ “ One day I t “ ple, and all I got was jail,” I tell him. I him. I tell was jail,” I got and all ple, wife Majok’s Then his help. want don’t convinces me her husband’s story, tells working to back I go guy. a good me he’s for him. 1,000 Majok Ican give inally, but I am not comfortable in his nice in his but I am not comfortable Why? no trust I have in any- house. I cut the leather inside anymore. body moneymy keep pocket, a make shoe, my street A money your trick, kid there. At night I hide my shoe. in your lives burymoney in a condensed-milk can, I’veit in a hole a dug in the ground, so they every walk by place people day, I make money selling suspect. won’t ironing clothes, washing clothes, water, working at the airport- bag cleaning, anything. claim, gage Isay. rich,” You’re live, to hishome meto k brings you. showlet me to it a store.” store, a have I a family, a house, I have tired of I sitinfront the streets. I’m myown store, things. Open sell of it, want a peaceful life.” Egypt. do Egypt? to What want to do you Egypt. fakepapers you Ican to get go in Egypt?”

manypeo I’ve workedfor many, me, stay here, you’ll get paid.” paid.” get you’ll here, stay me,

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY FTER WILLIAM IS FIRED FROM THE THE FIRED FROM WILLIAM IS FTER for a visa—a not having store shoe to the money—he goes visa costs UN office in Cairo and has someone and has someone in Cairo UN office help him fill out an application for a UN out an application forhelp him fill a UN by If he is stopped badge. identification Over this. willat least he have police, he hustles for the next several months, un in Khartoum, money just as he did him til the local finds Catholic church at a factory this one that job, a second plas rubber tires, makes car batteries, before month one there He works tics. in the salt to work he decides he wants of his some digging salt with mines, the factoryinto He goes to quit, friends. until he leave but his boss says he can’t He takes work. paid forgets that day’s William to a machine he has never op a machine that wraps hot erated before, When William rolls. giant plastic onto to how know saying he doesn’t objects, replies, the boss operate the machine, It is Au and walks off. “Figure it out,” wall the Hanging on in 1999. gust 31, worker used to measure of him, front output every- 30 minutes and to mon everyitor 10-minute breaks hours two black-and- is a large for the workers, Because white factory of that clock. William will never the forget clock, 12:04 p.m. time: A

- - I f F I r A I am the I am “ the Sudanese go. I am given food and food I am given the Sudanese go. for workingan empty in exchange room find hard to It’s so in the church. work, there two I stay people. helps the church nally in Cairo. It’s the most beautiful beautiful the most It’s nally in Cairo. my own I can Now start crowded. city, my big dream fulfilled.business, But no have I know nobody, stay? where to What do I eat? food money. be fivebe hundred or six other Sudanese 12 hours. It takes guys. months until I get a job working a job in the get until I months Three months later, back of store. a shoe firedI get a visa. have I don’t because where all church ind aCatholic fi Iam19, ebruary 1998. 22, withmay Cairo, to ide thetrain give the police guy at immigration my guy at immigration the police give left of money. and what’s my passport the stamps nods, the money, takes He ahead.” go “OK, passport. I arrives boat the Aswan, in fter takes my money, smuggles me inside my money, takes on the dock. container plastic this huge for It’s two in that container hours. I’m sweating. I’m breathe, I can’t so hot, container pushes the somebody Finally, wait one more to I have the boat; onto whistle and boat hour until I hear the and climb out. the container can open He heasks. themoney?” Where’s re at3:40.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The factory is hunting for owner William, wanting to get rid wanting to get of him as William, Because of his ac a potential witness. learned that have officials UN cident, other illegal Sudanese are workers bloody pulp. The fingers on his left on hand fingers The pulp. bloody eat William still won’t (Today, gone. are but because not for moral reasons, meat, him reminds or uncooked, cooked meat, the flesh of his arm and hand of how - The Sudanese cowork day.) that looked fourers spend hours at the hospital, tryinglocateto privatea willingdoctor WilThen - to perform surgery. at-home He has heard frightened. liam becomes of Egyptians kill since verified, stories, ing illegals and selling organs for their surgery against any so he decides profit, the Sudanese One of outside a hospital. ID to the UN of badge William’s takes Around tells them what happened. fice, up the UN shows from someone 5 p.m., sur- In Williamtakes and hospital. a to anesthetic doesn’t the gery that night, He can see and feel everything. work. is still the pain so ter Five days later, hospital, another to taken is he rible, for additional run Coptic Christians, by in then to a house somewhere surgery, hospital, the second At to recover. Cairo a Bible in card, get-well a he is given and a crucifix every he will wear Arabic, forday years. - - Two Sudanese workers run over, stop Sudanese run workers over, Two As William attempts to “figure out” out” William“figure As attempts to Much of what William Much of what told me Part of my body is still there, in Egypt. in there, is still of body my Part They take him to a hospital, but William but They take him to a hospital, He is illegal, is not an Egyptian citizen. wants to so no one illegally employed, His right arm is crushed to him. treat At the second hospital, he is given a get-well card, a Bible in Arabic, and a crucifix he will wear every day for years. the machine, and free his mangled right and free the machine, arm and left the machine. hand from tails of the factory in emerged accident scarcely rush. audible a short, roller its giant the machine works, how In snags his right arm and yanks it in. he uses his left hand to try to stinctively, pull it back out. during those three weeks, sitting in the sitting weeks, during those three was of my house, back room shadowy But aside painful for to remember. him the his capture by of the account from of our this was the worst Murahaleen, as the de dropped His voice sessions.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Now the UN officials in Cai- the UN officials Now ment with a security guard a securityment with guard the door. posted outside for ways looking getbegin to ro William quickly out of Egypt. They try relocating him to then then Denmark, Norway, coun but in all three Belgium, paperwork the requisite tries, of 30 days. takes a minimum things Embassy, the U.S. At and within two far faster, move TWA Williamdays a is on with a fewflight out of Cairo and bag, his refugee clothes, During papers. doctor’s some his arm begins hem- the flight, into he begins to go orrhaging; an makes The plane shock. emergency landing in Amster he will the spend where dam, workers. Meanwhile, with his with Meanwhile, workers. William is life still danger, in apart “safe” to a UN moved next 28 days in a hospital. Finally, on January 16, 2000, he is 2000, January on 16, Finally, that in a room I am in this big hotel, My hands down on a cemetery. looks I don’t bandaged. up, are wrapped speak English. I watch the TV, stand at stand TV, the I watch English. speak flown to New York City. William is 20 City. York to New flown old. years - ists of William’s accident or of the illegal accident William’s ists of owner, so today, apparently no record ex apparently no record so today, owner, employed at the factory as well, and they the factory at employed as well, the avert this, To plan to investigate. all of his Sudanese workers fires owner The accident. days two after William’s never investigates UN never follows up, or the factory conditions employment Mawwin hides in a home in Cairo after a 1999 factory accident. Mawwin hides in a home in Cairo after a 1999 factory

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- - Please, Please, THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The doctor changes the bandages the bandages changes The doctor Most of the other came Sudanese guys but there is a “Lost Boys,” hereas differencehuge between the Lost Boys The woman, a refugee from Iraq, un- Iraq, from a refugee The woman, Donalds, the caseworker indicates to the Donalds, who has volunteered Muslim woman, plenty had with them—he to come of the woman food in his apartment! No, He can’t work. don’t his hands answers, fries with She feedsthen French him eat. William and it is not lost on her fingers, to understand him person that the first give to person first the newhis in home, him what he needs—nourishment—is a Muslim. tell these people I haven’t eaten in four days. in four days. eaten I haven’t these people tell I need help. Please, is hurting. My leg William and soon fed is his derstands, As they sit in a Mc food in days. first locks the front door, comes in and finds finds and in comes door, locksfront the is he Thinking William lying in bed. be But she drives to a doctor. him sick, Williamcause speaks only Arabic and he is understands what no one Dinka, in so hungry.I’m I’m trying to tell them. pain. takes and then the woman his leg, on office. Resettlement Refugee the to him he is shaking all but can’t over By then, When he what is wrong. tell anyone the down coming sees a Muslim woman he speaks to her in Arabic. stairs, ------He

I was in so much pain, pain, I was in so much the window, look down at gravestones, down gravestones, at look the window, own my have dream My to was snow. in front sit things. sell shop, of it, William arrives at Sky Harbor Interna PHOENIX, ARIZONA PHOENIX, tional Airport at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb Friday, on Airporttional at 4 p.m. the A caseworker from 2000. ruary 16, Catholic Charities Resettle Refugee She meet him. to is there ment Program drives him to an apartment in Phoenix, with food, him a refrigerator filled shows William is left the in alone then leaves. Sat- Saturday, night, apartment Friday He Sunday night. Sunday, night, urday hands to eat or to use his bandaged can’t the skin graft and has his leg on drink, infected. become tied up again. a slave, it was like being only remem understands no English, bers that during an orientation class in been sternly he had Cairo warned about told never to open in America, dangers never speak to door for reason, the any at anyone. never to stare to strangers, he is depend sick, terrified, Exhausted, ing for his survival whose a woman on who a woman speak, he doesn’t language how know He doesn’t has disappeared. to eat most of the food in the refriger When strange to him. too looks it ator; The drinks he that. juice, some he finds un Monday, caseworker on returns

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY self, fishself, with blueberries for and me, then ate, and sat He cakefor dessert. the library downdrove the road. me to me a library got card He and checked sat with He books. out some children’s teaching me in the library until 2 p.m., books. read fromme to those children’s Jim brought some ESL The next day, In October 2000, I meet a guy named 2000, In October for the education coordinator Achile, Services. Social Achile Catholic at ESL older gentleman this introduces me to in his fifties Jim or sixties named Jim. had two mostly he drove big trucks, this The first time pickup. diesel big Ford he is he picked me up at my apartment, I don’t me. to talking talking, talking, to me took He knowsaying. is he what Thomas for lunch. on 46th and Coco’s for and spinach orders him He steak Six after months his arrival Phoe in nix, William meets Jim, another person person another William meets Jim, nix, William As told who will change his life. he shifted into the past me of this time, be speaking a signal that he would tense, another loss. of yet ment for three years, eventually with five years, forment three men all six young Sudanese roommates, apartmentsharing that a one-bedroom lota is There for month. a $515 rents of his and three of drinking weed, and law. with the into trouble get roommates - - - - William into another apart is moved and me. I was captured when I was and me. The then a street kid. six, a slave, was from walked Lost Boys a jungle to the came then to refugee camp in Kenya, OurAmerican experiences are cities. really sad—many of It’s not the same. died in have had trouble, them have are in prison on or living car accidents, homeless. the street, ment, in a plain but neatly of kept area ment, is a glaringly Palms Arcadia Phoenix. its white two-story apartment complex, trim aqua softened muddy the city’s by and an occasion ubiquitous palm trees The fuchsiaof splash al bougainvillea. mostly with refugees, is filled complex William roommates, has two Sudanese. the Democratic Republic from Malak, Sudan. and Gurang from of the Congo, moves Gurang, with picksMalak fight a after and soon to Ne is relocated out, William in that apart will live braska. As William told me of this As William told into the time, he shifted that hepast tense, a signal of yet would be speaking another loss.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- eason I learned English. eason I learned English. THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY URING ONE INTERVIEW SESSION, I I SESSION, URING ONE INTERVIEW had Williamasked what jobs he’d Stoically, to Arizona. since coming Jim is the r I c es. “What I that day? me tell did you es. now but then, you understand didn’t a It’s I am feeling.” what you I can tell over overand my have in I talk silent I can’t him. tell ever can’t but I heart, ever I can’t at his face. in his eyes, look him. tell show to meet him, to I want one day my degree, This is my associate’s him: Thank you. degree. bachelor’s where sit with the children’s we used to thatlibrary anymore, to go an’t books. same restaurants, sit in the same plac sit in the restaurants, same he ticked them off: delivering pizza for he ticked them off: gum making and Domino’s, John’s Papa parkinga in working candya in factory, as a night working booth at the airport, security guard in a bank downtown. Every security in a bank downtown. guard he would time he applied for a new job, asked disability, his about questioned be let “Don’t could he do the work. how an- he would my arms intimidate you,” and if it doesn’t days, me two “Give swer. your I will respect tell me. out, work Since slavery, his escape from opinion.” William has factoryhis since accident, independence. only thing: wanted one D - ver saw ver ook me out to eat, eat, me out to ook h for me. I couldn’t tell I couldn’t h forme. I The w Jim did so muc That was the last time I e That was the last time The last time Jim t papers to my apartment, then we then went apartment, my to papers School on Indian another restaurant to cor- sat in a far We Street. and 32nd he ordered fish. me again, We ner and, friendsbecame that second time after three months, For restaurant. the in three my apartment times Jim came to the librarya week to and drove me to me English. teach the to him take I’d falive, is Jim him. Can you imagine? Three times a imagine? Can you him. feed to you, weekteach for three to months English, speak foryou free, don’t and you feel? him how you tell can’t so you place. adark orld became After me back at my he dropped Jim. he said something I didn’t apartment, show and when he didn’t understand, I tried find to up the next time, him Jim me told Achile calling Achile. by “When I come York. New had moved to back from my hiking trip next week, Four I’ll number.” his phone you give I learned was dead Achile days later, from a fall. ing, coughing a lot. I worried I lot. coughing a he maybe ing, was sick. we a really went nice fish to place on he remember I Campbell. and 40th chok then started was drinking water,

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - -

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY calls you “Dad,” you feel so proud. feel so proud. you “Dad,” calls you daysHe stays at the hospital, three Up to then, I told people what they want people I told then, Up to I was like a myself. Kept to hear. ed to I didn’t day. day by living empty, ghost, some- I have Today, care my life. about words say I love you, to for, live one to When somebody never hear before. you William and his girlfriend the give On the last day of September 2003, of September last day On the 2003, “When somebody calls you “When somebody ‘Dad,’ you feel so proud.” leaving only once to buy some baby baby leaving only to buy some once On the fifth day, clothes and a car seat. baby a Dinka name, Achol. Achol. a Dinka name, baby William is in school, taking an ESL an ESL taking Williamin school, is A security in to get comes guard class. Hos and he drives to Arrowhead him, He stays all night and two that pital. at 1:45 a.m., 2, On October days more. C-section, daughter is born by William’s Williamand the umbili to cut is there outside the he goes Afterward, cal cord. He told and cries. sits down, building, back inside the time he went me that by on his whole perspective the hospital, life changed. had

a father. a father. I wore black every show I day to deadwas around. walking but still dressing like this in Africa,I started Wearing out of I got captivity. after a better meant a peacefulwhite day, If day for I wore me. white, black and could that meant anything mixed, I dressed almost or bad. good happen, until the day I became always in black, William has a car and a job, and things William has a cara job, and In the long run, no matter what, I what, matter no long run, In the I changed for myself. do things to have my own tire my car when broke down. put your is hard when you Nothing relax your Just focus, it. mind into It is fear that will do it. and you mind, hurt. you gets are almost peaceful for him, when he for him, almost peaceful are Americanmeets an 18-year-old girl the Sudanesewho likes hanging around William when her, guys; meets refugee familyhe offers- to help with some prob calling she is Soon, lems she is having. asking for rides and there. here a lot, I hesitated to As he told me about her, got we while, a “After for details. press been He had he simply said. together,” involved, gotten to have he added, naive, though he still carried of her in a photo his wallet.

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In my apartment, I have a T-shirt that T-shirt a I have In my apartment, Girl” pic- with Achol’s “Daddy’s says I bear the teddy still have I ture on it. she was the day the hospital brought to in my apart on her bed It stays born. ment. Sometimes I sit and hold that Sometimes I sit and hold ment. and try a bear teddy think I’m to not and myselfI am a father, I tell failure. take care of the baby. Although William Although baby. of the take care whenever daughter to see his is allowed for let him to it is still hard he wants, her go. - He is living in an apartment with five He is living in an apartment with five Williamand his girl drives baby the When apartment. friend mother’s her to sick back gets his daughter go and has to William quits his job into the hospital, drops He of his newto take care family. problems are there Soon, out of school. with his girlfriend. saving money for a other Sudanese men, the court when awards of his own, place his daughter once him sole custody of In the meantime, he is financially stable. aunt and uncle his girlfriend’s to are Calgary, Canada. Shown in this 2005 photo taken at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport, Mawwin Airport, Mawwin Sky Harbor International Canada. Shown in this 2005 photo taken at Phoenix’s Calgary, prepares to reunite with Abey. Through acquaintances in the Dinka refugee community, Mawwin learned his brother Abey was living in in Mawwin learned his brother Abey was living Through acquaintances in the Dinka refugee community,

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The f my grandmother Joc’s grave. She died grave. my grandmother Joc’s house still had Her my uncle in 2004. see her I went old inside to in it. living and slept thereroom my first I night. let thought if I could feel her presence, my complete it will back, her know I’m moment for It was a huge happiness. not here, me at first, She’s then empty. my grandmother is not in her room, me in see she’ll think, I Maybe, dead. the spiritual way. when charity activist In June 2010, member. The village is not the village not the village is The village member. different, look People know. I used to married, with two or three grown up, like I loved, people The and kids. wives were all dead. mostly my grandmother, came from out people Still, everywhere My mom had moved crying. and start she and when Ajok, back to fromWau the she fell to came outside and saw me, All these went unconscious. ground, I was dead. she believed years visitwas irst placeIwent to On December 28, 2009, I flew to Wau, Wau, flewI to 2009, 28, December On I arrived Ajok. home drove to then I was anyone tell I didn’t at 3 a.m. I was there believe didn’t coming—I ev- jungle, All the the trees, myself. erything—look different re than you and former NBA basketball star Manute and former NBA family his Bol dies in the United States,

- - - - In Dinka, A jo In North America, the Sudanese refu In North America, long troubles.” after “reward means Achol Ahappiness. y. my daughter is the first is the my daughter of happiness my life. gee network is extensive and strong, deeply and strong, is extensive network gee lost it, Through of tribal culture. reflective - located re and are friendsrelatives and William attends a large In 2005, united. Sudanesegathering meetsand Nashville in William’s man who knew of one a young says He Abey living inis Abey. brothers, Returning to Phoenix, Canada. Calgary, 2005, 17, May and on William calls Abey, the he flies to Calgary with Ed Ashhurst, ily sees him, and in December 2009 he is and in December ily sees him, gift—the a miraculous given opportuni tutoring He has been ty home. to return student in his math class a at Scottsdale and when the stu- Community College, he vol story, William’s father hears dent’s airfare for a trip William’s unteers to pay William has notto Sudan for Christmas. seen his family than 20 years. for more filmmaker. Soon after the brothers’ reunion, reunion, Soon after the brothers’ filmmaker. William learn in Ajok that their relatives When he living in America. is still alive, for the the phone speaks to his father on William the does not mention time, first factoryhis disability. or in Cairo accident his fam He decides to wait until the day

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Every member of the Jubar family denies William had ever been a slave. that—here Ahmad indicates William’s William’s indicates Ahmad that—here neverarm have hand—would and William storya invents to happened. day saying one that trust, Ahmad’s gain him a offered a man had in Babanusa, He taken him away. then ride in a car, been kidnapped! had he run away, hadn’t William a college student says he is now initially in and Ahmad, in America, help William’s asks for soon credulous, Amerian into - son his own getting in William Uneasily reunited, can college. to Babanusa to see travel and Ahmad Every member family. of the the rest including the old of the Jubar family, ever William denies had widow, man’s ever had been been beaten or mistreated, been partThey insist he had of a slave. until cared for, well family, their own choice the poor he made to run away, had William as them, explains to or, After to he returns been kidnapped. William it takes time a long Phoenix, denial, blatant the Jubars’ to process had insistence that he their collective never that he had never been a slave, of them. one any been harmed by

- - - - The old man, Ahmed Jubar, is dead, is dead, Jubar, Ahmed The old man, asks if William will escort Manute’s Williamif asks will escort Manute’s is from Manute for burial. home body from village not far a Dinka Turalei, and Manute’s village of Ajok, William’s “like an known, well father is powerful, Dinka peo or a king among emperor Both families William explained. ple,” distant and are another one know In Phoenix, marriage. by related ly at graduation after attending a cousin’s Manute met Arizona State University, William;they talked and played with William of him has a photo dominoes. another of one self with Manute and He sisters at her wedding. of Manute’s body home to escortagrees Manute’s funeral. his attends and Turalei, to then to Afterward to Cairo, he travels for he searches and, where Khartoum, locates the family that had incredibly, him as a slave. owned William lo further, but investigating the Ahmad, fourth son, catesJubar’s William stabbed him. who had one says Khartoumin is he callsAhmad, and wishes to see the Jubar family sit down men meet, The two again. and immediately de- Ahmad together, ever been had as Ali, William, nies that been a part He had slave. his family’s Why had treated. well family, their of then run off, he run If he hadn’t away?

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In Juba, William a number is offered In Juba, Nations. William or to greet to refuses Nations. of the president escortal-Bashir, Omar later that a news At conference Sudan. William palace, presidential the in day with Salvashakes hands Kiir Mayardit, And South of president Sudan. the first jacket wearing the red 2011, Julyon 9, he bought in America just for this occa- red, William watches as the black, sion, and blue South Sudanese is flag green, listens as He time. raised for the first Rice, Ambassador Mayardit, President William the British secretary, foreign even al- others speak, and many Hague, William it was the will say Later, Bashir. of the day of his life, happiest day best, the forindependence new his country, Republic of South Sudan. Because fluencyhis of jobs. promising of won in English and his education—hard United at least in the but hardly elite, States—he to a new is a valuable asset a literacypercent with a 27 nation rate, population and a poverty51 percent rate, The national rural. that is 83 percent offersgovernment him a job overseeing infrastrucand roads - of building the him to assist hire the UN wants to ture; Southdisabilities in with people Sudan, is interested Wau of and the governor in having him help disabled schoolchil- Liberation The Sudan People’s dren.

. -

N JANUARY 2011, WILLIAM AND ED FLY 2011, WILLIAM AND ED FLY N JANUARY Phoenix to Ajok time from for a third Williamso that - can in the referen vote I wanted to find to wanted I and man old the Without him capturing him. forgive a in America. So I would not be me, from taken captured, being bad thing, I thing. turned a good to my village, show family who I had that to wanted my name how I had changed become, from in the how I live William, Ali to the see to them wanted I now. West differencebetween I was with who who I am today. them—a slave—and And in early July, William with returns in earlyAnd July, to celebrate the birth of the Republic Ed, The new Government of South Sudan. of South Sudan (GOSS) has extended to a number of Sudanesean invitation college students living in America, to help host the William them, among cap the new state’s in Juba, ceremonies wearing an in Juba, day On his first ital. he drives to badge, GOSS press official the airport and escort to greet UN sec- the vice retary general Ban Ki-moon, and Esteban Lazo, of Cuba, president the infamous of Zimbabwe, the president William day, The next Robert Mugabe. to the airportreturns Susan to greet to the United ambassador U.S. Rice,

dum on an independent southern Sudandum on I

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY W And sometimes, though he rarely rarely he though sometimes, And treat differently you People when you them. blame I don’t a disability. have When or they ask how it happened two I have different what happened, firstThe answers. answer I just say, ask any Then they don’t accident.” “An The second answer I say, it. more about And they a long story.” drop it. “It’s nervous.me leftI years six was I when mydisability makes ith myfamily, lose my arm and my fingers,old, then not hurting me because It’s back. I go I’ve dealing with it for been so many now? 13 years 12, is it, years—what But when I old. Since I was 19 years My mom’s handicapped. I’m home, go my my dad’sseeing me, seeing me, a lot of seeing me, other grandmother’s and the rest are of seeing me, the people sadness. crying, thereare a lot of tears, didn’t return to his family’s village after to his family’s return didn’t William Patiently, he escaped captivity. runaway that he was a answers slave. hunt would People property. Someone’s to try dangerous it was too to for him; been he had as a captive, Also, home. go would so he walk at night, to forced to go idea what direction no had have even was. home where in, ask people forspeaks of it or asks help, him about his disability. - - A good thing about Dinka people, they Dinka people, about thing A good when he is very a child young teach what his father’s what his name is, the way all his grandfather’s, name is, So if he ever the 10 generations. back to people he can say who he is, lost, gets and they will return him. will know, will know people the name, And by just are what area from. you what tribe, whether he is in Sudan Sometimes, Movement (the current ruling (the current Movement political in headquartered party in South Sudan, with other politicalJuba) along parties in his potential in interested also are Juba, republic. to the fledgling contribution William And is clear his aspira about set a new to tions example for a culture He wants disability. that sees no value in and education, his example by an set to The disability to let his refusal limit him. even tempting, flattering, job offers are explaining down, but he turns each one to Americathat he needs to return and canhe before earndegree college his help his country in the ways he dreams William agricultural Beyond studies, of. in education and hopes wants to work for model Sudanesea role to be day one war—an inspira by disabled children for all children. perhaps, tion, he people ask him why or America,

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY initially baffled, annoyed by the idea of a the idea by annoyed initially baffled, they a stranger not did “brother,” grown quick and are choose, not did and know He is to callWilliamproud brother. their cel we and when of our family, a member holidays— weddings, ebrate birthdays, these occasions of feelnone complete eventsattends am He I him. without to students in and has spoken involved he A charismatic speaker, in my classes. tells his story without embellishment watched professors I have or self-pity. raptpay attention, and students alike Williamthen ask with tears questions William rare Self-reliant, in their eyes. but if ly or asks for complains anything, if he needs money for some he does, know I unexpected or extra expense, that difficulty, with comes request the he hates asking and has exhausted every he expresses times, At other possibility. a local over and disillusionment anger organization him that invited nonprofit its be than 20 times on to speak more He raised 2003 and 2011. half between formoney organization the at these was paid al yet speaking engagements, and the $500 scholarship most nothing, receive he would been assured he had to was never awarded as compensation being cheated pattern, old an is It him. bitterly reminiscent of what he is owed, in if anyone Yet of his life as a slave.

- -

ILLIAM MAWWIN CAME INTO MY INTO MY CAME ILLIAM MAWWIN life in 2005, sitting, unobserved, unobserved, sitting, life2005, in in my backyard beneath a tree

A lot of W It’s hard for them. I’m nervous, seeing I’m hard for them. It’s cul Dinka And it’s so sad. my family I wake so they try ture, me. please to everything do do for I know how to up, trying right there, they’re but myself, do everything to I’m for me because I didn’t oh, feel, to I start handicapped. but now before, see I was handicapped doing trying all them with there, be to I feel I forthis and this and this me, more. even am handicapped because of the war. Since I’m disabled disabled Since I’m ofbecause the war. their needs. I understand too, inSudanare disabled people

what happened my arm and my hand, firsthen mydaughter askedabout my factory her about ac I told me, to I sorry, “I’m Daddy. Cairo. in cident then hugged me for she said, love you,” It hit me really hard then, a long time. loves me so much. that my daughter W during a party. When he calls me “Mom” When “Mom” he calls me during a party. changed enough, am strong I now, answer to trusting enough, enough, The early doubts I had “Son.” with his motives—was about this stranger’s gone. loyalty feigned or genuine?—have William his credibility, proved ago long daughters, My two to me. his integrity,

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY cue me, I am on my own. I have to to have I own. my on am I me, cue I have and bad. think what is good Imitate my time. Take watch. to watching. when they aren’t people can turn people I learned that good When someone wants bad people. to you something from they treat you, nice until they what they get want. want but I don’t That is the reality, I appreciate treat like that. to people to things good did who people the all the ones who appreciate I even me. I really wish me. to did bad things I could sit down with every one of show them my appre those people, I I wish show forgiveness. ciation, could do that. My life, it teaches me to watch, to to watch, me to it teaches My life, much. too upset or excited not get it only making I’m upset, When I’m breathe every to I have day, worse. If of I think the next to day. I have res there to is no one excited, too get Surrounded by the remnants of a a of remnants the Surrounded by “Now I know how he gets dressed. I’ve I’ve dressed. he gets how I know “Now “What mean?” do you the but do To see? you didn’t “Mom, holiday feast, its store-bought bounty, bounty, its store-bought feast, holiday saying nothing. stood a moment, we tons on his shirt, to get dressed, William dressed, to get his shirt, on tons uses his teeth.” always wondered.” always wondered.”

- - - - cle. OurThanksgiv family celebrated The lighting was wrong in the room, in the room, The lighting was wrong ing as I was in the midst of writing writing in the midst of ing as I was I asked After dinner, story. William’s him if I might try taking a few photo my family needs William, he will find he will find William, my family needs car, a without person, to that his way he loyally, without money—invariably, up. shows I imagined one photo of his scarred of his scarred photo I imagined one the another of him facing upper back, shirt wearing his dress and rus camera, a a bit unsure, I was jacket. set corduroy but when I did, little embarrassed to ask, dramatic anyway. As my daughter and I dramatic anyway. cleaning quietlyworked in the kitchen, dishes, washing and putting away up, she stopped suddenly. mugging for the camera. When I asked for the camera. mugging scar faded in the center about the long, that it was from he answered of his chest, been heated in a a knife that had blade “People then held against his chest. fire, heart had ask if I’ve surgery when they he laughed. see that scar,” and the turnedthe photos out badly, after William realized, I idea, whole been a bit melo had home, gone had William good-naturedly agreed. In front In front William good-naturedly agreed. and my son-in-law, of my older daughter, Half his jacket and shirt he took off. me, around, joking he turned boyish, naked, graphs of him specifically him of graphs for artithis

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU”

- is the author of is the author of THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n eight award-winning books of fiction and and of fiction books eight award-winning will , Palmerino A ninth book, a biography. Bellevuebe published by Literary in Press of English at Arizona A professor 2014. she is the founderthe of State University, which benefits the Goodman Fund, Ashton Project. Writing Afghan Women’s MELISSA PRITCHARD William—Manyuol Mawein—has William—Manyuol Mawein—has Having survived slavery, imprison Having survived slavery, ment, amputation, and nearly and years 30 amputation, ment, a male no longer William, of exile, “ghost a no longer child believed dead, a direct who he is: knows now father,” generations chiefs, descendent of Dinka whose tribal of men named Manyuol, gentleness, by was marked leadership visionary wisdom. and a just, dignity, home. come One of these grandfathers, Manyuol Manyuol grandfathers, of these One feet eight tall blessed and Mawein, wives, many of cattle, with thousands a legendary remains dozens of children, the Dinka. among figure

. - - - use his American educa After his graduation, William Mawwin After his graduation, William Mawwin is now 34 years old. William old. 34 years is now Mawwin told me he was going to reclaim his to reclaimtold me he was going his nine gener inherited from birth name, grandfathersof tribaland ations chiefs tion to return and help the government and help the government to return tion and the people of South Sudan. and this fall he will begin his junior year fallthis and willyear he junior his begin to working at Arizona StateUniversity, in global agribusiness. degree a B.S. ward He intends to Named Manyuol at birth, renamed Ali Ali renamed at birth, Manyuol Named baptizedWilliam Arabhis master, by after a 14th-century Scottish warrior William speaks an Italian priest, by became He and English. Arabic, Dinka, 2009, an American citizen July on 17, began to attend Scottsdale Community and in 2010 began College full-time, in the form assistance of fedreceiving - eral disability payments and federal Pell William - re 2013, 10, May On grants. business in degree associate’s his ceived Scottsdale College, from Community

“STILL, GOD HELPS YOU” JOSHUA KUCERA “Rogun Is A Source Of Endless Light” cheers a roadside sign flanking an image of President Emomali Rahmon. “Rogun Is the Source of National Pride for All Children of Tajikistan,” says the other. TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

Poor, landlocked, and bedeviled by its neighbors, Tajikistan is staking its future on the one resource it has in abundance.

