CHARLES BARBER by Antonio Gisbert Photograph: Bonhams, London, UK
WQ THE AMERICAN QUEST THE WILSON QUARTERLY FOR REDEMPTION SURVEYING THE WORLD OF IDEAS
STAR WARS THE ONLINE BATTLE OVER TASTE
BOOKS THE SPOOK IN SAIGON
SPRING 2013 W THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 SURVEYING THE WORLD OF IDEAS V. 37, NUMBER 2 Q PUBLISHED BY THE WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS
COVER STORY FEATURES THE AMERICAN QUEST STAR WARS by TOM VANDERBILT FOR REDEMPTION Online reviews can be useful when From the Oprah Winfrey Network to the White you’re trying to pick a restaurant House, the ritual of forgiveness and starting or movie at the last minute, but do afresh has a mesmerizing effect on Americans. those four stars really mean what you This is the land of self-help and miraculous think they do? political rebirths—and the land where super- sizing a soft drink can take on the dimension of sin. Where does the redemptive urge come from? EDITOR’S COMMENT Where is it taking us? FINDINGS
IN ESSENCE Our survey of notable articles from other journals and magazines
CURRENT BOOKS Reviews of new and noteworthy nonfiction
ABOUT US 1. STILL THE REDEEMER NATION by WILFRED M. McCLAY The views expressed herein are not necessarily those of the Woodrow Wilson 2. THE END OF SECOND ACTS? International Center for Scholars. by SHADD MARUNA and ABOVE: The Arrival of the Pilgrim Fathers (c. 1864), CHARLES BARBER by Antonio Gisbert Photograph: Bonhams, London, UK
3. FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF ON THE COVER: Seeking redemption by SARAH L. COURTEAU Photograph: Ocean / Corbis EDITOR’S COMMENT STEVE LAGERFELD is the editor of The Wilson REDEEMING AN IDEA Quarterly. Before joining the magazine’s staff in the American exceptionalism is the subject 1980s, he worked at The that won’t go away. This once obscure Public Interest and the Insti- academic concept became a political tute for Educational Affairs. His articles and reviews have football in the last presidential election, appeared in The Atlantic, used in so many ways and for so many Harper’s, The New Republic, purposes that it quickly lost much of its The Wall Street Journal, and other publications. meaning. I didn’t imagine that it would be our real subject when Shadd Maruna and Charles Barber proposed the article we’ve already heard too much) and plead on criminal rehabilitation that appears for forgiveness and redemption. in this issue. But after deploring our Barber and Maruna point toward the national policy of warehousing con- origins of this strange ritual and other victed criminals, Maruna and Barber manifestations of the redemptive idea, show that convicts (and others) who but Wilfred McClay takes us there, to embrace a “script” of personal redemp- America’s Puritan roots and the secular tion have a good chance of turning their creed that emerged from them. What lives around. That led us to think more makes this idea of redemption so par- broadly about the role of redemption in ticularly American is the way in which American life, our deeply rooted belief we have infused it into our public life that we can, or must, take what is bad and linked it to individual freedom. and remake it into something good. America gives its citizens the liberty to The redemptive idea is constantly create and re-create their lives—indeed, playing out in our lives, whether in the it almost demands they do so. And it quasi-religion of self-help or in politics holds up that redemptive promise as an high and low. You can see it in the pa- ideal to the world. rade of political leaders, celebrities, and That is the core of the exceptionalist professional athletes treading the well- idea—that America has a unique role worn aisle to the podium and talk-show in the world as a beacon of democracy couch to confess their sins (even though and redeemer of the promise of human
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013
EDITOR’S COMMENT EDITOR’S freedom. That is also what makes this developed by European intellectuals idea so controversial. In 2000, the WQ trying to understand why the United published a long article by Seymour States never developed a strong social- Martin Lipset, one of the great social ist movement and most recently being scientists of the 20th century, called manifested, more or less as farce, as a “Still the Exceptional Nation?” Yes, was campaign issue in the last presidential Lipset’s answer, though he rightly noted election, when Barack Obama felt com- that there are many ways in which the pelled to insist that, yes, he really does United States falls short of its ideals. believe in American exceptionalism. By No other WQ article has elicited so then, it was impossible to know what many proposed rebuttals from academic anybody was really talking about. In this writers, their level of venom showing issue, our authors help to restore some how politically charged the subject had meaning to the idea of American excep- already become. tionalism, and point us toward fulfilling The idea of American exceptionalism some of its promise as well. has a long lineage, beginning as a concept — Steve Lagerfeld
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 FINDINGS BRIEF NOTES OF INTEREST ON ALL TOPICS 1. 4. News for Newsreels Pass the Tea and Chivalry Time marches on the Third Reich Intimacy unripened “We feel that Hitler is too important... Born in 1810, the pioneering feminist Margaret Fuller broke one glass ceiling ... 5. Supreme Discomfort Robed road show In the early years of the Republic, few officials logged as many miles as 2. Supreme Court justices. Federal law... Quiet Niche 6. Garden ornaments for hire Fountainhead of Need For upper-crust Britons of the 18th... The deserving poor In 1926, less than a year after arriving in the United States from her native...
3. Proxy War on Terror Fence sitters and peacemakers Is Al Qaeda winning the online battle...
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 - - Hollywood THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY To Hollywood executives, movies movies Hollywood executives, To tainment: perhaps a Mickey Mouse car- tainment: and a news feature, Gable a Clark toon, quintuplets. Dionne about Canada’s reel of professor a Doherty, to (According American studies at Brandeis University, time to screen newsreels devoted more than to the Spanishthe adorable quints as Thomas DohertyThomas in explains as Univ. (Columbia 1933–1939 , and Hitler story. a different newsreels were Press), Audiences all about escapism. were of lightheartedwanted programs enter series “revolutionized” the newsreel when it debuted in 1935 but died 16 years later. in 1935 but died 16 years later. series “revolutionized” the newsreel when it debuted March of Time TIME & LIFE PICTURES / GETTY IMAGES The figure to be ignored,” Roy E. Larsen, Larsen, E. Roy to be ignored,” figure said in 1935. viceTime Inc., of president seem incontrovertible. The point would of Treaty flouted the Hitler had By then, pulled out of the League of Versailles, and banned all political parties Nations, American newspapers the Nazis. except But chock-a-block news. were Nazi with Time marches on the Third Reich Time on the marches a important too is Hitler that feel “We NEWS FOR FOR NEWS NEWSREELS The last newsreel companies folded in the 1960s. The last newsreel companies folded in the 1960s.
FINDINGS - - - The March of of March The THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Nazis might be verboten in other might be verboten in other Nazis The March of of The March edition one In 1938, of the most importantof the branches of the industry—the newsreel.” not in but newsreels, . A 1935 segment titled “Bercht titled A 1935 segment Time. esgaden, Bavaria!” opens with a solitary opens with a Bavaria!” esgaden, in near sitting and then pacing Hitler, illuminated a mod only by darkness, Van Westbrook Narrator est fireplace. asserts years’ just two that in Voorhis has . . strange man . “lone, this time, lost for his country what Germany had nearly sympa- world’s regained—the was actually Führer The shadowy thy.” in keeping with a an American actor, practice of reenacting newsreel common Later shots or simply scenes. inventing factories, munitions parades, Nazi show - one—ful and Hitler—this time the real enormous an minating before crowd. was de “Inside Germany,” Nazi Time, In the solely threat. voted to the Nazi declares Voorhis Van 18-minute film, little propaganda “fanatic that Hitler’s has created Goebbels, Joseph minister,” and will, one mind, with one nation “a talks The film expansion.” objective: one of the “persecution bluntlyNazis’ of the “Jews Keep (and translates) shows Jews,” and reports that city parks signs, Out” labeled . . benches . yellow “special have Jews.’” ‘For - - - - The March ofThe March . The company was company The . Newsreel items about Hitler evidently items Newsreel launched Time Inc. in 1935, Then, won over audiences and critics. audiences and critics. over Time won its “its outspokenness, praised Variety and qualities, its production fearlessness, (In truth, impartial.” to remain its desire The impartiality thing.) was a sometime a special Oscar series received Time Inc. revolutionizedhaving one “for 1937 in Civil War.) The movieThe - them studios War.) Civil selves the twice-weekly put out news which typically a zipped through reels, clutch of upbeat stories 10 minutes. in the storiesThose from range might pro but to the insipid, inconsequential “The not newsreel is care. ducers didn’t declared the trade a purveyor news,” of . journal Motion Picture Herald to sometimes mood, moviegoers’ soured the breach they would the point where on appeared When Führer the peace. sympathizers Nazi might cheer screen, Shouting matches and “Heil!” and yell strife, avoid To out. broke even fistfights edi “newsreel reported in 1933, Variety all Hitler close-ups.” dodging tors are new kind of pictorial “a what it called a monthly newsreel called journalism,” Time ofThe March wisdom wagering that the conventional to eager Moviegoers were was wrong: Ex be informed as entertained. as well but skittish, hibitors were
FINDINGS - - - - The Her THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY holds a Time holds a ofThe March A visitor strolling the grounds of of the grounds A visitor strolling Perhaps Perhaps Competitors took note. “Newsreels nev“Newsreels - note. took Competitors (Oxford Univ. Press). mit in the Garden (Oxford Univ. Park, Hawkstone Sir Hill’s Richard Garden ornaments for hire Britons of the 18th century, For upper-crust was an especial point of pride. the garden landscape some de- greenery, the Amid ruins faux signers placed of medieval Others in for more went structures. life-size rusticelaborate ornamentation: rustic her live, inhabited by hermitages, of a professor Campbell, Gordon mits. Renaissance studies at the University of chronicles in fad the Leicester, Raymond Fielding points out, the news Raymond Fielding points out, be the only may of mass medium reel after heyday its that, communication simply vanished. ended, had QUIET NICHE er abandoned the fashion parades, dumb parades, the fashion er abandoned Doherty sportsand highlights,” yuks, “but the ratioto substance of fluff writes, topics.” weightier toward began to tilt for the financiallylesson beleaguered se- presented, well If it’s of today: press maybe conversely, Or, rious news sells. contemporaryelse should look editors scholar As the film for guidance. where - - - - - “Inside Nazi Germany” also contends contends also Germany” “Inside Nazi Roosevelt administration Senators, Some hand police on theaters had that Nazism represents a growing men growing a represents that Nazism foot showing - United States, in the ace of leader Kuhn, Fritz “Führer” of age German-American Bund, pro-Nazi the “who claims 200,000 enrolled to have The Germans the swastika.” under U.S. concludes and pre ominous film an on her Germany faces “Nazi scient note. war ma of the great with one destiny warns. Voorhis Van chines in history,” the inevitable of the great destiny “And past has been to de war machines of the its people, world, of the the peace stroy of their time.” and the governments “Inside Nazi and critics praised officials, Hollywood but remained Germany,” “kin- onlyThe newsreel would queasy. the Motion dle the embers of violence,” that adding predicted, Picture Herald seat- be to supposed are patrons “theater ed in comfortableopera chairs and not behind barricades.” crouched unnecessary. but they proved at first, Americansthe film—at lined up to see York, an all-newsreel theater in New a attracted even the midnight showing ac crowd—and, standing-room-only “nearly audiences report, to one cording the rafters down tore with applause.” was a hit. “Inside Germany” Nazi
FINDINGS Arcadia THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Terms of employment could be could be of employment Terms estate owners by letter. Others placed letter. by estate owners though as a character newspaper ads, 1993 play Stoppard’s Tom in “Surely a hermit who takes a points out, newspaper is not a hermit one whom in confidence.” can complete have estate in Sur- his Painshill For harsh. Charles a hermit sought Hamilton rey, at grounds the on remain who would cutting his beard from refrain all times, to the servant nothing and say and nails, heeded he If meals. his brought who the hermit these rules for seven years, Otherwise 700 guineas. be paid would nothing. get he would - The professional hermit occupied, as hermit occupied, The professional SHROPSHIRE ARCHIVES still had one of his successors on the Hawkstone Park, longtime home of Francis the hermit, Britain’s century. grounds in the early 20th near Shrewsbury, would come upon a upon come would near Shrewsbury, according “well-designed little cottage,” pull a bell and “You to a 1784 account. - The hermit is gen gain admittance. with a table erally in a sitting posture, em the whichskull, is a on him, before book a hourglass, an mortality, of blem The venerable and a pair of spectacles. (if awake) always Francis . . . bare-footed He rises of strangers. up at the approach allhas yet age, of years 90 about seems He is tolerably his senses to admiration. being unpolite.” and far from conversant, niche.” specialist “a Campbellit, puts Some hermits their services offered to
FINDINGS
- . In 2011, an In 2011, Inspire. THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Inspire and its counterparts target No physical contact, however, didn’t didn’t however, physical contact, No book, blogs, message boards, and, since and, boards, message blogs, book, English-language Web-based, a 2010, magazine called PROXY WAR PROXY WAR ON TERROR and peacemakers sitters Fence the online battle Is Al Qaeda winning for hearts and minds? Jihadists promote Face Twitter, YouTube, their cause via killed Yemen American strike in drone over newa but took one editor, Inspire’s to appear. and the magazine continues Though articles the turgid, tend toward catcheye sometimes - are graphics the One issue includes and chillingly so. ing, of a man in a dark a full-page photo a suit riding behind him, an escalator; The draws assassin his gun. would-be repurposed bears a slogan photo from “YESWE CAN.” American politics: the human race itself,” the museum museum the itself,” race the human In the process, proclaimed beforehand. “becomesymbolically he would dead, liberty his own renouncing and cutting all physical contact.” from himself off his secluded cell, From mean no contact. blog and appeared Biswas updated his a webcam. on ------Biswas landed another hermit gig in The hermit to 18th-century appealed Calcutta-born perfor A century later, mance artist Ansuman Biswas revived mance artist Biswas revived Ansuman an art installa For the lonely profession. Staffordshire County hired in 2002, tion Diverging hermit. resident its as Biswas Biswas stayed tradition, somewhat from - cavea in ratherre and hermitage a than (Safe forjust a weekend. mained there at leave him to ty required regulations man the project Onlookers, too.) night, contest and “explore would said, ager society and contempt now the dread displays ideal for fashionable the once antidote “an as enjoy as well of solitude,” reality television.” . . to . the mu by sponsored for a project 2009, seum of the University of Manchester. By spending 40 days in a Gothic tower, the relationship “question Biswas would of human beings to the natural world, inevitablethe at hinting of extinction Britons partly as a symbol, in Campbell’s in Campbell’s Britons partly as a symbol, melancholy” “pleasurable of the phrase, solitude contemplative by on brought had attitudes Although amid nature. shifted the early by 19th century—crit hermitryics likened to slavery—a few occupied. remained hermitages garden Hawk- the account, one to According still a hermit had living gardens stone in the early the grounds on 1900s.
FINDINGS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Even outside the realm of theology, of theology, outside the realm Even ment can’t respond in kind. Doing so— kind. in respond can’t ment organizations Muslim funding to by say, of interpretations peaceable promulgate the Quran—would the separa violate and state. of church tion Helmus, C. Todd researchers RAND counsel Chalk Peter and York, Erin They quote an a hands-off approach. “The AmericanIslamic scholar: gov ernment is simply viewed of as the kiss - imam who preach If a respected death.” found the es against violence is to be on the “then scholarthis said, payroll, U.S. will . . . want to reach constituency you again.” ever listen to that person never, - - - - But in the high-stakes war on ter war on But in the high-stakes ror, RAND stresses, this is one battle one this is stresses, RAND ror, For lead. can’t American officialdom terrorists often justify murder thing, one First Under the grounds. religious on govern the U.S. though, Amendment, JEAN-ERICK PASQUIER / GETTY IMAGES JEAN-ERICK PASQUIER is expanding over the Internet, and access to the Web Radical Islamists strive to recruit “fence sitters” rapidly in the Middle East. “partially radicalized ‘fence sitters’— ‘fence radicalized “partially sympathetic ex to the who are those somewhat and narrative engaged tremist but not radicalin the online community, violent in their own act motivated to yet Corpora to a RAND according jihad,” If the in February. report released tion attacks of terrorist is to be reduced, threat advocacy the online of the report says, unanswered. go violence can’t
FINDINGS -
. In 1843, she In 1843, The Dial. THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ing after another. In 1837, she was the In 1837, ing after another. circlethe to admitted of woman first Transcendentalists, the New England Emerson which includedWaldo Ralph she In 1840, Thoreau. and Henry David to edit a highbrow woman was the first American journal, Intimacy unripened feminist Born in 1810, the pioneering ceil glass one broke Fuller Margaret countermessaging to work, Washington Washington countermessaging to work, write the script. can’t TEA THE PASS AND CHIVALRY - - - The U.S. government may be able to be able may government U.S. The bottom the to RAND, According LEFT: BETTMANN / CORBIS; RIGHT: KEAN COLLECTION / GETTY IMAGES BETTMANN / CORBIS; RIGHT: LEFT: She is hold a real one for her. doors but wouldn’t Horace Greeley helped Margaret Fuller open professional engraving. shown in an undated daguerreotype, he in an 1850 - rather orches than “facilitator as act say—for authors RAND the trator,” bringing orga Muslim by instance, with privatenizations together foun underwriting in interested dations But even such baby projects. online they note. dicey, prove steps may leaders, Muslim high-profile Many including credibili those who enjoy ty the disaffected with fence sitters, American oppose not just Islamic officials even to tolerate, will have part harsh criticism—it’s of welcome, the price of peace. counterterrorism by For line is simple:
FINDINGS
: - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Woman in the Nineteenth Century in the Nineteenth Woman More substantively, the two disagreed the two substantively, More In 1846, Fuller left New York to travel to travel leftYork New Fuller In 1846, “Let them be sea-captains if they will!” “Let them be sea-captains if they will!” acknowledged, Greeley The practice, not tend to ripen our intimacy.” “did through Europe. For a time, she continued a time, For Europe. through “friendly antagonism,” especially during “friendly antagonism,” she when York, New in months her first Fuller family. with him and his lived claimed write that she could only when dismissed as Greeley a notion inspired, too. of her diet, He disapproved “absurd.” When of a headache, complained Fuller by on brought he said it was no doubt She replied tea. strong to addiction her not to be lectured prefer that she would table. at the breakfast implicationsthe rightsabout equal of for “heartily he that wrote Greeley women. demand that all pro to Fuller’s acceded” He also both sexes. fessions be open to shouldbelieved that men and women “So shall as a lady long be social equals: gentleman’s deem herself in need of some arm her properly to conduct out of a I cannot see how . . . dining or ballroom theory everis beto Rights’ ‘Woman’s the logicallya than anythingmore defensible expected however, Fuller, abstraction.” When would she preciselysuch chivalry. wait for him to offer an arm or open a a passage recite would Greeley door, from - - - the Woman Woman Margaret Margaret (Houghton (Houghton (1845). But (1845). may do me do the shallowsmay . Tribune The New-York editor Horace Greeley editor Horace Greeley Tribune ,” Fuller wrote in Fuller for Man,” For his part, Greeley highly Greeley regard his part, For Emerson thought Fuller was slum Fuller thought Emerson “Not one man, in the million, shall I in the million, man, “Not one ed Fuller’s intellect, her prose, and her her prose, intellect, ed Fuller’s to courage—she wrote without regard “what odium it might draw on down he Nonetheless, he said. head,” her own characterized of as one relationship their ming by writing for the masses. She dis writingming by for the masses. “ After in having spent years agreed. abode “an she wrote, of literature, depths” in length some of down also looked Emerson no harm.” but a scholar” “no his nose at Greeley, though, Fuller, men.” of “mother mere “go-ahead, her boss for his respected fearless adroitness.” in the Nineteenth Centuryin the Nineteenth her new employer was one of those rare of those rare was one her new employer men. no challenge authority to his own “felt the histo- will,” strong Margaret’s from rian Megan Marshall writes in A New American Life Fuller: he admired “Instead, Mifflin Harcourt). her for it.” was the first woman granted permission woman first was the And the Harvardto use library. College to join woman the first she was in 1844, of the newsroom can million, not in the hundred no, say? was Woman risethe belief that above made
FINDINGS
- - - Out THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In letters to his wife in the 1790s, In letters to his wife in the 1790s, for too much riding Circuit proved of their justices relieved Congress Court justices. Federal law required law required Federal Court justices. their time of spend much to justices trials over regions in different presiding Many “circuits.” called of the country, the circuit” “riding of them considered justice as retired partworst of the job, Sandra writes O’Connor Day in Supreme Court (Random House). of a litany recited Justice James Iredell discomforts and mishaps he suffered to trials while traveling in Georgia and in to stay obliged He was the Carolinas. “worthless where “verya rascally house,” drinkup sitting fellows[were] young ing gaming & cursing and swearing all a by he was robbed After that, night.” reported that Iredell Later, “Scoundrel.” after his horse pain” “much he was in carriagehis and him threw ran over his leg. Six after months George justices. some Su appointed him to the Washington Johnson Thomas Justice Court, preme he told Pres not, He would resigned. spend half in 1793, Washington ident “on his family, from away of each year chiefly and often in Taverns at Roads Situations the most moderate where disappointed.” are Desires of Order: Stories From the Historyof of Order: the From Stories
- - , Greeley published published Greeley , Tribune In the In the early years of the Republic, few of- Supreme miles as as many logged ficials Robed road showRobed SUPREME SUPREME DISCOMFORT to writefemale first —the for the Tribune for a major correspondent foreign On her voyage American newspaper. her backUnited States to the in 1850, in a storm off New ship ran aground The captain and some Fire Island. York’s struggled and passengers crewmembers surf the heavy and reached through to how know didn’t but Fuller shore, Gree In the days that followed, swim. for her and others searched Thoreau, ley, her newly equally important, body and, A week manuscript. book completed partial and mangled after the accident, they washed ashore; human remains The been Fuller’s. have not or may may manuscript was never found. - who in mental endow duced no woman has surpassed ments and acquirements Fuller.” Margaret a tribute untainted by antagonism, antagonism, a tribute untainted by has soul great “A friendly otherwise. or this mortal of being,” stage passed from has pro “America added, and he wrote,
FINDINGS
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY AYN RAND INSTITUTE AYN at the Studio Club, whose “great work” Rand Ayn she admired because it aided “the able, the fit, the talented” rather than “disabled unfortunates” and other “sub-normal” people. OF NEED NEED OF FOUNTAINHEAD FOUNTAINHEAD The deserving poor arriving than a year after In 1926, less native States her in the United from Rand did what Ayn 21-year-old Russia, Americans to do: young longed many She ap- She for Hollywood. headed De Mille’s as an extra in Cecil B. peared landed a job as a junior King of, Kings
- - - - - and and vain But as the Supreme Court’s docket susceptible to flattery to .” susceptible riding circuit became increasing grew, circuit-riding duties in 1801 but rein in 1801 but duties circuit-riding decades In the later. them a year stated repeatedly lawmakers followed, that rid bills circuit to abolish considered of them but none and for all, ing once Defenders of the status quo passed. Rep- To raised of arguments. a host of Missouri, James Bowlin resentative federalism: riding protect circuit helped the Court“Consolidate in the metrop when distant far not is day the and olis, . . rights States of the free the sovereign . up in this mighty will be swallowed Senator- Bad George vortex of power.” that suggested of North Carolina ger visibility helped legitimize the justices’ Citizens disobey might their rulings: issuing arbiters final of justice, “unseen, a secret from as it were their decrees Senator Lacock Abner of chamber.” that through predicted Pennsylvania Washington shrewd contact, constant learnthe manipulate to would lawyers “ who were the Court, men on the justices By the 1880s, ly untenable. than a thousand cases pend more had In old. years three them of some ing, federal created appellate Congress 1891, The justices could finally unpack courts. their robes.