BY JOSHUA KUCERA

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY There is a special sense in which is a special that There into town and roadside signs stillsigns exhort roadside and town into theythough no longer citizenry, the “Rogunquote Lenin Is the or Marx: for All Chil- Pride Source of National “The Establishment Tajikistan.” of dren Plantof the Rogun Hydroelectric Is the Is “Water Tajikistan.” for Bright Future the Source of Life.” than for Tajikistan truerlast slogan is for Geography—and most other countries. the Stalin-erawho drew the officials erstwhile of this Sovietborders repub an unlucky hand. Tajikistan lic—dealt - -

- TOWN OF ROGUN RESEM HE SMALL settlements other remote bles many Giant in the former Soviet Union. JOSHUA KUCERA

factories gone to rustfactories gone empty and con crete apartment blocks, once brightly once apartment crete blocks, achieve a sort of crumbling, now painted, natural grandeur spectacular against set peaks snowcapped surroundings—the about 1,500 Mountains and, of the Alay the town, to next bluff steep a feetdown as a remind Yet, River. Vakhsh rushing and perhaps a portent of er of the past, the occasional cement things to come, truck still steep road chugs the down JOSHUA KUCERA tallest dam, a relatively narrow to be home to the world’s The main street in Rogun, a modest town that hopes feet high.clay and stone “embankment” dam more than 1,000

By T

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM - - - - The THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But Tajikistan is not the only country Tajikistan But nations the two between The conflict the country’s chronic power shortages, shortages, the country’s power chronic a lucra the surpluswhile create would exporttive to power-hungry Pakistan, Rahmon President and China. India, repeatedlyhas of is dam the that said Tajikistan. to “life importance” or death liquid. in that precious with an interest Tajikistan’s water from Downstream, vast into Uzbekistan’s mountains flows is a sig Vakhsh the and fields, cotton nificant tributary important of the Amu Is president, Uzbekistan’s Darya River. fearsdam could the that lam Karimov, interfere cash with that lucrative crop, has threat and top export, Uzbekistan’s being built. it from ened war to prevent in tensions is linked to a global increase for Middlethe In East, water. fresh over - ambitious hydroelec Turkey’s example, fearstric stirred irrigation and plans have Ti - countries in the downstream among Egyptand in there gris-Euphratesbasin, that an Ethiopian dam is talk of war over risingis tributarymajor a on Nile. the of EgyptianA retired general told that his counterpartsPost on Washington “it duty is better decide that active may A to die in battle than to die in thirst.” intelligence report minimized 2012 U.S. state- water-related “a the possibility of in the world anywhere conflict” on-state - - - Afghanistan. Afghanistan. What Tajikistan does have in abun does have Tajikistan What dance is water. Its mountains hold some mountains hold some Its dance is water. and the glaciers, largest of the world’s potential of the country, hydropower ranks among about the size of Iowa, So President world. in the the largest RahmonEmomali has staked the future of his country building the world’s on Electricity in Rogun. here tallest dam, end plant would the hydropower from The conflict between the two nations is linked to a global increase in tensions over fresh water. Ninety-three percent of its surface of its is percent Ninety-three is very which there means mountainous, part As of the demar little arable land. Moscow in the 1920s, cation process glorious the once Silk Tajikistan denied Bukharaof cities Samarqand and Road jewelsthe their of consider Tajiks that putting them in Uzbeki- instead culture, The country is profoundly isolated, stan. and inacces remote either with borders neighbors. with difficult sible or shared of state One indication of the vexed that, is the fact surroundings Tajikistan’s - Tajik during 1990s, the civil war of the fled to istani refugees

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

CORBIS THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY in Central Asia. Two decades after Two in Central Asia. the demise of the Soviet Union, HAT FUTURE COULD COME SOONER FUTURE COULD COME HAT the region’s five now-independent states now-independent five the region’s increasingly isolated from, become have Borders another. one if not hostile to, as corrupt hardened governments, have T for the following decade, but warned for the following decade, water shortages more become “as that in water years, 10 next the beyond acute basins will increasingly be used shared the use of water as a weapon as leverage; or to further also will objectives terrorist likely 10 years.” more beyond become

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM ------. THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Hundred Thousand Fools of Thousand Fools Hundred , “singers switchal “singers shashmaqam, (1999). (1999). The Uzbeks “do not really know not really know “do The Uzbeks ular people is of no significance,” wrote wrote significance,” ular people is of no an early Russian schol Bartold, Vasiliy ar of Central Asia. Rus lamented another what they are,” writing in Ivan Zarubin, sian scholar, “They call themselves the early 1900s. and Kyrgyz Turkmen But their Turks. whichword ‘Sart,’ neighbors call them was a (“Sart” Tajiks.” they also use for ways different used in many plastic term, people in this partby of Central Asia.) In the re Bilingualism was widespread. traditional monophonic austere, gion’s music, language one most unconsciously from to uncommon not is it and other, the to to couplets mixed Tajik Uzbek and find wrote scholar song,” in the same gether LevinTheodore in his study of Central music, Asian think of themselvesthink only as secondarily to living in a particular or district; town particto a belonging of idea the them God really “do not Uzbeks The they are,” know what a Russian scholar lamented 20th century of the early - - - - “It all started in the 1920s,” said one said one “It all started in the 1920s,” focusedprimarily as much extracting on land own their they as canwealth from to cooperate see no need and citizens, As the outside neighbors. with their in the involved world more has become country each to see its has come region, invest for aid, as competition neighbors no And and geopolitical clout. ment, sharply more countries two are odds at Tajikistan. than Uzbekistan and intellectual when Tajikistani prominent con many Like I asked about Rogun. the formerflicts in the lands of Soviet and Tajikistan between the one Union, the by created Uzbekistan was both Un Soviets and kept in check them. by “Tajik” of notions til the 20th century, much have identity didn’t “Uzbek” and at least a millennium of For meaning. people speaking Central Asian history, co languages and other Persian Tajik existed peacefully with those speaking When such languages as Uzbek. Turkic Russian Orientalist scholars arrived in in the late 19th centurythe region after the tsarist by conquest Central Asia’s the confounded by they were empire, that identityfact in Central Asia did of conformnot expectations their to “The settled nationality or ethnicity. Centralof of think Asia population and themselves primarily as Muslims,

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

- - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY HE TWO NEW NATIONS BEGAN THEIR THEIR BEGAN NEW NATIONS HE TWO DuringTa amicablylives enough. jikistan’s civil war, Uzbekistan took took Uzbekistan war, civil jikistan’s Today, both countries stagnate un Today, der the oppressive rule of dictatorships. ruledictatorships. of der the oppressive a global pariahUzbekistan has become including the because labor, it uses forced fields, its cotton to work toil of children, of a small whose output group benefits Both politically businessmen. connected countries from rely heavily remittances on Central where citizens living in Russia, and cleaners, Asian construction workers, com a role play other menial laborers parable to that often Mexican taken by and Central American migrant workers With than more in the United States. Tajikistan a million migrants in Russia, villages emptied of their has seen entire - It is the most remit men. working-age tance-dependent country in the world, the side of the eventualthe side of winners—mem nomenklatura ex-Communist bers of the clansand the regional that supported them. Karimov was instrumentalPresident in president Tajikistan’s installing Rahmon as - time Rahmon re at one Indeed, in 1994. But by father.” “our to Karimovferred as leaving when the civil war ended, 1997, al had the two dead, than 50,000 more each long, Before begun to fall out. ready the other of backing rebel was accusing his regime. overthrowing bent on groups T

- - - When the Soviet Union was formed, When the Soviet was formed, Union fitting the square peg of Central Asians’ peg of CentralAsians’ the square fitting “peo hole of identities into the round in separate living soviet socialist ples” The becamestate policy. republics newboundaries groups large placed and Tajikistan, of Uzbeks in northern people in Uzbekistan. Tajik-speaking The Soviets to codify the proceeded Ta Uzbeks and between differences jiks and standardize languag the two with Uzbek partly cleansed of its es, of purged Tajik elements and Persian Shashmaqam was features. Turkic its officially separated distinct into two grew— tensions Interethnic genres. bitterly about the complained Tajiks of Bukhara “Turkification” loss and and Samarqand—but the Soviets The collapse of the kept the lid on. Soviet the in 1991 removed Union last constraints. from its citizens abroad. from its citizens gross domestic product gross domestic deriving nearly half of its nearly half of deriving in the world, country remittance-dependent remittance-dependent Tajikistan is the most is the most Tajikistan

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY As relations have worsened, Uzbeki worsened, have As relations stan has carried out what Tajikistan calls Tajikistan stan has carried out what Tajikistan’s requires now It “blockade.” a citizens to ob to Uzbekistan traveling and it has mined the border tain a visa, Seventy-six people have since 2000. The Uzbekistanis been killed as a result. blocked natural of have gas shipments repeatedly stopped rail Tajikistan, to case one shipments—in appearing to trouble. Tajikistan’s only real access to to access only real Tajikistan’s trouble. the outside has been via Uzbekistan— and pipelines, nearly all of the railways, the outside world that reach pass roads Karimov’s country. through Afghanistan only opens the door to more

- One huge relative advantage Uzbeki- advantage relative One huge deriving nearly domestic half of its gross its citizens from abroad. product its neighbor is location. stan holds over So once was what of center the at is It - popu with the largest viet Central Asia, almost as much (about 30 million, lation and combined) “stans” as the other four of industry concentration the greatest Tajikistan, and transportation links. is stuck with just seven million people, in an especially isolated corner of this It has boundaries with isolated region. far but they are China and Kyrgyzstan, the country’s centers from population with The border to reach. and difficult THOMAS GRABKA / IAIF farms depend on huge quantities top cotton exporters, but its of waterUzbekistan is one of the world’s from by Uzbek adults and children. condemnation, forced labor in the fields and, despite international Tajikistan

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Tajikistan already has several hydro already Tajikistan power plants, including one at the world’s including at the world’s one plants, power or just at 300 meters, Nurek, highest dam, which could Rogun, under 1,000 feet. was designed by rise meters higher, 35 who began construction in the Soviets, very gotten not had 1976 but 1991. by far It was meant to be part of an integrated systemCentral in which Asian power the dams from be released water would Uzbekistan needed it when in summer, In 2009, Rahmon bragged In 2009, Rahmon journalists to Tajikistani that he had been in two fistfights with Karimov. - jour Tajikistani Rahmon to bragged (in an eventnalists was supposed that been that he had the record) to be off (Once, with Karimov. fistfights in two Kazakh separated by - were the two Nazarbayev, Nursultan president, stan’s Ukrainian by time other the president Leonid Rahmonhe that said Kuchma.) telling Karimov, word, the last had had Samarqand and Bukhara will “Anyway, “We and vowing, day!” be ours again one The will bring Uzbekistan to its knees.” was with he said, do that, he would way the Rogun dam.

- - - - - The divide between the countries countries the between The divide dis countries’ the two Myths aside, putes have become personal. In 2009, In 2009, personal. become putes have fabricate a key attack a terrorist on rail On cargo tariffs. increased line—and have guards border several occasions, the frontier. shots across exchanged more history—or, by has been widened newly histories by invented precisely, seem that these are designed to make it rath traditions ancient states with great of 20th-cen er than artificial creations that has Uzbekistan, For tury Russians. character Turkic the meant emphasizing Tamer of Central Asia and glorifying as he is known Timur, lane (or Amir the 14th-century con in Uzbekistan), rule that Turkic who established queror Middlethe into his reached from East Tajikistan, In capital in Samarqand. a usable the need to fashion meanwhile, of a historicalpast has led to the creation the Ismail Somoni, on centered narrative Samaniddynasty, founderPersian the of which ruled during the eighth and ninth name Somoni’s Bukhara. centuries from tallest mountain, Tajikistan’s graces now the the former Mount Communism; currencyname bears his Tajikistanis’ tales, In each of these national as well. the myth-spinning country that avers territory includedits rival’s was once in its own.

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM ------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But Tajikistan has been vexed by one one by vexed has been Tajikistan But Rahmon tried another tack. In 2009, singularly difficult question: Where Where singularlyquestion: difficult Because it from? will come the money will up to least $2 billion (and cost at foreign the dam, to complete $6 billion) deal with A will be essential. investment collapseda Russian 2007 in company after reportedly the firm con proposed structing a dam only high, 285 meters rather than the full tall 335 meters—not enough to beat the world record. becamePeople’s what the In as known citizens “offered” the government IPO, the opportunity in the shares to buy of about $680 per setting a goal dam, even though per capita income family, Tajiki Most in is about $25 a month. stan saw the effort So as a throwback viet-style campaign to rally public sup But Rahmonrelydid not only on port. at all levels“Government officials PR. extortedand in all money from regions State the U.S. citizens and businesses,” Departmentin its 2010 Human said “Teach Rights Report the country. on employees and government doctors, ers, instructed or their to buy shares were University them. fire would employers their pro to show forced students were certificatesfessors being al share before Businesses were to sit for exams. lowed for be assessed fines told they would

- - - - -

woes and general economic de economic and general woes Rahmon off dusted pendence, S A WAY OUT OF TAJIKISTAN’SS A WAY ENERGY

After 1991, this integrated system this integratedsystem After1991, the old Soviet plans for Rogun. The The the old Soviet plans for Rogun. 3,600 megawatts generate dam would as three as much about of electricity, almost doubling nuclear plants, power easilyThat would capacity. Tajikistan’s meet the country’s a provide needs and surplus for export.

for its cotton crop, while in winter winter while in crop, forcotton its supply would Uzbekistan its neighbor with electricity in plants generated (The burningplentiful natural its gas. Soviet system also included Kyrgyz- as country, upstream another stan, Turkmenistan Kazakhstan as well and sim are there and today downstream, less heated disputes ilar though much these countries.) among Uzbekistan re started falling apart. Tajik and supplies, duced winter power electricity more istan took than it was exercising allotted during the summer, lack of grid disci . . “unfortunatean . Bank dryly noted in World the pline,” amid bitter Last winter, a 2012 report. electricity had for Tajikistanis rural cold, to seven hours a only of an average five have the outages past years, In some day. been far worse. A

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

- - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The same U.S. intelligence report that U.S. The same It was folly of the Soviets to estab lish such a thirsty in this as cotton crop By diverting Central part of the world. they Asian rivers to irrigate the fields, caused ecological the greatest disaster the dryingof the Soviet era: up of the dilap and management Poor AralSea. idated infrastructure compounded have times over. many the water problem for Bank has pushed vari- World The including water conserva ous reforms, in Uzbekistan and utility measures tion to reduce Tajikistan price in increases but neither of electricity, consumption country in changing seems interested preferring to use Rogun for its ways, high-stakes brinksmanship. projects when she visited Tajikistan’s Tajikistan’s visited she when projects in 2011. Dushanbe, capital, over conflicts coming of warned last year the worldwater around noted that also led to have water tensions “historically, than vi water-sharing agreements more is great there In theory, olent conflicts.” Cen in potential for such agreements has the highest per The region tral Asia. capita in the rate of water consumption agriculture is the inefficient and world, While of 75 percent about chief culprit. world in the consumed water the fresh in Central Asia is devoted to agriculture, 90 percent. is over that figure - - - In 2011, the World Bank agreed to to Bank agreed World the In 2011, underwrite technical two assessments Although the of the Rogun proposal. clear it bank has made it does not that a favorable intend to fund the dam, assessment could encourage potential including the Asian Devel investors, and Iran. China, Russia, Bank, opment would of course, With funding, foreign Any geopoliticalcome complications: backer trying to gain clout in Central the conse to weigh have Asia would power quences of alienating regional which The United States, Uzbekistan. the Central on Asian countries relies for various forms of logistics cooperation tiptoed has forAfghanistan, in war the though Secre the Rogun issue, around taryof State Hillary expressed Clinton hydropower of the value about doubts failing to purchase shares.” In the end, end, In the shares.” to purchase failing collectedthe government $200 less than start the dam got on - But work million. according verya though at pace, slow ed, to local residents. It was folly of the Soviets It was folly of a thirsty to establish such in this part crop as cotton of the world.

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY HE WORLD BANK ASSESSMENT IS HE WORLD BANK ASSESSMENT IS at the end scheduled to be released the proj It will not give of this year. There is also a simpler explanation: simpler explanation: is also a There ect blanket approval or disapproval but or disapproval ect blanket approval will variants evaluate different of three of which two would dam, the proposed It goal. 335-meter fallshort Rahmon’s of government, Tajikistan will be up to the cea for his reputation, his legacy.” Oth legacy.” his cea forhis reputation, his who began Rahmon, that ers suggest still farma collective career as leader, in Sovietsees development terms—the certainlydam Rogun allhas - appear the top-down classicances of a Soviet-style, megaproject. is deeply government Rahmon’s money. Ta money in with and anyone corrupt, veryjikistan can be traced through few to the president. of separation degrees one elite appears driven by “Tajikistan’s overwhelming self-enrichment,” motive: concludthe International Crisis Group The Rogun dam ed in a 2009 report. the potential for massive create would obstacle one to In fact, amounts of graft. is that the financing obtaining foreign company power state the of accounting be that would entities Tajik and other government the and opaque, is involved effortshas resisted them to open to get their books. T - - - - Rahmon’s promotion of Rogun has has Rogun of promotion Rahmon’s For Rahmon, Rogun seems to have Rogun seems to have Rahmon, For tion for grandiosetion the and megalomani been accompanied by a growing predilec a growing by accompanied been begun emulating He seems to have acal. personalitythe cults of and Dubai-style in leaders of excesses architectural especiallyAzerbaijan, countries, nearby But Turkmenistan. and Kazakhstan, those countries oil substantial all enjoy Nevertheless, and natural gas income. a on gone years Rahmon has in recent several ornate erecting building spree, formerlynew structures in Dushanbe’s including the massive, modest center, of Nations Doric-columned Palace (which reportedly cost about $300 mil sits largely to build and now empty)lion which, tallest flagpole, and the world’s is visible from topping out at 541 feet, city. almost the entire a symbolictaken on significance greater In Dushanbe, than its practical value. of international and officials diplomats organizations—who nongovernmental a nearlyhave unanimously poor view and his capabilities— of the president has seized he say a single Rogun as on to allsolution of the country’s problems. “Rogun a symbol has become he of how said one of everything,” can free break Dushanbe-basedlongtime diplomat. “He that he has found thinks the pana

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Tajikistan will hold presidential elec will hold presidential Tajikistan Rahmon’s government seems to be seems to be government Rahmon’s tions in November, and though the con in November, tions Rah seem to prevent - would stitution no running for from a fourthmon term, expects suchone a technicality to keep A tryinghim from to power. to hold on popular opposition of the most leader was Party, the Islamic Renaissance party, badly in April. beaten outside his home raided of another pol- home the Police itician shortly after he announced the formation of a new party and charged him with embezzlement and polygamy. to Rahmon Opposition appears to be is nearly and it among universal growing, the educated elite. tightening its controls over society. On society. over tightening its controls I was unable to get visit, my most recent as a journalist to work accreditation official that prevailed in the Soviet era. Karimov Sovietthe in prevailed that era. past in in the interest has even voiced participating modest version in a more the But given project. of the Rogun and his belief—prob acrimony, mutual ably part Rahmon correct—that of why over dam is to exertwants the control Karimovunlikelyis see to Uzbekistan, con anything but harm facility’s in the - a pro-Uzbeki “If were there struction. no doubt Tajikistan, in stan government be attitude to Rogun would Uzbekistan’s in Dushanbe. said an activist different,” ------In theory, the dam could be beneficial the dam could be beneficial In theory, Karimov’s invocation of water wars Karimov’s invocation Uz how It is impossible to predict bekistan will respond if the World Bank World if the bekistan will respond and a funder steps assessment is positive belief in Du It is a common forward. once shanbe that Uzbekistan has plans, to launch the dam is almost complete, air strikes against it or to carry out sab And a terrorist act. disguised as otage the abilityUzbekistan retains to cripple construction efforts with a blockade. Tied in with the existing to Uzbekistan. it could allow the restoration dam, Nurek scheme of the kind of resource-sharing and whoever funds the project, to weigh weigh to and whoeverproject, funds the earlyBut indications have options. those In Febru Tajikistan. for been positive director, regional Bank’s World the ary, said that the findings Jha, Saroj Kumar and water management, safety, dam on flood risk—all that Uzbekistan concerns positive. far, so has raised—were, the ris but given was likely hyperbole, frequency and increasing ing tensions is a risk there of skirmishes, of border Ta between “low-level armed conflict” a to according jikistan and Uzbekistan, for the Carnegie Endowment report by - The United Na International Peace. is tryingtions shuttle diplo to conduct macy countries the two between and has enlisted Kazakhstan mediator. as to act

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM n is a freelance journal- is a freelance THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ist in Washington, D.C., who frequently who frequently D.C., Washington, ist in was This essay writes about Central Asia. the Pulitzer a grant from possible by made CrisisCenter on Reporting. JOSHUA KUCERA but for Tajikistan it’s an issue of survival,” an issue of survival,” it’s Tajikistan but for In a similar said the Dushanbe activist. local analyst a prominent me, told vein, The control. of resisting “It’s a question intelligentsia stillUzbekistan elite and Uz- ‘greater part of Tajikistan consider part a This is official their of bekistan.’ Tajikistan “Now, He added, ideology.” levers to withstand this any have doesn’t be a lever.” This would pressure. ple who generally who generally peo ple Even the government oppose the that building believe the best way for dam is itself from to free Tajikistan stranglehold. Uzbekistan’s

- - - Tajikistan, though I have done so eas done have though I Tajikistan, “For Uzbekistan it’s a political issue, a political Uzbekistan it’s issue, “For Still, there is little dissent within Ta is little dissent within there Still, jikistan on the subject of Rogun. People People the subject of Rogun. jikistan on who generally the government oppose believe that building the dam is the best from itself to free Tajikistan for way those Even stranglehold. Uzbekistan’s be displaced that would in communities was resistance the project—where by during the Sovietstrong come era—have During necessity. to see it as a national Muhiddin Kabiri, IPO, the People’s Islamic Renaissance of the the leader most principled Tajikistan’s and Party partythe said would figure, opposition buy shares. ily on two previous occasions. Govern ilyoccasions. previous two on and declinedment officials to talk to me, local journalists experts and only spoke expressing of anonymity, condition on jour- foreign feara to speaking that unwanted expose them to nalist could even the authorities, from attention about Rogun when their comments positive. were in

TAJIKISTAN’S DREAM

COVER STORY COVER WHERE HAVE ALL THE JOBS GONE?

A chronically bleak job market is breeding unease in a country where prolonged economic gloom is rare. Our authors find glimmers of light in history and the fresh possibilities exposed by today’s trials.

DANIEL AKST on the lessons of the 1960s automation crisis

SARAH CARR on school reform and work

SCOTT WINSHIP on what’s really happening to jobs and wages

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 CHARLES ROTKIN / CORBIS New tires travel like so many hangman’s nooses past a bank of recently installed automated curing presses at a tire factory in 1960. AUTOMATION ANXIETY

The automation crisis of the 1960s created a surge of alarm over technology’s job-killing effects. There is a lot we can learn from it.

BY DANIEL AKST

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY More than a centurya than More since passed has the an the popular press, Judging by swer is yes, and there is plenty and there of alarm is yes, swer people to support some ing data leading JanuaryBetween and 1990 that view. StatesUnited the 6.3 shed January2010, a staggering million manufacturing jobs, has it Since then, percent. 36 of decrease years Four only about 500,000. regained after Re end of the Great the official is still unemployment running cession, 1930, no less an economic sage than than sage economic no less an 1930, Keynes about Maynard John fretted temporary “technological - unemploy grow would whichfeared he ment,” created the number of jobs faster than new technologies. by in 1904 when day that now-celebrated Dublin, crisscrossed creation Joyce’s and for most of that time technology galloped together. ahead and jobs have technological observed, Just as Bloom overall em- reduced not have advances certainly they though have ployment, But now, their jobs. people cost many of machines that are with the advent intelligent and powerful infinitely more imagined than most people could have finally has the day come a century ago, when technology of millions will leave us permanently displaced? - - - but fora different person

(1922), IT’S BEEN SAID, BEEN SAID, (1922), IT’S ULYSSES DANIEL AKST

N packed all of life into a James Joyce be So it shouldn’t single Dublin day.

Notice Bloom’s insights: first, that that first, insights: Bloom’s Notice A pointsman’s back straightened back straightened A pointsman’s itself upright suddenly against a Mr Bloom’s by standard tramway some they invent Couldn’t window. so that the wheel thing automatic but that Well handier? itself much Well his job then? lose fellow would a get but then another fellow would job making the new invention? Surprisingly few grasped have people By technology man could obviate arduous ual labor; second, that this would cost that this would second, ual labor; that it would and third, a job; somebody a job, create also altogether. Aristo did. as Joyce as well this process wove looms the that if out pointed tle we’d themselves, and the lyres played fewerneed things. these do to people in 19th-century active The Luddites, take the mechanization didn’t England, in And of textile making lying down. surprising in the that he found room for novel Leopold to tackle the Bloom of technologicalproblem disruption: I

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY magazine held up an example in magazine held up an Life 1963, showing a picture of a device a picture called showing 1963, in an innovative the Milwaukee-Matic, by surrounded dustrial machining tool, “There it could replace. the 18 workers 180 Milwaukee-Maticsare in operation in a official and a union in the U.S., plant in which it was installed reported: ‘There of no need for 40 percent is now of our ma- 50 percent our toolmakers, Without a shorter work chine operators. of our members will 60 percent week, be out of a job.’” Automation, seen Automation, seen of the industrial crime, appeared a likely culprit for unemployment. loitering in the vicinity loitering in the vicinity at an ever more rapid rate. Before World World Before rapid rate. everat an more 30 of an average taken it had I, War for a technologicalyears innovation to During product. yield a commercial taking only it was nine. the early 1960s, Kennedy and in the unemployment Yet stubborn early remained years Johnson at one seven percent reaching ly high, seen loitering in the Automation, point. appeared vicinity of the industrial crime, a likely culprit.

- - -

ISTORY CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON ON CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ISTORY It was in the mid our concerns. dle of the last century that the

Economists, struggling to disentangle Economists, United Statesto encounter last seemed technologies today’s on job-destroying (The of the 1970s woes economic scale. mostly blamed—at least ’80s were and Japanese im- in the popular mind—on was a hot topic in ports.) Automation social scientists, the media and among It was a and policymakers. pundits, time of unsettlingly rapid technological - Productivi like our own. much change, and technical ty rapidly, was increasing discoveries—think of television and transistors—were being commercialized transistors—were the effects of technology, trade, and oth trade, the effects technology, of given up even looking for work. for up even work. looking given at a recession-like rate of around 7.5 7.5 rate of around recession-like at a of Americans and millions have percent, a certain have to answer don’t er forces, time is dif of whether this the question an MIT economist David Autor, ferent. in researchers of the leading who is one (imports argues that trade from the field, has increased China and elsewhere) while technology has unemployment, something into market job the reshaped jobs with more like an hourglass form, and food service such as finance in fields and fewer in between. H

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Ultimately, Heilbroner warned, “as “as warned, Heilbroner Ultimately, argued that rapid technological change productivity in ag supercharged had and now riculture and manufacturing, whole new of skills— group “a threatened calculat - checking, filing, the sorting, okaying comparing, remembering, ing, special preserve the skills—that are of office worker.” the society, to invade machines continue num duplicating and greater greater it is human labor bers of social tasks, ‘la think of now as we itself—at least, bor’—that- redun is gradually rendered was not the biggest Heilbroner dant.”

- - A year after the Milwaukee-Matic’s afterA year the Milwaukee-Matic’s next year. In one of the essays, the prom essays, of the In one next year. Robert economist inent Heilbroner COURTESY MAG CINCINNATI COURTESY feed ability to have an operator machining tool was not computerized, but the The Milwaukee-Matic industrial one of its great innovations. it instructions on long strips of punched paper tape was star turn, Lyndon B. Johnson took time time took Johnson B. Lyndon star turn, ur- troubles—Vietnam, his many from the blue-ribbon create ban unrest—to Technology, on Commission National Progress. and Economic Automation, The Times the enter took New York prise seriously to name all enough the The pages. its in members commission become which would Public, Interest intellectual of the most influential one up the took journals of the postwar era, crisis automation in its debut issue the

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- - - noted, Life noted, THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY There is a good deal to be said for is a good re There calling that point of view at a time when a glass things through see so many we so also has its hazards. But doing darkly. it led the savants of auto instance, For of their thinking to err in some mation with, begin To jobs. of the future about of abun they misunderstood the nature principlethe Although that itself. dance insatiable is enshrined human wants are in every introductory course, economics intellec - forgotten by it was somehow tuals who themselves probably weren’t and who might only very materialistic, been dimly of the great have aware newslouching beasts of retailing—the were full of confidence in their ability in their full of confidence were They tended to future. the to manage view as a the challenge of automation were of abundance —machines problem - ben finally yielding the long-promised human beings to allow would that efits of endless lives slough off usually and without sacrificing labor unrewarding As things in life. the good reducing were even as manufacturers factory at output was growing payrolls, factory and workers Yes, a brisk pace. but the hurt in the process, others were midcentury mostly seers upon looked as to be managed that as a problem the bright toward traveled the nation light ahead. - - Many of those who wrote about the wrote who those of Many Reading through the literature of the the literature through Reading automation crisisverya in did so automation differ pessimist of the day. Economist Ben B. Ben B. Economist day. of the pessimist view - busi whole dark the of Seligman’s book his of title the by captured is ness Victory: Age Man in an Most Notorious of the volume’s (1966) and Automation “A including chapter headings, ominous Without “Work Babel of Calculators,” Await.” We Trauma “The and Men,” is struck—and one humbled—by period, smart so many wrong people could how story the got some largely right. Yet be. the funda did not upend Automation But it did economy. mental logic of the harmdisproportionate to less-skilled of its most import some And - workers. feltthe economic not in effectsant were change. of social but in the arena realm see in which ent light than the one we With the technological change today. tailwind enormous of the achievements II and War World in winning involved subsequent decades two of relatively they prosperityconstant behind them, - striking—and hum It’s bling—how wrong so many smart people could be.

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

Daily Mirror, Daily THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Related to this misunderstanding this misunderstanding Related to Sociologist David RiesmanSociologist David innocently suggested that the bourgeoisie had already lost lost already had the bourgeoisie that of surely one “the zest for possessions,” ever made. predictions the worst about consumerism that was the idea would nigh when people the time was had that the bourgeoisie zest for already lost “the possessions.”

- The New The demand that demand that total total , worriedeven that , employ most of the population population most of the employ can Sociologist David Riesman, one of the one Sociologist David Riesman, ment due, very simply, to the prospect prospect to the very simply, ment due, the of a ceiling on can goods be generated for marketable and services.” culturalthe roamed who thinkers big landscape those dayslead in the was (he of the surpriseauthor 1950 bestseller as psychiatrists, artists, or whatever . . . . . or whatever . artists, as psychiatrists, employ is still on an upper limit there whose last edition sits on a chair inpublication. theceased it after paper’sshortly 1963, October in offices BERNARD GOTFRYD / GETTY IMAGES BERNARD GOTFRYD strike industries during the 1960s. A 114-day printers’ Automation helped provoke strikes in a number of newspapers in 1962–63, motivated partly by resistance to new computerized typeset- City’s against New York seven newspapers.four of the city’s hastened the death of ting systems, One of them was the ), innocently suggested CrowdThe Lonely ), York Review of Books York if “we shopping malls—going up on the edge edge the on up malls—going shopping writingin Heilbroner, of town.