FINDINGS - - - - —Stephen Bates —Stephen THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY
“The Studio Club,” Rand wrote, “is Rand wrote, “The Studio Club,” to altruism? exactly. A paean Not The Studio at Smith Club archives the only of person organization I know quietlymod- and ally carries that on, which is needed work great this estly, It not so badly—help talent. for young living ac decent only human, provides which beginner a poor commodations but it pro elsewhere, could not afford necessityvides that other great of life: Understanding.” Rand also declared that In the letter, “crippled favoringstop to time was it blind people and old people, children, all kinds of disabled unfortunates” the talented.” the fit, “the able, over “Who worthy is more She continued, of help—the sub-normal or the above Whonormal? to hu valuable is more was “the disabled” Aiding manity?” “potential but nurturing she said, fine, type higher much “a represented talent” of charity.” include fundraising any College don’t a safe bet that it’s Still, documents. Williamswhen this appeal composed priorities for Rand’s to potential donors, make the Hollywood didn’t almsgivers cut. final ------the Liv We The VirtueThe of Self As film historian Anthony Slide- historian re Anthony As film In the generosity. forget Rand didn’t was an object of charity. of charity. ishness was an object Unknowns (Uni- counts in Hollywood the Studio of Mississippi), versity Press subsidizedClub provided lodging for were who all 30, under women, 80 some included Donors struggling by. to get such Hollywood luminaries as Har and Doug Mary Pickford, old Lloyd, After Rand her job lost las Fairbanks. she found only intermittent, in 1927, She fell her behind on low-paying work. to biographer Jennifer according rent, When the Studio Club received Burns. to its needi to be given a $50 donation Williams Marjorie director est resident, picked Rand. Williams she sent of her a copy 1936, newly novel, published first her with a letter expressing along ing, When Williams gratitude. asked per- the letter to prospective to show mission with lengthier Rand responded donors, Wilwhich praise, effusive more and liams quoted in fundraising materials. screenwriter for silent films, and took took and screenwriter for films, silent at the Hollywood room a $10-a-week a half years and the two For Studio Club. the woman at the Studioshe lived Club, later writewho would
FINDINGS HENGLEIN AND STEETS / GETTY IMAGES STAR WARS
Online review culture is dotted with black holes of bad taste.
BY TOM VANDERBILT
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 ------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY What I find most striking is that, having What striking most is that, I find is nothing new there respect, In one pre-Internet days were informed either by dayspre-Internet were friends trusted we or criticswhose voices that “the place had really good energy, really energy, had good “the place that which is veryvery im Spiritual [sic], eventually I capsize portantto me”), quit the I either confusion. in a sea of I arrive, the time by or, altogether place a certain by exhaus down am weighed already if I had as of expectation, tion the experience consumed and was now the motions. simply through going for of looking reviewsbegun the process myself I find reviewing of the restaurant, “awe The use of the word the reviewers. some”—a term whose original connota that I suspect it will is so denuded tion ultimatelyexclusivelyto come itssignify a opposite—is air-quote-marked ironic, “anniversary” So the words are flag. red often written people by “honeymoon,” or for their special expectations inflated with perceived with any their complaint night; the part on or ho of the restaurant failure tel to rise occasion to this momentous is down I reflexively necessarilynot mine. reviewersgrade writingin the sort syr of hotel brochures picked dross up from upy (“it of perfection”). was a vision our choicesin reviewing in the reviewer;
-
TOM VANDERBILT
Today, via Yelp (or TripAdvisor or TripAdvisor (or Yelp via Today, eating at an unknown restaurant restaurant an unknown eating at meant relyingclutch a on of quick N THE DAYS BEFORE THE INTERNET, BEFORE N THE DAYS and dirty heuristics. The presence of of presence The and dirty heuristics. truckmany driversat a lonely or cops diner supposedly vouchsafed its quality simply(though it may been the have food, “ethnic” For onlyaround). option “We classic was the there benchmark: the only non-[insert ethnicity]were could spend Or you people in there.” under sidewalk, the on anxious minutes reading the watchful gaze of the host, if wondering reviews, yellowed curling, In what held in 1987 was still true today. you information-pooran environment, gut simplysometimes with your went (and left clutching it). with site teeming Web any or Amazon, of are you “user-generated content”), problem: reverse the by ten troubled As I navigate a information. too much entry to simply determine whether Yelp my- I find is wortha place my money, of polar extremes between self battered “to die for,” One meal was experience: Drifting into lame.” “pretty another of individual proclivity currents narrow (writing about a curry I had joint where reviewer noted one recently lunched,
By I
STAR WARS - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY was terrible (wait, they admit they don’t they they don’t admit was terrible (wait, Critics always have had like subtitles?). (what den this way to be interrogated dritic history behind lay of logrolling the with but that book?), about rave the a thousand critics bloomed. have Web, often hidden complicated, The messy, and dynamicspreference, and taste of suddenly are laid out it, the battles over of us. right in front - seemed to carry authority. But suddenly, But suddenly, carryto seemed authority. the door has been opened to a multitude each bearing no preexisting of voices, no longer is It authoritytrust. social or that someone merely enough to read foodthought the vegetarian was bad if she is a vegetari need to know (you City or the hotel in Iowa was the an), many everbest they seen (just how have film or a foreign they seen?), hotels have SARAH BETH GLICKSTEEN / THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR / GETTY IMAGES camera, app for smartphones, extends the reach of mass opinion by using the device’s Monocle, an Yelp’s near the user. compass, and GPS capabilities to find reviewed businesses
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, recently Gourmet, - The multi (1930). THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY . “Who expertise needs The Guardian . One can anticipato almost hear the If the God Criticism—in the sense of tude, he wrote, once “scattered about the “scattered once he wrote, tude, “as appears now world in small groups,” be “suddenly It has agglomeration.” an ry echoes of something like Yelp in the ryYelp like echoes of something of José Ortegacontext The y Gasset’s ofRevolt the Masses installing itself in the pref visible, come if it Before, in society. positions erential occupying it passed unnoticed, existed, now the social stage; of the background the footlights to it has advanced and is The disgrun the principal character.” a able to make or break now tled diner, will. sheer collective through restaurant levelingAgainst this criticalof power, Ruth Reichl, fulminates. the old guard the former editor of who believes “anybody harrumphed that have Yelp Most people on is an idiot. Yelp no idea what they’re talking about.”no idea what they’re mandarins, each harboring each her his or mandarins, “The excising and tastes. agendas own of the expert reviewer right is happening writes Suzanne Moore board,” the across in and Harriet re Dick, Tom, when every Isn’t views everything anyway. for free of The nature this truly democratic? so this hierarchy criticism is changing, of expertise is crumbling.” experts telling the anxious middle what - - - -
, KARL MARX MARX KARL , IDEOLOGY GERMAN THE
The rise of this crowd-sourced ag The rise of this crowd-sourced N famously ruminatedthe predicted on a in labor of collapsedivision the of gregate of amateur reviewers, a reserve of amateur reviewers, gregate is generally seen as army of critical labor, con freeing an egalitarian blossoming, the tyrannysumers from of individual communist society, where he would be would he where society, communist another and thing today one “do to free fish to hunt in the morning, tomorrow, cattle in the eve rear in the afternoon, have I just as criticize after dinner, ning, hunter, without ever becoming a mind, may It or critic.” shepherd, fisherman, Internet the but communism, be not fruitionthe enabled has one at least of criticizing after din of these activities: ner—particularly object of criti if the - cism is dinner itself. talking about.” have no idea what they’re idiot. Most people on Yelp idiot. Most people on Yelp who believes Yelp is an who believes Yelp harrumphed that “anybody editor of Gourmet, recently Ruth Reichl, the former I
STAR WARS - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY If the Internet was supposed - com are But there Perhaps. need for experts and for critical what is One question authority. to criticismis happening itself evaluativewhen the architec ture on a site such as Amazon on ture as it is the same for leaf blowers whenis literature, everything seems to be quantifying one’s - to a con response hedonic activity;sumption when we into a ruthless forced dyad are thumbing of thumbing up or or channeled ex into down, for “liking” a simple pressing the actual when something complex. be more may response a elites, to wrest criticism from deal of the reviewinggood en (and other sites) ergyYelp on is precisely an effort to estab - In the re fides. bona lish one’s plications with this idea that plications idea that with this the Internet has obviated the - tan lays a sort down of tripartite claim “I authority:on am a foodie and my love views for a new seafood in my restaurant a number of the writers neighborhood, “New Englanders,” tout themselves as thus implying that they implicitly know A reviewer for an of what they speak. Manhat in midtown Indian restaurant to read, what to see, and how to be— to how and see, to what read, to Hoxha an Enver lays its side, now on left? what’s Tirana back alley, statue in a A new utopia of fisherman-critics who minds and to make up their own free are influence others? A glorious world of transparency and objectivity? A radical rewriting of the canon? Love Us on Yelp,” on storefronts, thereby promoting the on storefronts, thereby onlineLove Us on Yelp,” enter some review site. Stung by negative reviews, however, prises have sardonically fought back. COURTESY BOLT BARBERS BOLT COURTESY “People its badge of honor, hoped businesses would display Yelp
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THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY As Paul Myerscough, an editor at at an editor Myerscough, As Paul the particular ax being the particular ax being ground—the hostess who shot the “wrong” look at the “girls’ night” group. Reading Yelp reviews, Reading Yelp particularly of the one-star one quickly senses variety, being ground—the hostess who shot theshot who hostess ground—the being group; night” “girls’ at the look “wrong” or insuffi that is too effusive, a greeting “too uneasy the waiter deemed ciently so; of number any or waiter”; a with being taken been has example (each episodes food. little to do with that have Yelp) from has writ The London Review, of Books that is now labor” “affective ten of the service of the feature such a prominent drilled (and is at economy into workers through A Manger chains such as Pret quasi-Stakhanovite uplift campaigns), only, or isn’t increasingly isn’t, “Work but of things, a matter of producing physical and supplying energies, your For in the service of others.” emotional, feel who consumers-turned-overseers the right of kind they did not receive a place becomes Yelp energy, emotional to catalog these litanies of complaint.
- - - - - Yelp is filled with this sort of signaling, sort with this is filled of signaling, Yelp Whatfurther complicatespic this ture of the masses liberating the objects the tyranny of criticism from of critics reviewersturn seem to is that so many Yelp Reading pettytoward despotism. particularly va of the one-star reviews, quickly one particularthe senses ax riety, for food Indian is toughan Indian) (as at least at this restaurant I eat to match. Really mix of in innovative a week. once extremely authentic.” yet and gredients, an Indian he is onlyfoodie, is he a Not has alllike true food critics, foodiewho, no need once—thus than more eaten here “authentic.” to unpack that thorny word call as economists it—making discreet authority an in one’s affirming references effortriseto simi of the masses above lar reviewers (“I knew his the chef from all the Henan “of ”; . . previous stint at . of this is one eaten, I’ve cuisine places its even as it aggregates And ”). . . the . democratic horde—after out re filtering including those views for variousreasons, fraudulent—Yelp of being suspected by hierarchy, itself strivesreintroduce to reviewers “elite” designating a class of a picked by special badges), by (identified don’t “We The Council. as team known spokesperson Yelp a done,” it’s how share as if describing process the shadowy said, which hired. Michelin inspectors are by
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- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY or podiatrists themselves concern much forumsimpassioned with in which the “future or the accountant” of the “role Criticism it- is debated. of podiatry” to be criticized—anself is meant idea L. nicely of an H. captured in the title “Criticismof Criticism Mencken essay, Mencken of the Wrote of Criticism.” of art “He for makes the work live critic: live he makes the spectator the spectator;
oned the role of elite arts critics. “Nine-tenths of the grown-up soph oned the role of elite arts critics. “Nine-tenths of he wrote, omores who carry on the business of criticism in America,” and taking in ideas, “lack the intellectual resilience necessary for particularly new ideas.” H. L. Mencken, shown here in 1927 in his Baltimore home, champi H. L. Mencken, shown here in 1927 in his Baltimore BETTMANN / CORBIS -style -style Mythologies HEN I WAS IN COLLEGE, AROUND IN COLLEGE, WAS HEN I the time criticalthe time theory was in the American on full bloom
There may be no field be- be no field may There campus, a favorite professor of mine mine of a favorite professor campus, were sayingkicked we by off a seminar not talking “I’m to do criticism. to going up/ ‘thumbs sortabout the of gonadal, he said. kind of criticism,” thumbs down’ films— analyze would we texts, Rather, by kind of cultural any product—assisted an array of high-powered deconstructionism, lenses: structuralism, semiotics, Jacques reader-response, Barthes. Roland Lacan, (My writing career may actually launched have with a Your “Not analysis of the ad Oldsmobile” Father’s campaign.) Whether we or not liked something our job was was irrelevant; to think about what the what the work said, work brought and what we did, to it.
sides criticism more open, sides criticism open, more to or indeed appropriate, almost Maoist perpetual, I do not self-examination; imagine that accountants W
STAR WARS - - deemed “most Mad Men deemed “most THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY then resolving, successive personal personal successive resolving, then - premar abortions, crises (adulteries, affairs, interracial pregnancies, ital etc.), and drugalcoholism addiction, ofmeans by ratherexploring, than believableperson between conflicts ality and situation, the contemporary the ality and situation, it re culturalsocial and phenomena sexism, with such fascination: gards racism, social hypocrisy, misogyny, so forth. and the counterculture, This is a critic of his game, at the top Here let us turn to Netflix. now And I am in the middle of Season 3 and this show I cannot stop watching, If my math is correct is incredible! Sally Drapper [sic] was born in 54. I was born in 1954. In 1962 she is 8. and family Cousin, an Aunt, I had in ‘working girls’ friend that were depicts forand 60s show the the me this world perfectly. a few deft strokes forcing you to reassess a few to reassess you deft forcing strokes not in a purely judgment—and own your one a show, sense—of “dislike” or “like” and bedeckedthat comes with awards adoration. of critics’ other tokens is the review of helpful” (whatever that means) by an (whatever that means) by helpful” as of 393 out of 394 viewers, impressive the time of writing:
- - - - - Most online reviewing, Mendelsohn Mendelsohn reviewing, Most online Worst of all—in a drama with aspi Worst social and histor rations to treating “issues”—the is melodra ical show - By this matic rather than dramatic. for the most I mean that it proceeds, serially (and like a soap opera, part, and oftenunbelievably) generating, for the work of art. Out of the process of art. forwork the in appreciation, understanding, comes Nearly a century telligent enjoyment.” all despite the hand-wringing, later, is extant. definition of this version some Men Daniel “manifesto,” In his critics’ Waiting of the recent author delsohn, “critic argues that the for the Barbarians, when his knowledge, who, is someone his taste in the presence operated by on he’s new genre some the of of example a movie, TV series, new in—a interested to operaan balletor book—hungers or to analyze make sense of that new thing, make it mean something.” interpret it, it, criticism proper”—it’s full of “isn’t notes, you before And lacksbut light. yes, heat, he notes that academics and cry elitism, reviewers often to fall prey “expert” other of a comparison For condition. the reverse let us first criticism reviewing, and online writing about turn himself, to Mendelsohn , the cable television series chroni MadMen, cling mid-20th-century social upheaval:
STAR WARS - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY For example, Yelp compiles key lines compiles Yelp example, For While review one essentiallyany is made the idea of reading through dozens through the idea of reading made encouraging of reviews even less palatable, ed from the yoke of Freed from the yoke what are expert opinion, we left with? Hundreds of individual reviews, each written by people who, like critics, come bearing their own agendas and biases. in reviews or less repeat (“the that more the side on whipped cream homemade spot”)the hit “high- these posts and The shift near the top of the page. lights” to smartphones has and smaller screens ments, the expression of preferences, the preferences, of the expression ments, filled results, The mechanics of taste. biases and conformitywith subtle ef not always are pretty. fects, the as cost, transaction low useless—the Ray Fisman Business School’s Columbia talk” “cheap the with it tags noted, has level is where, aggregate problem—the the noise can be sheer numbers, through and marginalized, the outliers filtered, statistical achieved. consensus - - - - -
Yet freed from the yoke of expert the yoke from freed Yet online activity where the value and in activityonline where T IS PRECISELY IN THIS VAST RANGE OF RANGE OF IN THIS VAST T IS PRECISELY investigating lie for researchers terest It goes on, in a similar vein. Netflix Netflix vein. similar a in on, goes It what is not actually known as “criticism” “criticism” what is not actually as known mouth.” of word “electronic rather, but, online of data generated from The trove offer may thinking goes, the reviews, insight into a perpetually quantitative formationthe of judg dynamic: elusive
formerly working from quotes featured and films of critics title pages the on who employee a Netflix but as shows, cineaste ex a committed counts himself by certaina with me to plained chagrin, of or so only percent 15 his reckoning, - profes in interested were users Netflix opinions. critics’ sional left we what are with? Hun opinion, each written reviews, of individual dreds bearing come like critics, who, people by may You and biases. agendas their own least but at Scott’s taste, O. A. “like” not what he stands who he is and know you fornew look so we formsAnd of for. new ways filter. to authoritytrust, and to review invited ourselves the are We good/ “gonadal” reviewers (if only in that their com “liking” sortbad by of way) Data ments or rating their helpfulness. points. data points pile upon I
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------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY What make of reviewers is consumers average rating for goods sold on the the rating on sold foraverage goods out of 5, 4.3 stars approximately site is Why the Internet. on as it is elsewhere a raft of undoubtedly, is, There so high? author’s on—an biases going selection likely in posi- more to weigh fans are ratingtively; wields review’s an existing the later reviewers; an influence on some of having purchased fact mere less likely make someone to thing may curiously, But review. issue a negative a study by ratings trickleas more in, David Godes and business professors rating the average Jose Silva has found, “The reviews more decline. begins to Godes and Silva suggest, are,” there the quality“the lower of the informa later reviewers tend to available”; tion be either less serious or less disposed to oth or to respond to like the book, er reviewers rather than to the book While might think a five- one itself. pas more star review summon would study one than a four-starsion review, on found that four-star reviews were, longer. average, A team of Cor fertilea also study. of field nell University researchers, and Google “help found that a review’s for example, rating star falls as the review’s fulness” rating that of the average deviates from being punished for review—as if it were
- - The The
In a discussion on the future of lit- of future the on discussion a In Customers deem this feedbackthis deem Customers desir Atlantic“book Wire reviews that are Amazon on they yet, And not science.” One can that the discover it. approach erary criticism, Jen DollJen in noted erarycriticism, able, and it can move cultural markets. and it can cultural move markets. able, MichaelThe Harvard Business School’s that a one- for example, Luca has found, review can to lead Yelp star uptick in a in revenues improvement a nine percent for independently restaurants. owned a similar Other shown studies have forhotels—and impact independent for books. need to be awesome. need to be awesome. good enough. You good enough. You Good is no longer Good is no longer greater compression by opinion-mining opinion-mining by compression greater Wash such as the Universityprojects of It rates descriptive RevMiner. ington’s for example, “strength”; their by words A “good.” than is stronger “exquisite” like forsearching something person note, the researchers dim sum,” “good but does not really sum, dim mean good describedsum that others have as “dim Good is no longer ‘amazing.’” or ‘great’ need to be awesome. You enough. good
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, an , The Old Ways THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Trawling through the reviews through of a book Trawling That a site such as Amazon sells vir tually everything under the sun offers a chance for these varying of groupings “experience goods,” products—“search as do the flatten, blur and goods”—to lines of authority; what does the com petent paper clip about critic to say have symbolist poetry?French recentlyI purchased, elegy writer the travel foot to life on by erally in its his- not situating a work torical performing context—or some other kind of critical heavy lifting—but consumption their own upon reflecting so logic has become This experience. occa that one - so expected, ingrained, of “review” sionallya flummoxed spies such as paper clips: a simple product “What paper clips!” They’re can I say? stars! Four What people are doing, after all, is gen after all, What doing, people are One occasionally spies a occasionally One of “review” flummoxed such as product simple a I “What can paper clips: clips!” say? They’re paper Four stars!
- - Indeed, one might protest that re might protest one Indeed, One thing the Internet reviewing cul viewing restaurants at Yelp and books books and Yelp viewingat restaurants all are at Netflix at Amazon and films argue but I would enterprises, different is a sortthat there of metalogic to online reviewing that subsumes all categories. - “ex with least at clear makes ture that, is perience such as books goods”—things often more or music—we seem to react than opinion else’s to someone strongly - Universi Temple As itself. to the work Susanty’s Mudambi and David Schuff reviews people tend to rate longer found, goods”—such as cameras or “search for printers—more positively than those for negative A strong goods.” “experience review for a camera some might reflect were (pictures failure product discrete review negative for strong a but blurry), might simplya book be another person’s way. in the taste getting straying. As the team noted, defining defining noted, the team As straying. itself tricky: is the Did “helpfulness” or review make a purchase, help people it for conforming they rewarding were There saying? others were with what Earlynumber of feedback a effects: are reviews helpfulness draw tend to more simply because they’ve appeared votes, a review votes The more longer. online and authority,” “default its the more has, it tends to attract. votes the more
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Traffic: is the author of Traffic:
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n
a contributing editor of Outside and Print. York. New in Brooklyn, He lives Why We Drive the Way We Do (and What It Do (and We Way Drive the We Why and for a columnist Slate, Says, About Us) TOM VANDERBILT review itself. “It appears you had one one had “It you appears review itself. rating for your and onlyone, criterion, “Did anything one. wrote of this book,” in would this book think make you The rise of asked another. clude maps?” reviewing the be toppling online may its pedestal, singular critical from voice into taste has shattered and with its fall, every are We a thousand fragments. try siftingday those shards, through of everyoneing to make meaning else’s meant what something say to attempt to them.