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The same unwarranted extrapo Advocates on both sides of the auto on Advocates lation in thinking about was at work thoughtful Many household incomes. of inkling with no day, the of people out for lay health someday what we’d and pets, education, higher care, mation debate thus fellthus debate classicmation the into assuming that the extrapolation trap, them would of they in front saw trends But as the old say indefinitely. continue don’t You even a train stops. ing goes, those lucky of hear too many enough about complaining to hold a job today hands. their on leisure having too much filling leisure the result. As late as 1974, 1974, As late as the result. leisure filling InteriorDepartment when the U.S. drafted OutdoorNationwide the Rec- people still thought they Plan, reation society could see the leisure just around thing they it was a good And the bend. Interior As the too. could see it coming, thought “Leisure, Department intoned, of paradise, to be the epitome many by perplexingmost the become well may of the future.” problem individual “his time, his consciousness, his consciousness, “his time, individual the influ and But Riesman his dreams.” were Erichential psychologist Fromm those who worried that people among or without work, be unfulfilled would in be unfulfilling itself would that work with equally- unful society, an automated -

These ideas weren’t as far fetched as These ideas weren’t was a serious There debate among ture.” of the future.” most perplexing problem problem most perplexing “may well become the the “may well become 20th the of half first the In theysound. the number of hours worked century, shrunk a quarter had per week by for the in 1967 the futurist and worker, average Herman Kahn declared that this trend a four-day predicting continue, would of vacation. 13 weeks week—and work thinkers about leading of the era’s many be a good would whether all this leisure the philosopher Herbert Marcuse, thing. who served as an intellectual godfather He saw was optimistic. to the New Left, and the attendant increase automation for prerequisite “the first as in leisure cycle deadening the from of freedom” which and spending getting cost the , warned a , warned a Leisure government report, hardly have to work at all. Harried fami hardly at all. to work have suburbs will be astonished today’s lies in criticsto learn some that even worried do with all that would we about what time. leisure

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY OME MIDCENTURY COMMENTATORS COMMENTATORS OME MIDCENTURY did hit close automation on to For major questions. on the mark In 1966, the Commission on Tech on the Commission In 1966, The those workers? who were And nology, Automation, and Economic Economic and Automation, nology, - report issued a sensible reject Progress man of automation consumes worrying consumes man of automation capacity for real that should be saved the poverty, population, problems—like neuroses.” and our own Bomb, ing the argument that technology to was of unemployment, deal blame for a great Leopold of with the wisdom although, it recognized technological Bloom, - displace the in factor major “a as change ment and temporary of unemployment particular workers.” “Unem - will be allanswer too familiar: among has been concentrated ployment educationlittle with those skill, or while “The in this generation problems world’s not of scarcity, problems and the next are The bogey of intolerable abundance. was wrong about the particular numbers. the particular about was wrong numbers. the coming foresaw the time at Nobody His of middle-classstagnation incomes. familyin average the of estimate income $200,000 than 2006 translates into more dollars. in current example, in another blunt response to to in another blunt response example, Simon wrote, criticism, Heilbroner’s S - - (1966), (1966), The Shape of Automation The Shape In his review of a prescient work work review his In prescient a of Simon responded drylySimon responded had that he just couldn’t imagine that Americans that imagine just couldn’t all to spend money the a way find would the technology enable would revolution them to make. called by Herbert Simon, a manifold genius a manifoldgenius Herbertby Simon, Prize to win the Nobel on go who would scoffed at Heilbroner in Economics, family average that the notion Simon’s $28,000 (in 1966 reach would income dollars) after the turn of the century: “Hethese families has no doubt that plentywill have of use for their entire On his there? stop But why . . . income. annual percent of a three assumptions family average will incomes rate, growth $112,000 2025; the year be $56,000 by $224,000 a century and 2045; from by to human nature Is it beyond today. deal think that at this point (or a great been imposed a ceiling will have sooner), then tacit edict, by demand—if not on ly? To my mind, it is hard not to picture not to picture it is hard my mind, To ly? is to such a ceiling unless the economy vomitorium.” a collective become for the ability respect human of “great warn a little advance beings—given of ways” reasonable think up ing—to and to spending that kind of money, He was right “without vomiting.” do so even he though of course, about that,

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Why such big declines? The Great WhyThe Great such big declines? en and immigrantsand en entering work the for jobs also played and competing force the losses reflect The big income a role. when manufacturing jobs van- that, fact held them often the men who had ished, In forgood. force fell of the work out of men who were the proportion fact, not in the formal tripled labor force from 18 percent. to a remarkable 1960 to 2009, was admittedly, (Some of that change, of a risethe result in the number of early and other benign factors.) retirements The proportion of men whoThe proportion formal were not in the from labor force tripled 1960 to 2009. was particularlyRecession unkind to costing twice of as many men in general, with women. compared them their jobs, and But the job losses date back further, of attributable combination are to some The flood of wom trade and technology. that from 1969 to 2009, the median the median to 2009, 1969 from that to 64 dropped 25 earnings of men ages those For after 28 percent inflation. by the drop high schoolwithout a diploma, nothing of This is to say was 66 percent. and health insurance. lost pensions - - - Such behalf of blue-collar worries on Nobel Prize–winning physicist George Prize–winning physicist Nobel P. Thomson took up the issue with an took Thomson P. odd mix of callousness and concern in “What (1955): is Future The Foreseeable to happen to the really definitely stupid even the man of “or he wondered, man,” Although intelligence?” barely average rising count on IQs (a didn’t Thomson as the known worldwide phenomenon foresee to seem did he Flynneffect), “There need for care. home the growing plenty are is of jobs—tending the aged kindness and patience are one—where A rich state than brains. worth more subsidizecould well such work.” Since misplaced. far from were workers working-class men in par midcentury, a chang by hammered been ticular have Michael The economists ing economy. Looney and Adam Greenstone found employment has been rising most rising been has employment most rapidly generallythose occupations in skilled to be the most and considered This education. most the require to wheth- raises the question conjunction induce may er technologicalprogress fora demand very skilled and highly educated our society people in numbers while at the same provide, cannot yet of the un time leaving stranded many skilled and poorly educated with no employment.” opportunities future for

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY JESSICA RINALDI / THE WASHINGTON POST / GETTY IMAGES JESSICA RINALDI / THE WASHINGTON Bell acknowledged that there would be would Bell that there acknowledged and Its Discontents: The Cult ofCult The Efficiency Discontents: Its and of Citing predictions in America (1956). dismal world of unattended factories “a turning which out mountains of goods will a jobless population be unable to “Such projections he declared flatly, buy,” are silly.” silly.” are he was accurate about And disruptions. work “many writing that their nature, it find may particularly older ones, ers, suitable jobs. everagain to find difficult It is also likely that small geographical pockets StatesUnited the of find may as areas’ ‘depressed themselves becoming away.” moved old industries or are fade - - , in , Work Work “Americans, with their tendency to “Americans, LBJ’s commission on automation automation on commission LBJ’s 1973). Bell wrote about the automation Bell wrote about the automation 1973). debate with characteristic perception, subtle— more much how recognizing perhaps equallyyet far reaching—the be. would impact - con have exaggerate new innovations, up wild fears about changes that jured he wrote in bring,” may automation markable sociologist Daniel Bell, anoth Daniel Bell, sociologist markable big thinkers (who would er of the era’s us a particularlygive far-sighted work, The Coming of Post-Industrial Society Meet the Baxter, an industrial robot that boasts “behavior-based ‘common sense,’ capable of ‘common sense,’ capable sensing an industrial robot that boasts “behavior-based Meet the Baxter, and Robotics. Rethink Boston-based its environment,” according to its manufacturer, adapting to its task and owed at least some of its insight to the at least some owed its members of the re among presence

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY NSTEAD OF AUTOMATING REPETITIVE REPETITIVE NSTEAD OF AUTOMATING technology climbingis today tasks, using artificial ladder, the cognitive It took a woman, however, to recog to however, a woman, It took nize brawn of role that the diminishing a world in the path toward us on put had In converge. would roles which gender a collection of essays Bellcalled edited in Progress Work 2000: the Year Toward Mead Margaret anthropologist (1967), roles gender wrote that traditional in developed nations, down break would backlash that a cultural and religious might feel and that men might develop, ways when the traditional threatened in which masculinitythey defined be right wasn’t (Mead came degendered. about everything; she also warned of an homosexuality” hostile “overt in increase “weakening in the sense sign of as one sex identityof sure in men.”) functioning of the operations. Here the Here the operations. of functioning will- as worker, individual not the team, sume a new importance.” intelligence and brute processing power intelligence and brute power processing imperfectly) (however to automate the tax secretaries, agents, of travel functions even teachers—while threat preparers, univer lawyers, ening the jobs of some and other professionals sity professors, their sheepskins were thought who once a bulwark against this sort of thing. I - -

Bell also saw something that all that Bell too something also saw cognitive ladder. mating Instead of automating ogy today is climbing the ganizing and the continuously smooth repetitive tasks, technol- also foresaw a different way of judging way a different also foresaw “there that suggesting worth, a worker’s in which arisemay morality” a new work derive would the value of employees and or “planning their success at from some piece of industrial equipment. Bell piece of industrialsome equipment. cial effects.” It would, he said, change the he said, It would, cial effects.” “creating the labor force, of composition a new salariat of a proletariat, instead the reduce[d] processes as automated required.” number of industrial workers He accurately a world foresaw in which be] replaced fatigue [would “muscular the interminable tension, mental by of the endless concentration” watching, even though the watching modern work, smartphonea involves or computer now often more on dials screen than a set of Okay, maybe not “small,” but he was on on but he was “small,” maybe not Okay, the term before and this the right track, use. in common was “Rust Belt” which that is often eludes futurists, “havetechnology enormous so would

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Perhaps the biggest lesson we can we lesson the biggest Perhaps The issue, in other words, isn’t tech isn’t in other words, The issue, Echoing the Triple Revolution man Revolution Triple Echoing the nological but distributional—which is presents Automation political. to say a kind of windfall. of us with some ifesto, Arthur argued that “the second second “the Arthurthat argued ifesto, - no mat wealth will produce economy challenge the that and do,” we what ter that wealth.” “distributing become had “wealth has he noted, centuries, For traditionally been apportioned in the always jobs have and jobs, through West When farm jobs been forthcoming. - still manufactur had we disappeared, disappeared and when these ing jobs, With this migrated service to we jobs. repos this last digital transformation, itoryshrinking—feweris jobs of us of white-collar have may in the future face jobs—and we business process a problem.” midcenturythe learn from thinkers who is that while worried about automation is no there is cause there for concern, other way but forward. Like trade, auto Like trade, but forward. other way better off collectively makes us mation So the off. of us worse making some by focus those of our concern should be on even if the wounds the robots, by injured economic. “only” are every family as income an adequate with of right.”a matter - - - prosperity to producing producing The McKinsey Quarterlyin Arthur’s argument echoes a collection Arthur’s comes is being broken,” the committee committee the broken,” being is comes “The economy manifesto. its wrote in of abundance can sustain all citizens in comfort security and economic whether or not they in what is commonly engage con the committee as work,” reckoned com unqualified “an arguing for tinued, everyprovide to mitment individual and prosperity.” distributing prosperity.” the grandlyof midcentury named seers, Triple the on Hoc Committee Ad whose members included Revolution, and scientist Linus Pauling, Heilbroner, “The social scientist Gunnar Myrdal. in and jobs between link traditional 2011, for example, the economist and the economist for example, 2011, Brian Arthur, W. big thinker latter-day talked a former Stanford professor, of digitized economy” “second about a silent, “vast, runningbusiness processes and autonomous” unseen, connected, “The the physical economy: alongside will certainly economy second the be of and the provider engine of growth prosperity this century of for the rest jobs, not provide but it may and beyond, be prosperity may without fullso there to me suggests This for access many. that the main challenge of the economy is shifting from Maybe this time, things really are dif- things really are Maybethis time, In ferent.

AUTOMATION ANXIETY

a contributing editor to a contributing editor to

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , n , writes, the column R&D weekly WQ The Wall StreetJournal. The DANIEL AKST the in The robots will surely keep coming, will surely keep coming, The robots shocks Statesthe United than better while they’re costs and control has, at it. the of more and more doing keep and thing one But done. have long we work not able to do—at least be they won’t owe anytime tell soon—is us what we Surely that out can we figure each other. for ourselves.

- - - It would be not just churlish be not just It would short but this windfall share didn’t if we sighted lucky. been so who haven’t with those embrace must we mean This doesn’t Revolution Triple of the utopianism the sys to the despised manifesto return or abolished welfare tem of open-ended But inevita during years. the Clinton it if only to maintain social peace, bly, of some will toward mean a movement programs—medical covthe universal - low- long-term care insurance, erage, to higher education—that cost access countries helped other advanced have economic from forces work their shelter

AUTOMATION ANXIETY LEE CELANO / REUTERS / CORBIS A seventh grader at Samuel J. Green Charter School in New Orleans looks on in class. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city’s school system was drastically restructured, with a new emphasis on charter schools geared toward college preparation. GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

Millions of young people will never attend four-year colleges. America must do more to equip them to secure good jobs and live fulfilling lives.

BY SARAH CARR THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY At schools that have embraced the col embraced schools have that At lege-for-all aspiration, career and techni- lege-for-all aspiration, cal education is seen as being as outdated handwriting. and cursive as chalkboards the (mostly poor and mostly Instead, minority) endlessly are students drilled humanities and the core in and prepped their (mostly sciences—lessons middle- and mostlyor upper-income white) teachers hope will enable the teenagers SAT, ACT, the on rackto scores high up Placementand Advanced exams and of college to attend the four-year on go always not (although it’s their dreams talking about). clear we’re whose dreams col- between the tension On the surface, lege-for-alltechnicaland and career ed ucation pits egalitarianism prag against What egalitarian, could be more matism. most than sending the nation’s after all, secondarydisadvantaged students off to the vaunted halls once of institutions reserved for the most privileged? Only children of low-income eight percent theme when he asked everytheme when American of year one to attend at least to pledge the support will provide “We college. necessary college to complete for you America By 2020, newand meet a goal: the highest propor will again have once of college graduates in the world.”tion - - T NEW ORLEANS CHARTER SCHOOLS, SCHOOLS, CHARTER T NEW ORLEANS even in the primary students startgrades sometimes the day

SARAH CARR SARAH

While particularly in New strong with rousing chants professing their their chants professing with rousing “This is the to college. commitment get We hey!/ start the day, We hey!/ way, to college!” go hey!/To the knowledge, During writ severalyears kids shout. ing about the remaking of the school ing about the remaking I have system since Hurricane Katrina, stu school high remind teachers heard leaving before dents to wash their hands because otherwisethe restroom they which might cause them sick, might get them leave which would to miss class, College flags for college. less prepared and banners coat the walls and ceilings College talk the city. of schools across of even the youngest infuses the lessons College trips kids expose older learners. to campuses the country. around movement “college-for-all” the Orleans, the past de- over nation the has swept educationwith - in dif reformers cade, that the notion cities embracing ferent to students low-income sending more college should be America’s and through In his first primary antipoverty strategy. Congress, of to a joint session address Barack ObamaPresident echoed that

By A

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

RICHARD DREW / AP / CORBIS THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY HE NEAT DICHOTOMY BETWEEN EGAL- DICHOTOMY BETWEEN HE NEAT itarianism and pragmatism breaks the players consider when we down the best four-year colleges undoubtedly the best four-year basic academic skills, imposing purely imposing purely basic academic skills, might be a fool’s academic aspirations errand? that Some shown studies have of low-income only about one-third students who start college earn bache- the their mid-twenties; by degrees lor’s in majoritylarge left, out are who drop with thousands of dollars cases, many including institutions, some At debt. in the historically black Southern Uni- the graduation versityOrleans, at New rate is less than 10 percent. and grassroots realities, however. The The however. realities, and grassroots to send impoverished to students desire T Yet what could be more pragmatic what could be more Yet The goal of sending vastly more low-income children to and through college might be egalitarian in but the means to theory, that end are often quite paternalistic. than acknowledging that in cities where than acknowledging that in cities where than half of students fail tests of more in America earn a bachelor’s degree by by degree in America earn a bachelor’s more to compared their mid-twenties, the top of students from than 80 percent quartile.income There are more decently paid jobs for people without bachelor’s degrees than headlines often suggest. These These degrees than headlines often suggest. jobs for people without bachelor’s There are more decently paid degree which requires an associate’s or its Police Academy, equivalent City’s 2011 graduates of New York for of $41,975. admission, earned base salaries

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY grade. The first graders already have read read have graders already The first grade. to other books. on and moved this book inculcatemiddle-class in aspirations forma body of through students their instructing them in control: and mind everything to take notes to how from em- move; and walk, talk, sit, to how “re-acculturating” of goals bracing the and calling them; “re-calibrating” and of the new in honor “scholars,” them principal One veteran refers pursuit. atypi In a not “lockstepping.” to it as cal scene inside a New Orleans charter kindergarten a told her teacher school, to do this a lot have “We charges, young to the first to go want lot if we year—a - - In their efforts to set poor children In their efforts poor children to set common herbs and spices for antibacterial properties. The school, which is part of the Linked Learning The school, which is part of the Linked Learning common herbs and spices for antibacterial properties. their in range that pathways around career-specific Alliance, organizes academic and technical education and electronics. focus from hospitality and event management to robotics CONNECTED a charter high school in Clovis, California, studentsAt the Center for Advanced Research and Technology, test stems from worthy motives. In New New In motives. worthy from stems of percent only five about Orleans, African-American school public chil college in the graduated from dren Hurricane before years Katrina—a everyonestatistic that common with agree would a conscience sense and the re But while needs to change. sending of goal big-picture formers’ to and through the other 95 percent egalitarian be college might theory, in often are end means to that the quite paternalistic. the the path to college, of color on educators attempt to idealistic young

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Even advocates of career and techni advocates Even calthe pro that education acknowledge economic often from grams are divorced them were of Many and industry needs. to prepare designed not out of a desire students for jobs in growing high-wage the basis of clas but on technical fields, low-income that racist assumptions sist, of color cannotstudents and children the extent that To learn at high levels. need, economic an fill programs these a permanent underclass to create of it’s destined for minimum-wage workers Katrina, before Orleans, New In jobs. an that meant the schools produced endlesssupply serveto graduates of as dishwashers working housekeepers and In New Orleans, before In New Orleans, Katrina, high schools supplyproduced an endless serve as of graduates to housekeep- minimum-wage ers and dishwashers. and somehow rooted in the real world real in the is rooted and somehow president says Kati Haycock, just bunk,” Washington, a Trust, Education the of organization that works nonprofit D.C., achievement.academic student improve to - - - - - “schol (and even some parents Many Applying the college-for-all ethos I know all of you want to go to first to first to go want allyou of I know to go to want because grade all you of discipline show need to But you college. to do that.” bodies your over this structure in and the ars”) welcome would But some college. tense focus on like to see the new charters incorporate technical trade and more training in heavy college-prep to their addition see a disconnect others And emphasis. and their goals the reformers’ between New Orleans grandfather methods. duringhis head shook McCoy Ronald a 2010 interview with NPR when he char college-prep thought about some ter schools their students to that force out with walk a straight line—marked tape—in the hallway classes. between “I have he said. “This walking the line?” I where that’s and incarcerated, been learned about walking behind those lines and staying the right-hand on side of the wall.” low-income in fashion top-down a in the risk of color creates of communities imperialistic being more than egalitar and tech career But emphasizing ian. nicaleducation can do another kind of simply because of the dismal state harm, “The career that idea programs. many of and technical education is high quality

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

- - - - Path , which reported which reported , THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The 1990s and 2000s also saw the The 1990s and 2000s educatorsSome have prominent schoolaccountability—exposed huge the schooling in of low-income failures “This very good and minority children. academic idea that all need a strong kids underpinningmorphed that idea the into to attend a all to be prepared kids need says Robert Schwartz, college,” four-year at the Harvarda professor Graduate think He doesn’t School of Education. necessarily ideas are the two same. the Teach such as rapid of programs growth gradu which sends recent America, For into poor commu ates of elite colleges nities in New Orleans and other places mem- TFA for missionary-style stints. alums founded severalbers and recent of the charter schools and charter net- such KIPP as (the Knowledge works, in that dominate Program), Is Power post-KatrinaNew Orleans the and are backers best-known of most strident, the college-for-all—or at least college for far more—movement. pushed back in against the movement citing its lack of prag years, the last two Schwartz for instance, 2011, In matism. an influential paper, coauthored Prosperityways to burgeoning demand for “middle-skill” “middle-skill” demand for burgeoning construc- including electricians, workers, and dental hygienists. managers, tion

CONFLUENCE OF FORCES HAS FUELED OF FORCES HAS FUELED CONFLUENCE the college-for-all push of the last the Apart from couple of decades.

At the same time, the standards the standards the same time, At movement—with its emphasis on dis- on its emphasis movement—with and high-stakes testing, data, aggregated well-publicized hollowing out of the a raft shown of reports have economy, and of college benefits the differential graduate school education in terms of In and health. job stability, earnings, for the median wage for instance, 2010, schoolmale high a between graduate of 25 and 34 was $32,800, the ages to $49,800 for with a one compared degree. bachelor’s all kids need a strong academic underpinning morphed into the idea that all kids need to be prepared to attend a four- year college.” “This very good idea that

for less than $20,000 a year in the city’s city’s in the for a year than $20,000 less very but few tourist-based economy, units, air conditioning repair who could than twice as much. a job that pays more A

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Many of the most thoughtful backers of the most Many talking about earning enough “If we’re tive, yet pricey, private universities and private and universities pricey, yet tive, for majors such as art and psychology. “By people that they telling all young to college no matter what, should go actually of them are some doing we a disservice.” of college-for-all and expanded career theythan more on education agree They all hope to boost the on: disagree of Americans percentage with some form of postsecondary or train degree social mobility. increase ing and thereby theyAnd all believe that the high school But they curriculum could be improved. partbest means to their ways the on ends. shared the smartest choice to support a family, “It says. Haycock degree,” is a four-year out of poverty.” route is the only sure degree is clearly positive, we emphasize we is clearlydegree positive, authors the universallynot it is that so,” or negative, They cited the low, wrote. for selec less investment” on “return - class snob ave a h “We that the only jobs bism that do: are the jobs we matter offices.” in jobs r white-colla - - - The “middle-skill” fields described fields in “middle-skill” The HarvardThe that report stressed Insti- the Brookings Earlier this year, The report focused on fields where the the where reportThe fields focused on $50,000 ($53,030 above is wage average $70,700 for hy dental forelectricians, for and $90,960 construction gienists, from figures 2012 to according managers, workers of Labor Statistics); Bureau the fields, vocational traditional in other including health aides and short-order make far less. cooks, the report typically an associ- require certificate, or occupational degree ate’s degree. bachelor’s but not a four-year needs . . rhetoric. “The‘college-for-all’ to become to be significantly broadened for all,’” high-school credential ‘post a Schwartz and his colleagues argued. - should not down schools and officials aca efforts traditional play improve to But it concluded that demic instruction. secondary school career training should be significantly upgraded and expand- opportunities more introducing ed by - employ extensive experience, for work shaping programs, in er involvement to opposed (as hands-on enhanced and classroom-based) learning. report published a that dissected tution school selectivi by the college payoff “While the and occupation. major, ty, to obtaining a college return average

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY By contrast, Anthony (whose name Anthony By contrast, whose mother scraped by Anthony, where the similarities ended. Bricewas similarities the ended. where de and, mischievous, clever, talkative, con generosity, kindness and his spite teachers One of his stantly in trouble. mouth “Brice’s described this way: him under don’t But if you is his weapon. his weapon think would you stand Brice, mouth.” than his is more softhas been changed) was and spoken at all conflict costs. and avoided reserved, he occasionally burst forth with Yet he much how revealed statements that such descriptionhis as of knew, and saw - philos elective an in covered topics the in people come “How come class: ophy the difference? what’s races and different Whyeverythingis do we How way? this ethicallywhat’s know right wrong? or WhoWhy speak to each we? do we are fingers five have do we other and why can make the toes? How we and five what know do we How make? things we can feel things?” and why we matter is, desperately as a hotel housekeeper, while Brice college, to wanted to go (He only some the military. preferred what facetiously declared that guns But what he knew.) and violence were Brice in a enrolled in a twist of fate, KIPP high school principal whose mantra: endlessly the school’s recited - - - America, the debate over college- the debate over America, for-all and career education has S WITH MOST SOCIAL ISSUES IN S WITH MOST SOCIAL ISSUES IN

Two teenage students I interviewed teenage Two Schwartz needs there that maintains this diver to address way The best taken place mostly at an elite level, with mostlytaken place at an elite level, and little understanding of the desires and their students low-income of needs During of close several years parents. observation of New Orleans charter it is to prescribe hard I saw how schools, a set of educational aspirations to a group the convincing no matter how of people, data and experts be. might poor, Both were a caseprovided in point. but that’s and intense, creative, smart, gence is not to give up on college-for- up on is not to give gence and techni expanded career - or on all, at the look need to We cal education. incorporating way, debate in a different and individual experience as data, as well perspec economic as well humanistic as can a to we come this lens, Using tives. to of how nuanced understanding more make our education system both more egalitarian. pragmatic and more

to be more emphasis on alternate path on emphasis more to be a have “We ways to well-paying jobs. class the only snobbism that that jobs white-collar do: the jobs we matter are jobs in offices.” A

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL - -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Most of the new college-for-all charter ganization’s stated goal of 75 percent.) of 75 percent.) stated goal ganization’s It is sadly ironic that a It is sadly ironic system restructured school getting so focused on college students through utterly failed to give both Brice and Anthony what they most needed to get there. schools in New Orleans just gradu- are so cohorts of students, ating their first only time willtell if they succeed in their study of KIPP’s (A national mission. earliest graduates found that 33 percent a four-year from a degree received had times the years—four college within 10 ratenational for students with similar a far cry yet the or from backgrounds, academically semester during his first determinedpersist. to but remained forBrice second-degree was arrested during the spring of murder attempted He spent at KIPP. year his freshman lawyer his before jail in year a than more a plea deal duringnegotiated sum the Brice to has not returned mer of 2012. although he high school, a traditional hopes to earn a GED. ------The education system failed Anthony educationThe system Anthony failed high school graduated from Anthony “One thousand first-generation college college first-generation thousand “One Antho Meanwhile, 2022.” by graduates long-strugglinga attended less and ny non-charterambitious Orleans New be the year in 2010, high school where, only of 44 graduating 14 he enrolled, fore Among to college. on seniors continued to take 10 needed those 14 graduates, ACT and the average courses remedial on scored is (The ACT was 13.9. score aver with a national a scale of 1 to 36, earned 12 a Anthony 21.) about of age springthe in test the of took he when his junior year. Anthony and Brice ways. in different He of training: a failure from suffered and am than enough desire more had but his schools did not provide bition, him with the skills and tools to make an easy (or even like college graduation the other hand, on Brice, ly) prospect. imagination: of failure a from suffered He attended a school hell-bent giv on the skillsing him he needed to and tools a limit he retained Yet thrive in college. ed view potential in spite of of his own chants, slogans, allbanners, college the him. surrounded that and ambitions in the spring of 2012 and entered Southeastern Louisiana University at he struggled where the start of 2013,

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

- - - - School Ad- School THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Operating cities such in large as New leans), the Posse Foundation sends co Foundation the Posse leans), from horts children of 10 low-income the same urban community off to elite The theory that is group. a colleges as the students will comfortable, feel more likely college, and will in be more stay to sim with peers who have if surrounded Neither and culture. ilar backgrounds its own, on is, Linked Learning nor Posse to educationala solution or economic both But they are inequity in America. in an practicalmuch-needed approaches abstract, by been dominated that’s area arguments and at times ideological, and approaches. magazine. magazine. ministrator and Chicago as New Or (as well York computer-aided design (a modernized design computer-aided class the same subject) in vocational and toward) choose nudged (or get no longer an early trackcareer or a college-prep that all It was assumed students track. ac to both a rigorous access have would experience, curriculum ademic and work such as an internship at employment or trying are “We a school-based business. career and the mindset that to overcome said ‘justtechnical education is shop,’” the chief academic Olivine Roberts, Sacramentothe at officer City Unified of the participating one School District, in an interview with districts,

- - - -

to our schools and way of thinking to our schools and way - help students like An that would HERE ARE CHANGES WE COULD MAKE COULD MAKE HERE ARE CHANGES WE

For instance, nine school districts instance, For To more pragmatic ends, we should we pragmatic ends, more To

op more strategies for op more boosting college low-income rates among completion little point in expand- There’s students. ing technical col education or four-year matriculationlege rates if both pathways bridges to no design or default, by are, replicable small-scale And efforts where. shoringat aimed educationcareer up rates graduation college and improving exist. already participatingCalifornia-based in a ini calledtiative the Linked Learning Al- to expand their career and liance agreed technical education courses while also integrating them with academic classes. Students algebra and might study both thony and Brice—changes that would, and Brice—changes that would, thony complicate our understanding however, egalitarian. pragmatic and what’s of what’s and vocational academic stop treating educationcurricular as develand silos

But it struckBut it as sadly me a that ironic school systemrestructured focused so college students through getting on so utterlycould fail both Brice to give what they needed to most and Anthony there. get T

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL

- -

n is a New Orleans–based THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , published earlier this year. earlier published this year. , e SARAH CARR education writer of Hope and author Hop Against Before we redesign our education sys redesign we Before tem to better meet the needs of the most meet the needs of tem to better acknowledge must we disempowered, this idea of otherness has fostered how (and least constructhe most simplistic - long the In debate. this in positions tive) that social policies and programs run, the overwhelmingdeny indi of power to fail. vidual agency destined are form of cultural indoctrination). Both Both form of cultural indoctrination). fullyfail to of these children conceive in their and aspirational as talented right. own - To a more egalitarian end, we should should we egalitarian end, a more To stop viewing low-income children of of children viewingstop low-income the debate in “other” formcolor as a of secondaryover college education, and sides cana bias both be guilty of at up in pov growing Children times. erty incapable not of higher-level are backers as many thinking and learning, tracks vocational of explicitly have or implicitly maintained for generations. they emptyBut neither are vessels with mainstream who need to be filled middle-class and values at ambitions discredits One extreme super speed. and undervalues of color poor children for them it envisions the end through the (uniformly working-class jobs), (a the means it employs other through

GETTING REAL ABOUT HIGH SCHOOL BEBETO MATTHEWS / AP / CORBIS Unemployment has declined significantly since the Great Recession ended four years ago, but the United States still has more than two million fewer jobs than it did when the recession hit. THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS

The great American jobs machine is sputtering, but it has not lost any of its underlying power.

BY SCOTT WINSHIP

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY T FIRST GLANCE, MEN HAVE HAD A T FIRST GLANCE, MEN HAVE hard time of it. Ninety-five per Ninety-five time of it. hard cent of men between the ages of the ages cent of men between How worried should we be that such be worried we should How One reason employment fell is that fell employment is that One reason A revolution willin mass unem usher revolution future. in the not-too-distant ployment or de will to stagnate continue Wages as they cline despite rising productivity, for done decades. have awaits? In answering that future a dark it makes sense to focus the on question, experience of men during prime their seen such have Women years. working gains in education and employ strong fewpast the over ment decades result a as equality gender that it is of increasing very con broad to draw many difficult clusions about the underlying condition their experience. from of the economy 25 and 54 were working in an average average an in working were 54 and 25 employment the By 1983, in 1969. week rate this segment of the work among and it fell fallen 86 percent, had to force of the with the onset dramatically, again, be had Employment Recession. Great gun to recover by 2012, but it still stood 2012, by gun to recover at just 83 percent. for becameit looking those harder But while the a job. to find for work

- - ARDLY A WEEK GOES BY WITHOUT GOES BY WITHOUT A WEEK ARDLY some commentator at least one where in America heralding in Americawhere heralding

SCOTT WINSHIP

In the conventional story, the economy story, In the conventional to explain. has been unable for decades to produce jobs for all the people who want them. It is also said that the middle class is growth as job “hollowedout” becoming to occupations is increasingly confined either verythat require skills low-level or highly that sophisticated ones—and as “Job polarization,” accordingly. pay has been driven by this pattern is called, technological auto- have changes that jobs and en “middle-skill” mated many couraged their offshoring to lower-paid Increasingly, in other countries. workers and other warned that robots are we of the information technologyproducts the demise of the middle-class worker. of the middle-class demise the worker. Because historic of the severity of the it is and its aftermath, Recession Great The unease anxiety. to stoke not hard that wisdom in a conventional coheres a number of short-connects and long- tepid with today’s trends term economic a fearful creating narrative conditions, It of jobs in America. about the future mischaracterizes that is a narrative the past and only feeds the anxieties it claims

By H

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY To be sure, many of the men who are of the men who are many be sure, To In fact, the vast majority vast the work of fact, In uninterested in working are only out of are in working uninterested becausethe labor force federal disability been steadily have extended to benefits had have people who in the past would its historic Beyond forto look work. as a safetyrole net forsevere with those ing-age men who are out of the labor the labor out of are men who ing-age tell survey today force that researchers When you they want to work. do not story the of that preference, in factor declineemployment quite begins to look measure, conventional By the different. men working-age among employment points declined seven percentage by the just before 2007, 1969 and between 88 percent. reaching Recession, Great “work-in But in my analysis based on the drop in those years, men terested” percentage three amounts to just (Counting points—hardly trend. a dire 94 percent men, only work-interested in 2007.) employed were The main reason employ- ment has declined is that more and more men are not looking for work. - - - - Remarkably, if one had forecast had the if one Remarkably, What could be behind this change? unemployment rate unemployment is abnormallyhigh term it longer the over moment, at the rises and falls the business cycle. with de has employment reason The main men are clined and more is that more 1969 Between for work. not looking 25 to of men ages the share and 2012, rose force out of the labor 54 who were to 11 percent. four percent from participationforce labor 2012 rate (the for or looking of men working fraction simply curve the extending by work) of the the 1948-to-2000 decline a graph, on exactly have matched would prediction that suggests That rate. 2012 actual the whatever is causing rise the in the share out of the men who are of working-age deeply more rooted is much labor force ups past fewthe economic than of years and downs. can for the labor force be out of People finding despair of than other reasons illnesses or disabili have Many a job. even age in the 25-to-54 Others, ties. Some are full-time students. are group, A small number of early. able to retire primarymen have responsibility for while a partmaintaining their home un Others sustained by are ner works. including of income, reported sources jobs. off-the-books

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY tion since 1979, but U.S. Department but U.S. since 1979, tion that this of Educationshow statistics decline is mostly rising by explained high school and postsecondary- enroll men, 18-to-19-year-old Among ments. 20 percentage school rose enrollment while la 1980 to 2010, points from participationbor force declined by their slightly Among older 22 points. group, peers in the 20-to-24-year-old school gains fully enrollment offset the participation decline. working-age group of men, the long- of men, group working-age is no more term picture employment seen a Men under 25 have worrisome. declinelarge participa in labor force

- When one looks beyond the core When the core beyond looks one SCOTT EELLS / REDUX jobs. But many middle-paying India, is a visible sign of the offshoring of A John Deere factory in Pune, professional, and technical positions. managerial, by better-paid U.S. jobs have been replaced conditions, disability a wel become has conditions, for program able-bodied men with fare since the kinds of jobs skilllow levels, high wag- command they can don’t get men working-age of The number es. climbed has drawing benefits time, over has been no overall increase and there to in the incidence of health problems the rise number of in the Still, explain it. they not want do say men who disabled small—adding another too is work to point to the three-percentage-point decline—to alter the conclusion that has in male employment the drop been modest.

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY A growing number of routine tasks, tasks, number of routine A growing has been however, research, Autor’s that pay either quite well or quite poorly. poorly. or quite quite well either that pay Solid middle-class occupations—such and produc administrative, as clerical, or growth slower seen jobs—have tion in which the A future outright declines. structure was shaped likeoccupational bottom at the top and an hourglass—fat and thin in the middle—would- con demn us to rising inequality and perhaps mobility. diminished economic new can infor by - be done argues, Autor lower-wage technologies or by mation Increasingly, in other countries. workers ei- jobs in the United States willrequire skillsther abstract associated with high levels of education and intelligence or— to out a way because nobody has figured and short-orderof offshorejobs cooks the basic skills requir house painters—more Jobs in the first ing no formal schooling. because well pay the demand forgroup abstract thinking outstrips the number of while those who can supplyworkers it, poorly pay group in the second because people canso many do the work. its popu by out of proportion blown larizers even as it has been effectively Har other economists. challenged by University, of Georgetown ry Holzer, - Washing of the and Robert Lerman, for example, Institute, Urban ton-based - - - jobs? In jobs? In good

shrunk that much over the long run, shrunk run, the long over that much what about the supply of F THE TOTAL SUPPLY OF JOBS HAS NOT OF JOBS HAS NOT SUPPLY F THE TOTAL Among men older than 54, the labor 54, older than men Among reversing an old trend. tion rate has been rising, the labor force participa- Among men older than 54, recent years, the work of MIT economist the work years, recent in what an increase showing David Autor fears has stirred “jobhe calls polarization” middlethe that “hollowedclass being is has suggests, Autor Job growth, out.” been occurring primarily in occupations

force participation force rate has actually been re rising for couple of decades, the past alarmsThat some an old trend. versing that it is another sign who argue observers, being forced men are of distress—that to been unable have or out of retirement by But research place. first in the retire Barry economist Institution Brookings hasBosworth that this increase suggests the best-edu been concentrated among often cated and highest-earning workers, the job less for staying a on men who are ca for than paycheck mental stimulation, and other intangible benefits. maraderie, I

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY just because a job is offshorable

While emphasizes the threat Autor Indeed, this dynamic held in each de Indeed, cade from the 1960s to the ’90s. From From ’90s. the the 1960s to cade from in was strongest growth 2000 to 2007, perioda was that but jobs, low-paying growth trends—slow two by dominated in the supply workers of native-born and a large (due to an aging population) number of immigrants in the increase It is al levels of schooling. with lower ways true that the supply of jobs depends significantly the supply on of labor—an we when importantremember to fact job growth. evaluate of the future economists Princeton of automation, Alan Blinder and Alan Krueger stress They effects of offshoring. the negative a quarter of in principle, estimate that, in that “offshorable,” American are jobs in physical working they do not require to colleaguesproximity or customers. However, If does not mean it will be eliminated. interaction of face-to-face the benefits employers small, were workers among and expense to the trouble not go would in central together of bringing workers areas. and dense metropolitan offices our history of important, more Perhaps that the ill job upgrading shows effects higher-paying managerial, professional, professional, higher-paying managerial, mid technicaland from than positions dle- to low-paying jobs. - - The Washington think-tank trio of Washington The conclude only has been a there that jobs, “middle-skill” declinemodest in to the total in 1986 of 55 percent from “Stories dramatic of in 2006. 48 percent with seem inconsistent . . polarization . He and Holzer written. has these facts,” Lerman middle-skill that predict jobs of newwill for account 40 to 45 percent with particular hiring in this decade, demand forly certain strong types of licensed “technicians, such as workers, and therapists in health practical nurses, Holzer writes will be that there care.” opportunities for earnings “substantial and adults youth to many improvements be might degree for a bachelor’s whom out of reach.” Lawrence Mishel and Heidi Shierholz of Institute and John Policy the Economic Schmitt and of the Center for Economic of that the share confirm Research Policy jobs declined only mod “middle-wage” 2007. the late 1980s through estly from declinesteeper theyBut much a see if back the beginning date is stretched to to 48 percent. 66 percent from 1959, that it except That might be alarming, mostly a net upgrading of jobs. reflects 21 percent jobs grew from “High-wage” from of all to 34 percent employment has shifted Employment 1959 to 2007. middle-paying from jobs to more much

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The poor, Furman found, benefited benefited found, Furman The poor, if trade and technology re In short, duce demand for labor, the lowered labor labor the lowered duce demand for labor, businesses will translate paid by costs That can be expected prices. into lower Americans—includingbenefit to - low the aggregate, families—in er-income despite the highly visible costs to those who bear the brunt of the resulting dystopic The dislocations. economic robots based on fantasy of an economy - suppliers with mass invol and overseas untarywill simplyat home joblessness to pass. not come costs, including reliance on imports including imports on reliance costs, effectively labor—had foreign and boosted American family by incomes that In total dollars, percent. 1.5 to 4.5 at $100 billion, than was more benefit in wag the reduction least 20 times critics claimed the Walmart’s es that caused. company prices than others be lower from more of the things they cause share a bigger paper groceries, bought—clothing, Walmart. sold by goods products—were assumes that the bottom if one Even cost fifth the entire of households bears Walmart caused by reductions of wage the likelyis that exaggerated), figure (a for Walmart of price-lowering benefits still and a half times two are this group the costs. - - - - among among less E HAVE A TENDENCY, WHEN THINK A TENDENCY, E HAVE ing about technology and trade, harmful their zeroto on in

Consider the impact of Walmart, the the Walmart, of the impact Consider lower-income Americans than among Americans among than lower-income richer households. Jason often-maligned colossus. retail chair the incoming of Presi Furman, Eco- Council of dent Barack Obama’s noted back in 2005 that Advisers, nomic prices”—the low “everyday Walmart’s effortsrelentless of minimizeto result of offshoring can be offset. Blinder and and Blinder of offshoringcan offset. be Krueger surmise quarter that a of jobs and the also offshorablewere in 1960, United States indeed send many did other and manufacturing positions ensuing decades. in the overseas work storyBut the larger that the econ is thanks and, change, to adapted omy job growth, domestic to continuing in increases steady the period brought higher-paying occupations. brushes to refrigerators. Evidence from Evidence from brushes to refrigerators. Christian and John economists Broda that suggests for example, Romalis, partin thanks devel imports- to from the cost of living over oping countries, has risen the last 20 years effects. But they also have a strong a strong they But also have effects. prices for lower American upside: forconsumers everything tooth from W

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The current Great Correction in the Correction Great The current ity has surely been frustrating for men, ity has surely been frustrating for men, borne the bruntwho have of the pay a who started from Women, slowdown. better as a much fared have base, lower moving into better-paying jobs group, of discrimination thanks to the erosion for But segregation. and occupational is a silver there and men alike, women Great the In time, lining to this story. bringing will runCorrection course, its compensation productivity and growth The belief that wages have The belief that stagnated or declined is only half correct. productiv and pay between relationship in 1929, but hourly but was compensation 1929, in and pay In contrast, higher. 115 percent be the same amount by productivity rose in 1950 Workers 1900 and 1929. tween than more 30 percent making about were dictated. their productivity should have that overpaymentCorrecting required fall growth behindthat compensation workers 2010, of As productivity growth. - than productiv more still 14 percent made de- ity they levels have, suggested should grown productivitythat had fact the spite since 1950. faster than compensation - - - -

HE WIDESPREAD FEELING THAT THE THE THAT FEELING HE WIDESPREAD American the is failing economy middle deal to class great a owes

During those same years, pay for pay both During those same years, The hourly of workers compensation the belief that wages have stagnated or have that wages the belief That belief is only half correct. declined. risen have smartly. wages women, For Amer Working of The State example, For

, an annual report by the Economic Economic the an annual report by ica, indicates that median Institute, Policy hourly female workers among wages 1979 to from 24 percent by increased to 35 percent That number grows 2007. per hour) with ad of $4.60 (an increase such justments for the value of benefits as health insurance and to better account Among for changes in the cost of living. was increase adjusted the however, men, only four percent. and men badlywomen - trailed productiv produce or the value of what workers ity, We 60 percent. by which rose hour, per very be would right worryto dis- that if parity productivity between and wages however, again, Here to continue. were im provides perspective a longer-term portant context. with productivityhas failed to keep pace but in the since the mid-20th century, of pro raced ahead pay ’40s 1930s and productivity By 1950, ductivity gains. been higher than it had was 65 percent T

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS - - - - - n is a fellow in Economic is a fellowin Economic THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Studies at the Brookings Institution. Studies Institution. at the Brookings SCOTT WINSHIP For most Americans, anxiety about most Americans, For losing their job. Thirty-six say percent their job. losing while And worried. at all” “not they are it job anxiety be taken seriously, has to 20 After all, always not is founded. well very they are say also adults of percent worried of gun vi about being a victim min risksare real though their olence, about being fret and 15 percent iscule, caught up in a terrorist attack. con background is a low-grade work cloud a dark not their ev over cern, focus The relentless eryday existence. the most public debate on in so much economic and on evidence, negative than economic challenges more much needlessly may raise anxiety strengths, the real It also distracts us from levels. include These too face. we problems the with limited skills, workers many rates, plateauing of college graduation inequalitydistressingly stable economic and white and blackbetween Americans, persistent inequality of opportunity be born children into advantageous tween Not circumstances. and disadvantageous everyone job insecurity, pressing faces those at risk canbut we if do better by perspective. proper maintain the we ------The U.S. economy has shown an has shown economy The U.S. ap and large, by Americans, Indeed, pear to have a healthy attitude toward attitude toward a healthy pear to have Ac the vicissitudes of the job market. Foundation to a Kaiser cording Family only survey earlier conducted this year, are workers of employed 20 percent about the possibility of “very worried” back into long-term alignment. At that that At back alignment. long-term into and productivity begin should pay point, putting more, in tandem once to move an upward back wages on Americans’ When will happen? It that trajectory. be foolish a predic to attempt would closing but the the compen of tion, gap has proceeded sation-productivity to have may that we suggesting slowly, Correction for while a Great wait the to end. amazing ability the course of two over jobs for Amer centuries good to create icans and to supply their wants and of long-term A clear-eyed reading needs. does not point to a fundamental trends with the Even in that ability. breakdown decline of manufacturing and the peaks the econo and valleys decades, of recent and dynamic enough my has been strong jobs formillions of additional to create There female and immigrant workers. to think it cannot to adapt is no reason challenges and whatever disrup today’s lie in store. may tions

THE TRUTH ABOUT JOBS IN ESSENCE OUR SURVEY OF NOTABLE ARTICLES FROM OTHER JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT FAMILY MATTERS From American Economic Review HOW THE ONE PERCENTERS THINK From Perspectives on Politics SOCIETY HECK OF A JOB, APPOINTEE! From Journal of Public Administration Research REJECTING RUIN PORN and Theory From Image OBESITY UP IN SMOKE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE From Breakthrough

THE PROBLEM WITH THE PIVOT RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY From Strategic Studies Quarterly NATIONAL SECURITY 101 COMING TO A PEW NEAR YOU From Orbis From The Christian Century THE POWER OF k PLANET OF THE NEO-DARWINISTS From Perspectives on Politics From The Weekly Standard

ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS ARTS & LETTERS REAL-ESTATE SURVIVORS THE CIA’S FAVORITE NOVELIST From Economic Inquiry and Bloomberg Businessweek From Journal of Cold War Studies CONTINUES

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY OTHER NATIONS WHERE HAVE ALL THE UFOS GONE? PROTEAN MOSCOW From Aeon Magazine From City Journal PRACTICE ISN’T EVERYTHING JUMPED UP IN PYONGYANG From Intelligence From North Korean Review BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU “LIKE” CHINA’S MEDICAL MAYHEM From Proceedings of the National Academy From Columbia Law Review of Sciences of the United States of America

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The 83 wealthy individuals in the The 83 wealthy “distinctive antipathy” to government government to antipathy” “distinctive of the economy. regulation surveyedChicago area po in 2011 by Larry Page, litical Benjamin I. scientists Seawright and Jason were Bartels, M. Virtually allunusually politically active. - presiden 2008 the in voted had them of contributed and two-thirds tial election, to political campaigns of (an average during$4,633 months). 12 previous the with They sprinkled their conversations (Emanuel, “Rahm” to casual references Barack Obama’s who was then President chief of staff (Axelrod, “David” ) and

-

“Democracy and the Policy Preferences of Wealthy the Policy Preferences of Wealthy “Democracy and

POLITICS & GOVERNMENT POLITICS Scott Fitzgerald said—especially in survey A rare per of one their politics. more much that they are centers shows public aboutconcerned than the general more and much federal deficits, budget a They have to cut spending. eager LUDGER / GETTY IMAGES . . Lunch, cocktails, fret about federal debt, dinner.

THE RICH REALLY ARE DIFFERENT, AS F. ARE DIFFERENT, THE RICH REALLY PERCENTERS THINK THE SOURCE: HOW THE ONE Americans” by Benjamin I. Page, Larry M. Bartels, and Jason and Jason I. Page, Larry M. Bartels, Americans” by Benjamin , March 2013. Seawright, in Perspectives on Politics

IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Presented with a list of nine areas of a list of nine areas with Presented in spending more The rich favored They favored private-sector solutions They favored half than More action. government over public said the federalof the general gov ernment should provide jobs for jobs ernment those provide should a rich, the Among work. find who can’t idea. embraced the scant eight percent the public favored activity, government in all (economic spending but one more Fifty-nine percent to other nations). aid of those surveyed money wanted more for Social Security and federal health- a list of 12 areas, Given care programs. the rich cutting back in nine, folk favored Social Security, including job programs, too, They, and even defense. health care, aid. wanted to cut foreign infrastructure such as roads areas: three and aid to research, scientific and bridges, there But even in these cases, education. crucial the one between differences were Despite broad and the rest. percenters a number of particular on is agreement favored of the wealthy sues—93 percent with compared as meritfor teachers, pay of the general public—there 77 percent limits to the generosity of the rich. were that Only of them agreed third about a “spend the federal should government good create to whatever is necessary” Nearly of the 90 percent schools for all. public endorsed the open wallet approach. public endorsed the open wallet approach. - - When was asked to name the group topped the Jobs and the economy thing to do with the fact that Chicago fact thing to do with the also fur but it’s hometown, is Obama’s generally ther evidencewealthy the that influence over disproportionate exercise the authors write in policy, government these folks And . on Politics Perspectives income with an average wealthy, are sure than $1 million and median of more million. of $7.5 wealth the the most important facing problems deficits. cited budget 87 percent country, in a survey of the general By contrast, only the same time, around public done pointed to of respondents seven percent debt. or the national deficits and the rich rated list of worries, public’s but the authors second, unemployment willing to put weren’t the well-to-do say their mouth was. their money where Obama’s top politicaluntil he adviser Obama’s left for academic the administration an some That had job earlier this year). One percenters sprinkled sprinkled percenters One with their conversations top references to casual advisers “Rahm” Obama and “David.”

IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In their study published in the Jour- For all the attention Brown’s case re Brown’s all attention the For E-mails Brown sent during the during sent the Brown E-mails ceived, the systemic costs of the spoils ceived, commonly considered. system aren’t professor a Lewis, David to According Vanderbilt of law and political science at his research and Nick Gallo, University, run presidential agencies by assistant, supporters and party apparatchiks per- form than agencies quantifiably worse run career professionals. by nal of and Public Research Administration Gallo and Lewis use the George Theory, As Program Bush administration’s W. (PART)—which Tool sessment Rating hurricane revealed a man who wasn’t hurricanewasn’t who a man revealed and management in disaster interested me,” please rescue . . trapped . “I’m relief. his He e-mailed he wrote to a friend. asking, deputy of public affairs, director “Can I quit now?” Association, monitoring horse show monitoring show horse Association, gen he was appointed 2001, In judges. Emergency eralFederal the of counsel ad FEMA AgencyManagement by a close friend. ministrator Allbaugh, Joe became of head Brown later, years Two the apex of a career reaching the agency, trajectory- as sudden as it was improb Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Then, able. struck New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. performed abysmally. FEMA

n - - - onage for onage for , April 2012.

know, however, however, do know, “The Consequences of Presidential Patr

Yet the one percenters’ knowledge is knowledge percenters’ the one Yet Two-thirds of the one percenters said percenters of the one Two-thirds It may be that wealthy Americans Americans wealthy be that It may for the International Arabian Horse for the International Arabian Horse

FOR 10 YEARS, MICHAEL BROWN WORKED APPOINTEE! THE SOURCE: a job. The people they a job. out them give that the factors of one is sizedent policies. governm influence over A JOB, OF HECK wealthy likely don’t know many people who many know likely don’t wealthy need Medicaid been laid off from or have der to reduce the deficit, while only a third deficit, the der to reduce Nearly three- did. of the general public quarters of the rich that it might agreed for be good the federal to run government Less than a duringa deficit a recession. public embraced this of the general third view—even economic thoughmainstream big increases majoritieslarge favored federalin spending on programs. they were willing to pay more taxes in or taxes more willing to pay they were Federal Agency Performance” by Nick Gallo and David E. Lewis, in Federal Agency Performance” by Nick Gallo and David E. Lewis, in Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory “one-sided,” the authors contend. The The the authors contend. “one-sided,” are better informed than others about informedbetter about others than are realis and more problems America’s Bartels, Page, public policy, tic about Their survey un- and Seawright allow. derminesnumber of stereotypical a about the rich.assumptions

IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

- - - political THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Furthermore, the reign of often the reign under- Furthermore, But Gallo and Lewis point out that “The United States has significantly more political appointments than other developed democracies.” has a demoralizing outside hires qualified effect ambitious career professionals, on deprivingto excel. incentives of them When Sometimes worse. the effects are a former campaign manager Allbaugh, 2001 to from ran FEMA for Bush, of experienced number large “a 2003, ger historyger man in private or nonprofit than their counterpartsagement in the civil service. “the United States has significantly political than other more appointments WhiteThe . . . developed democracies . of in the selection House is involved to policy3,000–4,000 persons or confi dential positions.” work,” Gallo and Lewis acknowledge. Gallo and Lewis acknowledge. work,” ties to political experience, Appointees’ and familiarity with the the president, news key media and stakeholders can also Appointees assets. be considerable education and a lon more tend to have ponent of agency is ponent leadership

- - - - - After evaluating almost 1,000 fed- and favoritismcrop patronage Political scores agencies’ effectiveness on a scale on effectiveness agencies’ scores the perfor “compare to 100—to of one mance of federal administered programs the campaign or appointees from by career . . partyrun . against programs by the other appointees from or executives” the elite corps Senior Service, Executive of federal administrators. than 350 more eral and programs oversaw whom of managers—some and Lewis programs—Gallo multiple runfound political that programs by the board. across appointees suffered for the presidential worked had If you pro your campaign party, or national scores gram probably earned PART than those of nine to 13 points lower run nonpoliticalprograms appointees. by (The for all score programs average also indicated The results was 67.) that runningfederala gen program of knowledge erally specific requires with Managers work. government previous agencyexperience tended even when mea to earn better scores against political sured appointees with experience in business or the non- sector. profit up in every the world, across government have of course, and political appointees, important com “An their defenders.

IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n pointees and careeristspointees can advan take skills theythe different of bring tage productively and work to management together.” they favor a better balance between the between a better balance they favor ap in teams, “Working worlds. two

- Gallo and Lewis don’t think political Gallo and Lewis don’t career professionals left,” taking in left,” professionals career memorystitutional and critical skills with them. (not should be abolished appointments Instead, chance of that). any that there’s

IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT

- - - But Ross, But Ross, THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Strategic Studies Quarterly. Strategic Washington has the right idea in the right has idea in Washington That could spell trouble for Unit the could spellThat trouble ed States. A nation that holds sway over over sway that holds A nation ed States. all of Asia invariably North threatens Ross writes Robert S. American security, in its strategy “pivot,” the ministration over engaging rise by forcountering China’s with countries the Chinese periphery. on This strate allies. cultivating regional gyand access bases enables it to secure dock to ships rightsU.S. allow that a political scientist at Boston College, a political College, at Boston scientist to pickhas a bone with the Obama ad

“U.S. Grand Strategy, the Rise of China, and U.S. the Rise “U.S. Grand Strategy, FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE POLICY FOREIGN day, the chess match China and between day, past in- If the the United States is on. any are clinations powers of other great China will its pieces across move guide, assertiveness. a fresh with the board High-fives all around: U.S. Marines and their Filipino counterparts breathe easy after storming a beachhead counterparts breathe easy after storming a beachhead High-fives all around: U.S. Marines and their Filipino smiling; the mock assault unfolded near Beijing weren’t during a joint military exercise in 2010. Officials in China both claim. a shoal in the South China Sea the Philippines and BULLIT MARQUEZ / AP / CORBIS WITH BEIJING’S POWER GROWING BY THE WITH BEIJING’S POWER THE SOURCE: THE WITH PROBLEM THE PIVOT National Security Strategy for East Asia” by Robert S. Ross, in S. Ross, in Strategy for East Asia” by Robert National Security Strategic Studies Quarterly, Summer 2013

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY On the Korean peninsula, meanwhile, meanwhile, peninsula, Korean the On the United and Indochina, In Korea Small are mainland Asian nations to visit Cambodia—a neighbor to China to China neighbor Cambodia—a to visit had administrations previous U.S. that Military maneuvers but ignored.” “all involvingCambodian military the and Marines followed. U.S. the Obama implementa team halted plan of the Bush administration’s tion from forces to gradually withdraw U.S. boosted The Pentagon SouthKorea. the number of American GIs there exercises and ramped up joint live-fire in part as a with the South navy, Korean belligerence. to North Korean response warns: Ross States courting is trouble, China’s on “Because are both regions naval power U.S. immediate periphery, cannot effectively challenge Chinese In a clash land on power.” coercive America’s of one China and between Lib People’s China’s friends in the area, maul its opponent. eration Army would in force “Even as a primitive fighting military to the PLA held the U.S. 1950, a draw in Korea.” orbit even bound to fall into China’s “Unless South and the Korea tually. Indochina countries willing to once are ground-force again host significant U.S. basing fa- and extensive deployments incurring again once cilities—therefore

- - - Take Vietnam. In 2010, the United the United In 2010, Vietnam. Take But the new American is presence stopped The United States hasn’t and American and aircraft troops keep to of But many doings. China’s on an eye Vietnam, such as friends, these potential main are and South Korea, Cambodia, countriesAsian land rightChina’s on Beijing nervousThat makes doorstep. the potential to entangle and has the win. United States it can’t in fights in Beijing when States raised eyebrows Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton idea of the visited Hanoi to promote The government strategic cooperation. Vietnameseof prime minister Nguyen Dung was thrilled—Hanoi had Tan military sought improved long relations. Vietnamjoint ex annual conducted has years for three Navy with the U.S. ercises running port and has facilitated visits by In a 2012 visit to Cam Ranh ships. U.S. base during the site of a major U.S. Bay, Secretary of Defense Vietnamthe War, “tremendous pointed to Leon Panetta forthe future.” potential here comfort. a little too close for Beijing’s China fought a nasty war with border and a maritime dis Vietnam 1979, in pute simmers. the Obama In 2010, Vietnam. with American sent administration officials

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY As part of the pivot, President President As part of the pivot, mainland overtures But America’s China abandoned afield, Farther Singapore’s assent to port to assent for access Singapore’s StatesThe United aircraft carriers. U.S. similarly- to a Ma access greater won laysian port in the Strait of Malacca. StalwartAmerican allies such as Japan to cooperateand host with continue forces. U.S. Obama duly maritime attended to these He warmed to New Zea up - alliances. and struckland and Indonesia a deal Marines U.S. station to Australia with a city that country’s on in Darwin, northern coast. no Ross says it’s with precedent. broke makes coincidence that China now In con for States. the United trouble little shows it trast to the early2000s, re communist pushing the in interest to participategime in North Korea in six-party its nuclear talks over program. assertive in more much It has grown maritimePhilippinesspats with the and toler- “eroding displaying its Vietnam, cooperation with ance for small-power the United States.” the of cooperation with a record Libya, Iraq, on in UN action West “Whereas to 2006 from Iran. and UN Se for five 2010 China voted curityimposing resolutions Council

- - - -

That’s no matter, says Ross. As As says Ross. no matter, That’s Previous presidents saw the wisdom saw the wisdom presidents Previous Small mainland Asian Small mainland to fallnations are bound orbit eventually. into China’s it learnedafter Vietpulledit of out Chinese hostility—they Chinese will ultimately distanc risethe to succumb by China of States,” United the themselvesing from Ross writes. the United States can maintain nam, by in the region a balance of power solidifying ties to offshore nations hot-button and distancing itself from the Philippines, Japan, local disputes. and Singapore Indonesia, Malaysia, allies ideal non-mainland equipped are with modern ports and ample space for bases. H. George of the maritime approach. Bush expanded military cooperation W. wider winning with the Philippines, George ships. maritime for access U.S. the for Bush deepened the alliance; W. the top recipient is now colony mer U.S. military assistance in East Asia. of U.S. administration the Clinton In 1999, capped its gradual shift of military as winning to Asia by Europe sets from

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

-

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Educating for National Security” by Jakub Grygiel, Security” by Jakub Grygiel, “Educating for National

“The can challenge is that we train CE: Many graduates of degree programs programs graduates of degree Many Grygiel offers an old-school alterna tive: a broad-based liberal arts a broad-based education tive: “the tragic beauty of worldlyin affairs,” imponderables, in which contingencies, defend “To and surprises supreme. reign Grygiel writesa country in is an art,” Orbis. cannot scientists but we students teach can only educate them We to be artists. art.”to appreciate in Orbis, Spring 2013. SECURITY 101 NATIONAL THE SOUR RESEARCHERS SECURITY NATIONAL TODAY’S When at is danger chance. to little leave - the formula for the prob consult hand, as proceed If events don’t ability war. of rewrite the formula. predicted, securityin national and international them take their lab coats with relations they discover where into government, statistics and theories that advanced cannot forvagaries account the of in- “The world is not a ternational affairs. a professor writes Jakub Grygiel, clock,” SchoolUniversity’s Hopkins of Johns at a “and International Studies, Advanced not be the best may approach scientific educateto nor it study to next the way securitynational wardens.”

- - - n China has also been bolstering its also been bolsteringChina has its StatesUnited The retains nonetheless A maritime-based American- pres sanctions on Iran, in 2012 it opposed it opposed in 2012 Iran, on sanctions effortssanctions.” those to tighten U.S. Since neighborhood. own its in presence fleet of growing PLA’s the the 1990s, diesel submarines has worriedPentagon Chinese militaryThe is also planners. developing antiship missiles that could vessels Navy for U.S. make it dangerous too closeto venture to Chinese waters. especially open the on militarya edge, America though, run, In the long seas. will struggle with Chinese pace to keep may Pentagon The Asia. in spending such weapons expensive need to jettison capa “more aircraftas carriersof in favor such as platforms” ble and cost-effective remotely piloted aircraft and unmanned underwater vehicles. suchence employing military tools could counter China at an affordable On the other hand, Ross argues. price, the Obama will aggra pivot he says, vate Sino-American and could relations “Whereas War post–Cold to a fall. lead from refrained administrations U.S. East mainland on power asserting U.S. the Obama has re administration Asia, “The United Ross writes. course,” versed States lacks the capabilities to sustain this effort.”

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Universities trot out feel-good global feel-good global out trot Universities seeks to replace The global approach Grygielbring wants to international is threatened by potentially by risingis threatened (a seas strategists Chinese while threat) ‘global’ United the expel to how about think StatesSouth out of the Sea.” China sen cosmopolitan to groom institutes Center University’s York New sibilities. “global to train for Global Affairs vows citizens capable of identifying and to pressing implementing solutions many Meanwhile, global challenges.” colleges blanch at the thought of U.S. training military campus on in officers programs. ROTC allegiances meaningless with rooted expected to feel an equal are “We ties. to our neighbors and to connection anonymous individuals with whom the onlyon living of the fact share we the “As Grygiel writes. same planet,” by particular being replaced ends up lose our connection we an abstraction, to our families, ‘here and now,’ to the and friends.” neighbors, security and national relations studies “The de- to is goal earth. to backdown reality a concrete fend the United States, and ideals.” tradition, history, by defined should populate their syl Professors labuses with American classics—from Fathers the writings of the Founding

- Overt patriotism is increasingly That means reading the masters— means reading That But politicalscientists specializing frowned upon in the ivory tower. Cadres Cadres in the ivory upon frowned tower. of students and scholars fancy themselves They set their sights on citizens.” “global poverty, global warming, abstract nouns: but valid concerns, Those are and drugs. of consideration displace they shouldn’t telling are “We and ideals. interests U.S. that the world of students a generation “The goal is to defend the United States.” Augustine, Machiavelli, Herodotus, Herodotus, Machiavelli, Augustine, All puzzles highlighted the Thucydides. po- any before long peace of war and liticaltried scientist to capture them in and esotericequations theories. and national in international relations security students’ filling on go studies brains with abstruse jumbo. mumbo waging battles over prefer Academics methodological form ques to debating posed by The threat of substance. tions as the insurgencies as well Al Qaeda, snapped some and Afghanistan, in Iraq the most For scholars out of their stupor. - few disagree are real there though, part, ments in academia—the hot issues are all about methodology.