- - Yet all may not be lost. That one-starThat all not be lost. may Yet Robert Macfarlane, I was struck I the by Robert Macfarlane, “I walk too use review: sole one-star without But of thinking. ing as a way is seriously walks this book maps of his no are there why I wonder incomplete. to argue that this is One might maps.” - the point of Mac of missed much have which on But the ground work. farlane’s was engaging the book—a this person attri functional a over quibble narrow nothing having itself book the of bute to do with the writing—was unlike not other consumer the assessment of any such a conferral as Amazon, on good for having not iPad the on star one of a USB port. not has received review of The Old Ways two What’s more, vote. “helpful” single a the in on felt compelled to weigh readers
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COVER STORY COVER The AMERICAN QUEST FOR REDEMPTION
I n a nation born with a sense that it had a redemptive mission in the world, the urge to take what is bad and turn it into something good often turns obsessively inward. The results can be surprising.
WILFRED M. McCLAY on the politics of redemption
SHADD MARUNA AND CHARLES BARBER on new paths of atonement for convicts
SARAH L. COURTEAU on self-help and its gurus
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE / AP / CORBIS The master: After the Starr Report was released in September 1998, President Bill Clinton issued several public apologies for his involvement with intern Monica Lewinsky, including this one in Miami: “I also let you down, and I let my family down, and I let this country down. But I’m trying to make it right. And I’m determined never to let anything like that happen again. And I’m determined to redeem the trust. So I ask you for your understanding, for your forgiveness on this journey we’re on. I hope this will be a time of reconciliation and healing.” STILL THE REDEEMER NATION
The ceaseless quest for redemption in politics and culture is one of the chronic infirmities of American national life. But God forbid we should ever give it up.
BY WILFRED M. McCLAY THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013
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THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ost of us understand the M need for redemption, and politicians, as cynosures of the national psyche, may need it rather more than most, or at least the con- vincing appearance of it. ransom paid, the captive set free—a captive the set free—a ransom paid, a transfor start, a fresh new beginning, a new guilt, from a liberation mation, even not an entirely if clean life, lease on snow a than take more may It slate. of the storm to penetrate the awareness famously self-righteous Bloomberg, and soda drink of smokers the scourge and oth- ers and trans fat consumers not It might er enemies of humanity. to him that he too occurred have yet But most stood in need of redemption. both need forof us understand the it, as Politicians, for ourselves and others. may cynosures psyche, of the national or at than most, need it rather more appearance of it, least the convincing particularly the when it is dispensed by likes of CBS Figures as different News. - - - - CLAY c
HIS PAST FEBRUARY, AS THE MAM FEBRUARY, HIS PAST “Winter dubbed moth snowstorm the on down bore Storm Nemo” WILFRED M. M WILFRED M.
. Meaning deliv- redemption. yes, Ah By
northeastern United States, all eyes all eyes northeastern United States, in the turned elected officials to the a poor done them had of Many region. job of handling the effects of such po with unhappy storms in the past, and even after the litical consequences, and highlyexpensive publicizedrelief efforts Hurricane in the wake of Sandy and York New many in October 2012, in New Jersey households remained City mayor York New distress. severe was laboringMichael Bloomberg un especiallyan der cloud large distrust, of thanks to his fumbling performance during2010, December blizzard of the was ineffective, removal when snow trucks stuck ambulances and fire got was and there in the uncleared streets, So a backlog of 1,400 emergency calls. As Nemo a lot was at stake this time. the local CBS affiliate approached, Getting Bloomberg, “For proclaimed, This StormWould Right to Response Be Redemption.” expiation, atonement, sin, erance from the debt for regeneration, absolution, the stigmatization, from release given, T
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY gard to the nation’s external relations external relations to the nation’s gard just as applicable, if not more so, to to so, if not more just as applicable, enduring strains in American life a as divinely ordained belief in the nation’s a belief in the world, role redemptive for which he foundin America’s seeds in the 19th which and flowered origins, particularly with and 20th centuries, re individuals as well as nations. In fact, as as In fact, as nations. individuals as well the external less plausible, has become and the internal greater has taken on greater importance. importance. greater and foreign policy. Yet Tuveson’s insights Tuveson’s Yet policy. and foreign since can as well, surely be turned inward the externally aimed logic of redemption is But the phenomenon seems to go seems to go But the phenomenon as Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton, and BillClinton, Nixon as Richard coaster of the roller men who rode two all their careers, fall-and-redemption and each was, could attest to its value, giddy a master of its way, own in his Indeed, depths. heights and harrowing im- are tarringstheir laurels their and possible to separate. and particularbeyond personalities, of the deepest moral touches one upon of American foundations and emotional In his classic Redeemer 1968 book life. scholar the Berkeley Ernest , Nation most of the one identified Tuveson Richard Nixon with Checkers, the spaniel he made famous in an unprecedented national television broadcast to national television broadcast to the spaniel he made famous in an unprecedented Richard Nixon with Checkers, running mate Eisenhower’s of campaign finance irregularities. Nixon, then Dwight defend himself against charges and career by writing to the called upon viewers to redeem his reputation in the 1952 presidential campaign, gift, he conceded, from a political supporter—“regardless Republican National Committee. As for Checkers—a BETTMANN / CORBIS of what they say about it, we’re gonna keep it.”
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION
-
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY something. The democratic is supposed to leader vide a believable demonstration of one’s vide a believable of one’s demonstration the common of all-too-commonness, of some- human need to be redeemed storyThe is told that when Elliot thing. foibles. It is a strange requirement. Why is a strange requirement. It foibles. a to elect as president want should we he that us convince to wants who man That seriously? too himself take not does certainalmost self-abasement is his to indeed, somewhat confected, well, be, A seems not to matter. entirely phony, and sense of humor is taken seriously, was Jr. Al Gore “wooden” as a to lack it, can said to lack it in the 2000 election, be fatal. But man.” common “the uncommon be pro first must one to be anointed as such, To be anointed as an as an be anointed To common “uncommon - democratic poli man,” a a first provide tician must believable demonstration of his all-too-commonness, of the common human human of the common need to be redeemed of
- - -
be flawed bears some resemblance resemblance some bears be flawed to the equally rule imperative that HE REQUIREMENT THAT POLITICIANS HE REQUIREMENT THAT
The algebra of fall-and-redemption, fall-and-redemption, algebra of The presidents demonstrate something we we demonstrate something presidents historianThe sense of humor.” “a call WickbergDaniel has written a brilliant Self and study (The Senses of Humor: in Modern AmericaLaughter ) showing the veryhow idea of a sense of humor a softening and reflects and is modern, socializing of the individualistic ideal. a sense of having politicians today, For humor clearly means demonstrating the willingness and ability to mock or make light of themselves and allow their spouses to complain in public about theirspouses to complain
always a part of American culture, always a partAmerican of culture, in an ever more become seems to have tegral part of the psychological drama Leaders more are of American politics. likely to be embraced fully and hearti to shown been ly first theywhen have and human to be flawed stumble badly, to rise and then allowed and vulnerable, con but also scarred to be sure, again, Wil - trite and humbled and seasoned. famouslyliam Dean Howells observed “whatAmerican the that wants public a tragedy with a happy theater is in the the same is trueending”; in the theater of public life. T
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY traceable to one of the fundamental re fundamental of the to one traceable of democratic politics—the quirements equalityneed to affirm in all ways at all ways to discreetly con and find times, inevitable and many the divergences ceal often are ac Politicians that ideal. from but cused of hypocrisy in such matters, of us the charge is self-serving; the rest precisely be they guiltier than are, are cause insist that they dissemble to us. we it not would of the matter, On the face make sense to entrust the nuclear foot who is demonstrablyball to someone be but it would better than oneself?Yes, Some of this posturing is, of course, course, of Someposturingthis of is, President George W. Bush’s gathering of presidents past and future, convened shortly before Barack Obama’s gathering of presidents past and future, convened shortly before Barack Obama’s Bush’s President George W. that almost every modern presidency yields at least one inauguration in 2009, served to dramatize the fact redemption saga. DAVID HUME KENNERLY / GETTY IMAGES HUME KENNERLY DAVID Richardson, the quintessential Boston Boston quintessential the Richardson, perfectthe Brahminwith man the and and perfect perfect breeding, resumé, Senate in ran for the U.S. appearance, he was mocked in 1984, Massachusetts president then Bulger, William“Billy” by Stateof the Massachusetts Senate and a held up a who pol, quintessential Irish fake newspaper with a headline reading It You!” Than Better He’s Elliot, “Vote Needless say, to was a brilliant stroke. even survive didn’t He lost. Richardson the Republican primary.
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION
- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Similarly, redemption clearly redemption has Similarly, more than the market will bear. Consid will bear. the market than more caseer the of philandering former South who Sanford, Mark governor Carolina and censured, impeached, in 2009 was in disgrace, nearly office from removed a verywho had his wife, split from public is run- logically enough, and now, Jenny, House of Representa ning for the U.S. man flawed a I’m and sinner a “I’m tives. but I think God canor men flawed use in this that the voters and I hope women, case will man,” choose to use a flawed WTMA affiliate he told ABC radio in It is patently for a play re an interview. Sanford otherwise is refusing demption. and yet life, to talk about his personal seems to be his principalhis flawedness This gambit makes the logic of asset. as if it seem a bit too pat, redemption to a calculated could be reduced form of is no but there jaw; with one’s leading - doubt that redemption-through-reelec And mind. Sanford’s is what is on tion it. might get He just who knows? Jim of ex-president the mind been on Carter my Carter for the past 33 years. the stern over has never rebuke gotten and in 1980, voters by administered observersthe harsh judgment of many that his was a failed administration. a craving for redemption In his case, sometimes has animated an energetic, - It would not be cynicalIt would that to say others can with this on away get Few a fatal mistake for that better someone for mistake a fatal someone that better of betray evento awareness hint of a Much smarter divert to his superiority. attacking by himself from attention as the privileged status of an opponent, can One at least hope that did. Bulger such has its essential political cunning politi- and that the most cunning uses, at least not if not the best, cians will be, the worst. Americansmany felt comfortable voting after for Bill eight years Clinton Rich defeat precisely because they ardson’s he was not better than felt confident something is, and was, there But them. case than the in Clinton’s in play more dynamics of democratic egalitarianism. afterEven of Monicagate the disgraces and pardons the and impeachment, and scandalsdisquieting attending Clinton’s and White the departure from House, his dozens of other embarrassments, It is not only that he stock high. remains He is a quintessential democratic figure. also has a near-endless capacity native the public’s for and receiving evoking tend to People generosity. redemptive even if they smile him his faults, forgive and snicker as they do it. and sometimes such scale, a monumental is a bit bid for redemption a politician’s
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION
- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY HAT WOULD AMERICAN POLITI- WOULD HAT its without like look calculture pervasive moral dramas of sin Consider the range of manifestations: manifestations: of range the Consider isodes of political theater, but fully in the isodes of political theater, on than mere as far more grip of them, an allegedly secular society, For lookers. the United Statesbe curiously seems to emotional gestures, in thrall to ideas, and deep premises nervous tics, patterns, supposedly to the that belong banished These habits of heart world of religion. evident and mind are everywhere we and and they possess a compulsive look, in contemporary power unquestioned disappearancethe if as is It Americanlife. metaphysical has dimension of religion’s occasioned a tightening hold of certain particularly so of its moral dimensions, to guilt and absolution. far as these relate malfeasances over The feeding frenzies or imagined, real public officials, by and redemption, sometimes expressed expressed sometimes and redemption, at other but in forms lofty and noble, as the nothing so much times resembling smarminess and vulgarity of soap opera? are We One thing can be said for certain: not only these ep intensely by fascinated him not to seek it; but it will but likely elude it; to seek him not becausepride the conspicuous of him, Who his quest forthat has motivated it. be humbled. first be exalted must would W - - - For an allegedly secular For an allegedly secular the United States society, seems to be remarkably in thrall to ideas, gestures, emotional patterns, nervous tics, and deep premises that belong to the supposedly banished world of religion. admirable, but often clumsy and often but clumsy and admirable, In career. post-presidential self-seeking president-elect of photographs group Barack Obama and his four pre living it was Whiteat the decessors House, that Carternoticeable apart stood from seemingly by down weighed the others, One might a lingering sense of failure. think that his Christian beliefs would is he how about peace at make him more the priori given this world, in regarded But the next one. ty to accords his faith of all and least the kind very few of us, can president, be wants to who man of are we be genuinely to how indifferent And history. and by others, by regarded in all the best and Carter man, is a proud Redemption of that word. senses worst of oth in the eyes and now, in the here a vindication for be too sweet would ers,
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Hence, the yearning for redemption is for redemption the yearning Hence, the wrong time in the wrong way to the to the way wrong in the time the wrong vig has all rendered but person wrong Whatever else debate impossible. orous of these manifestations, say might one in which a culture theyreflect do not skepti tolerance, relativism, easygoing permissiveness and laissez-faire cism, clenched a culture It is instead taut reign. everywith formimaginable moral of seemingly despite its convinced anxiety, inhabit that we secular professions own and un that has an inherent a universe forgiving moral structure. since the need for not likely away, to go blamelessness is a certification one’s of de that, be said it must And so strong. named, spite all the pathologies I have should we why reasons many are there could even if we away, not want it to go For miraculouslysomehow banish it. often grievous serious all have we faults, is for redemption and the yearning ones, the rightful call and of our consciences the very object of our hopes, the proper thing for which hoping, hope is forever especially times. or troubled in dark that Americans conjecture Howells’s is ending” tragedy with a happy “a want of sayinganother way not only that we but that want things to turn out happily, to turn that want them out in a way we all our sufferingredeems in the end—we ------eventuating obligatory in ritualspub of the before and abasement lic confession Winfreyaltar of Oprah other or some secular priest with priestess or invested or withhold absolution. to give the power with our environmental The obsession society overconsuming an as both sins, carbonand as individuals leaving foot giving rise as to such phenomena prints, been schemes that have offsets,” “carbon than skeptics as little more decried by sops to transparent indulgences,” “green consciences. (and credulous) voracious reservoirsThe almost bottomless of re most recrimination, guilt and racial centlyembarrassingly the illustrated by Wag abject apology James by proffered of Emory the president University, ner, the for in an essay the sin of mentioning three-fifths rule of the formulation in the as an example of po Constitution U.S. of condemn instead litical compromise, absolute, ing the rulethundering, with on as so many moral certainty, and final no doubt his faculty demanded he do, The in the spirit of academic freedom. tendencysimilar and related to shout speech as being a alldown unwelcome form of bigotry morally and therefore sexist, racist, anti-Semitic, unacceptable: and so on. un-American, homophobic, the inhib campuses, college many On iting fear of saying thing at the wrong
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------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Such guilty often feelings are sourc But redemption is not merely is a res But redemption es of social and political division. But es of social and political division. Americans in ardently as one remain of the idea that the conditions resisting our birth limits automatic should place can or what we become. are, who we on while always Our natal identity itself, to be affirmed, viewed as something but in as final, is not to be regarded and to be redeemed as something stead . More fun- More . quo ante a status toration of a it is a form of alchemy, damentally, noble and fine something of making and new was ordinary, what once out of se and even debased, commonplace, Such its limitations. by confined verely transformative been at alchemy has long and the American in work experience, After very at the is indeed heart of it. specifically and more the America, all, began life of thinking United States, chance or newitself as a kind of second Americans still beginning for the world. and their feel of this belief, much retain Americanings of guilt over and failures con that side of flip the malfeasancesare redemptive tinuing belief in America’s of the world. responsibility to the rest one actually, guilt, ambitious more a It’s less that are expectations that reflects and less susceptible of being easily met. redemption of the world. world. of the redemption
-
Howells’s dictum echoes the core Chris echoesdictum - core the Howells’s tian meaning of redemption as Saint Paul as Sainttian meaning of redemption Paul of taking is a way that there understood it, even what was meant for what was bad, (The clas- and turning it for good. bad, can exposition sic be foundchapterin 8 It was Epistle to the Romans.) of Paul’s not for nothing that the New England as “plantation” Puritans of their spoke of a a utopian restoration a New Zion, whose ultimate godly commonwealth, an example for aim was to provide the want our worldwant purposeful to be prove to of world the kind which in and orderly, vir wasted and the animating nothing is The pathologies is not futile. tue of hope want we that the fact from in part, stem, to a applied than ever, more redemption of things. wider range failures and malfeasances guilt over their country’s country’s guilt over their flip side are merely the belief of the continuing redemptive in America’s responsibility to the rest of the world. Americans’ feelings of of Americans’ feelings
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION - -
of national redemption, redemption, national of THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY agent agent a restorer of national innocence in mat of national a restorer and en- relations, foreign ters of race, other areas. among policy, vironmental In a June 2008 speech celebrating the Minnesota primary victory that guaran teed him the Democratic nomination, citythe Saintof yes, in, speecha given as to his nomination he referred Paul, to be the to NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION / ART RESOURCE, NY SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION / ART GALLERY, PORTRAIT NATIONAL Campaigning for the presidency in 2008, Barack Obama offered what many Americans saw as national redemption. offered what many Americans saw as national redemption.
- - - - subject in
redemption. redemption. tion—myth not in the tion—myth not in the sense of a falsehood, O THE MYTH OF REDEMP
In 2008, rather than the In 2008, transformed. That is why why is That transformed. Americans always have valued of per education a ladder as beginning for themselves. sonal and social mobility. And And social mobility. and sonal Americait is also why has al ways been such a magnet for immigrants—men and women to cast eager and are, who were, of their aside the heavy lumber to have in order OldWorld the opportunitya new to make need of redemption, Obama promised need of redemption, but in the sense of an over arching story about the larger storyarching about the larger that we meanings of our lives cannot otherwise know—is as everas powerful as an or- force regulative and ganizing - It sure in American culture. in the 2008 a role ly played He made of Barackelection Obama. the mantras his of “change” and “hope” campaign because he grasped some deep need in the American people to the on which no other political figure It was a need for spoken. scene had their S
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- - n is SunTrust Chair is SunTrust
CLAY THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ILFRED M. Mc W of Excellence in Humanities at the University senior scholar a at Chattanooga, Tennessee of and a member of The Wilsonat the Center, editorial of board advisers. Wilson Quarterly’s about a book on He is currently working guilt and history. Even if he is better than we are. are. better than we if he is Even tion, even if it sleeps from time to time, to time, time even from if it sleeps tion, It willnot insistent. and powerful, is real, unlikely is just as it be to sleep forever, political conceivable ex any by satisfied could One or person. program pedient or forbe forgiven it should thinking that as even disdained, be ignored, therefore human weakness the kind of irrational to which practical no people should give ignores politician who the Yet quarter. in America who thinks that politics it, can ever be strictly of sinks and a matter of calm adminis and passionless sewers, distributionof tration (or self-interested of calculated instrumental party booty), of about the management reasoning - accredit practical either by objectives to is going ed experts pols, or cunning lose eventually.
- - - - c regulars will sup- regulars c Small wonder, too, that the result result that the too, Small wonder, One should not draw les the wrong son from this. The desire for redemp The desire this. from son a “defining moment for our nation,” for nation,” our moment “defining a certain “absolutely declaring that he was will be we . . . now from that generations back and tellable to look our children” the rise when moment “this was the that our plan and began to slow of the oceans we when the moment heal,” et began to best hope as the last, our image “restored With such grandly redemptive Earth.” on that the small wonder rhetoric in play, the on 2008 campaign took sometimes psychodrama. of a national atmosphere There be disappointment. soon would was never the slightest possibility that other mortal or any politician, Obama, impas the things his more could deliver - How him. sought from voters sioned ever the second-term Obama evolves, things will never again be as they were Democrati 2008. in Republicans will oppose him, port him, myth into has gone but the redemptive and the true believers have hibernation, nearly home. all gone
STILL THE REDEEMER NATION IKON IMAGES / CORBIS THE END OF SECOND ACTS?
The mass warehousing of convicts is a sign of America’s faltering belief in second chances. Considering how individuals atone for their crimes can help us restore rehabilitation as an ideal.
BY SHADD MARUNA AND CHARLES BARBER
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Deutsch’s story is both extraordinary Deutsch’s rently works as a clinicalrently works for one director of the country’s mental health largest he runs for where a program agencies, former mentally prisoners who are ill. Extraordinary and highly ordinary. because than half of all released more prisonto for returned new prisonersare within three crimes violations or parole COURTESY DAVID DEUTSCH DAVID COURTESY David Deutsch Once equipped with those social worker. a formal Deutsch received testimonials, Certificate of Rehabilitation—declaring the him to be officially reformed—from drive His to Californiastate of 2011. in around turnto others lives their inspire He cur has an almost physical intensity. - - - CHARLES BARBER and —unlike most
HIRTEEN YEARS AGO, DAVID DEUTSCH DEUTSCH DAVID YEARS AGO, HIRTEEN California, in Salinas, was arrested drug his regular while making SHADD MARUNA
The day of his arrest was the last time last the was arrest his of day The By
trafficking Los run to San from Angeles When his car was pulled over, Francisco. marijuana; of influence the under was he of cocainepolice found amounts large as well as marijuanaand vehicle, the in been had Although he $715,000 in cash. using and dealing drugs most of his adult never Deutsch previously had been life, a rather lenient so he received caught, California of six standards) sentence (by San in years Quentin State Prison. Early prison in his Deutsch used drugs. decided to dedicate he the he says, term, of his life helping others with to rest San At Quentin he drug problems. runto - tutoringpeer a volunteered pro and Anonymous, joined Narcotics gram, He published an became a chapel clerk. article prison on education in The Jour- nal of Prisoners on Prisons After he held a college degree. inmates, he became a certified ad his release, earned and counselor master’s a diction grade 4.0 a with work, social in degree he need Despite all that, point average. recommen letters of 58 than less no ed his license as an associate to get dation T
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- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Redemption is a centerpiece of a centerpiece is Redemption of from the Massachusetts Bay Puritans the Massachusetts Bay from Benjamin through and has continued to the and Horatio on Alger Franklin of Oprah and 12-step reign present-day visiting Tocqueville, de Alexis therapy. wrote that in the 1830s, France from “have an immenselyAmericans high not far of themselvesopinion and are believing they that from form a species of the human race.” the rest apart from but nearly every and culture, religion than the larger loom does it in none edemption and redemption saga of The of creation reinvention—the individually our own unique acts—is arguably second tory. the American s particularly Judeo-Christian tradition, The redemption the American variant. happy sustains Hollywood’s narrative mantra Avenue’s endings and Madison As book of endless self-improvement. critic MichikoKakutani a decadewrote “There is no in The ago Times, New York potent today—or more public narrative Americanthroughout history—than the The saga of re about redemption.” one creation and reinvention—the demption - - - The (2006), has spent a (2006), (1936), that there are “no “no are that there (1936),
in his personal essay of doom, of doom, essay in his personal Crack-Up SCOTT FITZGERALD FAMOUSLY WROTE, WROTE, FAMOUSLY SCOTT FITZGERALD
second acts in American lives.” Yet most most Yet in American acts second lives.” Americans firmly are. believe that there his who had Bush, W. George President chance after second own of alco- years this case made in introducing hol abuse, new legislation prisoner rehabilitation in his 2004 State speech. of the Union chance, second is the land of “America the and when the gates of prison open, he de a better life,” to path should lead clared. Dan McAdams, a professor of a professor McAdams, Dan clared. psychology at Northwestern University Sto Self: and author of The Redemptive ries Americans By Live lifetime studying the stories that Ameri Didion, Joan a phrase from borrow to cans, McAdams tell to live. themselves in order is in the Americanargues that there psy- che a deeply ingrained belief in a special that dates and self-reinvention destiny
years of their release. Ordinary because release. their of years manage eventually, ex-offendersmost do, hurdles the substantial they to overcome crime is After all, straight.” “go and face the on Research game. person’s a young life stretches paths of prisoners long over 85 percent that around of time suggests out of criminal behavior of them grow time they the turn 28. by F
THE END OF SECOND ACTS? - - - -
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ly behind bars. About a quarter About of the ly behind bars. in U.S. confined prisoners are world’s Sec Bush’s President prisons and jails. which funded com Chance Act, ond munity and mentoring for programs was inadeprisoners after their release, quate when he announced it nine years their seen have programs the and ago, $100 shrink budgets combined from million in 2010 to $63 million last year. With nearly 700,000 former prisoners annually the hitting the streets across little more such sums are United States, is spent more Far gestures. than token simply people behind bars and to put California has a alone keep them there. of $9 billion. budget corrections greater numbers. The United States United States The numbers. greater incarcerates percentage larger now a of its citizensother country, than any current in 100 adults with about one - Yet there are signs that our faith in this signs that our faith in are there Yet serious A more early symptom of our GEORGE BURNS / OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK VIA GETTY IMAGES GEORGE BURNS / OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK public Armstrong took the tried-and-true route of seeking When disgraced cyclist Lance of our own individuallyof our own unique second arguablyacts—is the American story. cyclist Champion is slipping. narrative Lance is the latest in a string Armstrong of fallen celebrities and politicians— and former Mel Gibson actor New from Eliot Spitzer governor to retired York baseball Clemens and superstars Roger both emphatically denied Barry Bonds, in the last spots in the Hall of Fame foundballoting—who that the old have are rituals and redemption of repentance as theynot as effective used to be. declining faith came several decades ago with the loss of belief within the crim inal justice system in the possibilities Beginning in of criminal rehabilitation. and up this ideal, states gave the 1970s, prisoners in ever began warehousing redemption in a January interview with Oprah Winfrey, viewers were largely unmoved. viewers were largely unmoved. with Oprah Winfrey, redemption in a January interview
THE END OF SECOND ACTS? - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY A less obvious in the waning of factor Americans still love a good Americans still love a good at least redemption story, in movies and other imag- ined worlds. They are often less convinced about them in reality. the redemption script is the risethe redemption of social Twitter, and media such as Facebook focus the on with their obsessive which, chroniclingmicro-events, personal of the from users away drawn many have of American society, seems increasingly seems of American society, of American half Almost reach. out of bottom in households in the reared boys as adults, there stay income quintile of and only study, to a recent according rise quin to the highest eight percent men who start young out In Britain, tile. a 50 percent quintile have in the bottom better chance of rising to the top than their counterpartsUnited States. in the av- the most reliable Higher education, significantlyis mobility, upward of enue Family used to be. less attainable than it while has been largelyincome stagnant, universitypublic a attending of cost the in the last 20 years. has risen 60 percent - - - - Shawshank
is no longer confined to correc confined is no longer Once universally systems. tions HE SKEPTICISM ABOUT SECOND ACTS HE SKEPTICISM ABOUT SECOND ACTS
Americans redemption still good a love known as the land of irrepressible op of irrepressible as the land known America entered seems to have timism, a kind of a sustained period of doubt, A series and of national antiswagger. international cataclysms shaken have A confidence. traditional Americans’ that never seems to end has recession left to just hanging on. resigned many elixir the traditional mobility, Upward
story, at least in movies at imag and other story, (The middling ined worlds. is consistentlyRedemption ranked online and the country’s of films, as one greatest - of the lon one has been Les Misérables But Broadway.) gest-running on shows oftenthey are about such less convinced regard would Many in reality. accounts with ei a story such as David Deutsch’s ther skepticism (interpreting his change game) or hostility as a con (asking why so successful be to allowed be should he Indeed Deutsch after what he has done). earlysaysresistance met that he in his a wait- took officer parole His journey. while the criminal and-see attitude, systemjustice operatedwhole a as on a criminal, once a simpler assumption: always a criminal. T
THE END OF SECOND ACTS? - - - - - A Million Little Piec A Million THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Highly publicized tragedies such as agnosis, and enormous resources have have enormous and resources agnosis, trauma But its treatment. into gone of all to Hurricane 9/11 sorts—from Katrina feels to Newtown—now like the American on constant a scene. of sufferingMemoirs such as James best-selling Frey’s es (2003)—later caught in scandal up embel had that Frey when it emerged drug as a recovering lished his hardships burgeoned addict—have alcohol and a far lit,” “misery of into a new genre cry line of self-improve the long from the Horatio from ment tales descended The victim—or perhaps stories. Alger “survivor”—has our of one become culturalfigures. reigning in Newtown, the December massacre that left and 26 children Connecticut, to threat pose the greatest dead adults our belief in the redeemability of the when (And most marginalized us. among in as Newtown did, such events occur, upper-middle-class the kind of tranquil, community to which Americans many they from subtract all the more aspire, the sto for example, Take, our hopes.) ry a Catho of Sister Karen Klimczak, in Buffalo, lic nun who was murdered in 2006. Good Friday on York, New decades earlier opened she had Two for stands HOPE(the acronym House
-
The Image: A Guide to Pseudo-Events Pseudo-Events A Guide to The Image: Each generation tends to have its its tends to have Each generation - mood or diag characteristic or favored the had we DuringWar the Cold nosis. of Anxiety;Age in the late 1970s it was 1990s In the Prozac-fueled “malaise.” followed the diagnosis was depression, disorder, after deficit soon attention by The sig often with Adderall. treated decadelast the of diagnosis may nature be PTSD: disorder. posttraumatic stress Legions Iraq from of soldiers returning that di- received and Afghanistan have , “We have fallen with in love have “We in America, of our with images image, our own which turnto be images out making, of ourselves.” The victim—or perhaps perhaps The victim—or “survivor”—has become “survivor”—has become one of our reigning cultural figures. in remarkable prescience, a half-centurya ago prescience, remarkable larger narratives and collective themes themes collective and narratives larger Only inspiration. hope and that provide canother people redemption, provide narcissism, to a boon social media are yet calling for and advertise us to publish inci- no matter how our every move, with Boorstin wrote, As Daniel dental.
THE END OF SECOND ACTS?
before she before attempt to keep THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY was murdered, Klimczak said about had was murdered, “I think kill her, would who man the to going I think he’s doing well. Craig’s funeral Her is believed to be all right.” in Buffalo history. largest been the have traded in Lynch Afterkilling Klimczak, When forthe cell a rock of crack. phone light. it wouldn’t he tried it, to smoke The rock was fake. The rock was fake. he strangled her in an her from screaming. Hours screaming. her from
- - - Sister Karen Klimczak started distributing “I leave peaceprints” signs before she was peaceprints” signs before she was Sister Karen Klimczak started distributing “I leave murdered in 2006.Bishop them of was given one York, New Buffalo, of Kmiec Edward still seen in the city today. after the memorial service for Klimczak, and they are DON HEUPEL / AP IMAGES Home of Positive Experience), a Buf Experience), of Positive Home center treatment falo-based residential she also lived. where for ex-offenders, She as a whirlwind was known of grace described local energy, and positive in fast-forward.” Teresa “Mother ly as by in her room Klimczak was murdered new Craig nine days Lynch af resident he had where prison, from ter his release Sheserved walked in time for car theft. and as he was stealing her cell phone,
THE END OF SECOND ACTS?
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY There may be something to be to be be something may There great things in the world. The second is is The second the world. things in great suc- responding that by the conviction cessfully and tribulations, to hardships and better. stronger will onlywe grow good and create will things take bad We Both beliefs are things out of them. Americans probably have under threat. never been as special and blessed as they but they are believed themselves to be, In many particularly less special today. educational achievement from areas, life span to ratesto average of violent measurable death and infant mortality, special only are evidence that we shows virtueby of our poor standing compared as for And our with other countries. it may capacity adversity, to overcome increased by be limited in the future and environmental global competition challenges. gripour loosening the on by gained n the spirit of forgiveness, of forgiveness, spirit In the Klimczak Sister Karen prayers every had led in the ground- morning of her halfway floor room once house where teens murdered a priest. - - - - The ADAMS ARGUES THAT THE THE ADAMS ARGUES THAT
American script has redemption is The first keytwo components. AN Mc
There was a horrible forerunner to a horrible was forerunner There to of tragedies such as those as a result If, the belief that we, as individuals and as the belief that we, “cho or blessed, fortunate, are a people, do to manifest destiny” forsen special, a
Klimczak’s murder. Several years earlier, Several earlier, years murder. Klimczak’s a to house halfway her moved had she former rectory- it Bisson and renamed priest of a Catholic in honor ette House The Reverend there. lived once who had was killedin the build Bissonette Joseph of the crack at the height ing in 1987, sought him teens who had two by era, In the spirit of forgiveness, out for help. Sister it a point to lead made had Karen everyprayers morning in the ground- was killed. Bissonette where floor room Americans in Buffalo and Newtown, cynical more become have about hope who can blame chances, and second Scott Fitzgerald was F. them? Perhaps Certainly for rightacts. about second about who wrote so much Fitzgerald, alco an died yet youth of promise the holic at 44 without ever equaling the dazzling success of his 1925 novel act. was no second there Great, Gatsby Maybe America is finally an un facing comfortable reality. D
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------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Yet the American redemption scriptAmericanthe redemption Yet Perhaps a greater acceptance of suf acceptance a greater Perhaps fering Americansrelieve would a of worlda in happiness pursue to pressure make it possi that quite often doesn’t said to once As a Swedish woman ble. everybody“In America, us at a reading, and everybody ‘Have a nice day’ says ask peo You is supposed to be happy. and they say, doing, they ple how are ask people how you In Sweden, ‘Great!’ ‘Terrible!’ and they say, doing, they are and they are them, to know get But you once while the Americans, doing fine, all Prozac on are them, to know get you and miserable.” con have Researchers virtues. has many sistentlysuchhold who found adults that likelybeliefs far more to be successful are such parenting, as areas in others than and civic and religious social support, Our the on research own involvement. of ex-prisoners suggests reintegration redemp that developing a personal scripttion be essential for may them obstacles the many they to overcome lifethe studied histories have We face. identify moments of greatest intimacy intimacy of greatest moments identify when they times as those lives in their and sadness with others deep shared trag war know, of any As veterans pain.” who haven’t that those bonds edy creates it can nevershared fully understand.
- - - There is a counternarrative to the is a counternarrative the to There trage says, McAdams Most important, dy brings people together. “People often “People dy brings people together. redemption narrative. It has promoted a promoted has It narrative. redemption in Americanbelief that, exceptionalism while serving America the world and duringwell the world other wars and at has often arrogance national bred times, Bush, W. George and self-righteousness. also act, the second who so embodied embraced American in exceptionalism and with far-reaching policy, foreign destructiveresults. inspi of Its sources script. redemption the Greek ration include Shakespeare, and Jean- Albert Camus, dramatists, the In the tragic narrative, Sartre. Paul suffers a plight that he is not respon hero Many sible for and cannot overcome. in this rooted non-American are cultures viewrealistic perhaps more tragic, more Such allow would a narrative of the world. a realistic approach, balanced for a more appraisal of of the challenges and rewards “teaches writes, McAdams Tragedy, living. servethat lessons psychologicallyas . . . us useful counterpoints redemptive to the calls the belief into question Tragedy self. particularthat any individual is blessed things. and destined to achieve good the kind upon with skepticism It looks of ideological certitude celebrated in the self.” redemptive
THE END OF SECOND ACTS? - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The kind of counseling Deutsch The kind of counseling Deutsch Our redemp how also shows research does—delivered by peers who have peers who have by does—delivered “been that”—holds and done there special credibility offenders. among Studies that it is both effective show tion occurs in a practical sense, and how and how in a practical occurs tion sense, op “redemption might maximize we been for who have people portunities” Successful of the law. side the wrong on onlynot require to appears reintegration behaviors but stop bad that a person actively reparations make amends and reform to family his to prove members So would it and the wider community. incorporateto wise be criminalthe into waysjustice system for people to more such as opportunities to do make good, work. volunteer The criminal justice system is rife with ceremonies of stigmatization. Why can’t we do more to celebrate those who have changed their lives? vulnerable to going down the wrong wrong the down vulnerable to going in script appears, redemption The path. to be self-fulfilling. other words,
- - - get involves The desistance process of hundreds of men and women with and women of men of hundreds of drug and property records long of crime desist from of whom some fenses, who carryand others undeterred on face Both groups punishment. any by childhood obstaclesthe same (poverty, the education, poor addiction, abuse, and have stigma of a criminal record) What appear similar personality traits. are each other from to distinguish them or under orientations, their subjective very by They live standings of the world. offenders Persistent stories. different of living often tired told us they were in a cycle of crime and imprisonment, but they portrayed themselvesbeing as - circumstanc path by to their doomed They saw their their control. es beyond - “condem call termsin we what of lives as a kind of lottery they scripts,” nation ex-prisoners who By contrast, lost. have succeed in putting crime behind them seek to transform their tragic pasts into as remaking, for the future, resources criminologist (and former prisoner) seemingly in- “a writes, Terry Charles tractable pattern of deviance into a life of benevolence and social contribution.” self that or core ting in touch with a real was fundamentally and making good and give good” “make explicit efforts to back to others, particularly people young back to others,
THE END OF SECOND ACTS? n - -
- in psychi is a lecturer is director of the Instituteis director THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY CHARLES BARBER SHADD MARUNA of Criminology and Criminal Justice at - Northern Ire University in Belfast, Queen’s Ex-Of How - Making Good: His book land. was named the fendersTheir Lives Reform “Outstanding Contribution to Criminology” American the by Society of Criminology in As part of a Soros Fellowship, Justice 2001. he is writing a new redemption on book beliefs in contemporary society. atry at Yale University School of Medicine atryYale at mental on books and the author of two - the Connec He directs health and psychiatry. which a study of is conducting Institute, tion the life of a New Haven, stories of residents - He is complet house. halfway Connecticut, who detective about a depressed ing a novel solving himself by a crime. redeems America’s belief in redemption has has belief in redemption America’s tive remains surprisingly intact. Without surprisinglyremains tive intact. might not be American. we it seems, it, example of his personal redemption. redemption. personal of his example Sister Karen remarkably, more Even supporters in Buffalo and Klimczak’s the world inspired around appear more everthan carryto of message her on its House continues Bissonette hope. new with and today volunteers work donations. de in recent been tested and stretched but wiser sadder become have We cades. realistic. more less hopeful, as a nation, narra aspect of our culture’s this core Yet
------of my family,” or that the of my family,” to ratify and even celebrate behavioral progress, why can’t can’t why behavioral progress,
tin, David Deutsch is thriving. He David Deutsch is thriving. tin, and is ago remarried several years IX YEARS AFTER HE LEFT SAN QUEN- in the eyes
ry peo with prisoners and with young breathing them the living, showing ple, advancing in his field, becoming, as he becoming, field, in his advancing of for the promise boy” “poster a puts it, seemingly lives lost to crime. redeeming sto his share is routinelyto He asked we do more do more we and cost efficient. After all, redemption redemption After all, efficient. and cost is clearlyrequires It street: a two-way the in not only behavioral by change of that change but ratification dividual, my “I redeemed say, People others. by self themselves White“redeemed Sox have “eyes” It is the in the eyes of their fans.” to they whether belong that matter, or to community members god one’s the case, In Deutsch’s or to the state. Certificate he official of Rehabilitation was enormouslyreceived important. an external success by of his Validation such as the state (the verysource en tityhim) served sentenced had that to make his internal journey incontrovert criminalThe justice system is ibly real. rife of stigmatization. with ceremonies Whenserved have people their time and made
their effort? S
THE END OF SECOND ACTS? STEVE HIX / SOMOS IMAGES / CORBIS Who drew up this blueprint? Women make up 70 percent of self-help gurus’ clientele—here’s hoping the happiness architects know what they’re doing. FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF
There is a booming market for self-improvement guides among Americans eager to redeem themselves from the sins of sloth, gluttony, or general discontent. But what qualifies one person to tell another how best to live?
BY SARAH L. COURTEAU
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013
- - How WinHow to THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY We laughed until there were tears on tears on were laughed until there We about so ludicrous what was But really, an achiev a contributor, I am a winner, When I fail, I look at what I did right, I did right, at what I look When fail, I clearly definedI have goals. advice fromI never take more anyone thought enter I never let a negative er. I believe in me. I believe er. in part because of the mock our cheeks, belt enthusiasm with which my brother but mostly at the idea ed out that last line, that such could ever earnest propaganda less adopted—with be received—much What kind of chump did a straight face. these corporate types think he was? that makes its money bur- a company nishing the temple of the body applying Sure, mind? the to approach same that can exactly dance to. a tune you it isn’t crude as it is, “The Affirmation,” Still, time-tested ideas the of echoessome old canon, of the self-improvement in Back 1936, in and new. my head. not what I did wrong. not what I messed up than I am.
- - -
EVERAL YEARS AGO, I WAS LIVING LIVING AGO, I WAS EVERAL YEARS of my one with Washington in stay to come had who brothers, SARAH L. COURTEAU
I am terrific at remembering names. I’ll in the meet the right people Today, I see opportunity in every challenge. He had the closing shift, and he’d get get and he’d the closingHe had shift, I will win. Why? I’ll why—be you win. I will tell cause I have faith, courage, and enthusiasm! courage, faith, cause I have rightplace at the right time for the better ment of all. with me while he pulledwith me while out of himself gig a he got Eventually, patch. rough a part of a selling memberships at a gym, one No franchise. national well-known but in our family is a natural salesperson, and at least the gym is one it was a job, his element. is in my brother where place polo shirt and in his regulation home raid the fridge to bed. going just as I was Pulling straightened in a paycheck his Some as it does for anyone. shoulders, and so it was of his wry humor returned, stand came night he that one in and, ing at the kitchen counter, recited “The recited ing at the kitchen counter, that new the creed gym Affirmation,” heart: to learn by had employees
By S
FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF are are We THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY There’s a fundamental contradiction a fundamental contradiction There’s enthusiasm so they’d sell more member - sell more so they’d enthusiasm the message. invalidate didn’t That ships. gym rats openly admire We their fit bodies. and envy dabbles inBut anyone who of the mindthe improvement eyebrow. invites a raised in our attitudes about self-help—a termin our attitudes about categorythat describes the broad of supposed to that are and ideas products and smarter, happier, make us thinner, Americans accept We efficient. more personal diets, extreme powders, protein gym expensive memberships, trainers, - con and the Rube Goldberg exercise traptions that litter our basements and garages as the necessary paraphernalia for the pursuit of physical perfection. gym openly admire rats and envy We who dabbles But anyone bodies. their fit of the mind—even in the improvement spiritual its had hasn’t that yoga taking bleached out completely—invites roots those of us who among a raised eyebrow ourselvesconsider serious people. empty suchabove lockstep platitudes, and pop psychology. positivity, - - , a folksy a folksy , reminds me of me of reminds , various “experts” various “experts” The Secret, The truth is, my brother could have my brother The truth is, The Da Vinci, Da The Code another megaseller, with its pseudo-historical references peddledand simplistic explanations as is The law of attraction deep insights. benefits some really are But there bunk. to thinking positively. “Thetake than worse Affirmation” done dat at that point in my life, And to heart. Friends and Influence People Influence and Friends that is reallybible just a businessman’s Dale to not being a jerk, useful guide to readers his Carnegie admonished him is to name a man’s that “remember most important and sweetest the sound 2006 in the And language.” in any blockbuster unrelentinglyusing positive advocate “lawthinking to mobilize the of attrac life a mirror is “Your favor. in your tion” think,” thoughts you of the dominant register doesn’t attraction of law the but says of these one “words of negation,” if you’re (In other words, authorities. to want the restaurant “I don’t thinking the universe what our table,” away give away “I to give want restaurants hears is our tables.”) The Secret ing a string Dale Carnegie of men whom I could kicked have to the curb, would “The with The main trouble too. have, company was the source—a Affirmation” to bristle withthat wanted its workers
FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF Dr. Phil Dr. Suze Orman Happier at Home at Home Happier THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY (2012). In both books, she records her records she books, both In (2012). bliss to the attempts to take domestic rest the levelnext and offers how tips on the reality “Acknowledge too. of us can, a chestnut feelings,” of other people’s at the heartthat’s of Dale Carnegie’s Project (2009) and
The Happiness The Happiness Sheryl Sandberg
S I READ THROUGH A STACK OF OF S I READ THROUGH A STACK in preparation self-help books I started with what I forthis essay,
Gretchen Rubin, author of Rubin, Gretchen TOP: BEN ROSE / WIREIMAGE / GETTY IMAGES; LOWER LEFT: NADINE RUPP / GETTY IMAGES; LOWER RIGHT: BEN ROSE / WIREIMAGE / GETTY IMAGES RIGHT: NADINE RUPP / GETTY IMAGES; LOWER TOP: BEN ROSE / WIREIMAGE / GETTY IMAGES; LOWER LEFT:
hoped was an anthropologist’s distance. distance. hoped was an anthropologist’s It diminished pretty immediately. much I found myself insights from mulling A
FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF
- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The ethos of self-help is woven into is woven The ethos of self-help hardlyIt’s that self-help a coincidence a “research” disclaimer, afraidrisk to disclaimer, “research” a pity those of worse, or, the judgment lump me with weak-minded now who’d TV pitch housewives who fall to prey that canes for kitchen Allgadgets Do fearThat is for $29.95. This and More! such provokes self-help another reason it’s assume We unease in us. profound the opiate of the intellectual underclass bet any know don’t es—the people who in for that sortter than to go of thing. wrong. we’re where that’s And of literature the It’s Americanculture. of happiness The pursuit aspiration. in the doc- is embedded right there ument that launched the American has religion centuries, For experiment. for in need tonic those a strong offered moral upper-lip stiffening, of backbone, The culti practical or advice. guidance, and human relationships of good vation moderation in both food and drink— of the self- centraltwo preoccupations help industry—are touchstones of the Christian faith. when America at a time is booming is The Pew than ever before. less religious and Public Religion on Life Forum that nearlyfinds of us claims in five one we’re But all. at affiliation religious no still in need of guideposts—a Good
- - (2003). When (2003). Dry (2012), which which (2012), How This Is With of the current each mention In conversations, I took to reciting reciting to I took In conversations, ume self-help is the assume self-help We opiate of the intellectual And that’s underclasses. where we’re wrong. various bons mots from Augusten Bur Augusten various mots from bons roughs’s distills his life into a charming wisdom Bur primer. do-as-I-say-not-as-I-did his literary made roughs a mark—and fortune—with including books Run- about growing ning With Scissors (2002), and dysfunctionalup in two families, memoir the rehab “The us. past does not haunt he warns, whereof he knows haunt the past,” We He seemed to be specifically he speaks. describingtendency own my endlesslyto familyrehash history with certain others sort - say like of blood, and flesh my of at rather than look ing a rosary together, and now. canwhat we do about the here include I’d reading, I was self-help book win-people-over philosophy but is easy but philosophy win-people-over for Rubin wonders did sight of, to lose tantrum. with a kid’s faced when she was plentyI could see of applications in my with adults. relationships
FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF - - Real Simple and Real Simple THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY , both of which are of which both are , Seventeen be doing more is fine, if it exists at fine, is be doing more much, in into self-help—a bit too much, dearand near some of opinion the S MUCH AS I ENJOYED MY FORAY S MUCH AS I ENJOYED MY FORAY to me—I grew increasingly uneasy about to “down “authentic,” matter how No it. is supposed this advice “real” or earth,” if not the authors to be (and marketers, There’s much we don’t There’s know about self-help gurus. But what we do know should be enough to give us pause. and Cosmo chock-fullpluck to how our on of tips bet or have choose a lipstick, eyebrows, graduate to We ter sex. when we have have when we Magazine The Oprah O: be The line of our own. households tween fighting for footing—that equal fighting tween that “empowerment” sense of elusive supposed to be grasping forever we’re could that we for—and the conviction always surprise No that self-help marketers all. audience consists that their target know shelled out already of people who have product money for a self-improvement within the last several months. A
r - - - - - is buying all that stuff. Men is buying all that stuff. Somebody It’s easy for women to believe they easy for need women It’s marketed to nor used by the young, who the young, used by to nor marketed mistakes making the busy out there are time.) they’ll in a few to fix be looking years’ who wants to maximize, someone She’s and she has the luxury of a little money— perhapsand worrytime—to to how about her best foot put a fewoff take pounds, her relationship improve forward at work, her schedule or her get or her dating life, a bet- or become closets organized, more of a gen She is representative ter mother. enormous eration that has made strides, she is. with where she feels dissatisfied yet all the help they can get. We’re raised on We’re allthe help they can get. about how to dominate in the boardroom in the boardroom to dominate about how The typical con or be a savvier investor. who is middlesumer is a woman and aged self-help is neithe (By and large, affluent. to Marketdata. They tend to consult booksTheyconsult tend to Marketdata. to Book or a guru—when our appetites, or a guru—whenBook our appetites, the or finances, our relationships, our general busyness of of life the best get a Florida firm research Marketdata, us. self-improvement that tracks U.S. the the price puts tag for our col industry, and appetite for books self-help lective infomer seminars and those ubiquitous and killer speed-reading, cials for diets, abs at $10 billion a year. minoritydistinct a are cli self-help the of according entele—only about 30 percent,
FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF
- - - , isn’t a isn’t , Lean In, THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY I have to keep reminding myself that to keep reminding I have simple housewife: It’s all well and good all and good well It’s simple housewife: scrapbooks to preserveto create fami ty, but it’s been many, many years since years many been many, but it’s ty, Financial fridge. a bare into she looked Suzedoyenne Orman takes every op portunity 29 us that at age to remind In 2011, she was still a diner waitress. the Even in $15 million. she brought domestically Rubin, minded Gretchen Projectauthor of The Happiness ly memories and take the time to plan a thoughtful birthday party for your a mom It helps if you’re mother-in-law. East Side the Upper living on who and a a housecleaner, has a babysitter, Sandberg, who just published Sandberg, need in which she argues that women for advocates forceful more to become has a bat- themselves in the workplace, tery household staff and of nannies and a net worth million. of several hundred Winfrey Oprah grew up in pover Yes, Dr. Phil as a role model. But female female But Phil model. a role as Dr. story. a different are authors self-help in grew up Oprah Winfrey been many but it’s poverty, into she looked years since a bare fridge.