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Most of the Most of the on Politics. Perspectives Calm down, say political scientists political say scientists down, Calm models to mental Humans rely on - revolu “cognitive studies behind the in our understanding of human tion” willingrationality on under relied consequences of our decisions. It gets gets It decisions. our of consequences pretty scary all of how ask you when manage to the people who this applies security national and other America’s high-level tasks. Alex D. Hafner-Burton, Emilie M. writing Victor, G. and David Hughes, in A smaller graduates as their subjects. experimentsof number involving and other doctors, politicians, CEOs, - respon of great people in positions complicated sibility a more present including Experienced elites, picture. the fate of nations, who decide leaders the cogni to avoid be better able may plague everyone that errors tive else. characteristic they also have However, flaws of their own. events make snap and navigate complex In new and fast-changing decisions. for of one most of us grope situations, psychologists to known these models, for different elites with It’s as heuristics. These Jedi experience. “domain-specific” appropriate heuristics Masters settle on Veteran most people. faster than much swiftly study found, one physicians, ------n , June 2013. Perspectives on Politics “The Cognitive Revolution and the Political Psychol have been piling up evidence up evidence been piling have

There is plenty of room for is plenty students There of room ogy of Elite Decision Making” by Emilie M. Hafner-Burton, D. Alex ogy of Elite Decision Making” by Emilie M. Hafner-Burton, in Hughes, and David G. Victor,

FOR DECADES, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND ECON PSYCHOLOGISTS DECADES, FOR omists

THE POWER k OF THE SOURCE: to the works of Reinhold Niebuhr and and Niebuhr of Reinhold works to the other and Those Schelling. Thomas “the key to ponder spur students works are we grandwho of strategic questions to go.” ought we and where these ques on and scholars to disagree Is the United States still an excep tions. But the wane? superpower or on tional - only possible in the pres “are debates language—exactly ence of a common that one the of situation opposite the characterizes modern academia.” that people are alarminglythat people are irrational in of us make Many making. their decision choicesbad about crucial matters such One savings. our retirement as investing is The pain of losses documented reason: When gains. of pleasure the than greater tend we situation, with an unusual faced of to fall back simple precedents, on ten choosing those that don’t apply or ten choosing those that don’t relevant expe fumbling to identify any few to And able of us are rience at all. see very when considering ahead the far

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But there are upsides even to this upsides even to this are But there Elites do exhibit one potentially potentially one exhibit do Elites able element in international affairs. able element in international affairs. because of their paradoxically, And, elites appear to be fear losses, of lower than others in game- cooperative more playing experiments. weakness. Confidence goes hand in hand in goes Confidence weakness. an indispens hand with willpower, dangerous tendency: They’re flush flush They’re tendency: dangerous to novice Compared with confidence. chess grandmas for example, players, likely undue more to place ters are precious of their most one value on their ability to recall past assets, “routinely NFL executives And moves. the abilities of their overestimate draft picksa talent- above pay and The national wage.” market adjusted “What security implication: looks pride— nationalistic like bombastic to of a leader the refusal for example, of overwhelmingback in the face down simplyodds of failure—might be the self-assessment.” of improper result aversion, which makes them better gamblers.” “are less prone to loss “are less prone to loss Seasoned decision makers

------In the realm of risk and reward, the the of riskIn the realm and reward, Elites’ “metacognition” also appears to also “metacognition” Elites’ better than novices also Elites are at anticipating the reactions of com reactions at anticipating the rounds future They consider petitors. and tailor their of strategic interactions have Economists choices accordingly. “k- calledeven developeda measure the the number of steps ahead to gauge level” can person that a game-play a think in three-quarters study, In one ing exercise. strategically “a of the subjects betrayed simple view of the world.” typically person average risk errs by losses than to attain to avoid ing more identi first gains—a phenomenon Daniel psychologists in 1979 by fied as But Tversky. Kahneman Amos and Vic Hafner-Burton and explained by - of international professors who are tor, at the University of California, relations a UCSD doc and Hughes, San Diego, makers decision seasoned toral student, which aversion, loss to prone less “are makes them better gamblers.” alight on diagnoses “by applying diagnoses on alight a small rulesset of sortingthe data and to for the doctors Greener right pattern.” decision working cases by routine labor through everythrough diagnosis. possible (or even jetti “revise They be superior. greater with much their heuristics” son) out. working ease when things aren’t

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Four years later, North Korea tested tested North Korea later, years Four plenty to be learned more There’s tion made its most aggressive move move aggressive most its made tion no strategy and seemed to have first for iterations.” the next time This nuclearits first weapon. Whitethe used nimble di House and other enlisting China plomacy, North and to help, players regional to gradually agreed dismantle Korea its nuclear (though it later facilities “In 2002 the heuristics were reneged). deal with parents how drawn from the au tantrums,” throwing children the citing evidence from thors write, offi memoirs of Bush administration the Bush team showed In 2006, cials. quicklythat it had learned from experience. experiencedabout how elites make experienced “Unfortunately, decisions. as sub to obtain difficult elites are jects because generally they areˆ busy, and skittish waryclinical of poking, information about about revealing processes.” their decision-making loss aversion, “the Bush administra “the aversion, loss

- - - Elites aren’t superhuman. Everyone Everyone superhuman. aren’t Elites the George argue, the authors Indeed, Hafner-Burtonher and surprise, No has “the hardware needed for needed political “the hardware has Hafner-Burton ly sophisticated tasks,” decision Top and her colleagues note. opportunity the have makers just to cultivate them. dealings with Bush administration’s W. and 2006 2002 between North Korea such how learning canshow occur. the fledgling administration first, At angrily and clumsily North confronted Heed nuclear about its Korea program. it Pyongyangless of how might react, abruptly of fuel. off aid shipments cut kick by responded regime Il’s Kim Jong inspectors out ing international weapons the withdrawing from of the country, and Treaty, Nuclear Non-Proliferation its effortsredoubling to build the Bomb. National the time, At colleagues say. Security Condoleezza Rice, Adviser and Secretary of State Colin Powell, Secretary of Defense Rums Donald - feld scant had experience negotiating Showing signs of with Pyongyang.

IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE

- - Economic Inquiry. THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY at the real- looking Other researchers People who sell their houses through a who sell their houses through People 5.9 get find, economists two the broker, than those who don’t. less to 7.7 percent neighbors, real-estate brokers have some have brokers real-estate neighbors, that onslaught survivedhow Web the has devastated and other agents travel of the minor myster one It’s middlemen. the by deepened the Internetof ies age, Bernheim Douglas of B. research latest Meer in and Jonathan estate market have found similar evidence, found evidence, similar have estate market

“Do Real-Estate Brokers Add Value When Listing Brokers Add Value “Do Real-Estate

EAL-ESTATE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS LABOR ECONOMICS, by a hurricaneby their that washes away Services Are Unbundled?” by B. Douglas Bernheim and Jonathan by B. Douglas Bernheim Services Are Unbundled?” Zillow, in Economic Inquiry, April 2013, and “Why Redfin, Meer, Brokers” by Brad Stone, Haven’t Killed Off Real-Estate and Trulia in Bloomberg Businessweek, March 7, 2013.

HBSS / CORBIS Against all odds, real-estate agents are thriving. SURVIVORS LIKE BEACHFRONT HOUSES LEFT UNTOUCHED LIKE BEACHFRONT HOUSES THE SOURCES: R

IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Zillow CEO Spencer Rascoff told think Bernheimand Meer don’t business. Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor. Trulia, Zillow, business. offering thrived by have users the com the but abilityonline, forshop to homes no part play companies in transactions. Sellers those them still need to manage A fourth selves an agent. or sign up with head has gone Redfin, firm, Web-based offering by cut-rate with agents to head commis broker (Traditional services. of percent than five more average sions the selling price.) It has struggled. really care don’t “consumers Stone that They they say care, about commissions. and they talk a big game in the off- to shove But when push comes season. to sell time and it comes their home, and so so infrequent is the transaction highlyexpensive—and and emotional to error—that so prone are consumers they turn to a professional.” Ignorance the only explanation. that’s where They point to an area is another. Mul- the in entered not propertiesare the broker-owned tiple Listing Service, an consider system realtors that many The tool. indispensable marketing in a California houses are neighbor is open hood in which homeownership only to faculty and staff of Stanford Bernheim teaches. where University, A & M.) Texas the faculty(Meer is on of - - - , where he where Businessweek, Bloomberg houses, the properties stayed the properties stayed own houses, Why do the vast majority of sellers Real-estate brokers have somehow survived onslaught.the Web still use real-estate agents? Bernheim agents? still use real-estate that people with a and Meer suggest or house to sell value the convenience or simply may offer, speed the brokers services ignorantbe broker’s a what of report Brad Stone, will really them. cost is a senior writer, gained some insight gained some is a senior writer, compa Web-based at four looking by Bernheim and Meer report. A 2008 A Bernheimreport. Meer and sold agents that when showed study their than for days nine the market more on for and sold four homes comparable a classic It’s manifestation more. percent “principal- call economists what of the (not just in real Agents problem: agent” always that don’t incentives estate) have the principalsalign with those of they bear who brokers, Real-estate represent. and show homes the cost of marketing a strong have around, ing customers to closeincentive a deal quickly rather than wait for better offers. ing in the real-estate entered nies that have

IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Things were worst for single women for single women worst Things were which Bertrand as defines Family, Wives with careers can life try find ing. Drawing on self-reported mood Drawing self-reported mood on ing. part who took levels of 1,482 women TimeUse Americanthe 2010 in Bertrand found that women Survey, with both families and careers reported - gath which were data, the to according in surveysered between administered 2010. 1972 and Only 29 percent no career. who had verysaid theyof them were happy. A slightlyof sin proportion larger percent, 34 careers, with women gle characterized themselves in this way. (Bertrand as having classified a woman ranked the above a career if her income earnings of at least a quarter of college- age of a similar educated men who were greater But the full-time.) and worked having a from happiness that resulted career dwindled after to insignificance according turnedunmarried 40, women calculations. to Bertrand’s pro marriage with or without children, “The vides a lasting happiness boost. is to life satisfaction premium biggest she associated with having a family,” “While is also a life satis- writes. there having associated with premium faction do not seem to be able women a career, these premiums.” on up’ ‘double to

- - - American Economic n “Career, Family, and the Well-Being of College- and the Well-Being Family, “Career,

Forty-seven percent of the women of the women percent Forty-seven Maybe. But they’re not necessarilynot they’re But Maybe. smiling about it. Of 3,595 college- 3,595 Of about it. smiling pollededucated as part women the of a biennial bat General Social Survey, tery posed to thousands of questions of those only 43 percent of Americans, juggling family and careers reported Marianne Bertrand, “being very happy,” at the University of Chi an economist writes Booth School of Business, cago’s in American Review. Economic not pursu but were families who had verying careers said they were happy, Review, May 2013. Educated Women” by Marianne Bertrand, in by Marianne Educated Women” DO AMERICAN WOMEN WITH BOTH A CAREER DO AMERICAN WOMEN WITH BOTH A CAREER and a family really it all? have THE SOURCE: FAMILY MATTERS The properties are listed only through only listed through propertiesThe are Staff Service, Housing the Faculty a sellers many so, Even Stanfordentity. But agents. real-estate still engage an after circulated researchers the two early in the of their findings version of sellers “the fraction neighborhood, 59.5 plummeted from using brokers to only in 2006 28.6 percent percent in 2007.”

IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS

- - - n

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY If married women who have jobs say jobs say who have If married women “systematic differences in personality in personality differences “systematic married between and unmarried traits” ex or as agreeableness “such women, traversion,” that influence well-being. that influence well-being. traversion,” disparity the And married between and those employed who are women - “differ to be related may who aren’t situa work ences in their husband’s level.” and income tion who as those “happy” not as they’re Bertrand mean believes this may don’t, with the way wrong is something there may “Women well-being. measure we because they pre ‘have it all’ strive to aspects of their on dict it will improve sense life such as sense of purpose, or social status, prestige, of control, aspects of life which not map well may of happiness measures into current and emotions.” - - The data don’t necessarily prove that necessarily that prove The data don’t But married women with jobs were with jobs were But married women more likely more than their counterparts without jobs to report that their daily meaning. had activities hap family is the key to women’s alone be may There Bertrand writes. piness, Forty-seven percent of theForty-seven percent families butwomen who had careerswere not pursuing very happy. said they were being stressed, sad, and tired more fre more and tired sad, stressed, being quently without married than women Study participantscareers. with careers less often, also happy were and families diaries by kept from data to according the women.

IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Paul Dannels, an Dannels, Paul in Image, Writing late parts of Detroit. Nothing catches Nothing late parts of Detroit. like ruins. the eye ad Michigan, Arbor, in Ann architect can be arresting: mits that the pictures once dancers where “Grand ballrooms twirled re shown courted and now are Vast, haunted caverns. duced to lonely, industrial halls are productive once depicted as empty cathedrals of rust.” dentist office in the early 2000s. Web Web early in the office dentist 2000s. surferseeriethe up lapped images, deso from of others scores with along

“Decay and Resurrection” by Paul Dannels, in by Paul Dannels, in and Resurrection” “Decay

Winter 2013. Photographers stumbled upon the Photographers the stumbled upon SOCIETY The derelict lobby of Detroit’s Lee Plaza Hotel made an eloquent statement about the city’s plight in 2009. 2009. in plight city’s the about eloquent statement an Hotel made Plaza Lee Detroit’s lobby of The derelict new life. But some buildings in the blighted city have found forsaken downtown high-rise, dentistry high-rise, forsaken downtown debris-The so derelict. never looked had X-ray machine, chair, patient covered and instrument in a abandoned table lay 20th-century warp. time TIMOTHY FADEK / CORBIS TIMOTHY FADEK IN A CORNER OF DETROIT’S EATON TOWER, A TOWER, OF DETROIT’S EATON IN A CORNER THE SOURCE: REJECTING PORN RUIN Image,

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY - - -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Holes in the roof or windows seal a or windows Holes in the roof But now comes the reckoning. “The the reckoning. comes But now - com nature leftIf they’re unattended, generait takes two Dannels reckons to gaze is too close to the the is too close to to gaze impulse less wholesome to gawk.” “The aesthetic longing longing aesthetic “The tions fortions structures to succumb com “The parents buildings your pletely. your when they were from remember now are if neglected since then, age, the And at risk of being labeled ruins. remember, grandparents buildings your be damaged may if similarly neglected, hope of being saved.” beyond the elements, In come fate. building’s steel and decayingcorroding wood. “When allow water into our build we deftly proceeds nature about the ings, them to dust of a business of reducing variety of sorts.” many Detroit buildings that lost tenants buildings that lost Detroit many themselves a facing find ago a generation today.” generation second make-or-break of well-designedmences the conquest Trees of an eye. buildings in the blink their rooftops on in just a fewsprout years, wind and birds. seeds carried by there

- - - - - But the rubberneckingBut the makes Dannels are buildings abandoned In truth, of those behind-the- Dannels is one shortageno for sites of huge There’s uneasy. “The to gaze longing aesthetic is uneasy. too close impulse wholesome to the less “I myself wanting find he writes. to gawk,” indignity.” the to defend cities from our “The provocateur forgotten. seldom with a camera feel may ‘ruin’ engaging a “Prac Dannels says. he isn’t,” but alone, are settled disciplines of more titioners de engineers, watching as well: nearby code officials— specialists, velopment too.” and architects, spends his days He scenes guardians. his- “abandoned Detroit’s prospecting darkness the into poking toricbuildings, and siftinga flashlight with through debris-strewn floors in boots caked with to trace the His job: damp plaster dust.” deterioration and of a building’s source determine whether the structure can be ask Dan and restorers Investors saved. What a rescue would nels for specifics: Whatentail? materials it require? would manufac In Detroit’s assess. to Dannels in belief the Motor City’s turing heyday, - fueled an architec perpetual progress deter “Manufacturers tural arms race. another with their mined to outdo one carsnaturally do the same sought to with their facilities.”

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY

------Breakthrough, THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY It’s a progressive foodie’s dream. But But dream. foodie’s progressive a It’s The fat fighters warn that obesityThe fat fighters is morbidly obese people Of that group, rally to bloated public opposition To shower low-income neighborhoods, neighborhoods, low-income shower farm with obesitywhere prevalent, is full supermarkets and of markets ers’ fruitsfresh and vegetables. at the New a researcher Helen Lee, City–based social policy think York argues in tank MDRC, an online journal, that the antiobesity antiobesity that the journal, an online strat a flawed crusaders adopted have egy. Public health experts trying are to egy. they fought fat the way smok fight blaming big business and ing—by for a prob environments unfavorable starts and ends with in reality, lem that, individual behavior. an infectious as if it were an epidemic, they imply definitions, Fudging disease. of Americans 60 percent that some are rate is 34 percent. The real obese. they But constitute run health risks. real popula the of onlyfour percent six to obesity is not a everyone else, “For tion. disease but rather a risk factor.” consciously advocates mimic waistlines, model of the 1990s, the antitobacco under which attacked activists ciga for companies preying young on rette the industry and blamed consumers for encouraging nicotine addiction.

- - - n FATTY FATTY piece

apart-

“The Making of the Obesity Epidemic” by Helen Lee, Epidemic” Obesity the Making of “The

URCE:

BESITY SMOKE UP IN That doesn’t deter Dannels—or a a deter Dannels—or doesn’t That the deserted site of dentist Tower, Eaton of our history off of the path to dust.” of our history off of the path to dust.” ment complex known as Broderick Tower. Tower. Broderickas known complex ment a Tower labeled Broderick once have “To build- the though ruinmark, the off seems Dannels con ing was certainly at risk,” with adventurer an unfamiliar “To cludes. aban seemed lonely, have it may a camera, but it never lacked and forgotten, doned, became attention Eventually, attention. kept at least this one and care care, food, beware: American public health American public health beware: food, declared obesity. have advocates war on Ban Big Gulp so Their battle plan: THESO GREEDY PEDDLERS AND PRODUCERS OF O and other foods Fritos, Oreos, Tax das. Most important, with empty calories. in Breakthrough, Spring 2013. wide range of others. “Skilledobservers of others. range wide of all sorts recognize value elements of he writes. buried the rubble,” behind or social, “The be economic, may value of both but the watchful eyes cultural, rarely are and civic interests commercial of opportunitiesunaware in the shifting cityscape of potential.” a completely is now renovated office,

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY made a similar point long ago in ago long a similar point made (2011), their study of Economics (2011), Poor The victimhood narrative deprives deprives narrative victimhood The The poor don’t lack for supermarkets, lack for supermarkets, The poor don’t of not an environment buds, Taste people of agency. In reality, people shop shop people In reality, of agency. people they what they want and eat where including the “Most Americans, please. typically their neigh beyond travel poor, borhoods shop at the grocery to stores Lee with their classassociated status,” is it true Nor that the poor can’t notes. they choose not foods; healthy afford “Lentils as cheap as are to buy them. Skim milk costs the same as potatoes. whole milk.” including studies, recent Three either. found low- that “all Lee, by authored one as at least neighborhoods have income and oftenmany grocery more and stores com than do wealthier supermarkets the studies the point, to More munities.” between no statistical relationship “found and . . the availability food . of healthy risk of obesitylower development.” what draw poor are persuaders, hidden and salt, people to food packed with fat, “The poor choosetheir foods sugar. not mainly for their cheap prices and but for good how nutritionalvalues, write MIT economists they taste,” Duflo Banerjee and Esther V. Abhijit in They note that George global poverty. Orwell - But antiobesity campaigners decided The offensive of the 1990s barely barely 1990s of the offensive The of impact that with the Compare and sugar. with fat, salt, and sugar. poor people to food packed persuaders, are what draw environment of hidden Taste buds, not an Taste to cast American eaters, specifically specifically to cast American eaters, “One as victims. demographics, two unable to resist was the innocent child, foodthe industry’s predatory - market “The other was Lee writes. ing tactics,” citythe low-income living in dweller neighborhoods devoid of grocery stores in which the only markets and farmers’ dietary ones.” unhealthy were options moved the needle the moved of number the on however. in the United States, smokers onlyThe rate six percentage dropped 2010. 1990 and points between In the earlier campaigns. antismoking put government the U.S. ’70s, 1960s and of Ameri dent in the percentage a huge limiting cigarette cansby smoked who advertisements a robust and waging public education campaign the dan- on of smoking. gers

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY

- - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But Lee doubts that Americans will Ailments aside, exercise may prove to to prove may exercise Ailments aside, Some public health experts see ex In contrast to lung cancer, the ail the to lung cancer, In contrast ercise as a distraction from their battle their battle from as a distraction ercise When the Americanto control diet. Michelle Obama launched her Let’s - to encourage physi program Move nutritionist Marion Nestle cal fitness, of having lady the first frostily accused encouraging up on food- com “given and healthier products to make panies junk foods to kids.”stop marketing learn to get beat obesity if they don’t moving smarter and get about the food they eat. ments caused by obesity—such as obesity—such ments caused by as highly hypertension—are diabetes and for the poor is The problem treatable. Little affordability to care. and access and educated peo wealthy that wonder mortality lower have obese ple who are rates than their poor counterparts. importantbe more than body weight “Men who health. in determining your higher appear to have lean and unfit are mortality obese and than men who are Lee writes research. of recent fit,” Lee notes. is fuzzy at best. “So is scant there far is fuzzy at best. evidence moderatelythat being - over has seriousweight health consequences,”

- - (1937): “When(1937): to Wigan to Pier Public health advocates dream of of Publicdream advocates health Lee argues, What’s instead, needed Antiobesity who ape anti- advocates you are unemployed you don’t want to want don’t you unemployed are you want You food. eat dull wholesome is There a little tasty. to eat something always cheap thing to some pleasant tempt you.” lines of smok food the bans—along eliminate would ing restrictions—that impossible to But it’s such temptations. legislate sugary and snacks sodas full of empty calories of existence. out the transformation is nothing less than “largerof life settings and socioeco- - agen that situate circumstances nomic reshuffle People cysetting.” habit and their priorities healthier lives and live to education access when they have to jumpstart One way jobs. and good Incorporate on lessons the process: gratification and delayed self-control “show whichcan into schoolcurricula, desires manage to how people young foods.”for unhealthy overlook tactics tobacco other basic dif- While issues. the two between ferences off years to shave known are cigarettes causing life lung cancer by your and carry the link between other illnesses, ing a few health extra pounds and bad The Road The Road

IN ESSENCE SOCIETY

on THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But worshipers may soon find that find soon may But worshipers all, the old music is still going strong. strong. is still going the old music all, genera - to generation Hymns from pass and old young On Christmas Eve, tion. with Faithful” Ye All “O Come, belt out scarcely in the sanctuary an eye turned a hymnbook. toward all know the hymns they no longer “banner a becauseThat’s it’s heart. by writesMary for new hymnbooks, year” at of religion professor Louise Bringle, and North in College Carolina Brevard chair of the Presbyterian Committee Committee chair of the Presbyterian

“Singing From One Book” by Mary Louise Bringle, in Book” by Mary Louise Bringle, “Singing From One

RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY RELIGION The Christian Century, May 15, 2013. AP Sing the good news: New hymnals are on the way. the thought of new hymnals. After the thought of new hymnals. IF YOU’RE A CHURCHGOER WHO BELIEVES WHO BELIEVES IF YOU’RE A CHURCHGOER not be that Sunday would worship most cherishedthe same without your not sing hallelujahmay at you hymns, THE SOURCE: TO A PEW COMING NEAR YOU

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But hymnals printedBut hymnals in the 20th hymnals the old the most part, For in a boom The latest hymnals reflect others denounced traditional hymns hymns traditional denounced others as stodgy—the in revolution resultant has been undeni song congregational Bringle writes. able,” century—each usually edition lasts de praisecades—pay choruses heed. little Bringle says the new batch of hymnals even if rightly the genre, acknowledges “Congre wars still simmer. the worship and blend of old some that prefer gations collections from newbenefit to stand the best of both worlds.”that contain the arrival of worship also preceded outside the United States. from songs church music In the past few decades, been drawn to the sounds have directors Latin and driving rhythms of African, and Asian Christian com American, about time American It’s munities. hymnals incorporate the from songs Bringle says. world church, as well. newhymns written in English, since the middleNot of the 19th century songwritershave in the English-speak ing world—especially the United States, and New Scotland, England, Canada, Zealand—written new so many - compo highlight less known The songs sitions. biblical characters—does Ethiopian the eunuch ring a bell?—or allude to issues

------ChristianCen- In 2013, two branches two Re of the 2013, In What’s behind the boom? For start What’s For the boom? behind ers, many American many sing now churches ers, choruses,” “praise with to the heavens of old- which shatter the conventions Where traditional hymnody. fashioned lyrical different hymns feature verses praise musicallyacross identical stanzas, choruses circle back lyrical to simple them drawnof directly many refrains, while varying biblical passages, from praise The first stanza. by the music Christians by choruses composed were in the 1970s. “Jesus communes” living in The Christian hippies scandalized pur organists in favor jettisoning ists by of guitarists strumming basic chords. “While ensued—the infa- factionalism in which de some ‘worship wars’ mous cried praise choruses while as simplistic tury. Congregational Song, in Song, Congregational as the Presby well as formed Church, out rolling are terian (U.S.A.), Church on Committee (Bringle’s new editions. Song Glory compiled Congregational volume.) the new Presbyterian God, to over churches Severalother Protestant hauled hymnals recently: big two the Lutheran in 2006gest denominations and the Southern Baptist Convention publishera Publications, GIA 2008. in issued of hymnals for Catholic churches, new in 2011. volumes

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY - - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Happily, hymn publishers haven’t hymn publishers haven’t Happily, But will the revamped editions—re plete with praise anthems, international international plete with praise anthems, partiallyhymns and scrubbedof tunes, Expect accepted? anachronisms—be attached people ample grumbling from Some Bringle warns. versions, old to bristle at the idea of sing congregants Brin for example. songs, “foreign” ing gle calls the faithful to put aside on “intheir reservations to sing the order freshly heart of our neighbors, songs available to us in new hymnals—even so well.” worn have when the old ones often can’t: outdoors, on retreats, in in retreats, on outdoors, often can’t: themselves books The Sunday school. par- “Couples or bring people together. the intimacy of enjoy ents and children An sharing physical the same object. can out point fingers person’s older person.” a younger or notes to words a hymnal offers pre singing from And members “Congregation cious context. not simply are privy a to the passages whether has selected, leader worship exposed but are song, in or scripture in she fuller repertoire,” to the church’s “They can they songs encounter writes. they ones do alongside and love know yet).” not (or do not know They offer digital print. abandoned to print- in addition vol companions that use screens. umes for congregations

- - Even old classics need a makeover old classicsEven need a makeover In an age when many congrega many when In an age tions follow the words and music on on and music followtions the words when singing projections overhead should publishers still bother hymns, is “Projection with printed hymnals? book “a Bringle counters; ephemeral,” don’t Books lasting artifact.” is a more technical as or require malfunction screens where They places go sistance. Expect ample grumbling from people attached to old versions. Better that than undemocratic uniformity. such songwritersaging that as in earlier eras eschewed. printed they’re in newbefore hymnals. and of church theologians Teams police lyricsmusicians for many too unnecessary to God as references all “Lord” and “King,” male (“Father,” terms of archaic qualify) or undue use All Come, (“O “ye.” and “thee” such as evidently transcends this Faithful” Ye Bringle sayscompromises scrutiny.) “This- to diver approach common. are sityof generation next the that means will eclectichymnbooks be and wide open to a criticisminconsistency.” of

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

- - The The Philoso- Mind and Cosmos,

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY - ques to dared Nagel Thomas 2012, In Howls of protest erupted of protest in philosophy Howls intel Once a darling of progressive lectuals, Nagel had all but committed all had but committed Nagel lectuals, “It is simply for taken granted,” treason. attacking “that by explains, Ferguson falls under the naturalism”—which of neo-Darwinism— umbrella broader “Thomas himself an has rendered Nagel embarrassmentto his colleagues and a traitor to his class.” in motion,” explains Andrew Ferguson, Ferguson, Andrew explains in motion,” a critic of neo-Darwinism, in a critic neo-Darwinism, of Weekly Standard. Standard. Weekly The colleagues. sure-minded his tion “that these facts depend on nothing but depend on “that these facts the laws of physics.” departments and laboratories the across “What Thomas into has gotten land. - Twit Steven Pinker wailed on Nagel?” of a decrying“the shoddy reasoning ter, Brad The economist thinker.” once-great “ThomasDeLong is scoffed that Nagel The not smarter are.” we than publisher, called Nagel’s Magazine phers’ “irresponsible” Oxford University Press, for even bringing out. the book venerated Americanvenerated argued philosopher for account that neo-Darwinists can’t suchbasic elements of existence as hu “Thereis morality. and reasoning man wrote in Nagel little or no possibility,” his bombshell tome

- - - The Weekly - Self and The Tufts University philosopher Tufts “The Heretic” by Andrew Ferguson, in by Andrew Ferguson, in Heretic” “The

Materialists the exis acknowledge So the open-and-shut logic of neo- goes tence of measurable phenomena that tence of measurable phenomena To subject to the laws of physics. are ev Dawkins and likeminded thinkers, will, free sound, erything else—color, distinct sense of your consciousness, in reflection see your when you self and human be- bunk, the mirror—is “moleculesthan more nothing are ings Standard, March 25, 2013. gist Steven Pinker. Daniel Dennett, and Harvard psycholo Daniel Dennett, Darwinian materialism, the metatheoryDarwinian materialism, and scientists top philosophers held by such Dawkins, as the biologist Richard Delusion God author of The ish Gene, of a church choir do not exist. Those choira church exist. of not do “manifest our of figments are sensations of reality version image”—the flawed perceive We senses. our by us to handed and vibrations patterns of light as colors, because those adaptations as sounds, maximizedhave chances our of survival of thousands of years. hundreds over EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND HEAR IS FAKE. FAKE. IS HEAR AND SEE YOU EVERYTHING notes angelic the and sea the of blue The THE SOURCE: PLANET OF THE NEO-DARWINISTS

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Nagel, himself an avowed atheist, be- atheist, himself an avowed Nagel, Why philosophers and scientists have Neo-Darwinian materialism serves “The priority to evolutionary given natu ralism of its implausible con in the face I think, “is due, states, Nagel clusions,” that this is the to the secular consensus onlyform of external understanding of ourselves an alternative that provides to theism.” to understand is a way lieves that there both God and existence while avoiding strictures of neo-Darwinianthe absurd Maybesome matter was materialism. beings to producing predisposed how with consciousness. ism becomes an axiom: If science can’t If science can’t an axiom: ism becomes exist.” it doesn’t quantify something, one Feser, Edward The philosopher as if says it’s defenders, rare of Nagel’s concludedsomebody because that metal coins, at finding terrific detectors are they telleverything us to know need we out a That leaves about metallic objects. weight, shape, including their size, lot, and color. taken materialism to such extremes? science well in some respects. “Mate- respects. in some well science and rialismpredict us to has allowed - with as nature what happens in control “But notes. Ferguson success,” tonishing materialists’ to the has gone the success material a fruitful method, From heads. - - - Stan The neo-Darwinian camp maintains The same goes for humans’ nuanced forThe same goes humans’ Nagel insists that neo-Darwinismthat insists Nagel just “Thomas Nagel has rendered himself an embar rassment to his colleagues and a traitor to his class.” oftenIt contradicts of morality. sense it could so how basic survival instincts, natural selection? from resulted have that morality does not exist anyway. in Ferguson’s Moral judgments are, “useful tricks human beings have words, ourselves.”learned on to play The ability to write or solve a symphony no distinct offered equations complex walked first when humans advantages What evolution the African savannah. doesn’t add up. Take human brainpower. human brainpower. Take up. add doesn’t could the for that matter, ary purpose, abilityto ruminate the meaning of on or fire a caveman’s life—whether around ivoryin today’s tower—possibly serve? editor at the senior a Ferguson, As “The brain conscious that is puts it, dard, up with neo-Darwinismable to come as simultaneously explanation a universal as a universal makes neo-Darwinism, exceedingly unlikely.” explanation,

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “There’s no doubting the honesty the no doubting and “There’s thinking intellectualfree courage—the shine faith—that good and ennobling his attempt.” through Ferguson thinks Nagel fails in his fails in his Nagel thinks Ferguson attempt to stake out such a position. out such to stake attempt a position. pluck in the the heretic’s But he hails reaction. appalled of his colleagues’ face

IN ESSENCE RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY

- Casino THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Not if the CIA can help it. Agency CIA can if the it. help Not of American many readers For man Felix Leiter a wad in with swoops Felix man “Marshall cashof 007: to note a and With Thirty-two millions francs. Aid. of the U.S.A.” compliments Bond debut Ian Fleming’s (1953), Royale heard time they’d this was the first novel, of anythingabout the Centralmuch Journalistsdid not Intelligence Agency. pull of secrecy back sur veil dare the established the organization, rounding Security as part1947 in National the of

“Ian Fleming and the Public Profile of the CIA” by the Public Profile of the CIA” “Ian Fleming and

AR way. He’s out of chips in a crucial game He’s way. Soviet the of baccarat against le Chiffre, Will guy best the a bad in France. agent world?free nonetheless admired the eccentric British novelist. At a gathering in London in 1959, a year after this photo At a gathering in London in 1959, a year after this photo nonetheless admired the eccentric British novelist. espionage tips with Fleming, who served in British was taken, Dulles had “quite a night of it” exchanging II. War intelligence during World , Winter 2013. Christopher Moran, in Journal of Cold War Studies HOWELL CONANT / BOB ADELMAN BOOKS, INC. / CORBIS the CIA. Legendary Agency director Allen Dulles Ian Fleming pierced the veil of secrecy surrounding BRITISH SUPERSPY JAMES BOND IS IN A BAD BRITISH SUPERSPY JAMES THE SOURCE: LETTERS TS & FAVORITE THE CIA’S NOVELIST

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Why all the warm feelings from Why allwarm the feelings from Bond’s creator? As personal assistant to As personal creator? Bond’s Intelligence of British Naval director the Fleming devel- II, War World during for American fondness” “genuine oped a On trips to the United States spooks. he witnessed British and during the war, side at American side by spies working a New British Security Coordination, UK intelli set up by outfit York–based trayals by later spy novelists, such as John novelists, later spy trayals by the Briton who has depicted le Carré, Agency men as paranoid and amoral. and propaganda Nazi “to combat gence Felix Leiter - profes consummate is a Felix nails, as hard pressure, under cool sional: while CIA, Leiter’s patriotic. and fiercely alwaysfiddle playing second Bondto a spin treatment receives and the British, “Inhands, Fleming’s envy. would doctor for good to be a force shown the CIA is Moran, explains world,” a dangerous in security national at of U.S. a professor in England. Warwick the University of in contrast to por stands That picture “In Fleming’s hands, “In Fleming’s the CIA is shown to be a force for good in a dangerous world.”

- - - Jour- “The Official , appeared in 1963 appeared , Dr. No That didn’t stop Fleming stop (1908– That didn’t So 25 years it was that for the first which was published series, The Bond Act. Even to utter its name on televion its name to utter Even Act. CIA the permission—and required sion never granted it. the British and for novelist 1964), who wrote officer mer intelligence outside books Bond his 14 smash-hit Fleming“could the United States. what he liked about the agency,” say writes Christopher Moran in the Studies. War nal of Cold in Britain him Secrets Act prevented explicitly mentioning that James from for the Secret worked his hero, Bond, but nothing Intelligence Service (SIS), linking Leiter, him from prevented to the CIA.” the American sidekick, existence Fleming almost of the CIA’s singlehandedly the popular shaped “In agency. spy of America’s perception was positive,” his depiction the main, Fleming power won Moran judges. ful American friends and fans in the F. John including President process, Kennedy and his family. sold 1953 and 1964 and has between than 100 million copies to date, more paints American courageous spies as (The first if a bit clumsy. cold warriors, film, Bond the 1958 novel.) and was based on

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS

- - - - From From Russia With THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY published that year, from Jac from published that year, Little wonder that Allen Dulles, di that Allen Dulles, Little wonder But Fleming stuck to a feel-good script. But Fleming stuck feel-good script. to a rector of the CIA from 1953 to 1961, 1953 to 1961, of the CIA from rector In 1957, enough of Bond. get couldn’t of a copy he received Love, and Robert queline Kennedy—John Dulles, fans. Bond huge Kennedy were praises in sang Bond’s an OSS veteran, attended retirement in and press the In 1959, adaptations. debuts of the film Britishforarranged spies Dulles meet to FlemingFleming dazzled in London. Dulles with his wit and imagination, especially gadgetry. subject of spy the on Back at CIA headquarters in Langley, Dulles his under Virginia, leaned on of Bond’s “to replicate as many lings devices as they could.” service’s doings—Agency operatives doings—Agency operatives service’s daring—andhopscotchedglobe on the dubious—missions. sometimes periments with mind control, and coups periments with mind control, against democratically elected leaders. couldn’t get enough of Bond. couldn’t of intelligence is made “No mention nor does Fleming discuss any failures, ex plots, tricks’”—assassination ‘dirty len Dulles Allen Dulles CIA director

- - - - In Washington, Fleming left a Fleming left a Washington, In Fleming using by the favor returned During the It was an apt portrait. to gain the sympathiesto gain and cooperation public.” U.S. of the William General on deep impression of head redoubtable the Donovan, J. of Strategic Office Services the U.S. The leg predecessor. the CIA’s (OSS), by “captivated was endary“Wild Bill” lively tongue, high spirits, Fleming’s seeing him and unorthodox methods, of the swashbuckling as an exemplar and slightly eccentric British secret Flemingthe played service tradition.” to the States He traveled wear part. knife and fighting ing a commando fountain with pen loaded “a packing report Donovan a cyanide cartridge.” edlyhelp to novelist future the asked draw agency up plans for a postwar spy and the CIA), become (what would Fleming later presented with a .38 “For The inscription: Colt revolver. Special Services.” personality hard-charging Donovan’s Leiter, as his model for the fictional en- who crueland “tough fighter” a Agency tered service out of the U.S. Marine Corps. of age” “golden ’60s—the and 1950s when neither Con CIA covert action, pried nor the press into the spy gress

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY (1954), Felix Felix and Let Die (1954), Live In reality, the British were the ones ones the Britishthe were reality, In - of Anglo-Amer depiction Fleming’s In snoops around without Bond’s guiding guiding without Bond’s snoops around Instead a foolhand and makes of himself. cultivating local and women of seducing paid on relies Felix as 007 does, agents, informants for intelligence and winds he to a shark, Fed captured. up getting Fleming barely escapes with his life. in Diamonds home drives the message “Whereas (1956). Bond— Are Forever the Briton—appears impeccably attired Leiter appeal, radiating sex and athletic, and a limp, walks with uses crutches, Moran writes. hook,” a prosthetic wears Smarting losses colonial from limping. SIS at home, problems and financial could hardly keep up with the Ameri “In life the CIA was primus real cans. “SIS was Moran observes. inter pares,” operationally cau more impecunious, and incapable of matching the tious, of its closestresources collaborator.” ican also misses the mark. bonhomie saw SIS as including Dulles, CIA men, overly classand susceptible to conscious One American of spy Soviet infiltration. the era said the CIA viewed its British “bunchcounterparts as a supercilious of glamorous chores, “such as complet as “such chores, glamorous the necessarying paperwork forback Moran writes. home,” - . ” The Craft , it’sCasino Royale The Craft ofIntelligence The Craft Despite his affinity for Americans, Despite his affinity for Americans, The two men struck up a profitable struck men two The profitable a up And Fleming And handsomely benefited as he did when Dulles talked up 007, at a 1963 meeting of the American Booksellers Association. Fleming true to his British stayed no doubt leave novels The Bond roots. Secret that Her Majesty’s Intelligence Service plays the game better than funds and The CIA provides anyone. logistics while 007 outsmarts and out- In the Soviets. fights with cleaning who is tasked Bond out le have “should even though this Chiffre, or for for the French been a problem according the Americans to deal with,” Though Leiter Bond saves to Moran. he spends baccarat bankruptcy, from less attending to most of the novel friendship. Fleming sent Dulles signed friendship. from who resigned Dulles, books. Bond the Agency the 1961 in the wake of in sent Fleming an Pigs of Bay disaster, early draft of his memoir, Flem In turn, (1963). of Intelligence includeding number of increasing an flattering CIA in his allusions to the WithThe Man the Golden In novels. from convalesces Bond Gun (1965), a in his chair, “sitting thusly: fight a Allen reading towelwaist, his round Dulles’s

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS

- - - - New n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Langley left everyone else in the Whatever he war- else Fleming did, med a reticent CIA up to the idea of to the idea of CIA up med a reticent “Therehints, tantalizing are PR. good the that by conclusive, albeit nothing earlydirectlywas trying CIA the 1960s of the coverage to influence Fleming’s Fleming told a In 1961, agency.” “or Times journalist that Dulles’s York alwaysganization and staff have coop erated so willingly with James Bond.” open up to mass The CIA didn’t dark. when ’80s, and media until the 1970s “ugly and dis revelations—amplified torted and of novelists at the hands a new genera filmmakers—convinced that the officials of intelligence tion and that problem an image CIA had But once could help.” popular culture been all had the Bond a time, upon Agency needed. encouraging the CIA down the path of of the path encouraging down the CIA Moran ventures. fantasy,” - - - From Russia From Yet the Yanks couldn’t shake their af shake couldn’t Yanks the Yet finity for Fleming. In a 1961 story for finity for Fleming. put Kennedy John Life, schemes- harebrained to hu tioning Cubans of and convince miliate Castro Ken to his regime. divine opposition But suggestions. the laughed at nedy who caught wind of Fleming’s Dulles, The CIA’s seized them. on musings, Operation campaign to topple Castro, included stunts that bore Mongoose, of Fleming’s to some a resemblance The British with a wild novelist ideas. a part in played have “may imagination With of his 10 favorite a list Love on dinner party, a Georgetown At books. candidate, then a presidential Kennedy, enthusiastically input Fleming’s sought Fidel Castro. Cuba’s to depose how on men hip, the from shot The novelist snobs” who wouldn’t protect the goods. goods. the protect wouldn’t who snobs” the anything,” tell the bastards “Don’t went. refrain

IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Such sightings were common enoughSuch common were sightings Have the aliens gone home? Are we we Are home? aliens gone the Have that for years a Britishforthat military years unit reports of unidentified investigated in the But flyingobjects (UFOs). vestigations came to nothing. People People came to nothing. vestigations usuallywere seeing car headlights, and Frisbees—not balloons, weather British the In 2009, flyingsaucers. the UFO out shuttered government reports of the the years, over And fit. extraterrestrial and the supernatural— and spirits—have ghosts, spacecraft, dwindled. used to be? less gullible than we

- Aeon “Seeing and Believing” by Stuart Walton, in by Stuart Walton, “Seeing and Believing”

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE objects,” according to its Web site. But the heyday of spooky sightings has passed. objects,” according to its Web Seen a UFO lately? Report it to the 3,000-member Mutual UFO Network, a Cincinnati, Ohio–based Mutual UFO Network, a Cincinnati, Ohio–based Seen a UFO lately? Report it to the 3,000-member collectively as unidentified flying scientific enigma known to “resolving the nonprofit dedicated MIKE AGLIOLO / CORBIS ing with white lights, the ship moved moved ship the lights, white with ing back and forth disappearing before into a cloud. Walton watched a flying in saucer hover Walton He window. the sky outside his bedroom strikingly craft large kind, “a of some saw Puls edges.” flattish but with rounded THE SOURCE: 1981, STUART NIGHT IN ONE SUMMER WHERE HAVE ALL THE UFOS GONE? Magazine, April 5, 2013.

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Walton yearns for the time when for when the time yearns Walton mort “entirely in a society Today, Even as technology improves our technology as Even our improves gaged to the secular spectacular,” the spectacular,” to the secular gaged “The the visible and other reality is lost. ery. The moon landings were staged, staged, were landings moon The ery. A camera and a movie crew they say. ex now “We take. all it would set are - undifferentiat of degree tend the same even to those phenomena ing refusal deserve to to credit, while hard that, “Climate writes. Walton be heeded,” most obviouschange might be the cur- noxious, at its most but, instance, rent to unwillingness in an skepticism results The attitude suffering. believe in others’ which one by of wholesale rejection, im might stand a chancebecoming of at the bought thus is perviousfraud, to riskever greater of nihilism.” attuned to won more people were “The façades and soaring baroque der. the carminesand cathedrals, of spires with cobalts of stained-glass windows devo them, through the sun streaming and carnival parades, processions tional - miraculous rel misericords, gargoyles, was an intan ics—all attested that there a the physical one, gible reality beyond reality that could at most be suggestively delineated in extraordinary sights.” ability to document our surroundings, ability surroundings, our to document peeled for fak their eyes people keep

- - - Much of what we’re bombarded with is bombarded Much of what we’re If UFOs still lurk, people are too jaded too people are stillIf UFOs lurk, Instead of evoking the Instead of evoking divine or the unseen, spectacles now entice us to buy toothpaste. - paint spectacu Advertisers fantasy. pure cope People lar worlds bliss. of consumer 1896, In disbelief. blanket embracing by movie projec the first audiences at some when a train fled theaters tions seemed to Now screen. the from them on down bear better than to trust know we our senses. everything—from treat Hollywood We vid YouTube effectsspecial to incredible observedeos to strange phenomena late “incuriousat night—with an skepticism.” to notice them, argues Walton, a Brit a - Walton, argues them, notice to writing author ish in Aeon Magazine. spectacles cyn made have Commercial dulling our senses of ics of all us, of “In previous centuries, and awe. wonder visuallywhat was for stood remarkable But now the spiritual.” the otherworldly, Instead see dazzling sights everywe day. divine or the unseen, the of evoking spectacles entice us to buy toothpaste, or beckon us to thrill in the theater, us button. click“Like” the

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , the authors re , Intelligence Critics have lambasted the theory. Criticstheory. lambasted the have Michigan State University psychol The world seized the study as evi on ogy professor David Z. Hambrick and ogy David Z. professor sifted other psychologists through five 14 studies of performers—sixdata from and eight of musicians. of chess players in Writing port fulla that quarter master the of they examined achieved chess players elite status after only 7,500 hours of percent 20 than more And practice. dence that expert achievement is open the piano, enough on hard Work to all: and you’ll shot at Carnegie a Hall. have Superstar writer Malcolm Gladwell gushed in his bestseller Outliers (2008) thousand hours is the magic “ten that claimed He that greatness.” of number explain the success the formula helped as in their talents of people as diverse the Beatles and Bill Gates. What strivers about the hard-working and the prodigiously tal who fall short, ented people who practice less but shine to data have doubters the Now anyway? back them up. tallied an average of more than 10,000 than 10,000 more of tallied average an they turned before of practice hours dedicated. as Lesser weren’t players 20. ex- sets not innate talent, time, Practice Ericsson traordinary performers apart, concluded.and company

- - - -

n “Deliberate Practice: Is That All It Takes to Become to Takes It All That Is Practice: “Deliberate

Such is the straightforward but gru Walton remains a believer in that oth- remains Walton eling path to becoming an expertan becoming to path eling per- 1993 to a landmark according former, An Swedish K. psychologist study by Ralf ders Ericsson colleagues, and two Tesch-Romer. Krampe and Clemens They found that the best violinists and academy hadpianists at a German music a run for his money? Practice the cellothe runa for Practice money? his for 10,000 hours. WANT TO GIVE MASTER CELLIST YO-YO MA TO GIVE MASTER CELLIST WANT

EVERYTHING THE SOURCE: PRACTICE ISN’T invisible, the material and the spiritual, material the spiritual, and the invisible, are the noumenal and the phenomenal they once the distinct realms no longer mutually become They per have were. diminishment.” their mutual meable to he watched Several ago, years er realm. a documentary the decline on in UFO seen “One man had sightings in Britain. Walton a mysterious object in the sky,” writes of a witness in the documentary. “He drawn had a sketch of [the UFO] it was Hearteningly enough, after. soon identical to mine.” itelli, in Intelligence, May 15, 2013. an Expert?” by David Z. Hambrick, Frederick L. Oswald, Erik M. an Expert?” by David Z. Hambrick, Frederick L. Oswald, Erik M. Altmann, Elizabeth J. Meinz, Fernand Gobet, and Guillermo Camp

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Smarts count, too. Multiple studies Multiple studies too. Smarts count, of Gritcan passion and off, still pay mean Hambrick don’t and company music at a young age and made their first first their made and age young at a music quickly more the field to contributions “There who startedthan peers later. a critical be may period for acquiring be for may skills just as there complex authors note. the acquiring language,” with excep that musicians shown have working-memorytional capacitiesand - Accord peers. high IQs outshine their outstanding young ing to a 1992 study, high IQs. also have chess players in the 2007 chess One player course. before study persisted for 26 years even as another master status, reaching in the same study became a mas player years. two ter in a mere They want dreams. to crush anyone’s pos about what’s people to be realistic thousand Ten talents. their given sible par on not put you hours of toil may But if people as with the masters. and abilities with sess their prospects “they gravitate may toward open eyes, in which a realistic domains they have chance an expert.” of becoming The 10,000-hour The 10,000-hour theory fell flat.

- - - The 10,000-hour theory—aThe 10,000-hour pe- What- explains such disparities? Previ of the best players made even quicker made best players of the masters becoming process, of the work a Meanwhile, or fewer. in 5,000 hours - play of lower-ranked sizable contingent than 10,000 more ers trudged through and kings of pawns company hours in the “Some people the grade. without making less deliberate practice much require an elite level reach than other people to Hambrick and of performance in chess,” differenc Overall, his colleagues explain. lifetimein es accountedtotals practice for variation of the only 34 percent skill levels. of different players between riod of time roughlyto 10 equivalent according of formal training, years to Ericsson—also fell in musical flat published in 1993 Data performance. Ericsson - colleagueshis and actu by Hambrick ally the point, underscore While the best and his coauthors say. academy pianists at the German music at least 10,000 indeed allhad logged practiced as some hours of practice, they before at as 30,000 hours many tained keyboard perfection. that chess- shown play ous studies have age trainingbegin who ers younger at a regardless competitors, on a leg up have legend many Likewise, of practice time. ary classical started composers writing

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- - - - frites -loving THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY or the or the Housewives Desperate Wicked correctly the tipped off Kosinski, Stillwell, and Graepel were were and Graepel Stillwell, Kosinski, People seldom realize what their realize what their seldom People researchers to male users’ homosexual to male users’ researchers Only gender ity of the time. 88 percent The better predicted. and ethnicity were correlation model also founda strong high intelligence and liking between a handful of seemingly random things but it would “Curlysuch as Fries,” of those probably take one geniuses to unravel the connection. the connection. to unravel geniuses least successful in forecasting whether split up during had their parents users’ of the failing 40 percent childhood, pre strong The Likes that were time. dictors—statements such as “Whensuchdictors—statements as All U See Couples Ur Is Happy Single, easy work for the researchers’ model. It model. for the researchers’ easy work 95 in race correctly determinedusers’ of cases in 93 and their gender percent out of every than eight More percent. political party af and religious 10 users’ three- About could be forecast. filiation the model correctly quartersof the time, cigarettes user smoked if the predicted or drank alcohol. found The researchers Likes reveal. users of gay percent that less than five obvian with statement or a group liked such to homosexuality, ous connection But liking pages Marriage.” “Gay as such as musical ------Proceedings psychologists psychologists Proceedings of the National Academy National the of Proceedings “Private Traits and Attributes Are Predictable From and Attributes “Private Traits

In a study published in the Distinguishing between white and white and Distinguishing between torcycles American as a white pegs you ob Your intelligence. of below-average with Hello session Kitty away give may of the cat Fans political leanings: your likely Democratic. more to vote are protecting your privacy your as you as much protecting Those innocuous “Likes”—your think. potato or athlete, TV show, favorite on window bigger chip—may open a probably life you than personal your Harley-DavidsonLiking mo intended. YOUR SPARSE FACEBOOK PROFILE ISN’T ISN’T PROFILE FACEBOOK YOUR SPARSE of Academy National of the Sciences of the of America, States United THE SOURCE: BE CAREFUL WHAT CAREFUL WHAT BE YOU “LIKE” Michal Kosinski and David Stillwell of Cambridge University and Micro Graepel Thore soft scientist computer than 58,000 volunteers recruited more back and compiled Facebook from Then they information each. on ground vari among connections set out to find ous Likes—a median of 68 per user— and particular traits. black and male and female users was Digital Records of Human Behavior” by Michal Kosinski, David Still Human Behavior” by Michal Kosinski, Digital Records of well, and Thore Graepel, in Thore Graepel, and well, United States of America, March 11, 2013.of Sciences of the

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY If people feel exposed and endan gered, caution the authors, they may they may caution the authors, gered, Balancing technology. back from away and perils the Digi of promises “the transparency and requires tal Age” of their giving individuals control infoown rmation. may not alwaysmay as those as benign be more much And researchers. of these and Facebook data can from be mined history browsing from to other sources, a potential There’s records. purchase in im the authors say, here, for good service such things as customer proving the But experience. online and users’ techniques could also be new prediction individuals’ used in ways that threatened or even life.” freedom, “well-being,

- Kosinski and his colleagues used vol untarily submitted data, but (depending but (depending untarily data, submitted privacy are Likes settings) user’s a on Facebook, freely available to others on including people whose intentions archers found a strongResearchers highcorrelation between liking aintelligence and randomhandful of seemingly “Curly Fries.” things such as N Wen Ur in A Relationship All See U Relationship in A Ur Wen N Singles”—showed that these Is Happy an unusuallyusers exhibited - in strong in relationships. terest

IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

- - krasnaya , as Krasnaya Ploshchad, as THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , Paul Starobin, a for Starobin, Paul City Journal, In mer foreign correspondent who has who has correspondent mer foreign notes that Moscow, in and worked lived “Moscow is subject to when even now, other than any control Kremlin more is the cradle [it] of the . . in Russiaplace . Muscovites country’s protests.” street that dissolvedlaunched the revolts the “po and recently, after all, Soviet Union, liticalapproached times theater has at gigantic.” Leo Tolstoy fell into both fell into both Tolstoy Leo gigantic.” of collection “a describingas it camps, and Peace writing yet in War robbers,” “every Russian at Moscow looking that feels a mother.” her to be

City by Fedor Yakovlevich Alekseev, the Alekseev, by Fedor Yakovlevich Red Square, Moscow, 1801 Red Square, Moscow, “Irrepressible Moscow” by Paul Starobin, in Starobin, by Paul Moscow” “Irrepressible

OTHER NA OTHER Russians call it, did not get its name from the Communist Party or the color of its bricks. Though Russians call it, did not get its name from the Communist now translates to “red,” it originally meant “beautiful.” Journal, Winter 2013. Depicted here in TRETYAKOV GALLERY, MOSCOW, RUSSIA / THE BRIDGEMAN ART LIBRARY RUSSIA / THE BRIDGEMAN ART MOSCOW, GALLERY, TRETYAKOV Moscow as “marvelous, outrageous, outrageous, “marvelous, as Moscow Batyushkov, a 19th-century poet, praised a 19th-century poet, Batyushkov, MOSCOW DOES NOT INSPIRE INDIFFERENCE: NOT INSPIRE INDIFFERENCE: MOSCOW DOES In the 18th it or hate it. either love You Catherine called the Great it the century, the that complained and sloth” of “seat of symbols of fanaticism, “full city was side side by and convents, . . churches . Konstantin with thieves and brigands.” THESOURCE: PROTEAN MOSCOW TIONS

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY After Joseph Stalin’s rise to power, risepower, to After Stalin’s Joseph Today, Moscow boasts an official official an boasts Moscow Today, planning and a westward outlook, the the outlook, westward and a planning second- new capital into Russia’s grew But citylargest its cultural and capital. dynamism its unique retained Moscow as the reclaimed role its in 1918, and, capital.national the Soviets reshape also attempted to cityMoscow—a Russian founded by Orthodox princes—in their image. “Rote destruction their method, was most,” suffered Moscow and religious before like Peter “Still, Starobin writes. [the city] forge into Stalin couldn’t him, In a Stalin-era subway a uniform type.” passen Revolutionary Square, station, gers rub the sculpture of a guard dog on on dog guard a of rub gers sculpture the to A monument the nose for luck. good has become socialism scientific modern, an object of superstition. though if you million, of 12 population include of migrants stream the steady the number the Russianperiphery, from Some Muscovites is closer to 17 million. fear for ability the city’s to handle its mi it has a Starobin says, but, grant workers, historylong assimilating newcomers. of that some in 2011 police revealed Indeed, a Central Asian immigrants given had newtwist oldest tradition: to the city’s 100 than More mixing past and present. factory constructed had a town workers - The city has survived by invasions Starobin says such contradictions, and Starobin says such contradictions, Moscow has survived inva- Moscow has survived France, sions by Mongols, as well as and Germany, of draconian campaigns urban renewal waged by its own overlords. France (in the 14th century), Mongols and Germany (in the (in the 19th), campaigns as draconian as well of 20th), - over its own urban by renewal waged the Peter earlythe In 18th century, lords. rid to get managed of the markets Great of sour “reeked which of Red Square, . . and undrained cesspools . grease, beer, ambition realizelarger his couldn’t [but] he built a Instead, Moscow.” to remake scratch. from Saint Petersburg, new city, European-style urban With orderly, an art form.” This is where the punk the punk This is where an art form.” band Pussyrock its protest staged Riot the PutinVladimir year—in last against Cathedral of Christrebuilt the Savior. jarring dis- “flamboyant, all of Moscow’s but the city, not only define harmonies,” “near-indestructa its Moscow also give as an organic life-form.” . . bility .

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS

- - - - North North THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY North Korea is no stranger to dope. to dope. is no stranger North Korea for reasons But in the early 2000s, being virtually of before unheard From Kingdom say the country the say Kingdom is caught up report epidemic, a methamphetamine in historiana at Kookmin Lankov, Andrei Seok-hyang and University in Seoul, Womans at Ewha a sociologist Kim, in in Seoul, also University, Korean Review. the state specialized in the years, For The commu export of illegal drugs. Pyongyang in nist regime cultivated and churned plantations out opium on at govern potent methamphetamines It was ment-run pharmaceutical plants. Dear the to fill way if unsavory, a quick, coffers. Leader’s Pyongyang sharply curtailed unknown, Scientists and techni - drug production. the operation lost fueled cians who had began “Private entrepreneurs their jobs. for them to look such people and give a North drugs, manufacture to money” defector recounts. Korean use methamphetamine 2004 or 2005, suddenly North Koreans among caught the shuttered around in the regions on to in According pharmaceutical plants. terviews defec North with 21 Korean stopped spreading the drug hasn’t tors, “Itthat the epidemic has seems since. and proportions remarkable reached

- - - North Korean Review, Spring 2013 n “A New Face of North Korean Drug Use” by Andrei “A New Face of North Korean Drug

Or is it? North Koreans evince less Or evince it? North is less Koreans Perhaps Moscow’s stubborn- juxta Moscow’s Perhaps That’s right, defectors from the Hermit defectors from right, That’s be reading this. You get your news from news from your get You this. be reading state radio installed in your a pre-set serves propaganda Party re to home. The state is always watching. mind you: state than police the concern about Theyrulesthe flout all in theyto. used such as tuning in to for sorts of ways, eign news shortwave on shows radios Southand enjoying soap op- Korean They even have eras pirated on DVDs. the temerity to try illicit drugs—and them. on hooked get IF YOU LIVE IN NORTH KOREA, YOU SHOULDN’T KOREA, YOU IF YOU LIVE IN NORTH THE SOURCE: JUMPED UP IN JUMPED UP IN PYONGYANG of sorts in a Soviet-era bomb shelter, sortsof Soviet-eraa in shelter, bomb bedrooms, “bathrooms, with complete rooms.” and even prayer and good of past and present, position Staro lesson,” “cheerful a presents bad, were Moscow “If today’s bin argues. on razed (as early fire, was by Moscow likely it would come several occasions), is its resilient so back similar lines, along urban DNA.” Lankov and Seok-hyang Kim, in

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY - process ice by produce North Koreans Thanks to the rave reviews, meth meth reviews, rave to the Thanks The all-seeing surveillance state isn’t what it used to be. ing ephedrine—just as their counterparts Manufacturers StatesUnited the in do. of which set up labs in idle factories, other out-of-the- and many, are there The ephedrine is smuggled places. way courtesy Chinese gangs. of China, from the drug was often smuggled Formerly, made backsometimes and China into most of but now to Southits way Korea, domestically. it is consumed use soon percolated from apparatchiks from percolated use soon been One defector who had to others. in North Korea a construction worker of his 70 percent” “some recalls that used in their twenties male coworkers most of Other interviewees, the drug. of North the province hail from whom speak China, which borders Hamgyong, methamphet of use wide “extremely of often claiming that—at least in amine, majoritythe borderland areas—the of sampled have North Koreans younger Lankov and Kim report, the drug,” though theyestimates, these that think exaggerated. are while indicative, - - - The authors say the meth craze the meth say The authors fol- Party Communist NorthIn Korea, State their habits by bigwigs excused keeps growing, engulfing new social new social engulfing growing, keeps Lankov and new and regions,” groups Kim write. drug the pattern set by epidem lowed elite a conspicuous First, ics elsewhere. Then the glamorizes drug. use of the the action. in on masses scramble to get the in dabble to first the were officials highly syntheticstimulant. addictive security state officers, officers, “Police officials, administrative party cadres, and they they[supply]their allhad lines, a defec their friends,” it among spread tor remembers. claiming that they needed an extra pick- hours and long me-up to cope with stress by women seduced Officials at work. flaunting their ability their hands to get Some high-end restaurants drug. the on as post methamphetamine even offered a dessert or a if it were “as prandial fare, Lankov and Kim marvel. cup of coffee,” reported that the drugNorth Koreans such alloffered sorts health benefits, of curingas backresuscitating and pain drug Western Following victims. stroke they calledmiraclethe powder slang, a “pingdu,” or in Korean) (“ice” “orum” rendering of the Chinese word Korean for ice.

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS

------na” Columbia Columbia THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Malpractice Dispute Resolution in Chi Mobs: Medical

According to official data from the data from to official According Changes in China’s health care policies in China’s Changes are one cause of the new conflicts, writes cause one new of the are conflicts, professor a law Liebman, Benjamin L. in at Columbia Law School, bing 10 doctors. In another incident, in incident, In another bing 10 doctors. a patient death touched off Nanchang, of scores a pitched battle that involved people and left 15 injured. nearly Chinese Ministry of Health, surrounding incidents” “grave 10,000 injur medical in 2006, disputes occurred than 5,000 hospital employees ing more and causing $25 million in prop some Scattereddata and anec erty damage. dotal evidence that those num suggest rising been bers have rapidly in recent out of fled protestors have Police years. hospitals have fear for safety, their own to their employ issued bulletproof vests military and one hospital installed ees, of sexy nurses” “photos televisions with nervous the “ease atmosphere.” to patient who died at a localpatient who died at hospital in 2011 (after doctors allegedly denied their fury vented treatment) stab by CHINA’S MEDICAL MAYHEM THE SOURCE: OF A RELATIVES AI, ANGRY IN SHANGH by Benjamin L. Liebman, in Columbia Law Review, Jan. 2013.by Benjamin L. Liebman,

- - - - - n Pyongyangapparently has tried to Lankov pic- dark and Kim paint a As for the drug itself, the honey the forAs the drug itself, The epidemic coincides with the with with coincides The epidemic moon is over. North Koreans use the use the North Koreans is over. moon to describe the ravaged “munlan” word of long-term meth- state that comes who fled Those abuse. amphetamine never even 2008 have heard before the term. slapping crack meth dealers by on down In prison sentences. them with two-year dissidents end up in the a land where hardly that’s a stiff penalty. gulag, In future. of the North Korean ture malnutrition to widespread addition “the disintegration of the public and the country faces now health system,” “willa drug further epidemic that ag situa- horrendous gravate the already in the next few years. tion” ering government North of a Korean The corruption and criminality. beset by what it all-seeing surveillance state isn’t “inept drug its policies are used to be; Enterprising North Ko and inactive.” “booming private run unofficial if reans opera manufacturing and commerce” While are trade companies foreign tions. Lankov the state, ostensibly by owned fat-cat their that say executives Kim and The same is owners.” facto “de the are true of restaurants.