- - - or, to go go to or, How WinHow to who is delivering whatever advice I is a woman. In the that I is a woman. Increasingly, Friends and Influence People and Influence Friends and seminar leaders themselves, tout tout themselves, seminar leaders and at every qualities these opportunity), self-help products these of creators the we much There’s people like us. not are they them—whether about know don’t snap at their spous waiters, stiff their or kickwhen they the dog come es, should do know what we But home. Self-help, us pause. be enough to give has of the culture, with the rest along “you” from shift, a pronoun undergone In Dale Carnegie’s “I.” to back to the beginning of the genre, the (1859), Self-Help Samuel Smiles’s about oth are inspirational anecdotes the focus is relentlessly on Today, ers. the that serve their lives It’s as offer. is on and if they’ve overcome the platform, the better. so much hardship, male gurus tra have self-help industry, are there but today ditionally dominated, at looking I’m at the top. women more and, Suze Orman, Winfrey, Oprah you, chief operating Facebook most recently, women For Sherylofficer Sandberg. for to balance the a way looking like me, of trying and pressures stresses to do it success is actually a these women’s all, might not seek to emulate We problem. life to or look home Robbins’s Tony
FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF - - n is literary editor of
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY SARAH L. COURTEAU The Wilson Quarterly. Self-helpultimately is a lonely enter prise. Whatever kernelswis of useful prise. and books the from up hoover we dom at us, coming and infomercials DVDs worth that the gurus remembering it’s We’ve at all. self-made du jour aren’t buying today, they are put them where attending their seminars, their books, and watching their products, purchasing them on TV. We’ve contributedto their We’ve TV. them on to see it as a reason and now success, offerThey may a useful listen to them. offer us a one- but they can’t tip or two, to up It’s size-fits-all key to a better life. because they have that, remember to us veryworked to forget it. hard plan, His hand shared some of the blame. some shared His hand plan, - - There’s a large dollop of self-congrat - a large There’s husband who’s a private a - trad equities who’s husband Rubiner—facts carefully dances around in her books. offer a To advice. in these gurus’ ulation blueprint evi for is to produce success fortune good own was one’s dence that deliberate planning, achieved through character alone. good and work, hard While a part are of all these ingredients American great success these women’s in and, element of luck, a large stories, To was involved. privilege, cases, some canit is the bed do that anyone insist and the rock of the American dream, The to everyoneanswer who falls short. doctrineflip side of the empowerment that self-help offers—that the potential life lies entirely within to change your that the potential to fail does, you—is least when God was part At of the too.
FEEL FREE TO HELP YOURSELF IN ESSENCE OUR SURVEY OF NOTABLE ARTICLES FROM OTHER JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES
POLITICS & GOVERNMENT DOUBLE HELIX DESTINY STIMULUS OR WISH LIST? From American Economic Review From Political Science Quarterly SOCIETY PARTY FATIGUE From The American Interest WHY IS JOHNNY HAVING SO MUCH FUN? REMEMBRANCE OF POWERS LOST From American Sociological Review From The National Interest ESCAPING THE GHETTO FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE From Science THE REWARDS OF BEING WRONG PREVENTING POVERTY From American Historical Review From Current History AMERICA THE STRONG From International Security RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY LEAVE NO MAN BEHIND THE JEWISH HEAD START From MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History From Reform Judaism
ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS ARTS & LETTERS PATENTLY USELESS BLUE HAWAII From Journal of Economic Perspectives From Southern Cultures CONTINUES
THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2013 BURNING THE BRITANNICA From Aeon Magazine OTHER NATIONS
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY TURKEY’S SOUL FOOD From Gastronomica DARK GREEN From Orion THE COMING MELTDOWN IN KABUL RUMBLE OVER PRIMING From Harper’s From The Chronicle Review ECSTASY DOT COM UP IN THE DUMPS From n+1 From The Journal of Positive Psychology
THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2013
- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But according to political scientists But according Most of the stimulus money wasn’t money wasn’t Most of the stimulus ployed and other down-on-their-luck down-on-their-luck and other ployed Americans. Lee E. and Frances Gimpel James G. College University the of Maryland, of of the Thorpe, and Rebecca U. Park, of the areas Washington, University of the country the downturn by hit hardest actuallyof the dis a smaller got share cretionary portionfederalthe of goodies fortunatethan more regions. for going food geographically targeted, and other general tax cuts, stamps, - “Geographic Distribution of the Federal Stimulus of of the Federal Stimulus “Geographic Distribution
POLITICS & GOVERNMENT POLITICS The stimulus paves the way: The 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act generously funded Recovery and Reinvestment Act generously funded The stimulus paves the way: The 2009 American areas. populated Park, and other sparsely National near Grand Teton road repairs in Moran, Wyoming, damage saw fewer federal dollars per person. Parts of the country where the recession did greater CARLOS OSORIO / AP IMAGES DURING THE BLEAKEST DAYS OF THE RE- THE OF DAYS BLEAKEST THE DURING President in February 2009, cession, Barack Obama the $787 billion signed AmericanRecovery Reinvestment and and the Congress into law. (ARRA) Act for the unem relief promised president THE SOURCE: STIMULUS OR LIST?WISH 2009” by James G. Gimpel, Frances E. Lee, and Rebecca U. Thorpe, Gimpel, Frances E. Lee, and Rebecca 2009” by James G. in Political Science Quarterly, Winter 2012–13.
IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The broader reason why spend - why reason broader The National the Democrats showered and Lee, Gimpel, surprisingly, Not ing went haywire, the authors believe, believe, authors the haywire, ing went is because Democrats used it to fund Ordinarily, policytheir pet initiatives. such as infrastructure fronts on progress and medical re and scientific repair offered ARRA painfully is search slow. to window” “policy an all-too-tempting change that. $10 billion Health with of Institutes Sciof new National funding and the They with $3 billion. ence Foundation new30 than federal more created normal the leapfrogging programs, authorization process. congressional Obama high in on homed President “Because investment, of this ways. nearly will women and men 400,000 our crumbling rebuilding work to go repairing our faulty and bridges, roads he declared when he dams and levees,” into law. signed the stimulus Thorpe found that counties that already instal- and other public lots of roads had harvesting handsomely, profited lations per capita $50 more than of an average “Prioritizing in counties. less endowed to with access areas frastructure favored and bodies of water, interstate highways, of local regardless eco parks, national circumstances.” nomic - - What Despite Republican was at work? vative talk-show host Rush talk-show Limbaugh vative measure— “porkulus” dubbed the bill a the authors found little evidence to sup Democratic port this characterization. committees powerful legislators on succeed in bringing undue home didn’t though overall quantities of the bacon, counties distinct tilt toward “a was there for the Democratic stronger that were The bluest-hued coun- in 2008.” Party per person about $35 more ties received gone had that counties than funding in heavily Republican. charges of pork barrel politics—conser barrel charges of pork All the talk about targeting All the talk about parts of the the hardest-hit country was misleading. purposes. The authors focused on the focusedThe authors on purposes. out works That $308 billion. remaining capitato $917 per county. for the average fared regions of the worst-hit But some which wracked was In Florida, poorly. - foreclosures and unemploy home by less counties received all but three ment, amount of stimulus than the average where The Midwest, money per capita. industry struggled afloat duringstay to also largely out. missed the recession,
IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT ------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY What has changed is the political It isn’t. In terms of party affiliation, terms In of party affiliation, It isn’t. demographic and po Meanwhile, litical sorting has left the parties “more liticalsorting left“more has partiesthe a genera than they were homogenous for ex Liberals, Fiorina says. ago,” tion found in both parties. once were ample, while virtuallyNow Democrats, all are conservativesGOP. the to moved have Can the United States afford 20 years of political chaos? class—party activists, donors, and con donors, class—party activists, ideology, and even positions on par on even and positions ideology, the American issues, ticular hot-button electorate hardly has at all changed in quarter about a of Today, a generation. Americans Republicans; they are say said the same 30 proportion a similar of Ameri Somepercent 35 ago. years the same as cans identify as Democrats, Nearly Americansof percent 40 before. even political identify with a party, don’t a political sci- Fiorina, writes Morris P. entist at Stanford fellow and a senior at Institution. the Hoover The rise of partisan delegates. vention of ideologi- media and the proliferation also turned up have cal groups interest the temperature. - - - - n “America’s Missing Moderates” by Morris P. Fiorina, P. Morris by Moderates” Missing “America’s
Counties with large numbers of peo- of numbers large with Counties the infrastructure Geographically, stimu no doubt that ARRA There’s lated the national economy. But all the economy. lated the national the hardest-hit talk about targeting The partscountry the of misleading. was “brightly the authors conclude, stimulus, illuminates the politics of taking advan of crisis.” tage in The American Interest, March/April 2013. divided down the middle, the pundits say. the middle, divided down
PITY THE STATE OF AMERICAN POLITICS. HALF OF AMERICAN POLITICS. HALF PITY THE STATE pull the countrythe voters direc in one PARTY FATIGUE THESOURCE: stubbornly and the other half yank tion, Everybody seems to it the opposite way. at each other not so much be screaming, United StatesThe is past each other. as ple with PhDswith ple per rakedbonus $40 a in of clean Hubs energy develop person. also were medicalment and research the authors irony, The cash magnets. technol and - “science is that point out, to the ogy resilient more sectors were of than was the rest downturn economic the private sector.” windfallfell most heavilyresearch and and the Plains West in the Mountain often by largely spared in areas states, the recession.
IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
- - - n The National
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Congressional Abdication” by Jim Webb, in “Congressional Abdication” by Jim Webb,
The last time partylast The so seesawed control The political turmoil of the Gilded OF POWERSOF LOST OF POWERS CONSTITUTIONAL THE BEHOLD branch ofthe legislative in the realm REMEMBRANCE THE SOURCE: Interest, March/April 2013. consistently was during the Gilded Age, consistentlyduring was Age, the Gilded Fio to 1894. 1886 from elections five over rina says the similarities the two between In the late 19th century, striking. eras are and the parties partisanrancor prevailed, neatlythemselves sorted were ideological Americans worried the yawning about ly. and tenement barons robber gap between about today as they fret dwellers—much and percenters” “one disparities between the econ Then, of the country. the rest agriculture was transitioning from omy to industry; in flux again. it’s today ended with the formation of lasting Age But Fiorina says new electoral coalitions. arguably dangerous more “are that these the specters of ter- by shadowed times,” infla- and looming rising debt, rorism, “The United States 20 could afford tion. of political 19th chaos in the late years centurynewa before majority emerged,” seen “It to be remains Fiorina concludes. canwhether we do the same today.”
The problem is that “the most active most active “the that is problem The Our era of what Fiorina“almost calls “strong Democrats” took views abortion took on Democrats” “strong close with the Grand to those associated when similar results find Polls Old Party. Nonetheless, there’s still some diversity still some there’s Nonetheless, nearly 40 example, For the parties. within polled in Republicans” “strong of percent a 2008 survey a strictlyfrom wavered of a third than more And stance. pro-life and other issues. to gun control it comes the from members come and involved party.” each of reaches most extreme primaries, presidential During last year’s the conservative former for example, senator Rick Santorum for a emerged time as a top Republican aftercontender and Colorado, victories in Minnesota, The turnout in those contests, Missouri. than four less percent. averaged however, is electoral instability” unprecedented “the middleevidence of the Ameri- that has a home no longer . . can electorate . Americans 2004, In party.” either in a Republican and reelected president chamboth of - control GOP solidified the they gave In 2006, bers of Congress. Senate and House back to Democrats. Barack Obama the into roared In 2008, White control House and commanded handed voters But in 2010, of Congress. costing Democrats losses, catastrophic of the House. them control
IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Webb, who servedwho term the in one Webb, Obama pulled President 2012, In May end- executive first Obama’s It wasn’t course of substantial U.S. assistance to assistance U.S. of substantial course for in Baghdad regime the fledgling to come. years says should have Bush Senate (2007–13), so something about Congress consulted the administra Instead, consequential. wraps under kept the agreement tion it Just before until the eleventh hour. to access requested Webb was signed, Other weren’t lawmakers the document. “It appears that I was the so diligent: only of the Senate member who at least The it.” actuallyat that point had read on voted meanwhile, parliament, Iraqi times. two the pact of Aftera year than more a similar stunt. he skirt- with Afghanistan, negotiations signing by oversight ed congressional legally agreement,” executive binding “a Obama Whiteas the House termed it. “Major Non- labeled Afghanistan a long-term pledged and Ally” NATO and militaryeconomic aid to Hamid in Kabul—all regime without Karzai’s Congress. consulting the he hastily ordered In 2011, around. military Libyan protect to action into U.S. Muammar to loyal forces from civilians in chief commander The al-Qaddafi. of the armed can forces authorize such - - - The Founding Fathers weren’t as as weren’t Fathers The Founding those weighty has shirked Congress Bush signed a wide- President In 2008, foreign affairs: to declare war, to raise to an to declare war, affairs: foreign to ratify treaties. army a navy, maintain and He is com with the president: generous matters but in deciding chief, mander in keep to lawmakers are peace, of war and lest a short on the chief leash, executive a monarch. he resemble contends responsibilities, constitutional Democratic a recently retired JimWebb, an alarming On Virginia. senator from George number of occasions since 9/11, Bush and Barack Obama have W. Capitol Hill. at noses their thumbed suffer or - political pressure by Cowed Congress amnesia, collective ing from hardly whimpered. - Agree ranging Strategic Framework Bush administration The ment with Iraq. deftly a labeling the agreement avoided require so the document didn’t “treaty,” “But neither was it Senate ratification. a typical negotiation executive-branch policydesigned to implement current a Marine Corps writesWebb, and law,” Republi and onetime novelist, veteran, canservedwho secretaryas Navy the of After the invest Reagan. under Ronald of billions of dollars ment of hundreds and the loss of thousands of American determined the “framework” the lives,
IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Negligence and dereliction plague plague and dereliction Negligence world of today’s in What’s more, says his former colleagues should Webb the post-9/11 world, lawmakers blanch lawmakers world, the post-9/11 presi the of questioning thought at the Few security national dent’s prerogatives. sought formalhave these over debates all barred leaders in the Senate, issues; legislation. Libya-related in so “As argues. Webb Capitol Hill, disap powers where other areas many rather than revolu erosion pear through not do Congress members of many tion, that they actuallypower the appreciate hold.” forces, and special operations drones flythat actions can order president the under the radar of the American public. needed now is oversight Congressional than ever. more - dust off their copies of the Constitu “One their duties. and remember tion Republicans andhopes Congress—both Democrats—can to the wisdom regain reassert the authority that was so wisely ago.” years many to it so given
- - The worst of it, according to Webb, is Webb, to according it, of The worst intervention for on months— dragged costs mounted—the and the financial to loop in Capitol Hill. refused president even sched didn’t leaders Congressional “President matter. the ule a debate on Obama has arguably established the au thorityinterveneto president the of mili- tarily virtually without consent anywhere Webb of Congress,” or the approval and for as discretion his own “at marvels, “has The precedent as he wishes.” long the potential to haunt us for decades.” In protest. in howl doesn’t Congress that prerogatives. if approval strikes without congressional But time is short is grave. and the threat threat was no direct there in this case, when the Even to the United States. president’s national security national president’s thought of questioning the of questioning thought kers blanch at the blanch kers Lawma
IN ESSENCE POLITICS & GOVERNMENT THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY More than any other conflict, the the other conflict, than any More the big questions during the Cold War. War. during questions the big Cold the they badly - underestimat outset, the At quickly ed how the Soviet would Union bomb, atomic build its first be able to and they record off their poor topped even failing to imagine decades by later was their work Yet end. War’s the Cold a argue Matthew Connelly, invaluable, and his Columbia University historian, student coauthors.