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Hospitals the overwhelming settle of- government On a local level, party- and govern But back in Beijing, not in the shadow of the law, but but law, the of the shadow in not the state by micromanagement through observes. he of protest,” in the shadow to unwilling appear “Party-stateofficials particularlytime in a this role, of let go of rapid change.” generally than more majoritycases, of payouts and the he says, 90 percent,” “Settle- the generous. tend toward oftenments are with little regard made and often to legal provisions exceed in be payable the amounts that would damages In 2009 the average court.” municipalitywas about one in awarded in amount not an insignificant $7,500, a country per capita the income where is less than $5,000. superiors ficials—whose sometimes they evaluate well how them based on pushed back. disputes—have resolve prohibit regulations municipal Various build- raising banners outside hospitals, and ing shrines the deceased, around medical threatening staff. the protests find ment higher-ups may official China lacks independent, useful. so of public life, in most areas oversight a sort provide check of spot the protests “Permitting forsystem. care health the a play escalation, prevent may protest

- - - - - Since are patients and their families medical malprac- compared Liebman Under Deng Xiaoping’s Law Review.Xiaoping’s Deng Under Beijing expanded reforms, economic with health care the number of people Chi the benefits. but reduced coverage Some hospitals have have hospitals Some bulletproof vests issued employees. to their than 60 nese citizens more pay now medical of their expenses out of percent suffering a dearth Meanwhile, pocket. hospitals have funding, of government and desperate turnbecome to a profit adequate increasingly unable to provide Doctors routinely over medical care. prescribe unnec charge for basic exams, and essary medications, and expensive drug bribesaccept companies. from - and fre funds, their own paying from undulyquently optimistic infor receive they about illnessesmation and injuries, expect nothing less than a full recovery. of hospital media coverage In addition, distrustcorruption breeds of the system. within and without tice disputes from studying Chi how the court system, operate and judges under a nese lawyers that often regime Party Communist “Disputes resolved are distrusts them.

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Some reform is possible. The SupremeThe Some is possible. reform “Violence part now of are and protest People’s Court is trying to “streamline” Court is trying“streamline” to People’s medical make and litigation malpractice and more medical fairer review boards Suggested reforms to the transparent. care system health could reduce nation’s the inequality rich between access of But Liebman urban and rural. and poor, believes that the grievances and violent as the will as long conflicts continue take a backcourts seat and regulations stability.” “social to concerns about Liebman the cycle of dispute resolution,” toward “the trend that adding concludes, and claims of protest resolution through violence appears likely more to become absent significant reforms.” widespread - - This delicate balancing act, between between This delicate act, balancing useful oversight function, and provide and provide function, oversight useful Liebman with information,” the regime medical protestors In addition, says. typicallypunish or specific seek money party so the not political change, ments, view them as a threat. doesn’t and maintain allowing public outrage the over confusion reveals ing control, Government state. Chinese the of future partyand regularly officials of speak courts the strengthening and respecting but their comfort with the rule of law, handling medicalthrough malpractice informalan system that begins with and ends with generous violent protests distrust “official an settlements reveals of the formal legal sphere.”

IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS

Kate Bowler Jon Mooallem THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY BLESSED By Reviewed by Randall Stephens as ubiquitous They are the American...on WILD ONES By Reviewed by Darcy Courteau When Christopher moored... Columbus first REVIEWS OF NEW AND NOTEWORTHY NONFICTION AND NOTEWORTHY OF NEW REVIEWS

Maury Klein A CALL TO ARMS By Reviewed by Mark Reutter when the military Today, nearlyconsumes 60... HOTHOUSE By Boris Kachka Reviewed by Michael Anderson pay— don’t High culture not its function... that’s

Paul Bogard

At age 18, Paul Bogard Bogard Paul 18, age At a life-changing... had Reviewed by Nathalie Lagerfeld THE END OF NIGHT By The Greek historian historian The Greek Thucydides suggested... GETTYSBURG GETTYSBURG By Allen C. Guelzo Reviewed by Martin Walker CURRENT BOOKS CURRENT

GETTYSBURG

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The short answer is that Allen C. The short is that Allen C. answer And yet it is to the bloody encoun yet And ters at Seminary Ridge, Little Round Little Round ters at Seminary Ridge, Wheatfield the Den, and Devil’s Top, that historians and Cemetery Ridge, A in extraordinaryreturn numbers. 2004 in bibliography comprehensive essays, articles, counted 6,193 books, the Gettysburg on and pamphlets cam days, specific on more and many paign, other Sowhy, individuals. or events, year’s this of power marketing the than the need for yet 150th anniversary, another volume? Era War the Civil who directs Guelzo, til Lee surrendered in April 1865 at til Lee in April 1865 at surrendered Courthouse. Appomattox By Allen C. Guelzo Knopf 632 pp. $35.00 battered It fought on, did not collapse. un for years, almost two invaded, and - -

MARTIN WALKER

The Battle of Gettysburg, which was The Battle of Gettysburg, itary disasters. daysJuly of three foughtfirst the in clash was not the decisive of the 1863, LeeWhen lost the Robert E. War. Civil Vicksburg that same week in the battle, Grant (who thus cut fell Ulysses to S. the Confederacy winning con by in two the South of the Mississippi River), trol THE GREEK HISTORIAN THUCYDIDES SUG- THUCYDIDES HISTORIAN GREEK THE that when a state falls as a result gested should inquire we battle, of a decisive but into the un- not into the battle itself derlying a state vulnerable of weakness in 1940 France to such a hazard of war. victory or Alexander’s to mind, comes or the at Gaugamela, the Persians over and Blucher at Wellington triumph of Rome rare. But such battles are Waterloo. defeatsat the successive from recovered Reich, and Hitler’s hands of Hannibal, and empire, Napoleon’s imperial Japan, during of Louis the reign XIV France after on mil able to fight repeated were REVIEWED BY THE LAST INVASION THE LAST The Battle That Changed the War the That Changed Battle The GETTYSBURG:

GETTYSBURGCURRENT BOOKS ------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY - com battlefield the preeminent Lee, was never really in doubt. In the face of of face In the was never really in doubt. the South such Northern advantages, the bravery to rely on had and determi and the talent of its of its troops nation the save all other fronts But on generals. the Rich along central battlegrounds the South corridor, mond-Washington skillful than no more ern generals proved Only Lee their Northernopponents. outstanding, were and his lieutenants at least until Stonewall Jackson died at taking with him some Chancellorsville, of energyvital spark and military magic. mander despite his defeat at Gettysburg, finally to match opponent his skill met an Vicksburg when Grant arrived from to to the the Potomac the drive across lead But Confederate capital of Richmond. un where, in that critical theater of war, the South held a military til Gettysburg, political vulnera the North’s advantage, A successful inva bility was most acute. of Marylandsion by and Pennsylvania Virginia Army of Northern Lee’s would and Baltimore Washington threaten Lee and possiblyeven Philadelphia. After he was stopped understood this. Marylandin western at the Battle of “We Lee mourned, in 1862, Antietam, of march been in a few have would days’ of that and the occupation Philadelphia, the In us peace.” city given have would - - - “War is not so much a matter of arms is not so much “War was never really in doubt. that the outcome of the war that the outcome railroads, it becomes clear railroads, it becomes power, naval strength, and naval strength, power, - potential, man industrial advantages in money, in money, advantages e count the North’s North’s the we count When Studies program at Gettysburg College, Studies at Gettysburg program College, an is He to write is supremely qualified it. eminent historian of slavery the and of and author of Lincoln-Douglas debates, He knows of Lincoln. biography a fine today’s of acres 6,000 the ground—all 1,324 monu its and park battlefield all, Above and plaques. statues, ments, widely deeplythought and read has he simply not mili a as battle, the about tary politicala as but encounter episode; “The Last Invasion.” hence his subtitle, account single-volume finest the is This illustratesthat one and es- the available, of the event. sential paradox And Thucydidesnoted. money,” of as advantages the North’s count when we - manpow industrial potential, in money, it be and railroads, naval strength, er, clearcomes of the war that the outcome

GETTYSBURG - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The North’s army, morale battered morale battered army, The North’s al Napoleon J. T. Dana arrived to take T. J. al Napoleon he found only charge in Philadelphia, closed were so stores the troops; 400 and the church- drill, could employees es open so that citizens ponder might hour.” their darkest “their duty in this, with filled were roads Pennsylvania’s and the guns of General Rich refugees, Harrisburg. bombarding were Ewell ard was in disarray. after defeats, successive days the before just three On June 28, Hooker “Fighting General Joe” battle, of New Jersey wrote to Lincoln that he sought York and New an invasion, feared When Gener its harbor. help to guard - - - When Lee crossed the Potomac in When Lee Potomac the crossed MEDFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTION / CORBIS MEDFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTION attempt ill-fated an in terrain open of yards of hundreds braved troops Confederate Charge: Pickett’s Philippoteaux recreated the day of battle at Gettysburg. French artist Paul to turn the tide on the last in 1883, a portion of The Battle of Gettysburg, first displayed in Chicago chaos in a cyclorama called which is shown here. spring of 1863, Lee in a purchase sought spring1863, of writing to the Confed the North again, of Seddon, James eratesecretary war, of will be fall there “next that objective: his in the change in public opinion a great the friends of peace . . [and] . . . North . that the Confed will so strong” become eracy its independence. have would panic began to spread. mid-June 1863, New military estab departments were lished to defend Pittsburgh (trenches and, Washington) Mount on dug were Chambersburg, 160 miles to the east, any before troops which fell to Lee’s governor The defenses could be begun.

GETTYSBURG - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The opposing generals had different different generals had The opposing It is one of the great merits of Guelzo’s merits of Guelzo’s of the great It is one book that he explains the importance that he explains book doing so, In of the tactical defensive. the numerical advantage, but day by day day by but day the numerical advantage, arrived. Northernreinforcements more sim It was enough for Meade priorities. veryhis would presence ply on; hold to to win the strategic plan abort Lee’s political victoryNorth. the invading by LeeBut army defeatto Union the had so that his the field and drive it from even though So, could proceed. invasion was outnumbered— he day final the by his to troops 93,000 Union were there On the first 71,000—Lee to attack. had out of troops the Union he drove day, strong a they but retained Gettysburg, ridgesthe south on position defensive veryhe day, second the On town. the of nearlyleft the Union turned and broke but nearly Top, flank at Little Round day, the third On enough. was not good a gamble close seems in what now to launched he his of desperation, an act infantrymagnificent open uphill over against dug-in defenders with ground remarkable It is artillery strong support. to history known as that this attack, came so close to suc Pickett’s Charge, hopes and the South’s But it failed, cess. a politicalof forcing settlement through victory failed with it. - - - - - The battle at Gettysburg did not go position of Pipe Creek near Taneytown, Taneytown, near of Pipeposition Creek Wash he could cover where Maryland, ington and force Lee to attack him. In Lee and force ington to attack him. into armiesboth blundered event, the an unplanned encounter about a dozen the site of an at Gettysburg, miles away Lee first At had important crossroads. was sacked and replaced by General General by was sackedreplaced and even Lincoln though Meade, George peace-seek was another Meade feared ing Democrat like the recently cashiered The abo McClellan. General George as did distrusted press Meade, litionist of his corps one General Sickles, Daniel (The Meade-Sickles row, commanders. which erupted Sickles the way over in- Gettysburg, at troops his deployed Armyan court spired inquiryof and of Gettysburg a subsection has become its own. of studies with a bibliography animosity, of personal A combination and lack of militarySickles’s experience, of most explain fogto the seems war of the fuss.) to the plan of either com according taking the by Lee hoped, had mander. Northern the to force strategicoffensive, giving him thus to attackhim, troops of the tactical defensive. the advantage inten Hooker’s been Attacking had He cautious. was more but Meade tion, defensive strong the occupy to hoped

GETTYSBURG

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Moreover, few troops were good shots. shots. good few were troops Moreover, queen of the battlefield The real men armed with the new Miniés, Guelzo men armed new with the Miniés, more much reportscites fired soldiers that as infrequently slowly in battle conditions, every as once four minutes. only four under perfectEven conditions, an Illinoismembers of 180 of regiment away. 100 yards men could hit a barrel Onlythe Fifthfourof men 40 of out Con yards, 100 barnhit a could necticut from and onlywas below of those shots one the British As and man. height of a the found had in their campaigns in French the 1850s, and India in the Crimea, Italy, infantry of the power the decisive rested charge and the volley fire with the bayonet Such ranksof infantryof close at range. was the storm aimed at Pickett’s of lead plank one that day final the on Charge fencea of Southernthe attackers to had measuring 14 inch 16 feet by surmount, balls, perforatedwas musket 836 by es, bulletone for every inches. square three Some of those balls probably came from a close-range antipersonnel canister, and the thick cannon, by fired round that as General George ensured fire of the crest Pickett’s approached troops Cemetery rushingthey into were Ridge an especially fearsome killing zone. 372 had and Meade was the artillery, while Lee was so guns at Gettysburg,

- 100 yards away. 180 men could hit a barrel an Illinois regiment of Only four members of to aim difficult. At the height of Pickett’s At to aim difficult. to reduced were troops Union Charge, since attackers, their of shoes the at aiming claimsDespite seen. be could else nothing aimed shots per minute by or three of two he challenges orthodox the view the of historian Bruce War Civil distinguished new that the reckoned who Catton, Minié rifles had to both sides) (available the dominate to range and power the and impose out to 400 yards battlefield It would crushing the attacker. losses on viewpointthis followinfantry that from to hold a position. suffice would alone But if soldiers armed with Minié rifles aimed poorly smoke, blinded by or were infantryvulnerable could be to an attack artilleryer who combined bombardment charge—a combination with a bayonet the Southern learned to de- had troops Guelzo points out effect. great to ploy of the Minié rifle has beenthat the power not least because greatly overestimated, a volley ofthe clouds by released of smoke subsequent attempts made black powder

GETTYSBURG

- -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY And yet Lee almost won, on at least two on Lee yet And almost won, Lee avoided a crushing defeat only because of the exhaustion of the Union troops, who had suffered 22,000 casualties over the three days of battle. had five roundabout miles to travel. And And to travel. miles roundabout five had dispatch riders any so did trying to co the attacks wings of of the two ordinate theyas out were stretched forces, Lee’s exterioron lines. occasions. In each case, the fault was his; his; the fault was In each case, occasions. and his forces, he failed to concentrate Had his attacks. he failed to coordinate his attack the evening of on pressed Ewell General Long James had or - day, first the (those exterior so long not taken street lines again) to develop his attacks the on vic- left day, second the on flank North’s tory Confederacy. to the gone might have partThe key of this feature of the bat been left had Top, Little Round tlefield, deployed who had Sickles, by unguarded But the brave furtherhis troops forward. to was who Vincent, Strong Colonel in the battle, sustained wounds die from and some troops a brigadegot of Union crucial artilleryTop Little Round onto - - - - The North had the furtherThe North had advantage short of draft crossed he had that horses Burst only with guns. 283 the Potomac range at long shells fired ing overhead, while could strike infantry even in cover, batterya suf reckoned was guns 18 of attackingup infantry break to ficient the case at short And range, formations. balls of musket scores shot that delivered of artilleryThe impact was devastating. nor a been better explained, has seldom Guelzo’s than in battle better described, guns the between duel the of account for their his troops as Pickett deployed launch infan a massed To fatal charge. try of yards 800 and across assault uphill superiorenemy against an ground open in artillery troops from was asking more than Lee right any had to expect. of the town out Forced of interior lines. Union of Gettysburg day, the first on been pushed into lines re had troops By the sembling the shape of a fishhook. troops General Henry Slocum’s day, third but a mile from Hill were south of Culp’s men WinfieldGeneral Scott Hancock’s Reinforcements Cemetery on Ridge. quickly move one could therefore from side of the Northern lines to defensive from reinforcements But any another. to attack who had Southerners, Ewell’s Pickett’sSlocum to reach men in order theyas forup lined charge, their famous

GETTYSBURG - - - - - Gettysburg: Gettysburg: THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Second, the book blends the two blends the two book the Second, History usually books tell as much us bor, and the Crater, the march through through the march the Crater, and bor, still burning and the of Atlanta Georgia, clear that Lee had made good his escape. clear that Leehis escape. good made had he told “There somewhere,” faith bad is The secretary. his Navy Welles, Gideon with the to run, more 21 months war had Cold Har of Spotsylvania, slaughters that makes it special. that makes it special. Invasion Last The the battle as a political it treats as First, as important to as a militarywell event, presidency (and doom saving Lincoln’s ten as about the period they cover, but ten as about the periodthey cover, quality is a timeless there to strategy) invasion ing Lee’s as it was to preserving Philadelphia and Pittsburgh occupation. from sharply of bat contrasting perspectives the general trying from to arrange tle, supplies and reinforce ammunition ments while hearing reports conflicting to the hapless, his subordinates, from frightenedinfantryman seeing hungry, Perhaps his fellows him. fall around the only had perspectives thing the two was that each was mostlyin common of battle. the smoke blinded by to come. The Union was eventually was The Union saved to come. but at a terrible price and slavery ended, whose echoes and political resentments for generations. endured have writabout the times in which they were

- - -

Lincoln never forgave Meade forLincoln never Meade fail forgave Lee a crushing avoided defeat only ing to turn Lee’s defeat into a rout. “We “We defeat into a rout. ing to turn Lee’s the president grasp,” them in our had when it became July on told his son 14, had made good his escape. grasp,” Lincoln told his grasp,” Lincoln told his son on July 14, when it became clear that Lee “We had them in our “We with but minutes to spare. Even then, it then, Even to spare. minutes but with bravery heroic took First the by Minne the day 20th Maine to save sota and the charges against with desperate bayonet out of every Four superior numbers. Firstin the men fell Minnesota five in the battle. because of the Union of the exhaustion 22,000 casu suffered who had troops, Lee days of battle. the three alties over including a lost almost as many, had Guelzo Indeed, of his 52 generals. third Lee’s terms, notes that in proportional army and a half times as many lost two War World men as the Allied armies of and American) Canadian, II (British, 11 and the fall D-Day of Paris between later. weeks

GETTYSBURG -

is a Wilson a Center is n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY MARTIN WALKER MARTIN WALKER , was was The Devil’s, Cave His latest novel, published this summer. senior scholar and with this issue becomes senior scholar and with this issue becomes reviewer for The a regular Wilson Quarterly. - most mili when in an age all, Above tary with no people by read histories are experiencepersonal of the mind-numb Guelzo and chaos of battle, ing sounds rawthat terrifyingand stresses truth Clausewitzwhen he tried convey to no longer light of reason “the wrote that All in the same medium.” here moves but Gettysburg in the lay war is hell, seventh circle.

Third, it explains far better than most than most far better it explains Third, Guelzo focuses intently on Fourth, military histories the importance of - wood by provided cover of the ground, the of a hill, slope reverse lands or the difficulty keeping formation of with underfoot wounded and - dead and ad aiming uphill. vancing or time much how the importance of time: for new a report of some was required emergency to be drafted and to reach for that general’s and then, a general, long and how a unit, to reach orders men to assemble and march it took that those orders and guns to ensure fulfilled. were

GETTYSBURG

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY FSG was very of the product much licitude toward its writers and its writers its licitude toward and its literary cachet. when edu- II era, War the post–World cation was prized (think of the GI Bill) and artistic conferred accomplishment than a status that was esteemed more represented The house also money. By Boris Kachka Simon & Schuster 448 pp. $28.00 and Philip Larkin, Elizabeth Bishop, list boasts children’s Its Gunn. Thom Maurice authors such as Roald Dahl, (As MGM William and Steig. Sendak, canFSG claim stars more has it did, once The house in heaven.) are than there was as famous for- its miniscule advanc offices—“filthy, es and unpretentious never inadequately heated and cooled, teeming with bugs and ugly painted, tube lights”—as for its so fluorescent

MICHAEL ANDERSON

Since it issued its first titles in 1946, Since titles in 1946, it issued its first its function. This makes formakes This rocky a function. its which hopes to marriage art, between which and commerce, make a living, the Inevitably, to make a fortune. looks the temple. take over moneychangers Such America’s of was the fate of one distinguished publishing houses, most a story that Straus and Giroux, Farrar, Boris strugglesKachka’s from to emerge Hothouse. book FSG has been dedicated and to finding Its of enduringpublishing books value. of authors includesroster lau- 25 Nobel 1978 and between in literature; reates the 18 of 10 published the house 1995, list is equally Its non-Nobel winners. Wilson, including Edmund glittering, FlanneryPhilipO’Connor, Roth, HIGH CULTURE DON’T PAY—THAT’S NOT DON’T PAY—THAT’S HIGH CULTURE REVIEWED BY F SURVIVAL OF SURVIVAL THE ART They Don’t ’Em Print They Don’t To TheyLike Used HOTHOUSE: OF ART SURVIVAL AND THE AT AMERICA’S MOST CELEBRATED CELEBRATED MOST AMERICA’S AT FARRAR, PUBLISHING HOUSE, STRAUS AND GIROUX

HOTHOUSECURRENT BOOKS

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY son of a factoryson Quebec from foreman in and an Irish-Catholic seamstress family in his was the first to Jersey City, classmates (His at college. graduate from - Thom UniversityColumbia included as Merton Berryman.) and John “The thing about the part most remarkable Kachka nership of Straus and Giroux,” “is at all.” their paths crossed that writes, high art a career in was each man, For a social steppingstone. - The black-sheep of the Straus scion STEVE PYKE / GETTY IMAGES (1917–2004) lusted after mistresses and book deals with Nobel laureates. Straus Jr. Roger W. a vehicle for the social advancement a vehicle for the social advancement the different however of its principals, and Straus Jr. W. of Roger motivations who began (JohnRobert Giroux. Farrar, with Strausthe firm following his oust contributed & Rinehart, Farrar er from an illustriouslittle except name.) department dynasty store and the Gug- Straus business for rejected genheims, the Giroux, of publishing. the romance

HOTHOUSE - - -

Between

The Catcher The Catcher .) WhenOn the Road.) in To the Finland Station the Finland Station To THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Besides shepherding eminences such Besides shepherding (thereby denying the house denying the house (thereby Rye the in resolved Giroux bestseller), a perennial as T. S. Eliot, Thomas Mann, E. M. For M. E. Mann, Thomas Eliot, S. T. as discov - Giroux Orwell, George and ster, Malamud, Bernard Jean Stafford, ered his to testament (It is Jackand Kerouac. first taste that after publishing Kerouac’s rejected he book, 1950 the new at Harcourt pre owners acquiring him from vented (1940) and VirginiaWoolf ’s projects; his first the Acts (1941) among later he was editor in chief. eight years Giroux very likely was editor the greatest book of the 20th century, the man we all think Maxwell Perkins was. intellectual deshabille, but it was Giroux Giroux but it was intellectual deshabille, its “one it literarygave who distinction, brain,” the other its quiet gut, restless very Giroux likely was Kachka writes. of the 20th editor book the greatest all Maxwell think man we the century, editor at As a 26-year-old was. Perkins he was assigned Ed Brace, Harcourt, Wilson’s mund - - - - - Look (1965); I Can (1965); Yes (1958)—like it or not, (1958)—like it or not, Lolita Straus bucca the reckless provided This is most apparent in Straus, a larg in Straus, is most apparent This neering spirit FSG its aura of that gave er-than-life vulgarian across comes who of the unpleasant caricatureslike one in to speak Given Whartonan Edith novel. as Kachka puts it, ‘I,’” “the Royal ing in and devotee the of philanderer a restless his equally with high- Straus, high life, playing the enjoyed Dorothea, born wife, His Upper East Side- town salonista. house became what Kachka the locus of a full-blown . . of FSG . “the culture calls literary apparatus—a shop ofone-stop for Come the parties; literary greatness. back by give for contract; stay the book reviewing or talking our other authors (Appropri party.” them up at the next advanced pet author—he Straus’s ately, paid her handled her mail, her funds, the embodi bills—was Susan Sontag, ment of intellectual social climbing.) It was Straus Nobel who set his sights on (Publishing rival Epstein Jason laureates. “wantedsniped that Straus nothing but Prize winners.”) literaryNobel His own a point on not to put too fine taste was, big editing His two unsophisticated: it, Hauser’s Gayelord triumphs were Longer (1950) and Sammy Live Younger, autobiography Davis Jr.’s he rejected postwar Americanthe finest novel.

HOTHOUSE

- - - - - Bonfire of the Vanities BonfireVanities of the . He Presumed. Innocent THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY As publishing attempted to emulate attempted to emulate publishing As In 1994, Straus hisof sale the arranged 1994, In “There’s nothing so great about the word the word about so great nothing “There’s pub one that except per se, , publisher Nelson it was the second lisher—I think I ‘I books. publish Doubleday—said, never editor would An them.’ read don’t the the publisher holds But that.” say purse strings. with mul ’80s, Hollywood in the go-go (and subse timillion-dollar advances Straus tried to keep pace; quent losses), FSG held the in 1988, weeks for three bestseller list the fiction spots on top two Wolfe’s with Tom and Scott Turow’s and Scott Turow’s learned after lesson a hard abandoned earlyhis Haus- Gayelord with success publishing trap that seems “a er about obvious but turns out to be very to hard “One very suc Kachka writes. resist,” cessful year leads to excess cash, which cash, to excess leads cessful year advanc into ever larger is then plowed . . . confidence. excessive by es buoyed very is Linear growth to achieve hard mind the exponential in books—never times callkind—and the headiest for of caution.” excess the greatest publishing house to Verlagsgruppe Georg Verlagsgruppe publishing house to and, retired had (Giroux Holtzbrinck. von deal wasThe an owner.) wasn’t case, in any put half ofpart that would of the trend American of only publishing in the hands

------. “I thought Billy Budd. “The sobering most of all publishing and Straus obvious Giroux were to move elsewhere. In 1955, he left for 1955, In elsewhere. to move his authors—includ 17 of firm; Straus’s and O’Connor, Malamud, ing Eliot, “In one Robert Lowell—followed him. . . “Straus. Kachka writes, fell swoop,” house.” a damned good himself had “a is that said, once Giroux lessons,” and is often book of its time, great ahead trickthe to keep it afloat until is how His attitude the times catch up with it.” was perfectly congruent with Straus’s to focus as Kachka writes, decision, than on growth “less his company’s on than its identity—less share market on Such a conservative niche.” a market on strategy demanded excellent scouting (Straus trav became European a tireless seeking writers and luxury hotel ac eler, with equal enthusiasm), commodations perhapsa passion closest to Giroux’s Columbia profes by inspired heart, Melvillethe Weaver, Raymondsor M. the unpublished scholar who discovered manuscript of a lit discover be to it would great how declared. Giroux erary masterpiece,” “Why must temperamental opposites. snap; would Giroux be so crude?” you be the difference know don’t “You Straus an editor and a publisher,” tween commented, once Giroux retort. would

HOTHOUSE

n -

, Hothouse is a former editor

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY magazine and writes like it. magazine and writes it. like The New York Times Book Review Times Book . York New The MICHAEL ANDERSON at Kachka is a contributing editor at soul, but Straus, as in life, dominates dominates as in life, but Straus, soul, All often too Hothouse. of the pages the of Straus, like a biography reads book a corporatelightlyby leavened history. than the chapter little more gets Giroux biography. detailing his New York His chapters are more a series a articles of more chaptersHis are historythe a developedthan narrative; social neither in anchored is FSG of it is a bitter And nor literary contexts. publishing of a an account that irony for qualityhouse renowned is written in is Hothouse Indeed, careless journalese. alltoo typical of what American pub lishing has become, now that houses no now lishing has become, but talk about publishing books longer The value of units.” “moving for those pondering the decline of is that it serves as American publishing, example of what it ostensibly details. an

- - - Although KachkaAlthough ostensibly in is terested in FSG because in FSG of its culturalterested concentrates on his book distinction, (“By the rather literature. than gossip “was Straus he writes, turn of 1960,” fehis of - three probablywith sleeping The rumor went . . . male employees. towels fresh that the man who delivered provided also . . . Fridays on office the in sheets.”) It is a mea with fresh Roger super- unrelenting of the book’s sure rather of FSG’s than any ficiality that, the writer who gets outstanding authors, is the comparativelythe most attention Franzen. undistinguished Jonathan the house its given have may Giroux five corporations. Straus some in took corporations. five After of making years 40 $30 million. fortune. decided to make a he a living, giving a FSG is but a subsidiary, Today tarnished imprimatur of class to a media Jona leader, current its conglomerate, a corporate but courtier. Galassi, than Although it still proclaims its devotion a is more FSG today to literary art, cultural than a force. “brand”

HOTHOUSE

- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY nati zoo in 1914. Today, bison live in live bison Today, nati zoo in 1914. But ratswhile thrive. bands, managed archives, the through search without a it’s the way this isn’t know who would always been? plant Half of the planet’s and animal species may disappear by 2100. By Jon Mooallem Penguin Press 339 pp. $27.95 the wild fashioning people were native their farming and to accommodate animal populations hunting—some bubbled after have well may the Indians’ declined—butnumbers incursions the par with near being on nowhere were The those of the past few years. hundred died in a Cincin pigeon last passenger -

DARCY COURTEAU

Jon MooallemJon digs up these stories WHEN CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS FIRST COLUMBUS FIRST WHEN CHRISTOPHER sea turtles Caribbean, in the moored of their so plentiful that the sound were carapaces the ships’ thumping against As night. hullsat awake crew kept his pi- passenger century, 19th the as late flewgeons in flocks they so large blocked the sun and snapped the branches of and herds which on they roosted, trees the across coming bison stampeding of prairie slammed into trains with enough to knockforce off their tracks. boxcars baselines “shifting to illustrate in order fisheries a terma by coined syndrome,” scientist in 1995 to name the sense each the North has that America generation it is born into is the natural one—no the landscapematter how has been al into sailed since those insomniacs tered of Columbus’s the time At its waters. the noted, have sources other arrival, REVIEWED BY A SOMETIMES DISMAYING, DISMAYING, A SOMETIMES Animal Control ONES: WILD REASSURING STORY WEIRDLY PEOPLE AT ABOUT LOOKING ANIMALS IN AMERICA AT LOOKING

WILDCURRENT ONES BOOKS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY No matter that the polar bear could No national (PBI) flies in a steady stream (PBI)national stream flies in a steady of concerned citizens television and crews who track the tundra in around enormous buggies to watch the bears, mine. Receding Arctic ice keeps the keeps ice Arctic Receding mine. their from away bears stranded land, on for ever-longer seals, fatty food source, beginning to starve, Some are periods. while eating their young, and others are bears are Polar waiting for the winter ice. least in most of at extinct, expected to go in a few decades. their natural habitats, it a distance, from like a fish; gut you like to tuck you’d like something looks an impression arm at night, under your that makes it the perfectposter child The in general. animals forendangered Bears Inter conservation Polar group Wild Ones, Churchill, Manitoba, on the edge of edge the on Manitoba, Churchill, Half of the planet’s plant and animal Half of the planet’s species may disappear by 2100, Mooallem 2100, disappear by species may to notes in the introduction In a wildlife refuge in Necedah, Wisconsin, whooping cranes raised in captivity practice flying behind an ultra an behind flying captivity practice in raised whooping cranes Necedah, Wisconsin, in refuge wildlife a In guide the birds on a 1,285-mile fall migration Operation Migration pilots will light aircraft. Come October, from to Florida. Wisconsin victims of overhunting and overfishing, agriculture, to mining, lost habitats their As a new and other industrial assaults. he worried about his daughter’s father, sensibilities, “baseline” developing own and determined to document (at times with the toddler efforts the in tow) now preserveto way under endangered three What is that wildlife he finds species. or maybe “has evolved, management perforof kind surreal a into - devolved, mance art.” is the southernmost range Bay, Hudson and as such makes for of polar bears, a global warming canary in the coal JEFFREY PHELPS / AURORA PHOTOS / CORBIS

WILD ONES

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The whooping craneThe whooping is nearly as Citizens the effort, captivated by dunes, hoping to see real-life matches. matches. real-life to see hoping dunes, place, in program breeding a There’s conservation and much involves work simply dunes. the weeding conservationLange’s. as the reliant with an eight-foot a bird The crane, soared had wingspan and nasty temper, the Pleistoceneskies since the Epoch, a nosedive took until its population nearly exterminat- several decades ago, sport ed by the draining hunting and forof swampland habitats agriculture. Now only 30 survived. By the 1940s, raises (OM) Operation Migration cranes in captivity to and endeavors (About 275 them in the wild. release keep To craneswhooping exist today.) imprinting them, the cranes on from conservationists tent-like white wear A uniforms silent as monks. and stay team of pilots in ultralight aircraft tries cranesto lead born in captivity along Florida from old migration routes to Wisconsin. aren’t “Craniacs,” who call themselves so for them, closeallowed to the birds, an intimacy en that’s “created OM has The Craniacs track the tirely vicarious.” show migratory the Internet, on route T-shirts portsat up ing callof buy to crew. the to pies off hand and from - - - - - A handful of species living on the the living on A handful of species while a PBI spokesperson, a former former a PBIa while spokesperson, about guilts them executive, marketing Churchill the Already, climate change. world larger as a well community—as of conservationists—is considering the should start of if and when it question the that begins, Once feeding the bears. animals will be conservation reliant. Antioch Dunesoutside of San Fran The 120-foot-high are. cisco already thousands up over masses of sand piled lev fewa within decades, were, years of Native eled to make bricks and roads. evolvedplants that had in the shifting, overrun now by dunes are windblown met and the Lange’s species, invasive a butterfly that exists only on almark, left what’s on buckwheat of growing The place is near extinction. the dunes, came in 1980, under federal protection Fish Wildlifeand Service U.S. the and that the butterflies be count ordered the highest In the 1990s, ed regularly. spotted metalmarks number of Lange’s in an afternoon was in the thousands; a typicalnow afternoon yields a couple a motley crew of a week, Twice dozen. along worked volunteers—Mooallem putting in community side a miscreant service hours for violations— traffic up to gazeshows at a laminated photo the of the insect and trudge through

WILD ONES

- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Rudi Mattoni, one of the world’s fore of the world’s one Rudi Mattoni, most lepidopterists, who once worked worked who once most lepidopterists, called it metalmark, with the Lange’s ‘How do say, would “People too. quits, he told the blue butterflies?’” save we hide- his Buenos Aires Mooallem from about shit a give ‘I don’t say, I’d “And out. seemed to one No the blue butterflies.’” not individual spe that ecosystems, get habitats are what need saving; are cies, He spends to reconstruct. too complex his days cataloging all the species that extinct within the to become sure are next few years. fodils, placed bouquets on all the empty bouquets on placed fodils, the delegates before tables conference She to moved out. and peaced arrived, a tent Hawaii and watched whales from pitched a cliff. on nations were bartering were nations rights whaling organizations while whale protection competing scene, clustered the around Early one and recognition. for resources she bought an armload of daf morning, No one seemed to get that get that to seemed No one not individual ecosystems, are what need species, too habitats are saving; complex to reconstruct.

- -

ADMIT TO HAVING INDULGED IN A BIT OF IN A BIT OF INDULGED ADMIT TO HAVING experts The will figwishful thinking: After Mooallem’s reading ure this out. “Humanity to caused the problem For their part, the OM folks have OM folks the have part, their For the the cranes; lot to help a sacrificed away year of the much pilots spend through wade their families and from and yet, bureaucracy and politicking, theyon. soldier very and so it’s for hu hard begin with, pilot one manity to solve the problem,” know “Because humanity!You it’s says. bring to the table We what I mean? to all the same crap brought that was in the the nightmare the table to create Mooallem remarks, This is, place!” first heard thing he’s the most reassuring the admission a conservationist, from are that though the people involved the striving it’s that matters imperfect, the even about the birds, It isn’t most. - proj people “It’s a concludes: pilot for an excuse doing are birds The ect. good.” something

book, I’ll indulge no more. In fact, some some In fact, I’ll no more. indulge book, and expertsof the best of the activists Joan McIntyre, lefthave the building. movement who led the save-the-whales her come-to-Jesus had in the early 1970s, Whal International at a 1977 moment - where convention, Commission ing I

WILD ONES

- - The THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY (1996), by Jack Turner, a Turner, Jack by (1996), A publicist’s blurb back the of my on A publicist’s Rachel On the same shelf are Car- philosophy professor turned professor mountain philosophy worshiper. nature yes, climber turned, collection of essays criticizes Turner’s which wildlifeall of kinds, management - domesti has only anthropomorphized, otherwiseand the wild packaged cated, mysterious no longer into something or to Meccago “If and blas you sacred. review copy promises that I won’t have have won’t that I promises review copy moralizing and nature “easy to suffer the journalism’s environmental of worship still turn those to for one, I, older guard.” very pride fogies place of who occupy a favorite: Here’s my bookshelf. on Abstract Wild believersthe will Blackthe Stone, pheme piece,” by piece midges, the to feedyou he writes in an irritable rant that stops just short of defending ecoterrorism. grizzlies and destroy Yellowstone “Go to and the believers will and grizzly habitat, sing songs, up in bear costumes, dress This is charming, and sign petitions. sense of blasphemy.” no but it suggests Edward necessarily, (alarmist!)son and, carnivore, womanizer, gun toter, Abbey, “Crusaders for and runner of the mouth. embarrassment to virtue an awkward are gath he wrote of protestors society,” any eringnucleara outside plant. weapons “They either us to make choices: force

- - - These truants come in for a mild truantsThese forin mild a come The jets carrying ecotourists into scolding. As bizarre and ultimately ultimately and As bizarre scolding. - con as Mooallem admits doomed it is in servation efforts become, have that he finds fight the good fighting is hu throughout voice His meaning. He and kind. tolerant, civilized, mane, will easily duck customarily the charge of environmentalists, used to discredit as theypracticing not so well preach. “A But despite the uplifting subtitle, Reas- Weirdly Sometimes Dismaying, suring Story About Looking at People this Looking in America,” at Animals In fact, was not at all reassuring. book it was terrifying. Churchill to watch bears (an Inter net-aided calculation indicates that a flyingsingle passenger round-trip from produce would D.C., Washington, the 1,700 pounds of carbon dioxide), the parking apparatus, whole Lange’s a manifesta lots full of Craniacs—are consumerism, us here: of what got tion and and control, of power delusions an apostolic faith in human interven- not even that’s And and industry. tion times the many account into taking as preservation efforts directly backfire, juveniles 18 of crane crop year’s a when trapped in died in a coastal storm surge, their cages.

WILD ONES Oxford American, is a writer living in

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n The Atlantic Monthly, DARCY COURTEAU , and elsewhere. The American, Scholar Washington, D.C. Her work has appeared has appeared Her work D.C. Washington, in for something existential or abstract. or abstract. existential for something was bornBut he a few ago, generations still goal seemed I suppose,that when, possible. side with them, which is difficult and and which is difficult them, side with which them, condemn or dangerous, Immoderate to self-betrayal.” leads with hypoc- salted his words Abbey, declaring earth risy and braggadocio, a by Thoreau and reading his religion was very it much him, For campfire. not been had battle The birds. the about for was wild nature and the fight lost, not and our chance to be a part of it,

WILD ONES

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , Bogard’s Bogard’s ofEnd The Night, Bogard, a James Madison University a James Madison Bogard, writing professor, builds a case that our writing professor, viewof the stars is a part of our cul This tural heritage worth preserving. him to both light and took project a journey the globe, around places dark ing artificial lights. ing artificial lights. By Paul Bogard Little, Brown 325 pp. $27.00 ama- that was devised1 (darkest) by Bortle John in 2001. teur astronomer even rural In the developed world, Bortlea rarely nights below dip 3; clearly was Bogard the young struck all been missing. detail he had the by “The its impression,” night pressed a lifelong connection “and he writes, This sense of connection was sealed.” pervades to a typepaean most of deep darkness Americans lost to ever-brighten have

- -

NATHALIE LAGERFELD NATHALIE

He was looking at what was already what was already at He was looking EARCHING FOR NATURAL FOR NATURAL EARCHING twisting depths.” rarity—athen a probably that sky ranked a class the Bortle 1 or 2 on scale, a system for measuring light pollution (brightest)9 to from skies orders that sota didn’t have views like this, almost views have like this, sota didn’t human light completely untainted by “I in saw the sky that night pollution. “The sky he writes. dimensions,” three seemingly stars some close had depth, the Milky farther much and some away, - what astron it had defined so well Way that sense of its ‘structure,’ callomers storm of stars swirl[ing] around me”: thestorm of stars swirl[ing] me”: around never seen it before. night sky as he had cabin his family’s in ruralEven Minne AT AGE 18, PAUL BOGARD HAD A LIFE-CHANG AGE 18, PAUL AT Stepping youth outside his ing vision. in a of the Sahara, hostel at the edge tribes nomadic where town remote “a he saw to bartergathered and trade, REVIEWED BY S A Paean to Darkness to A Paean OF NIGHT: THE END DARKNESS IN AN AGE OF IN AN AGE OF DARKNESS LIGHT ARTIFICIAL

THECURRENT END OFBOOKS NIGHT - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But in the United States, at least, it’s it’s at least, But in the United States, ing reflection off the water below. Nor Nor off the water below. ing reflection does dimmer lighting—such as the gas lights that still illuminate London some streets—necessarily an advantage give citing several says, Bogard to muggers, forc by Instead, urbanstudies on crime. to darkness, to adjust eyes ing pedestrians’ it helps them see further into shadows potential attackers could hide. where light sweeping to enact difficult proven regard what many ing changes based on as essentially considerations— aesthetic especially when most of the population - - - - Neon glare isn’t the only the to light way isn’t glare Neon BABEK TAFRESHI / SSPL / GETTY IMAGES BABEK TAFRESHI Zagros Mountains. A meteor pierces the night sky over Iran’s he organizes into chapters 9 through 1, organizeshe 1, chaptersinto through 9 He start in an echo of the Bortle scale. intense the where Vegas, Lasin out ed the tip of the Luxor beam shooting from Hotel disrupts feeding the and migra patternstion of local birds. for France, In out. points Bogard city, a lighting designer François the instance, to il work his life’s it Jousse has made with a soft, monuments luminate Paris’s his techniques include glow; romantic so setting lamps underneath bridges, the shimmer that pedestrians see by

THE END OF NIGHT

- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Having a back-to-nature experience experience Having a back-to-nature - consistently underes We timate how much darkness we have lost, since we have no way of knowing what night was like in our parents’ time. doesn’t always translate into changing doesn’t Bogard everyday surroundings. one’s obstacle big hints that one to taming light pollution is NIMBYism—the attitude people in my backyard” “not night walks through Acadia National National Acadia walks through night natu- their test to guests inviting Park, in roughly Bortleral adaptations class By often time. for the first 2 darkness, im the to appreciate teaching people “charismatic portance to of darkness these advocates love,” already we places “environmental our hope to overcome - consistent We amnesia”: generational darkness much ly how underestimate of no way have since we lost, have we what night was like in our par knowing In this or our grandparents’. time, ents’ experiences dark-sky can expand way, not onlyour perspective out into the but also back into the past. cosmos, - - - Even practical reasons aren’t always aren’t practicalEven reasons dark- of the many be why That may doesn’t really appreciate the aesthetics the aesthetics really appreciate doesn’t Arizona, Flagstaff, Though in question. successfully passed anti–light-pollu- beautythe stars the of legislation, tion is barely as a rationale. ever mentioned law as the citizens most regard Instead, necessary onlypreserve to the viewing Bog- To observatory. nearby of a power It is, seems limited. this perspective ard, “like put it, he quotes astronomer as one is im Grand the Canyon asking why that so need we ‘Oh, portant and saying, canthat the geologists study the rocks.’” the dim to people motivate to enough estimated 100 million birds An lights. collisions with hu from die each year This number could man-built structures. dimming the by “overnight” be reduced - tow exterior office lights that shine on risks Even activist. to one according ers, Ex largelyto human health go ignored. exacerbate to artificial lights may posure that affect 70 million the sleep disorders impeding the production by Americans; also may it melatonin, tumor-fighting of incidence of contribute to an increased cancer night-shift among workers. interviewed Bogard sky activists devote themselves to arranging like epiphanies he experiencedthe one in the Sahara. unlighted rangers in Maine lead Park

THE END OF NIGHT n

is a writer living The End of Night makes THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY in Chicago. NATHALIE LAGERFELD NATHALIE illuminated some of the challenges challenges of the illuminated some even- if edu face advocates dark-sky other If cational efforts successful. are campaigns taught have environmental alone awareness that it’s anything, us foris rarely people to change sufficient contain if it doesn’t Even their behavior. the whole story, a strong case that this debate should a strong rather than later. and sooner happen,

- - - It’s unfortunate that Bogard didn’t unfortunate didn’t It’s that Bogard NIMBYists. Their objections might have Their objections NIMBYists. lighting engineer suggested that gas-sta- suggested lighting engineer install owners brightertion and bright adopt when they refuse to make a person to make when they refuse adopt for an agreed-up sake of the al sacrifice police A college-town good. societal on chief he interviewed blamed increased safety-obsessedlighting on who parents a campus get bright enough”; “couldn’t another, one with compete to lights er dimmest the be to wants one no since the block. business on personally interview of these any

THE END OF NIGHT - - - - , Maury , weaponry, which weaponry, most A Call to Armsto A Call (2012) and Paul Kenne (2012) and Paul THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , published ear- Engineers of Victory, fers his own sweeping saga of how bu saga of how fers sweeping his own a converted and businessmen reaucrats into what economy Depression-ravaged Roosevelt would D. Franklin President arsenal of democracy.” “an call Klein, a professor emeritus professor a history of Klein, of at the University of Rhode Island, dy’s dy’s In lier this year. ultimately turned the tide against Hitler un- immense This imperialand Japan. dertaking the subject of many has been most recently Arthur Herman’s books, Forge Freedom’s ment (German Panther tanks made tanks made ment (German Panther it mincemeat of American Shermans), the did produce By Maury Klein Bloomsbury Press 897 pp. $40.00 While the United States machine guns. always the best equip produce didn’t - - - -

MARK REUTTER

Having manufactured a mere 1,700 a mere Having manufactured nearly 60 percent of Washington’s dis nearlyWashington’s of 60 percent to imagine hard it’s cretionary spending, Portugal less than a century ago, that, bigger fielded and 16 other nations that of the United armed than forces II, War World On the brink of States. American infantrymen still carry were ing the same Springfield rifles that had great issue in the first been standard While that America the fact was war. War wretchedly for unprepared World IInearlyin embedded is every account that startedof the global conflict with in Poland of invasion Hitler’s Adolf mobi the subsequent September 1939, “homelization of the American front” in support effort of the war has become the stuff of legend. American facto warplanes 1939, before 1945, ries by turned out 325,000 more million 2.5 and tanks 88,000 as well as TODAY, WHEN THE MILITARY CONSUMES CONSUMES WHEN THE MILITARY TODAY, REVIEWED BY MOBILIZING AMERICA AMERICA MOBILIZING The Business ofThe Fighting TO ARMS: A CALL II WAR FOR WORLD

ACURRENT CALL TO BOOKS ARMS

- Time, THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Foremost on Klein’s radar screen is radar screen Klein’s on Foremost in the face of public antiwar sentiment. antiwar sentiment. of public in the face “many Klein writes, “In bitterness,” their scapegoat people found a convenient never in the war industries and vowed of course, But that mistake.” to repeat attitude changed. eventually the nation’s reported citizen,” U.S. a many “To headlines“the screaming of the Ger Belgium and down man smash through came unremitting, like an into France of an broadcast Welles Orsonseven-day Mars.” from invasion Klein FDR credits Roosevelt. President for his early attempts to awaken an America’s initial reluctance to enter initial reluctance America’s conflict to make a profit. pushing the country into the pushing the country into the that businessmen were that businessmen were ns feared Many Americans feared BETTMANN / CORBIS of democracy” churned out more weapons “arsenal Franklin D. Roosevelt’s II, President War During World in Akron, Ohio, assembled and Rubber plant 1942, workers at a Firestone Tire than any other nation. In antiaircraft guns. the war was compounded by the public by the war was compounded push- that businessmen were perception ing the country to make into the conflict - muni many I, War AfterWorld a profit. when been shuttered factoriestions had and they contracts lost their government

A CALL TO ARMS

, - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Klein writer is an agile a well-re and But missing most from these pages are these pages But missing most from spected business historian. Among his Among historian. spected business rein a provocative are previous books Gould as a corporateterpretation of Jay builder rather than stock-kiting specula history a three-volume of the Union tor, and a deftof biography Railroad, Pacific owner, strong-willed Pacific’s the Union Armsto In A Call Harriman. H. Edward porary newsmen recollections and the Relying secondhand on of ex-officials. Klein muffs critical details accounts, about the steel industry and even short in transporting role changes the railroads’ coasts. to the two and munitions troops however, he loses his way. After a breezy he loses his way. however, sags under a morass the book opening, and is further by burdened of details, written contem by vignettes” “colorful the men and women who built the ships, who built the ships, the men and women victory made and planes that bombs, Klein the outset of the book, At possible. “More Americans cites a chilling statistic: - acci industrialin died work-related and overseas.” in combat than dents at home But he never elaborates this startling on assertion—nor a reference even provides leaders protested that they couldn’t know know they that couldn’t protested leaders “whencertaintywith they not know did they might have or against whom where to be imposed Rationing had to fight.” the public. on

- - - Kleininterweaves descriptionsof his isolationist countryisolationist posed to the threat for Hitler and mobilization pushing by forward gifted through oratory and Otherswho spending. “blank-check” include stage the book’s stride across indispens builder of the HenryKaiser, Liberty ships that “uglyable duckling” far-flung ferriedsupplies to America’s czar” “rubber and allies abroad, troops the squabbling New William Jeffers, Dealers Harry and Harold Hopkins the courtly Bernard banker Ickes, Production War the waffling Baruch, the and Nelson, chief Donald Board thundering and United isolationist Lewis. L. boss John Workers Mine cast characters of the of with accounts challenges the American war machine and Japan Initially, came up against. hob toward headway Germany made bling American cutting off shipping and country’sthe importantof raw sources essential to for example, (Silk, materials. of parachutes and bags the manufacture guns— charges in large for the powder of nylon—had until the development primarilybeen sourced Japan.) from pro over Washington in flared Conflicts as civilian authorities policies, curement in the demanded that the top officers speedily Army and Navy specify what and military theyequipment needed,

A CALL TO ARMS , - -

n Struggle forSurvival who has twice been ap-

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY pointed a Wilson Center fellow, is the author Wilsonpointed a Center fellow, Sparrows and the Rise Point of Making Steel: and Ruin of American Industrial Might (2004). MARK REUTTER, In assessing Roosevelt’s leadership leadership Roosevelt’s In assessing mocracy and not to leaders” to win the mocracy and not to leaders” “Democracy’s mass reservoir of war. was the bedrock upon energy and faith” material and which those impressive Or, technological lay. accomplishments “A koan-like formulation, in Janeway’s victory small enough to be organized” and businessmen would bureaucrats by “too small to be decisive” been have foes. against our ferocious FDR economic adviser Eliot Janeway adviser FDR economic “looked to de noted that the president the average Joes and Rosies believed Rosies Joes and in the average Ordinary Amer for freedom. the fight in the war—and their investment icans’ sacrifices willingness make personal to country—wasto aid the it, made what war.” “the good observed, Terkel as Studs in the 1951 book - In seeking to cut through the gauzythe through cut to seeking In Across 900 pages, only a score of para only a score pages, 900 Across graphs are devoted to the women who who devoted to the women graphs are flocked into the workforce—“Rosie thousands of her and Riveter” the the The black migration from sisters. Southand wartime to Detroit in jobs other cities is portrayed in somewhat pages Klein three spends detail. more that in Detroit the social conflicts on riot a race sparked that left 25 blacks but the in 1943, and nine whites dead of more used much could have book this kind of material. sentimentality of TV anchorman Tom who famously dubbed the war’s Brokaw, generation,” “the greatest participants Klein loses sight of the most profound that Namely, II: War World of lesson for it. We get the caustic flavor of union caustic the union of get flavor We for it. can (“Nobody bombast Lewis’s leader Lewis a liar and least of all call L. John he once Roosevelt!” Delano Franklin but never a feel and for the sweat said), camaraderie of the nearly half a million who fedcoal miners the war factories.

A CALL TO ARMS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY tecostals, charismatics, and evangelicals charismatics, tecostals, pas the blessed, For of various stripes. 1:2 the Bible such as 3 John from sages “Beloved, heaven: from unlock treasures - allI wish above things that thou may even as thy and be in health, est prosper it all looks critics, To soul prospereth.” like pyramid-schemetoo much religion. clearfaithful see the But in the promises just waiting Testaments, Old and New The check that arrives out to be claimed. a surprising an inheritance, of the blue, estate deal that seems a real or raise, pay to be truetoo good signs of God’s all are Stalwarts the on remain overabundance. forlookout the hand of God. By Kate Bowler Press Oxford Univ. 337 pp. $34.95 the righteous The idea that God rewards happiness and wealth, health, good with has driven the belief and practice of Pen

- - - —are sold sold —are

and You Better a Become RANDALL STEPHENS RANDALL

Versions of the prosperity have gospel Versions Can You Stand to Be Blessed? to Stand You Can can landscape or as the split-level home Churches drive-through. McDonalds Overcom World with epic names like of Word and Victory International, ers, International Christian Center are Faith the highways throughout visible from Christian television networks country. and CBN air preachers TBN, Daystar, T. and Meyer, Joyce such as Joel Osteen, the spiritual and who promise Jakes, D. Their books— material of faith. rewards with titles like Their congrega stores. Walmart in claimtions or more. 20,000 members Heave Mencken: L. paraphrase H. To window Focus Ford an egg out of your might hit a prosperityand you gospeler, wearing a snazzy suit and three-piece cufflinks. diamond faithful in America. animated the long THEY ARE AS UBIQUITOUS ON THE AMERI THEY ARE AS UBIQUITOUS REVIEWED BY A HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN AMERICAN OF THE A HISTORY GOSPEL PROSPERITY Holy High Rollers High Holy BLESSED:

BLESSEDCURRENT BOOKS

- - - - The prosperity is gospel THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY not synonymous. There are are There not synonymous. evangelicalmany Christians the who do not embrace and even of wealth, gospel at the movement’s recoil name-it-claim-it theology faithful the belief that (the much been promised have artic but must in the Bible, ulate that claim those to get within many To blessings). the conservative Protestant the prosperity gospel’s fold, brazen divine materialism it as taste bad much as is a 2009, In theology. is bad - reli ethnography, fuses and cultural studies, gious history to tell a fascinating story this influential of movement. a major strain within evan are but the two gelicalism, Bowler expertlyBowler traces the movement branch of the Lausanne Movement, an branch of the Lausanne Movement, organization founded in part Billy by described the prosperity gos Graham, and gravely distorting“false of pel as the Bible.” its origins the late 19th century in from as it spun out of Holiness and Pentecos of this materialThe growth tal churches.

- In a lively book on the subject, the subject, In a lively on book TIME & LIFE PICTURES / GETTY IMAGES gospel, stands Oral Roberts, an early champion of the prosperity the Oklahoma, headquarters of his ministry, before the Tulsa, Abundant Life Building, in 1962. - Kate observes“prosper Bowler that ity theology as the turned to the cross Jesus’s allto needs. human solution abolished not death and resurrection only sin and disease but also poverty.” of the an assistant professor Bowler, history of Christianity in the Unit ed States at Duke Divinity School,

BLESSED

- - -

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Yet the author mostly tells the story Yet ties dominate the movement’s histo movement’s the ties dominate ry—starting early with stalwarts of the mid-20th century such as Oral Roberts Over the decades, Hagin. Kenneth and wanted their ministers believers have to model the part, and revivalists to look The aptly named unimaginable success. with “pastorpreneur” a Dollar, Creflo founded- the nonde unequaled charm, Church Changers World nominational Believers have wanted wanted Believers have and their ministers and shakers, movers of the high-profile Strong personali and for reason. good and exurban communities. Few find find Few exurbanand communities. the chilly to way their climes of New the Bible belt. from far removed England, care deeply for each other and Followers drug drives, Food for converts. potential and inner-city outreach programs, rehab walls. church beyond work their extend vital cen are communities faith Their as the as well ters for the down-and-out successful small-business owner. the part, revivalists to look to model unimaginable success.

------E. W. Kenyon, a pioneering radio a pioneering radio Kenyon, W. E. the men and zeroesBowler in on therapists. Many of them live in suburban of them live Many therapists. Christianity paralleled occa and was sionally evenmetaphysical to the linked Christian cure, Mind of the day. religion mental magic, Age proto–New Science, and various transcendental schemes in religious Most of these millions. spired strains the connec focused on strongly the spiritual/psychic between and tion In an era of prolifer material worlds. the forelixirs ating complaints, health for relief. to heaven faithful looked and early-20th-centurypreacher cham gospel, of the health and wealth pion the divine healing inspiration from took eager and drew an day of his movement African-American preachers following. “Light in subsequent decades—Elder Di Solomon Michaux and Father foot” them—carriedvine among the message The guarantee into black communities. of riches uplifted and relief in followers of shifts Aware the brutal era. Jim Crow Bowler politics, and culture, theology, in - new of propo how shows generations nents and laypeople reformed the faith their needs. to fit an ethnogra with in the pew, women run the Proponents keen insight. pher’s angry-eyedspectrum from apocalyptic Christian Zionists to soft-spoken holy

BLESSED - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Then there have been embarrassments have there Then theology. Egregious wealth and fraud fraud and wealth Egregious theology. Bowler of indictments. the list also top like brieflyscandals the discusses that, plagued key have hell, from demons including double-whammy the leaders, that toppled imbroglio sex-and-finance of empire Bakker’s Tammy Jim and Robert Televangelists Christian kitsch. Tilton Jimmy and Swaggart head made richeslines with bold claims about God’s On saints. the on pour down that would Tilton earnestly view asked - television, Then to him. requests ers to send prayer footage of those a news aired program by after requests been pitched, they had Swaggart also into the trash. the ton, He petard. hoisted himself with his own was vicious in denouncing the sexual but including Jim Bakker, sins of others, began Christianin 1988 his own empire to crumbleconfessed to picking as he up prostitutes. embar- well, . . just . of riches that were the $23,000 toilet seat in rassing (e.g., Bowler opulent home). Meyer’s Joyce briefly notes Senator Chuck Grassley’s of the most of some 2007 investigation But oth famous prosperity preachers. with tension the of discussions erwise, nega the and other Christiangroups missing of the media are attention tive Filtering out the outrage in this book.

- - Detractors have not just protested not just protested Detractors have In the eyes of the movement’s crit of the movement’s In the eyes ics, this mix of God and mammon is is mammon this mix of God and ics, the influential In 1955, despicable. spoke Niebuhr theologian Reinhold frankly he saw as a vacuous, about what at his perch From feel-good gospel. Theological Seminary Union in New “there warned that Niebuhr City, York of Biblical religion is nothing in this he said several It amounted, faith.” busi soporific for tired “a to later, years Later in the 20th century, nessmen.” about the evangelicalsmany wondered implications of the prosperity doctrine. What to do with the message did it have of Jesus? asked writers in Christianity for the poor responsible Were . Today or the sick- for their infir their poverty, prosperity indicates, mities? As Bowler with these issues in deal practitioners up Some throw widely ways. different their hands and assume that such net- an answer have won’t questions tlesome this side of eternity. and aesthetics the prosperity gospel’s - and has confi Georgia in International At several dentlydown scandals. faced congregation, his he assured point one pay didn’t and “IRolls-Royces two own Why? Because while a dime for them. cars those are Lord, pursuing the I’m pursuing me.”

BLESSED

-

is reader in historyis reader

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n RANDALL STEPHENS Pentecostalism in the American08). South (20 Pentecostalism and American studies at Northumbria England. Tyne, in Newcastle upon University, He is an editor of the journal Historically coauthor of The Anointed: , Speaking in a Secular Age (2011), Truth Evangelical and Holiness and author of The Fire Spreads: bank on “the orgastic future that year by by that year future “the orgastic on bank of The promise us.” before recedes year also has says, Bowler wealth, health and prosper the making overseas, well fared exportity religious to a leading gospel compellingly Bowler South. the global of power describesthe and allure the it all. - In a superb conclusion, Bowler asks Bowler In a superb conclusion, from noninitiates may help us get a a get help us may noninitiates from of the prosperityclearer picture gos about more and reveal pel movement believers. of beliefsthe desires and outside and intrigue, scandal, Still, movement shaped the scorn have them to and to ignore considerably, does is to overlook the extent Bowler an important of adherents’ dimension experience. of the prosperity “Americaness” about the and deified she observes, which, gospel, A Gats- ritualized American the dream. bian hope runs rich in American soil, borrow To or profane. whether sacred prosperity preachers Fitzgerald, from

BLESSED WQ THE WILSON QUARTERLY

EDITOR Steven Lagerfeld

LITERARY EDITOR Sarah L. Courteau

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Cullen Nutt

ASSISTANT EDITOR Jacob Locke

EDITORIAL INTERNS Alexandra Tate and Jake J. Smith

EDITORS AT LARGE Ann Hulbert, James Morris, Jay Tolson

COPY EDITOR Vincent Ercolano

PHOTO RESEARCHER Madeline Kelty

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Daniel Akst, Stephen Bates, Martha Bayles, Max Byrd, Linda Colley, Darcy Courteau, Denis Donoghue, Max Holland, Walter Reich, Alan Ryan, Amy E. Schwartz, Edward Tenner, Charles Townshend, Alan Wolfe

BOARD OF EDITORIAL ADVISORS K. Anthony Appiah, Cynthia Arnson, Amy Chua, Tyler Cowen, Harry Harding, Robert Hathaway, Elizabeth Johns, Jackson Lears, Robert Litwak, Wilfred M. McClay, Blair Ruble, Peter Skerry, S. Frederick Starr, Martin Walker, Samuel Wells

FOUNDING EDITOR Peter Braestrup (1929–1997)

BUSINESS DIRECTOR Suzanne Napper

APP DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN iAuthorscape

CONTINUES

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY is a window on the world of ideas for general readers. Historical perspective and a commitment to consider all sides are the hallmarks of its articles on foreign affairs, politics, culture, science, and other subjects. By making new knowledge accessible to all, it aims to foster more informed public debate.

The Wilson Quarterly (ISSN-0363-3276) is published in January (Winter), April (Spring), July (Summer), and October (Autumn) by the Woodrow Wilson Inter- national Center for Scholars at One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004-3027. Complete article index available online at www.wilsonquarterly.com

Please direct all editorial correspondence to [email protected]. Microfilm copies are available from Bell & Howell Information and Learning, 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106

ADVERTISING Suzanne Napper, Business Director, Tel.: (202) 691-4021 / Fax: (202) 691-4036 E-mail: [email protected]

THE WILSON QUARTERLY SUMMER 2013