American Historical “‘General, I Have Fought Just as Many Nuclear Wars Fought Just as Many Nuclear Wars “‘General, I Have
FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE POLICY FOREIGN as You Have’” by Matthew Connelly, Matt Fay, Giulia Ferrini, Micki Giulia Fay, Matt Connelly, Have’” by Matthew as You Ryan Musto, Taunton Harrison Monsky, Kaufman, Will Leonard, in Walker, Paine, Nicholas Standish, and Lydia Review, Dec. 2012. BETTMANN / CORBIS command center was built to survive a Air Command’s Deep underground in Omaha, Nebraska, the Strategic the more they realized it was unthinkable. for nuclear war, nuclear blast. But the more U.S. strategists planned AMERICA’S INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS AND AND INTELLIGENCE EXPERTS AMERICA’S of many about wrong dead futurists were
THE REWARDS THE SOURCE: OF BEING WRONG
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------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY America with the was learning to live planning nevertheless contin War The stunning intelligence failures failures intelligence stunning The ued, with rounds of sophisticated of sophisticated with rounds ued, during the and, simulations computer games war Kennedy administration, an against one officials pitting U.S. After exercises. other in role-playing such involving a hypotheti one contest the Americans cal crisis Berlin, over Previsioning taught what history could not: Nuclear war was unthinkable. Bomb—the emphasis would gradually would emphasis Bomb—the build- toward shift confrontation from ing a survivable nuclear force. deterrent sparked harder thinking about a future future about a thinking harder sparked Dwight President In 1953, nuclear war. launched the Solarium Eisenhower D. teams of experts naming three Project, strate long-term competing out to lay the results listened to Eisenhower gies. and largelyin an all-day meeting con cluded war favored that the preventive strategists was out of the ques many by What the world would do if a vast tion. left“Thepart of it were in ruins? only [is] than losing a global war thing worse he declared. winning one,” - - - After the Soviets exploded their first Cold War put a premium on “prevision.” “prevision.” on put a premium War Cold ever fought had nuclear a Nobody war historyso little useful provided before, events out, broke and if war guidance, expected to unfold so quicklywere and that violence with such unprecedented Ulti time to think. be little would there taught what history previsioning mately, Nuclear unthinkable. was war not: could intelligence U.S. 1949, in bomb atomic to determiningturned its attention the danger”—the of maximum “moment Soviet point when an aggressive Union calculate sufficient would that it had to launch a surprisestrength attack on American Many strat the United States. ideologyegists believed that communist suchmade an attack nearly inevitable. After the Central Intelligence Agency the North Korean was blindsided by the 38th parallel in across surge army’s June of 1950 and again when Chinese and Soviet fray the fol joined the forces officials alarmed U.S. November, lowing Air closer. much the moment moved - Van chief Generalstaff of S. Hoyt Force in the denberg put it just eight months He and others talked of launch- future. nuclearing a preemptive attack the on the United States Instead, Soviet Union. militarylaunched a massive that buildup balance of power. the perceived altered
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- - - International International
n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Don’t Come Home, America” by Stephen G. Brooks,
Stephen G. Brooks and William C. William and Brooks C. Stephen G. Security, Winter 2012–13. G. John Ikenberry, and William C. Wohlforth, in and William C. Wohlforth, G. John Ikenberry, IT’S RARE TO FIND AGREEMENT IN ACADEMIA, IT’S RARE TO FIND AGREEMENT IN ACADEMIA, to the grand but when it comes strategy is near una there of the United States, nimity security Ameri among scholars: ca and too domineering dominant is too The cash-strapped and for good. its own war-weary United States ought to cut its bloated defense and pull budget back policy, foreign “globe-girdling” its from a chorus of scholars implores. at professors government Wohlforth, Ikenberry, John and G. Dartmouth, AMERICA THE STRONG THE SOURCE: nal, poised at hair-trigger levels, even even hair-triggerpoised at levels, nal, as scholars learned after So the - though, never there opened, were viet archives for plans a surprise any were attack on Americantheir Like States. United the the Soviets assumed had counterparts, be the aggressor. would that the enemy But the various forms of previsioning be “helped the relationship regulate Anticipating the superpowers. tween than perhaps even more the future, is what kept the past, the learning from cold.” Cold War
- - - - - It wasn’t just the possibility just the of war It wasn’t ill many effects, had Previsioning realizedwilling not be that they would city the divided over to war to go because the Sovietsof the damage could inflict. “It’s very a war started,” to get hard wrote. one a the future thinking about that made fu Envisioning high-stakes enterprise. translatedalso directly into threats ture fostering forweapons, appropriations a new kind of futurist gamesmanship. sug- for example, Most early war games, strategic bombers that America’s gested by the ground on be destroyed would So the Strategic in 1960 Soviet missiles. successfully Command Air maneuvered nu to win responsibility for the nation’s the Single Inte clear plan, war-fighting Lo and behold, gratedPlan. Operational discovered simulations computer SAC’s aircraft newvulnerabilities Navy’s the in carriers and ballistic missile submarines, building the case B-52 and for more Andrew 1970s, (In the B-58 bombers. Office of the Pentagon’s head Marshall, that So reckoning Assessment, Net of as just as flawed were viet bureaucracies cleverly baited Moscow American ones, launchinginto needless a costlyand effort.)biological weapons The Connelly his team concede. and United States nuclear built a huge arse
IN ESSENCE FOREIGN POLICY & DEFENSE - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Critics rebut all this. They contend Critics all this. rebut Wohlforth and Ikenberry, Brooks, Among idyll. peaceful be no It would America plays other coun nice with tries in forums- such Na the United as deep of magnifyingthe benefits tions, does not always It what get engagement. and of hard but its combination it wants, cooperation in more “results soft power of importance matters on than would occur if the United States disengaged.” legitimate American a that Eurasia isn’t Or they claim that stability concern. the absence of a in there endure would Ameri they say, Besides, presence. U.S. and human financial the afford ca can’t worldcosts of policing the anymore. shudder at the thought of leaving so Pulling back from to chance. much en- commitments—whether America’s the “over or only advocate, as some tirely, to a maritime stance—would horizon” - “mas call authors the what to amount a “How The question: experiment.” sive the world without an en would work liberal power?” leading gaged, U.S. security“nasty consequences,” other such as Egypt allies in the Middle East, nuclear might acquire and Saudi Arabia, American An withdrawal weapons. ratchet by Asia would up tension from appetite a checkremoving China’s on dominance. for regional - - -
“Deep engagement,” as Brooks and and as Brooks “Deep engagement,” a “massive experiment.” gets strategy today, colleagues call U.S. scholars who from they say, rap, a bad vast America’s overlook its benefits. militaryof network alliancesand bases and the Middle East Asia, in Europe, - dominat from power foreign a prevents men ing all of Eurasia (and therefore The strategy States). the United acing American well-being ensures economic stabilityglobal guarding keeping and by deep engage And shipping lanes open. the squeaky wheels of di ment greases When United States the wants plomacy. deal or isolate a rogue to ink a free-trade lest they lose its allies cooperate, state, such American of the perks friendship, as American-made weaponry U.S. or security guarantees. Pulling back from Pulling back from global - commit America’s ments would amount to a political scientist at Princeton, say say a political at Princeton, scientist United The all wet: colleaguestheir are is at The nation retreat. States mustn’t influential most and richest, safest, its its muscleswhen it flexes beyond far North America.
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- - - - The rades’ rades’ MHQ: The MHQ: The THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Rest in Peace?” by Drew Lindsay, in by Drew Lindsay, “Rest in Peace?”
It wasn’t until the Civil War that the War until the Civil It wasn’t Whether for North or South, fighting During the Civil War, the United States DuringWar, the Civil Quarterly Journal of Military History. military that the notion embraced U.S. national burial a proper a dignified in cemetery right. sacred was every soldier’s for a popular outcry after But if it weren’t the practice might have I, War World been abandoned. carnage: unprecedented confronted blanket bodies their died, men 750,000 and Antietam, at Shiloh, ing battlefields in different was The conflict elsewhere. past, most wars of the Unlike another way: for the most part, was fought, this one citizens deeplyby motivated by held be profession few of the soldiers were liefs; Citizen-soldiers seemed to deserve als. than a rude grave. more battlefield fallentheir saw soldiers com young ed few dignities to those who fell on ed fewdignities to those who fell on man lowlyThe fighting the battlefield. “was cast into a hastily or pit, dug trench writes grave,” not even his own awarded editor of executive Drew Lindsay, LEAVE MAN NO BEHIND THE SOURCE: AFFORD OF YEARS, ARMIES FOR THOUSANDS Quarterly Journal of Military History, Winter 2013. Quarterly Journal - - n The authors aren’t convinced that that convinced authors aren’t The Pullback that de- also argue advocates what to was a major exception Iraq Brooks Grand evolve, strategies must a pullback would save much money, money, much a pullback save would If the United States for opted either. scholars as some balancing,” “offshore the price still be tag would advocate, ships is aboard Stationing troops high. back forces home Pulling U.S. costly. and, problems, own its with comes us, and colleagues remind as Brooks many cover “generally American allies and forces infrastructure of U.S. costs overseas. bases” Americanploying places GIs in so many pulls the United States wars into unwise or tempts American into rash leaders in as the primeThey cite Iraq terventions. example. grandsound a been has strategy for the authors respond. 60 years, some hardlyDeep engagement means that the United States to repeat is destined such mistakes. The United and his coauthors allow. to Asia in an “pivot” States is right to Pentagon’s The rise. China’s of ticipation canbudget to shrink afford somewhat. would engagement deep But abandoning world with a disengaged “A tempt fate. “isdevilthe they write, States,” United know.” don’t we
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- - -
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The Times called New York But World War I was different. By I was different. War World But Three decades later, at the end of the decades later, Three A Civil War soldier soldier War A Civil recoiled his fallenat seeing left to the bodies comrades’ kind “without a elements, remains hide one’s hand to the world from the eye of of animals or the gnawing or buzzards.” McKinley’s mandate an “innovation in mandate an McKinley’s historythe world’s of warfare.” States the United in 1918, end, the war’s a than 70,000 men on lost more had They in hastily lay continent. foreign clamored had Families graves. prepared the outset for of those the return from Persh “Black Jack” General John killed. fected by his own experience as a young experience his own a young as fected by swiftly ordered soldier at Antietam, foreign from home brought the dead battlefields. of the American commander Expe ing, was said that in Europe, ditionary Force that family adding members impractical, seeing the horrific from should be spared Spanish-American War, President Wil President - Spanish-American War, been deeply who had af liam McKinley, ------In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln President In 1862, bodies left to the elements, “without a “without a leftbodies elements, to the from remains one’s hand to hide kind of the worldthe eye or the gnawing wrote one or buzzards,” of animals their revul- Compounding in horror. ideas sentimental more new, were sion influen become that had about death tial in a midcentury American culture romanticism. increasingly taken with in particu- American Protestants, “Good embraced the ideal of the lar, and “dignity characterized by Death,” hardly modernThe battlefield grace.” that. offered and autho in to popular pressure gave rized cem the construction of national After eteries men. for fighting Union the U.S. Meigs, Montgomery C. the war, fan sent troops quartermaster general, the throughout ning out to battlefields country forgotten gravesites. to uncover recovering years, Theypersisted for five of 316,000 of the 342,000 the remains for their lives sacrificed men who had reburied at 74 were The dead the Union. including—thanks cemeteries, national to the wily the site of on Meigs—one es Lee’s Confederate general Robert E. which became Arling Virginia, tate in (There was no Cemetery. National ton systematic effort Confederate to recover remains.) soldiers’
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- - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “But a sacred tradition had been born,” been born,” had tradition “Buta sacred The War Department relented in Department in relented War The SomeAmericans found whole the ham declared after viewing stacks of casketsfor bound States. United the coun own soil is God’s “American try is comparatively and the rest unhallowed.” and other countries writes, Lindsay the American followed have example, home which brought including Britain, with War afterits dead the Falklands in 1982. Argentina October 1919, almost a year after a year almost the 1919, October of evThe families - war. end of the ery two be given fallen soldier would burial one of their loved proper choices: in new American military cemeteries to of remains return or the in Europe, The families of some shores. America’s - 30,000 fallen soldiers opted for Euro of while another 46,000 pean burial, home. brought were the dead foreigners And business gruesome. “America effort. scoffed at the U.S. feels morallyis she that superior to British writer Stephen Gra Europe,” - - - - Some Americans found the battlefield wounds inflicted by modern warfare. modern warfare. by inflicted wounds European America’s After the armistice, allies vociferously opposed the idea of ex want- leaders French bodies. huming the without with reconstruction on ed to get “ghoul having to run by being distracted the across ish trains packed with bodies” The British worried government country. that an American effort fuel pub would for costlya home at effort pressure lic to repatriate the British bodies dead—the of a staggering 700,000 men. American pilot Quentin fitting. graves Theodore former president Roosevelt, after died in 1918 had son, Roosevelt’s Theo France. over being shot down and Edith Roosevelt said their son dore us it is “To he fell: where should remain after long painful and harrowing death to which the soul body from poor the move grievingmost But American fled.” has “My son families demanded otherwise. and call, life his to America’s sacrificed must as a duty bring you of yours now mother York a New backmy son to me,” the government. addressing wrote,
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- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In theory, a perfectlya de- theory, In The real engine of innova engine The real tion and economic growth is growth and economic tion and Companies competition. handsomely individuals profit when they beat competi After the tors to a new idea. Apple 2007, debut in iPhone’s million than five sold more game-changingits of devices rivalsbefore could muster the then, Even a challenge. peerless design—not iPhone’s patent protections—allowed lavish to reap the company profits. rationally- adminis signed, patent system tered would real the in But well. work maturing industries world, flex their political muscles to game the system and protect competition. themselves from That’s a big mistake, according to to according mistake, a big That’s Michele Boldrin and David K. Levine. Levine. MicheleBoldrin K. and David often innova encourage don’t Patents tion—they stifle it. Companies use the use Companies stifle it. tion—they system and to freeze out competition successes of the commercial leach off both economists The authors, others. Louis, UniversitySt. in Washington at system argue that the patent should be abolished. - “The Case Against Patents” by Michele Boldrin and Patents” by Michele Boldrin and “The Case Against
ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS LABOR ECONOMICS, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Winter 2013. Journal of Economic David K. Levine, in In 1991, Bill Gates, shown here at a computer conference, railed In 1991, Bill Gates, shown here at a computer conference, use to day the of giants tech established the of ability the against “A future the patent system to slow upstart firms like Microsoft. to pay whatever start-up with no patents of its own will be forced corporate price the giants choose to impose,” he wrote in an internal using it to Microsoft swears by the patent system, memo. Today, fend off younger competitors such as Google. ANN E. YOW-DYSON / GETTY IMAGES ANN E. YOW-DYSON PATENTS ARE THE GOLD STANDARD OF NA STANDARD ARE THE GOLD PATENTS we The more competitiveness. tional the more Americans often think, have, is. our economy innovative THE SOURCE: PATENTLY USELESS
IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS ------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Legal battles waste more time and Legal time and waste more battles Big pharmaceutical are companies ing this patent portfolioing this patent is purely de “It can be write. the authors fensive,” - and Micro Apple used to countersue this in using alone Google is not soft.” spend vast sums Companies strategy. everybuy intellectual to property year value. of dubious real One study foundthat during money. spent an amount the 1990s companies of their re equivalent to 14 percent on budgets and development search patent litigation. the staunchestamong defenders of pat they Without patent protection, ents. drugs developed at enormous contend, making it swiftly be cost would copied, and discour expenses to recover hard But Boldrin innovation. aging future and Levine time for it takes a long say path- to reverse-engineer competitors authors also point The drugs. breaking of the $1 bil percent 80 out that some it typicallylion takes to develop a new of phase final the drug by is consumed are There law. clinical by tests required cheapermuch ways to help manufac that expense—including recoup turers purchase Motorola Mobility, Mo- Mobility, Motorola purchase With the smartphonearm. torola’s of Motorola came a trove acquisition purpose in obtain “Google’s patents. - - - To avoid such headaches, Google Google such headaches, avoid To The patent glut accomplished little. little. accomplished glut patent The Compounding the problem is the fact is the fact the problem Compounding system. competition—not the patentcompetition—not and economic growth is growth is and economic real engine of innovationThe real engine of “Academic studies have . . . typically . . . have studies “Academic be of a connection much failed to find Boldrin patents and innovation,” tween it has created Instead, and Levine write. a Scylla-and-Charybdis world in which in navigate between innovators must fringing countless patents and paying on When of stiff licensing fees. multitudes a foray Google made into the mobile and Apple for example, market, phone Microsoft the used patent suits to slow newcomer. creative to out $12.5 billion in 2012 forked that today’s products oftenproducts so contain today’s that In 1983, components. patentable many Office Trademark and Patent U.S. the By 2010, granted 60,000 patents. about then in number—whichthe annual by result as a cluded software innovations, of a 1994 court case—had quadrupled, 244,000. to some
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- - - Feb. 2013. ,
American Economic Review American Economic THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY r, in r, “The ‘Out of Africa’ Hypothesis, Human Genetic Hypothesis, Human Genetic “The ‘Out of Africa’
Quamrul Ashraf and Oded Galor, QuamrulAshraf Oded Galor, and as the serial known founderIn a process Diversity, and Comparative Economic Development” by Quamrul Development” by Quamrul and Comparative Economic Diversity, Galo Ashraf and Oded nomic development offer development an array of an- nomic push or geography history, Culture, swers: they claim. a country prosperity, toward Williams at economists College and propose respectively, University, Brown genetic explanation: an entirely different They the range of a given say diversity. genes—determined 70,000 population’s when humans first ago to 90,000 years out of East Africa—playedjourneyed a in determining which lands role decisive jackpot. economic hit the would closer populations (via land mi effect, to modern-day Ethiopia, gration routes) the earliestwhere evidence sa- of Homo higher levels of had piens has been found, that settled diversitygenetic than groups societies had The nearer farther away. early“founders”—or settlers—and more When variation. genetic more therefore off and ventured peeled smaller groups they carried small a and Asia, into Europe It shrank further them. pool with er gene HELIX DESTINY HELIX Scholars of eco for who look the roots DOUBLE THE SOURCE: MOJO? RICH SOCIETIES THEIR GIVES WHAT
- - - - n Other patent champions insist that Otherchampions insist that patent attorneys lobby coincidentally, Not Boldrin and Levine to prefer would government subsidies—than granting subsidies—than government cost consumers that monopolies them dearly. patents foster collaboration and trans patent ap Today’s true: Not parency. carefullyplications are designed to but a to anyone be incomprehensible patent attorney. So do so-called pat to defeat reform. hard that amass patents companies ent trolls, merely for purpose the of suing alleged called a company In 2006, infringers. claimed that the maker of the NTP Inc. in Research BlackBerry mobile phone, of NTP’s was infringing one on Motion, paid NTP in Motion Research patents. court A a $613 million licensing fee. patent, subsequently NTP’s invalidated kept the fee anyway. but the company too radical If that’s a scrap patents entirely. their num they limiting suggest solution, free a reform that would ber and duration, “The morass. today’s from competitors thelimit to way a as systempatent arose to monopolies to award of royalty power the authors observe. individuals,” favored “its primary they conclude, “Butnow,” effect but stagnant is to encourage large blockto incumbent firms andinnovation inhibit competition.”
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------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The authors tested their theory by When they graphed the data on Thanks to the path taken by the ear the path taken by Thanks to liest humans out of Africa, Asian and out of Africa, liest humans that developed populations European humanity’s from at least 3,000 miles birthplace diversity hit the spot. sweet of diversity degree “the low In contrast, American populations Native among of diversity among and the high degree African been det have populations rimental of development in the forces Ashraf and Galor write. these regions,” comparing diversity genetic in select level of countries with these countries’ before in 1500, development economic and indus the influence of colonialism and again in 2000. trialization was felt, They density used population as a proxy surveying 21 coun in 1500, for wealth they expanded the sam 2000, For tries. ple to include 145 countries and gauged per capita. the basis of income on wealth they diversity, genetic against wealth the In 1500, found what they expected. at an intermediate distance from regions East Africa—Europe and Asia—en highest rates the development. of joyed of the spectrum, low genetic diversity genetic low spectrum, of the high levels trust of public promotes and pool gene the Yet efficiency. economic does not vary enough to kick develop ment into high gear. ment into - - - -
But heterozygosity with trad comes This made all the difference. Societ allthe difference. made This eoffs. Kin selection theory Kin selection suggests eoffs. closelythat the more people are related likely to the more they are genetically, di More cooperate another. with one While versity equals less cooperation. spurring innovation and production, “raises diversity genetic simultaneously the likelihood of disarray and mistrust, cooperation and disruptingreducing the On the other end order.” socioeconomic ies flourish when their populations have ies flourish have their populations when not but diversity, genetic just enough genetic gauge (Geneticists too much. heterozygosity,” “expected diversity with two that likelihood the which measures a say, will have, people within a group other color or some in eye difference heritable trait.) Genetically so diverse likely newup cook more to are cieties people with varyingtechnologies; traits in specialties and work develop different complementary ways. but not too much. Societies flourish when when Societies flourish their populations have just enough genetic diversity when humans trekked to the Americas. humans trekked when
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THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Ashraf and Galor also calculated a Ethiopia, where the first modern modern the first where Ethiopia, came that The nation closest to the theoretical “optimum” level of genetic level of genetic “optimum” theoretical diversity at which a country be would level The optimum most likelythrive. to was markedly higher in 2000 than it was After the Industrial Revolution, in 1500. “the beneficial the authors hypothesize, diversity with greater associated forces became in an environment intensified characterized rapid technologi more by humans emerged 150,000 years ago, ago, years 150,000 emerged humans spectrum. other end of the lies at the diversity genetic has led extreme There, - in hetero A drop to crippling poverty. zygosity point percentage of just one in bump 21 percent in a result would the contemporary per capita, income authors found. cal progress.” ideal level of post-industrial di- genetic Ashrafto Galor’s and versity? According it was the United States. calculations, In Ethiopia, extreme In Ethiopia, extreme has genetic diversity poverty. led to crippling ------, Jared Diamond Diamond Jared , Ashraf and Galor aren’t the first to the first Ashraf and Galor aren’t devel between But the correlation opment and genetic diversity and genetic is much opment considered Of the 145 nations stronger. of one Bolivia, in the 2000 comparison, the was countries, poorer world’s the The au most genetically homogenous. level of calculatedthors Bolivia’s if that percent just one diversity genetic were capita per its current point higher, age greater. be 41 percent would income African and American populations AfricanAmerican and populations pat The areas. boom the behind lagged tern of per in the comparison persisted capita of 145 countries incomes in 2000, im countrieswith large of consisting such as the United migrant populations, the advan joining States and Canada, group. taged disparities modern connect wealth to In his 1997 bestseller events. long-ago and Steel Germs, Guns, societies blessed by argued that ancient fortune good decisive a geographic had they adopted competitors; leg up on cement- agriculture earlier, domestic has persisted into that ing dominance Ashraf and Galor contemporary times. for agriculturalof timing the accounted calculationstheir in and found adoption idea. support for Diamond’s
IN ESSENCE ECONOMICS, LABOR & BUSINESS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY There’s one problem: Kids don’t Kids don’t problem: one There’s dergraduates with financial support support with financial dergraduates likely more are and dad mom from ac grades slip, than others to let their a soci- Hamilton, T. to Lauracording ologist at the University of California, Merced. hope is that youngsters will repay their their will repay is that youngsters hope campus on and work hard with parents in stead good in them puts that degree a world.the working un In fact, whole bargain. the fulfill “More Is More or More Is Less? Parental Financial More Is Less? Parental Financial “More Is More or
SOCIETY SOCIETY Investments During College” by Laura T. Hamilton, in American Hamilton, College” by Laura T. Investments During Sociological Review, Jan. 3, 2013. IMAGE SOURCE / CORBIS Did you guys study for the chemistry final? Me neither. MOST MIDDLE-CLASS AMERICANS WANT AMERICANS WANT MOST MIDDLE-CLASS set Parents college. their kids to attend aside what money they can fat to pay The bills time comes. tuition when the THE SOURCE: WHY HAVING JOHNNY IS FUN? SO MUCH
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- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Parents recoup their investment in in their investment recoup Parents Why these contradictory in trends Do grades alwaysDo grades some sag when one else foots the bill? Hamilton foots else the bill?one Hamilton actually higher edge GPAs notes that scholarship or on are students when probably because these grants, rely on forms with perfor of assistance come - pro Work-study mance requirements. grades, on an impact have grams don’t she found. they The more crucialone respect. the less likely are their children pay, cites a survey Hamilton out. to drop attended col- who students 3,810 of in which 1990 and 1994, between lege it was found that undergraduates who their parents no help from received chance of graduating. a 56 percent had probabilityThat 62 percent to jumped a $4,000 yearly provided if parents subsidy and began to plateau at 65 in cases percent in which they wrote a $12,000 check. When and graduation? grades they have students engage less skin in the game, “satisficing”: callsin what Hamilton Rather than maximize the odds of an the books, hitting by outstanding GPA dedicate time to students average more lest they miss out on social activities, future—and mom and dad might cover might cover and dad mom future—and it anyway.
- Students loans also who take out The impact of financial help varied help varied of financial The impact Drawingsurvey1993 a on col of The more money students received from their parents, the further their grades slipped. find their grades heading south. Like south. their grades heading find loans seem parents, help from financial The strings with no to come attached. far in the looms of repayment day lege seniors, she found that a $16,000 she found$16,000 that a seniors, lege subsidy everyparental pushed the year grade point average student’s average 3.0—the B considered below (GPA) graduate many by minimum the bare schoolsemployers. and of Children family level. by income affluent families earned higher grades the sharpto begin with but exhibited - A subsidies. to response downward est family a low-income $2,000 subsidy by But virtuallyhad grades. on no impact clear pattern one remained throughout: students received money The more the further their their parents, from of About 43 percent grades slipped. help no financial the students received their folks. from
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THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Neighborhood Effects on the Long-Term Well-Being Well-Being Long-Term the on Effects “Neighborhood
Moving to Opportunity didn’t have have Moving to Opportunity didn’t During the 1990s, a federal program During the 1990s, holds in high-poverty city neighbor apart them to find hoods that allowed than 10 years More ments in better areas. of law and a professor Jens Ludwig, later, went policy at the University of Chicago, back out how with six colleagues to find participantsthe program fared. had Lud hoped. had the effects its creators wig and his colleagues found that the participants—about actu half of whom ally of the vouchers— advantage took self- “economic in no increase enjoyed with a control compared sufficiency” in improvement was some There group. “broad index of physical health mea a but not enough to be statistically sures,” WHAT IF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN AMERICA’S IF THE PEOPLE LIVING IN AMERICA’S WHAT most impoverishedghettos could be - neighbor better to masse en moved environ favorable a more Would hoods? A new their lives? study ment improve surprising some suggests answers. called Moving to Opportunity offered house 4,600 to some housing vouchers ESCAPING THE GHETTO THESOURCE: of Low-Income Adults” by Jens Ludwig, Greg J. Duncan, Lisa A. by Jens Ludwig, Greg J. of Low-Income Adults” Jeffrey R. Kling, Ronald C. Kessler, Katz, F. Gennetian, Lawrence in Science, Sept. 21, 2012. and Lisa Sanbonmatsu, - - - n In the past, students and their fam- students and In the past, pick of modest means can’t Families Whether educationcollege is being what they’re told are “the best years of of best years “the told are they’re what American that wonder Little life.” your dedicatecollege students a paltry 28 to classhours a week and studying— fewer than high school hours students a week spending 41 hours do—while out and hanging the quad chatting on with friends. for the with college pay might ilies federalthe gov granta of help from likely is more that aid Now ernment. in the formto come of a federal loan. State local and subsidies to universi tuition and dryingalso are ties up, keeps rising. prob which to bigger leads up the slack, “Disparities in the ability to fund lems. of be one life may stage a young-adult the central which mechanisms through class reproduced,” inequalities are writes. Hamilton loans or money student by financed need to parents and dad, mom from their kids when they’re on keep an eye “Students with parental off at school. support best described as staying are out of serious but academic trouble academic efforts,” their dialing down observes. Hamilton
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n ------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “The Mixed News on Poverty” by Anirudh Krishna, in
Is increasing people’s happiness a a happiness people’s increasing Is That reduction resulted mostly resulted from That reduction Current History, Jan. 2013. certain areas. And Ludwig And col and his certain areas. segre income that it is discovered leagues levels of for accounts the lower that gation The the poor. among well-being subjective Moving to Opportunity beneficiaries who to less racially way their made segregated but otherwise neighborhoods similar reported no rise in their level of happi- who to those went all the benefits ness; poverty where moved was less prevalent. policy? of government legitimate goal Ludwig and his colleagues recast the is that seek to ame “Policies sue this way: effects of dangerous, liorate the adverse poor fami neighborhoods on distressed of careful consideration.” worthy lies are PREVENTING POVERTY THE SOURCE: STRONG A WORD IS NOT TOO “SPECTACULAR” in povertyto describe the reduction the worldaround during the past quarter- world 1981 and 2005, Between century. The quadrupled. product domestic gross liv of the global population percentage half. fell less than $1.25 ing on by inand liftedbeing people poverty, of out storythe where that’s mind, popular the of the One-third But it doesn’t. ends.
- - - That’s not all the authors found. While not all found. the authors That’s By one measure, however, moving out however, measure, By one borhoods had annual incomes averagingborhoods annual incomes had but they reported levels of only $20,000, with those of people a par happiness on not It’s $33,000. of about with incomes of the people who Many to see why: hard up for Moving to Opportunitysigned their was said that an important reason to escape desire gang violence and drugs. decliningis segregation racial America, in with the rise, is on segregation income poor people increasingly concentrated in went to neighborhoods onlywent somewhat they better off than the ones left behind poor). were (in which half the residents of their old neigh out Those who got after they moved. This was true even if they after they moved. nificant” increase in mental health. increase nificant” happi a worldand up made of difference: of those well-being” “subjective The ness. a by measured who used the vouchers, soared survey carried the researchers out, significant. There was a “marginally sig “marginally a was There significant. - neigh a better to Moving poor didn’t make borhood or much healthier people it did make but wealthier, them happier.
IN ESSENCE SOCIETY - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Rapid economic growth is essential toRapid growth economic Affordable and accessible health care is and accessible Affordable than 30 percent more By comparison, erty. Medical care is more expensive and Medical expensive care is more erty. parts than in poorer there less efficient the state’s time, the same At of India. under- has growth economic booming social safetymined the traditional nets of When getpeople familycommunity. and is no one there sick fall and into poverty, to catchthere them. improve as are of poverty, the reduction ments in education and other targeted mobility, efforts upward to promote that poverty adding Krishna concludes, should be the next big issue prevention policymakers. the world’s taken up by one-fifthfamily of can income be lost $1.27 Living on during a major illness. suddenly barelya day on living becomes than a dollar a day. more Krishna povertykey to future reduction, an early postwar adopter Japan, argues. has just a two health care, of universal Sweden and other povertypercent rate. states yield lessons. similar welfare robust Gujarat of of the population in pov lives One-third of the world’s the world’s of One-third not born in poor were it. They fell into poverty. - - - - New policies need to be preventive— New policies Krishna and his colleagues isolated one “mar only made Those who have ginal escapes” from poverty from especially are ginal escapes” The near poor—maids worth targeting. for example—may and pushcart vendors, but it depends on income, a steady have toUp every work to up showing day. world’s poor were not born in poverty. born not in poverty. poor were world’s They fell it. into of people stemming the flow focused on argues ranks the into newly of the poor, a public policy profes Anirudh Krishna, and several He colleagues sor at Duke. surveyed than 35,000 households more the and India, Peru, Kenya, in Uganda, United States period a nine-year over is sticky. they found, Poverty, (2001–10). Sixty fallen of those who had percent theyinto poverty before years 15 or more surveyed still poor. were were In the medical the cost of care. reason: of the 88 percent Indian state of Gujarat, households that slipped into poverty at tributed their plight to health care costs. man told of losing his wife to A Peruvian “I sell to was obliged my uterine cancer: and I and donkeys, oxen, cows, animals, forcare to order in debt into went also not justIt’s to bury her.” and later, her, Medicalexpenses the developing world: than half of all to blame for per more are bankruptciessonal in the United States.
IN ESSENCE SOCIETY - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ries of Jewish flourishing. The temple’s temple’s The riesJewish of flourishing. destruction shifted within Juda power the high priests gov had who ism from erned life temple to the widely scattered scholars devoted to rabbisreligious and every Henceforth, Torah. studying the upstanding Jewish learn to would man the scholarly authorities Torah, the read unknowingly of centu the seeds planted -
Reform Judaism, Spring 2013. “Were the Jews Moneylenders Out of Necessity?” by by Moneylenders Out of Necessity?” the Jews “Were
RELIGION & PHILOSOPHY RELIGION In this 15th-century German print, rabbis read from the Haggadah, the tale of the Exodus that Jews consult the Haggadah, the tale of the Exodus that Jews consult In this 15th-century German print, rabbis read from early theological shift that required all Jewish males to study the an to Thanks at the beginning of Passover. literacy spread among Jews long before it did among Christians and Muslims. central texts called the Torah, THE GRANGER COLLECTION, NYC salem’s Second Temple in AD 70, they in AD 70, Temple Second salem’s THE SOURCE: and Zvi Eckstein, in Maristella Botticini WHEN ROMAN JERU SOLDIERS DESTROYED THE JEWISH JEWISH THE START HEAD
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THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Conventional wisdom holds that holds that wisdom Conventional Wherever the Jews went, they had a they had Wherever the Jews went, (Hebrew) while learning the local lan- in which places of the different guages they And could broker they dwelled.” than just a handshake. deals with more with coreligion Jews agreements made in Jewishists based on law codified the Talmud. in moneylending role prominent Jews’ the Christian church’s from resulted lending money at inter on prohibition other fields exclusion from est and Jews’ and write contracts, business letters, and business letters, and write contracts, alphabet using a common books account Making literacy a religious Making literacy millennium norm in the first of Jewish led to centuries and economic success intellectual prominence. “They could read competitors. leg up on Empire to engage in myriad engage to skilledEmpire occu and they manufactured There, pations.” money, changed and lent traded wares, Opportunity as physicians. and worked especially and Asia, to Africa, them took commerce and trade where Europe, to century. in the 10th began to revive - - - - By learning to read and write, Jews Jews write, and By learningto read it cost new requirements Judaism’s But the literate Jews soon who endured towns of the newlytowns established Abbasid prospered. After the birth of Islam in prospered. caliphsMuslim the sevenththe century, boosting urbaniza built a vast empire, Botticini and trade. manufactures, tion, all the “almost and Eckstein note that Jews in Mesopotamia and Persia— nearlyworldof percent Jewry—left 75 and to the cities agriculture and moved dearly at first. Jewish farmers Near in the dearly at first. neither the money to learn to East had After use for nor much the skill. read Temple, the destruction of the Second to Christianity converted some and re other faiths that imposed no reading quirement, helping to reduce the Jewish helping to reduce quirement, and sixth the third between population centuries AD. ruled, and Jewish and send would families ruled, school. to sons their transformed themselves into market in a largelyable assets illiterate world. at economist an Maristella Botticini, and Zvi in Milan, Bocconi Università Uni Aviv Tel at an economist Eckstein, that these skills say led the Jews versity, carveto lasting nicheout a in finance, them and business that brought trade, and carriedwealth them to the ends of the earth.
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- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n converted to Islam and others left, and left, others and Islam to converted depleted in Jewishagain were numbers centuries two of In Europe, the region. in 1290 beginning intermittentpogroms France, England, sent Jews from fleeing they sur Yet and Portugal. Spain, Italy, “An in other lands. and prospered vived normapparently odd choice of religious turned out . . millennium . in the first to be the lever of the Jewish economic success and intellectual prominence to come.” - But Jewish livelihoods were fragile. fragile. But Jewish were livelihoods by guilds. But Botticini and Eckstein and Botticini But guilds. by both Jewishpredated say involvement risethe and ban the of enforcement the Jews a century by of the guilds or more. advantage competitive a simply enjoyed in the field. sacked the invaders Mongol In 1258, Bagh capitalEmpire, Abbasid the of of the empire much subsequently, dad; gradually reverted to subsistence agricul- Some Jews times who fell hard on ture.
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- THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In the 19th century, the American In the 19th century, sippi Delta came from traveling Native Native traveling came Delta sippi from - the pro Tracing musicians. Hawaiian writes liferationtheir playing of style, historian a Universitythe at Troutman, of Louisiana weekend and at Lafayette again underlines once just steel guitarist, have groups ethnic and racial many how shaped southern culture. South a number of of was just one Lei and steel: The Hamakua Singers and Players, above, and other tour COURTESY OF REDPATH CHAUTAUQUA COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY IOWA LIBRARIES, IOWA CIY,IOWA LIBRARIES, IOWA COLLEGE, UNIVERSITY IOWA CHAUTAUQUA OF REDPATH COURTESY ing Hawaiian acts captivated American audiences—and musicians—in theing Hawaiian acts captivated American audiences—and new sound guitarists1910s and ’20s. Part of their appeal was the riveting sliding a steel overproduced by laying the instrument flat on their laps and slide guitar. the frets, a technique that evolved into the blues’ distinctive - “Steelin’ the Slide: Hawai‘i and the Birth of the Blues Hawai‘i and the Birth of the Blues “Steelin’ the Slide:
Scholars have mostly Scholars mostly have AR BLUES PROPHET ROBERT JOHNSON (1911– ROBERT BLUES PROPHET 38) and other early blues guitarists captivated a new listeners with of way Sliding a steel playing their instrument. object bar or other hard the stringsover to change they cre pitch, the guitar’s ated a sound eerily like that or singing of a weeping Later blues human voice. such asand rock musicians (1915–83) Muddy Waters 1949) Raittand Bonnie (b. furtherwould improvise the sound. on that the slide styleagreed directlyby was influenced or “jit the “diddley - bow” a single-stringed ter-bug,” instrument they was say carried to America by The African slaves. West W. John likelymore story, is that argues, Troutman the musical technique popularized in the Missis- THE SOURCE: LETTERS TS & BLUE HAWAII , Spring 2013. in Southern Cultures Troutman, Guitar” by John W.
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- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Kekuku taught other islanders to to other islanders Kekuku taught newspaper clippings, Oral testimony, effect, as described by all who first heard heard all as described first who by effect, It says. Troutman was transcendent,” it, revolutionized every“sonically musi in Vaulted . . . cal it touched. tradition servingstatus from as a typically rhyth instrument accompanying to that mic, dynamic and melodic, more of a much would the guitar instrument, or lead, never be the same.” leftthen and per- to did, he as play touring North Amer form elsewhere, ica for an eventual three and Europe Native of many He was one decades. Hawaiians who left their homeland Marines after U.S. 1893—the year overthrew and ended government the Hawaiian self-rule—more than a few of them carrying guitars and igniting a steel-slide craze they went. wherever music In American sales of recorded topped tunes guitar Hawaiian 1916, in all other genres. and other evidence that Hawaiian show southern cities frequented musicians to Mem Arkansas, Fayetteville, from “working every to New Orleans, phis, the and holler along nook, small town, They collaborated sometimes with way.” Pichon “Fats” Walter black musicians. OrleansNew a singer jazz (1906?–67), Hawaiian guitarist hired and pianist,
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A few decades after gui- the first The Hawaiian guitar The Hawaiian guitar “sonically revolutionized every musical tradition it touched.” it touched.” Joseph the islands, in appeared tar Hawai a Native Kekuku (1874–1932), instru flipped his own ian youngster, his lap and played ment to lie flat on it with a piece of metal he slid across Over the next seven years the strings. style the lap-steel he honed and hacked raising it, his guitar to accommodate “The fretboard. the stringsthe from regions around the worldaround experienc regions a Half of newcomers. influx ing an harbor Honolulu received world away, whalers, “sailors, of stream steady a entrepre missionaries, merchants, distant lands from and laborers neurs, Portugal, such United States, as the as cowboys as well Japan,” and Mexico, Latin America in to from brought With allforeign these wranglecattle. ers also arrived—in the early 1800s, and likely via Mexico—the Spanish which quickly caught as an on guitar, to the local hula song accompaniment and dance.
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, - - Aeon Magazine
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Britannica advertisement , Magazine The Philosopher’s “Bibliocide” by Julian Baggini, in “Bibliocide” by Julian
And what a fine one it is: 44 million 44 million it is: one what a fine And Baggini acted partly out of necessity. partlyBaggini acted out of necessity. heyday, advertisers insisted that the advertisers insisted that the heyday, invaluable, was Britannica Encyclopedia should “You especially minds. for young tools for child as many success your give a as possible,” in a British newspaper in 1983. advised “Especially a fine encyclopedia.” all the world’s 30,000 pages, words, to the aardvark topics from on knowledge found Julian Baggini, Zoroastrianism. of editor ing and a celebration of als they represented, was lucky enough to own all 32 volumes. luckywas all 32 volumes. own to enough to burnThen he resolved them. for hulking the no room He could find four which pounds weighed volumes, and secondhand schools, Libraries, each. booksellers evinced in them. no interest to relegated Eventually were the books where kept outside, plastic storage boxes Baggini they attracted mold and muck. could end decided that only a bonfire “both waterlogged suffering, the books’ ide to mourn the positive a funeral pyre March 6, 2013. BURNING THEBURNING BRITANNICA THE SOURCE: IN ITS ENCYCLOPEDIA WORTH? IS AN WHAT ------n “Most of the earliest documented “King” Bennie Nawahi (1899–1985) (1899–1985) Nawahi Bennie “King” Louis for instance. him, to accompany guitar Hawaiian featured Armstrong in Racial segregation track. a 1930 on the South likely the islanders’ increased since with black Americans, contact hous boarding shared have they would nonwhite other with restaurants es and entertainers. traveling and African-American slide guitarists, under- certainly most significant, the ‘Hastood their styleplayingof that as even notes, Troutman waiian guitar,’” as they perfected techniques. their own up in to Hawaii showed References “Hawai titles (“Bluesong Hawaii,” blues and some Blues”), ian Harmony such Ledbetter as Huddie musicians, as Lead better known (1888–1949), Hawaiian dit Native played Belly, an interviewer, shop with Talking ties. a popular blues guitarist Red, Tampa recalled achiev ’30s, of the 1920s and while using a “Hawaiian effect” ing a In another inter bottleneck as a slide. House “Son” Eddie blues legend view, learning first remembered (1902?–88) not the did guitar, Hawaiian to play dley bow—indicating that American rather than ancient African pop culture musical his in say the greater had roots development.
IN ESSENCE ARTS & LETTERS - - n - Britan THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY It’s different these days. Even Even these days. different It’s did have printThe 32-volume version nt encyclopedias were were Print encyclopedias of an era in products a select few served which gatekeepers and as the guardians of knowledge. and guardians of knowledge. of and guardians nica offers vast bodies of information Monthly to a access price: at a fire-sale corpus starts at Web constantly updated Encyclopedia Britannica In 2012, $1.99. announced that the print encyclo Inc. out. phased be pedia would set a solid stan It a major advantage: however of legitimate knowledge, dard which to say “It’s hard rigidand ossified. excessive “an Baggini writes, is worse,” to a smalldeference cultural elite or a hubbub of cyberchatter in which every- feelsone not only entitled to an opinion but to a grateful audience for it.”
has fallen. In the has fallen. Britannica Britannica admen convinced buyers that buyers convinced admen Decades ago the books were sold as a were Decades the books ago encyclopediasPrint themselves had In reality, kids seldom consulted the consulted kids seldom In reality, How far the How 20th century, British families frequently 20th century, funds Using copies. the bank to own broke normallyfor earmarked tellya sofaa or working-class door- households paid set, to-door salesmen on installment—known on to-door salesmen “never-never.” in English slang as the modern but minds, young tool to enlarge Britannica “would Parents imposing volumes. off spending half that been better have with beginnings, books money or less on might children that ends and middles, actually read.” A fair portion of their undeniable flaws. and was instantlycontents obsolete, era of an in which products they were a select few served as the gatekeepers owning an encyclopediaowning ensure would The worldly success for their children. “the Britannicaspin doctors called it Advantage.” the good things that superseded them.” that superseded things the good
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- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Kingsnorth with the early identifies of conservation. Early greens air-quotedof conservation. corporate spivs for whom ‘sustainability’ ‘sustainability’ corporate spivs for whom opportunity another is just forselling nastya seeing - are re greens the things, all Despite their work, alization dawn: and the commitment, their their passion, been most of what they that have fact sayingbeen broadly has right—they are losing.” losing.” are green movement, whichwild na that held movement, green was intrinsicallyture and worthy valuable “Dark Ecology” by Paul Kingsnorth, in Orion, Jan.– “Dark Ecology” by
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY SCIENCE Worth preserving: While some modern environmentalists preach the gospel of “managing” nature and us modern environmentalists preach the gospel of “managing” preserving: While some Worth STUART WESTMORLAND / SCIENCE FACTION / CORBIS WESTMORLAND / SCIENCE FACTION STUART THE ENVIRONMENTALIST MOVEMENT, WRITES WRITES MOVEMENT, THE ENVIRONMENTALIST is Kingsnorth, journalist and poet Paul a rising movement by “Assailed in crisis: with public boredom and by ‘skeptics’ of about carbon- being hectored and con of a new colonized breed by sumption, THE SOURCE: DARK GREEN Feb. 2013. ing it for human betterment, committed greens champion conservation of wild nature for its own sake. The conservation of wild nature for its own sake. The ing it for human betterment, committed greens champion own, they say. horned frog of the Amazon jungle has value all its
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- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Mainstream greens dismiss limiting dismiss limiting greens Mainstream Attempts to do so, Kingsnorth predicts, Kingsnorth predicts, to do so, Attempts It is just this kind of exchange that this kind of exchange It is just ing.” Kareiva believes that development, Kareiva believes that development, ing.” even that which levels Amazonian rain can and that nature is inevitable, forests, The natural world must and will adapt. be managed. and its machinery;consumption more bio technological (nuclear fixes energy, the etc.), geoengineering, technology, ills any previous will cure thinking goes, - Neo-envi wrought. technologies have types charge Greenpeace ronmentalists with trying Kingsnorth to—here quotes the PR blurb for a pop conservationist’s in its pristine, nature book—“preserve a straw man, But that’s state.” prehuman Intelligent environmentalists he says. always have partas humans seen of Their point has been most ecosystems. and that humans should not dominate they inhabit. the realms control - envi embodies the new of breed vancy, scientific “emphasize who ronmentalists analysis economic and measurement other waysover of seeing and measur engines, they should things that the lost engines, individual: to a human valuable be most Control.” Freedom. Autonomy. Kingsnorth as neo-environmentalists, Kareiva, Peter embraced. have callsthem, Conser chiefNature the of scientist
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eo-environmentalists eo-environmentalists Kingsnorth considers the scythe, Kingsnorth the scythe, considers a simple, ancient instrument he uses a simple, the grass his propertyon to mow in thinkers “It’s what the green England. ‘appropri of the 1970s used to call an ate technology’—a phrase that I would what the to see resurrected—and love unjustly Ivan Il philosopher neglected - Il ‘tool for conviviality.’” lich called a Kingsnorthnotes, lich (1926–2002), contrasted such tools with technologies dependency; they took “created that out of the hands of tools and processes individuals and put them into the meta The phorical hands of organizations. poverty,’ ‘modernized was oftenresult in which human individuals became the equivalent of parts in a machine rather In of a tool. and users the owners than forexchange flashing lights and throbbing N of conservation. the word “progress,” believing many that “progress,” the word “hu- technologies threatened advanced ways of life.” vernacular man-scale, idea that wild reject the nature is intrinsically worthy valuable and
IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - n - The Chronicle THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “Power of Suggestion” by Tom Bartlett, in “Power of Suggestion” by Tom
You’ve just experienced the “professor “professor just experienced the You’ve Review, Jan. 30, 2013. THE SOURCE: IMAGINE THE LIFE OF A COLLEGE PROFES days with books, filled sor—a home Now with eruditefilled conversation. “What this: answer is the capital of Bangladesh?” an example of a phenomenon It’s prime.” callthat social psychologists behavioral in which subtle cues—pictures, priming, affect be words—subconsciously ideas, to think about “primed” If you’re havior. smarter— become you then professor, a RUMBLE OVER PRIMING what he calls a “personal philosophy for philosophy “personal he callswhat a Its practices ecology.” dark a time: a dark “veryinclude a practical ancient and the withdrawing from spiritual tradition: - and reexami and into meditation fray” “insisting that He recommends nation. and utility,” has a value beyond nature albeit preserving life, plant and animal such as allowing a garden in small ways, Engaging in physical labor to run wild. convivial will vernacular, help us relearn like the act, or think, “Can you skills. librarian of a monastery the through the old “guarding he asks, Ages,” Dark rise falland empires as outside?” books
- revolution. tio eliminatio societ 4. 2. 3 1. us to ine nologic Kingsnorth uneasily the discovers Kingsnorth violent not condone does dedicated tothe nary movement, n oftechnological society. defense lineof against first y’s What isanew isneeded revolu- Only thecollapse ofmodern tech- The political Left istechnological . al civilization can avert disaster. iscarrying progress Technological vitable disaster. will be severely checked. Early hunter- willseverely be checked. markedly enjoyed health better gatherers later agricultural than lives - and longer humans only turned farming to ists; hunting technology their once became which and the animals on too advanced, to extinction. hunted they fed were that the Now “So for progress.” much world threatens population growing the latest to outstrip its food supply, in will, genetically foods, modified fix, bring new a host of view, Kingsnorth’s problems. writingsTheodore of “Unabomber” Harvard mathematician Kaczynski, turned society turned ecoter dropout Kaczynski’s be eerily to prescient. rorist, four on points: premised arguments were revolution. He has, however, developed however, He has, revolution.
IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY It was smashing stuff. Bargh became a It was smashing stuff. His repu a pariah. Bargh is But now tation took a huge hit last year when when year last hit a huge took tation stopwatches with scientists replaced his experiand redid sensors infrared foundsub that researchers The ment. associ the words jects who rearranged more any walk didn’t ated with old age (Previ group. slowly than the control also other researchers ous attempts by But results.) failed to replicate Bargh’s then the scientists reverted to Bargh’s using stopwatches operated method, thus opening the researchers—and by This time the door to potential bias. returned. walker phenomenon slow rock star in social psychology. Sensational rock star in social psychology. other psychologists priming studies by “The American flag makes followed. Bartlett recounts. Republican,” vote you impatient.” make you logos “Fast-food age, the group that had rearranged those rearranged had that group the age, slowly the other than more walked words them act made a page on “Words group. Bartlett explains. old,” Does hearing words such such words Does hearing “Florida,” as “wrinkles,” subjects and “alone” make people? walk like old ------. It captured ChronicleThe . In the 1990s and 2000s, priming was and 2000s, In the 1990s Skeptics have a problem. But there’s The granddaddy of priming research and more likely to dredge up the fact up the fact likely and more to dredge capital is the Dhaka that of Bangla the life of a soc Contemplating desh. makes the other hand, on cer hooligan, denser. you a se Bartlett, Tom explains all the rage, nior writer at colm Gladwell. tryingbeen priming the to reproduce as Bartlett “replicators,” The findings. the Are luck. any had haven’t calls them, bogus? findings pub study, walker” “slow was the famed - a psycholo Bargh, John lished in 1996 by Bargh asked undergraduates Yale. gist at University to form sentenc York at New It appeared of words. es out of a group In reality, random. were that the words words of subjects considered group one “bitter,” such as lonelyevoking old age, and “bingo.” “alone,” “Florida,” “wrinkles,” that had words rearranged group Another When experiment the seemed no theme. to leave directed the subjects were to end, with hid Researchers a hallway. down it took long den stopwatches timed how The result: them to walk the distance. On aver rubbedThe geriatric off. words headlines, as well as the imaginations of as the imaginations as well headlines, superstar science writers such as Mal
IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY “I’m Waiting for My UPS Man” by Ned Beauman, in “I’m Waiting
- To University a of Gary Latham, be arriving may too research Latham’s Bargh and his allies, a minority camp, minority a camp, allies, and his Bargh con either are that the replicators insist ducting their experimentsducting their with insuf priming the know care or don’t ficient up their throw The replicators literature. What can do? we more ask, hands and fully organizational psychologist, ronto He doubter camp. expected to join the assistant performed and a research a series of experiments people’s testing Lo to pictures. reactions subconscious evidence of he found strong and behold, [sets of ex more two “I’ve got priming. just mind-blowing,” periments] that are Latham gushed to Bartlett. priming—or Bargh. late to resurrect says an the London professor, Shanks, on is of failed replications” “avalanche and defiant, But Bargh remains the way. like “I’m Lathamwhy. understands now Bartlett. told he Christian,” converted a and “I started out as a devout atheist, a believer.” I’m now n+1, Feb. 18, 2013. LET’S SAY YOU WAKE UP TOMORROW MORN- TOMORROW UP WAKE YOU SAY LET’S hit Don’t ing with a hankering for heroin. Stay to and log on at home the streets. ECSTASYDOT COM THE SOURCE: - - - - - Thinking, Fast Fast Thinking, The e-mail didn’t accomplish much. much. accomplish The e-mail didn’t The “professor prime” hasn’t fared fared hasn’t prime” “professor The In back at the naysayers. Bargh fired a win Daniel Kahneman, Princeton’s and Slow, Kahneman writes flatteringlyand Slow, research.) of Bargh’s ner of the Nobel Prize and an éminence ner of the Nobel watched griseof academic psychology, all this unfold and decided to inter In a stern e-mail to the priming vene. he wrote of including Bargh, big shots, in social psy “trainwreck looming” a col- should “Ibelieve you that chology. lectively about this mess,” do something beseeching of the advocates he warned, primingreplicators. the with engage to (In his best-selling book well, either. David Shanks, a psychology Shanks, David either. well, at Universityprofessor London, College the original ex to reproduce attempted published were whose results periment, Dutchin 1998 by Dijkster Ap professor Shanks tried the experiment nine huis. between foundand times correlation no and subjects’ thinking about professors So for much performance trivia on tests. the capitalknowing of Bangladesh. he which he later removed, blog posts, “incompetent or ill-informed blasted the sensor infrared behind the researchers” They the experiment conducted study. work,” “It still didn’t time. a second Bartlett reports.
IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Such mystery doubly are mixtures Forum denizens never waver from the denizens from never waver Forum of Chinese pro network The shadowy Still have that heroin hankering? For Still hankering? For that heroin have ducers that supply the retail sites play aducers that supply sites play the retail pharmacological cat-and-mouse game the mak 2009, In with law enforcement. a substitute mephedrone, ers introduced After me- for the hallucinogen Ecstasy. authori caused several deaths, phedrone Manufacturers the drug. ties outlawed their recipes, tweaking by responded have in a pinch of this or that ingre throwing In the case new. something create to dient of“dozens Beauman says of mephedrone, still count as legal highs.” its relatives The drug sites boast forbad customers. smooth user interfaces and provide ers “are evidently trained chemists, while evidently trained chemists, “are ers autodidacts,” enthusiastic are the rest talk is much there “so Beauman reports, as and chiral centers, isomers, of moieties, the best cheap as debate about well mi scales.”crogram lots of information in to exchange mission: “These pursuit of drug-induced pleasure. forums antidrug do what no government campaign has ever been able to accom drugs Theyboring.”hard make seem plish: the intrepid—or desperate—drug user, desperate—drugthe intrepid—or user, populated by boards Internet message walking drug encyclopedias can guide Someus of the the process. through you
- Trying the stuff amounts to a massiveto the stuff amounts Trying The Internet plays host to a zany drug Check the customer reviews. Carefully Check reviews. the customer bazaar that extends far beyond Silk Road, Silk bazaarbeyond far Road, extends that a British author Beauman, explains Ned hawk- But the and nonfiction. of novels if they peddled last long their ers wouldn’t The sites appear to in plain sight. goods or bath plant food, pool cleaners, vend most of them experi the drugs, And salts. opaque by go legal, mental and therefore methoxetamine, ethylphenidate, labels: pentedrone. knew what you “In the old days, gamble. to where know wanted but didn’t you you “In 2013, Beauman explains. it,” get can no idea almost anything but have get what it is.” In online drug bazaars, bazaars, In online drug any- you can buy almost no idea thing but have what it is. Silk Road, one of a handful of Web sites Web of of a handful one Silk Road, of most that sell a wide variety of drugs, China. them imported from an often in Bitcoin, given prices, compare no digital trail. currency that leaves online exactly to know expect what Just don’t ordering. you’re
IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY The wonder is that anybody would is that anybody would The wonder ordered 2C-B-fly from Haupt-RC,” Haupt-RC,” 2C-B-fly from ordered “then warned, administrator Web a man in A in danger.” life be may your Lab drug. the California died from also hal mislabeled “a it to be tests revealed various with mixed lethal . . . lucinogen impurities.” “Theeven try mystery an online drug. the best cus- can you merchants give but the one servicetomer in the world, is explain the effect do thing they can’t might of these drugs you much and how remember, because, want to swallow, onlythey’re selling plant food.” - - Beauman recounts an incident in an incident in Beauman recounts - re Westerners many but service, speedy portChinese knockoffs that the just are side The high is no good. The plain bad. debilitating ad And terrible. effects are explain would That candictions ensue. alwayssites be to seem Web the why slashing prices. Internet in which2009 22-year-old a forum as known user in Denmark Minimal died after 18 mil ingesting mysteryligrams of an online drug. of his stash some resold Minimal had forumThe customers. online other to have “If you posts. lit up with urgent
IN ESSENCE SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY - simit. But now THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But these days Turks hunger for more for more hunger Turks daysBut these ori geographic Though the simit’s ) ( ) and simit makers simit-ustasi simitçi gins are unclear—possibleare gins birthplaces include Central Asia and Armenia— bread the national enjoyed have Turks than their daily bread, says Alisa Roth, a saysRoth, Alisa dailytheir than bread, - Turk The City. writerYork based in New foreign is off and running, ish economy new arrived exotic with have companies of recapturing dreams Turkey and foods, of the Ottoman Empire. the greatness The country’s simit sellers traditional ( Willspoil all progress the left are fret: to appetite forold staple? an Turks’ . At all of hours At simit. “Simit: Turkey’s National Bread” by Alisa Roth, in National “Simit: Turkey’s
OTHER NA OTHER Gastronomica, Winter 2012. many Turks prefer Big Macs or buy the bagel-like pastries at Simit Palace, Turkey’s answer to Dunkin’ Donuts. prefer Big Macs or buy the bagel-like pastries at Simit Palace, Turkey’s many Turks NEIL FARRIN / JAI / CORBIS NEIL FARRIN national food, the Turkey’s market for corner on the to have a bakeries used Mom-and-pop WHETHER THEY ENJOY IT AT BREAKFAST, BREAKFAST, THEY ENJOY IT AT WHETHER have Turks or snack time, dinner, lunch, for the weakness a can buy the Istanbul residents the day, servedslather with a bread, bagel-shaped with street vendors from of mild cheese, even foot, men on tray-toting carts, The state-mandated Starbucks baristas. lira (roughly 55 cents). Turkish one price: THE SOURCE: TURKEY’S SOUL FOOD TIONS
IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Traditional simit baking is hard, low- baking is hard, simit Traditional Okutur claims simits that he rescued The bigger threat may be competition. be competition. may threat The bigger Turkish palates are being Turkish seduced by newcomers such as pizza and Big Macs. tional food which was disappearing,” he foodtional which was disappearing,” down, going “Simit sales were told Roth. was needed.” production hygienic more appeal its losing is that work prestige Nearly all of modernizes. Turkey as To migrants from bakers are Istanbul’s Aydın city provincial a the east. to kat, baker a second-generation Eryılmaz, from oblivion. “We have revived a tradi revived have “We oblivion. from deprive the simits of the crispinessthe deprive of simits the that Fortunately, appeal. to their is essential has been lax. enforcement by being seduced palates are Turkish suchnewcomers as pizza Macs. and Big is Simit there then SarayıAnd (Simit Haluk in 2002 by Founded Palace). the chain has tycoon, Turkish a Okutur, of version Turkish rapidly the become with simits—80 mil- Donuts, Dunkin’ Oku their centerpiece. year—as a lion than 200 stores, tur has opened more including branches and in Germany Saudi Arabia. - Every morning at Turkish mom-and- Turkish Every morning at simit is increasing But the traditional ly under attack. Motivated in part its by ly under attack. the Union, European the join to desire that all food has decreed government from be vended must the street sold on would That cartsclosedwith cases. glass for hundreds of years. Ottoman royals Ottoman royals of years. for hundreds developedtaste for a or the 16th it in It subsequently conquered 18th century. possibly as far as reaching the empire, the say some where Eastern Europe, birthsimit gave bagel. to the four simple bakers knead bakeries, pop water, yeast, dough: into ingredients the dough They work and flour. salt, and into rings, tie them into thin ropes, mulberrya in them dip syrup called simits which what gives is dut pekmez, them roll bakers The savorytheir flavor. shape them into seeds, sesame through brick and bake them in huge circles, shipped off to Then they’re ovens. - ven and countless street hotels, cafés, “Simits the meat of the poor,” are dors. named owner an Istanbul restaurant explained to Roth. Musa Dağdeviren prime Turkish lost on not point a It’s In his Erdogan. Tayyip minister Recep he burnished campaign, 2002 election - re of the people by as a man his image calling experiences selling his boyhood streets. simits in Istanbul’s
IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, in 2001, Taliban After the fall of the Some aid has lifted foreign families warns that the bustling metropolis, as as warns metropolis, the bustling that headed is urban as other well centers, “The aid boom collapse. for economic decadeof the past and has fueled wild providing without growth haphazard infrastructurethe forneeded last. to it spending was $15.7 total aid In 2010, in sizebillion—equivalent to the entire he writes. Afghan GDP,” and powerful, of the wealthy many warlords, them U.S.-backed among into Kabulswooped to grab choice lots. city’s of the estimated 70 percent An fortunate, not been so have residents living in illegally constructed dwellings. is water Sewage in open gutters, flows “the smoke and scarce and polluted, and coal, wood, burning scrap tires, from with along plastic garbage the air,” fills unemploy Youth exhaust. automotive ment is at 40 percent. Aikins cites and poverty. nomadism from technician the example of a computer They went a schoolteacher: and his wife, to owning begging for stale bread from after the with home job a a secured he the United Kingdom’s British Council, agency for international cultural rela struggling But above middle-class tions. families and even the foreign-educated contractors, “the businessmen, elite are
-
writer Matthieu Aikins writer Matthieu Aikins n , Feb. 2013. , “Kabubble” by Matthieu Aikins, in Harper’s
Prosperity has also yieldedhas also Prosperity artisanal predictions any venture Roth doesn’t HE SOURCE:HE PAST DOZEN YEARS, FOREIGN AID AID DOZEN YEARS, FOREIGN IN THE PAST has transformed Afghan cities into Kabul has seen its alone boomtowns. to about swelling double, population fourruralas million - migrants re and of previous wars stream turning refugees But Construction is everywhere. in. Kabul-based MELTDOWN KABUL IN T THE COMING who runs Tophane Simitçisiwith his Tophane runswho “get to daughters two wants his brother, educated so they can else.” something do Özdemir Mehmet sells sim his bakers. its to artists appreciate and others who “These business- ingredients. “organic” the simit business men who entered I can a brand,’” make simit ‘Oh, said, business, not it’s “[But] Roth. told he culture.” it’s but struggleabout the simit’s at home, of possibilities abroad. she sees a wealth tryingbeen has reclaimto its “Turkey as a global politicalOttoman role and “May - she concludes. leader,” economic be the simit will be the ambassador it needs.”
IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Before the aid dries up (foreign the aid driesBefore up (foreign Foreign and domestic agencies have agencies and domestic Foreign Local manufacturers can’t compete, compete, Localcan’t manufacturers cash of foreign The flood says: Aikins of skilled up the costs labor, “driven has inputs,” and other raw materials, land, “the localinflating the currency even as pushed policies open-border free-trade, and Afghan government the U.S. by vulnerable make producers technocrats” neigh- from to an influx of cheap goods boring countries. no commitments countries made have Afghanistan to willhave past 2015), policydevelop an economic tailored Aikins strengths. to maximizing its William of economist cites the work of the coun- student a longtime Byrd, encouraging who recommends try, farming, labor-intensive “high-value, such as drying the country’s grapes or cultivating into exportable raisins, The country is believed to saffron.” harbor reserves large of minerals and and Chinese and In stones, precious dian companies have invested billions billions invested have dian companies Resource-richpoor but them. mine to countries such as Afghanistan seldom of such operations, the profits retain however. greatly ex- would that plan a with up come install would and Kabul, pand overcrowded mountains, nearby dam in a hydroelectric - - - The nouveaux richesThe nouveaux do spend lavishly Mind-boggling quantities of Mind-boggling U.S. currency are exported from the country in hand- couriered packets and on shrink-wrapped pallets. in the capital, but even drib that money in the capital, Aikins notes the bles out of the country. a where halls, gaudy wedding many city’s family can $100,000 for plunk down an One boasts 62 food service work event. and a greenhouse wells, generators, ers, But the trappings, flowers. for growing come to décor, food ingredients from and China. Iran, Pakistan, nearby from and warlords who have made millions and warlords made who have into the flowing of money torrent off the They’ve stashed most of their . . . country. quantities Mind-boggling gains abroad: the exported currency are from of U.S. country packets in hand-couriered and Afghani shrink-wrappedon pallets. central that $4.6 bank estimated stan’s billion in cash left the country legally Kabul Airportthrough International in tens of billions The dollars, 2011 alone.” suchas Dubai, end up in places in total, and Switzerland. Pakistan, Malaysia,
IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY What keeps the collectors’ outlooks outlooks Whatkeeps the collectors’ found all vibra these good Vázquez Nearly 70 percent of the Nearly 70 percent reported garbage miners at least that they were Fully half “a little” happy. gushed that they were “very” or “quite” happy. tions in one of the poorest countries in countries of the poorest in in one tions Nearly 46 Hemisphere. Western the the below of Nicaraguans live percent The collectors, povertynational line. toil at the very men, are most of whom They scale. the economic of bottom while still families in their teens have Only in cramped dwellings. and live surveyed of the workers 16 percent primary reported finishing byVázquez happy. Fully half gushed that they were that they half gushed were Fully happy. A majority said happy. “quite” or “very” held promise. they felt future that the ones loved with Relationships so sunny? per than 80 More key. be the seem to cent of the surveyof cent reported respondents partners, their domestic with satisfaction And friends. and their their families, nearly satisfied said they were 90 percent at the dumps. “colleagues” with their
- - n “Happiness Among the Garbage” by José Juan “Happiness Among the Garbage”
Despite all this, most of the collectors Despite all this, , Jan. 2013. Vázquez, in The Journal of Positive Psychology
EVERY DAY, DOZENS OF MEN, WOMEN, AND WOMEN, AND DOZENS OF MEN, DAY, EVERY the second-largest in León, children two descend upon cityNicaragua, in of the pov The refuse garbage dumps. erty-stricken city of 185,000 is their anythingand canthat to be sold mine, recyclers for a few is worth centavos glass, paper, plastic, metal, the digging: as they to prefer “collectors,” The cloth. carry bags in which they be called, store the prizes in while prospecting they find air and toxic They breathe the rubbish. the social stigma attached to suffer from earningsTheir meager often scavenging. fail to put enough food the table. on reports José just peachy, think things are the at psychologist social a Vázquez, Juan Nearly de Alcalá in Spain. Universidad of 99 collectors he surveyed70 percent little” “a at least reported that theywere UP IN THE DUMPS IN UP THE SOURCE: providing water and electricity. The The electricity. and water providing a fraction cost $34 billion, would project the United Statesof $592 billion al has in Afghanistan. the war spent on ready plans for the so-called New present, At than an nothing more Kabul remain model. tabletop engineer’s
IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS - - - n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Vázquez also found levels higher of Vázquez buoyancy in the flies The collectors’ But access to these amenities appeared appeared these amenities to But access Two happiness. on no impact to have who Those a difference: things made time spare in their sports or read played likely more to report be much were Team those who didn’t. than ing happy sports clearly people feelmake good, won Vázquez reading? does but why “the information [reading] ders whether the on and the possible impact provides who reads self-esteem of an individual are in a severely deprived environment” what make the difference. in collectorslived who happiness among those who had and homes less crowded until slightlywaited lifein later have to was uncover What he didn’t families. the collectors’ between correlation any widely less levels—from ranging income than $65— to more than $25 a month and happiness. - re among wisdom conventional of face that happi who tend to argue searchers, until people with income ness increases “Indi- a certainreach level of affluence. consumers,” than mere more viduals are other are there “and writes, Vázquez beside money.” things in their lives
- But none of this keeps the collectors of this keeps the But none though Even though. not all rosy, It’s Most of the collectors said they lived school. Scavenging dumps of in the school. Léon of the threat with entails coping theft and violent crime a daily on basis. of the than 70 percent More down. who reported that they respondents lacked to buy enough food money the in declaredprevious month that they were anyway. happy the male collectors of said 87 percent of their only 56 percent happy, they were be may This femalecounterparts did. at the dump who work because women in with partnersmove and start fami- If these than men. ages lies at younger the whichis common, dissolve, unions left are their to raise on women children currently in relationships Women own. reported being particularly unhappy. than a quarter said they found Fewer in That’s satisfying. their relationships of other studies line with the findings generally that women showing report happiness levels of subjective lower than men. electricitywith homes in televi and found that nearly 20 Vázquez and sions, of his sample used cell phones. percent
IN ESSENCE OTHER NATIONS CURRENT BOOKS REVIEWS OF NEW AND NOTEWORTHY NONFICTION
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THE WILSON QUARTERLY WINTER 2013 - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY without some respect or affection or affection respect without some It is not easy to write biogra a good phy By Randall B. Woods Basic Books 546 pp. $29.99 which probes, during congressional to conservatives him abhorrent made CIA veterans. and many for the subject, and Woods holds Col- Woods and for the subject, stresses He esteem. considerable in by commitment and mission of sense the - which fi felt work, his about Colby nally marriage helped to end his first after unhappy for three endured it had he concludes And Col that decades. of CIA scandals were revelations by’s run agen to the in the long beneficial clearing (and some out its cobwebs cy, in and finally of its cowboys) reining disruptivethe and morale-destroying division, of the counterespionage role which caught few moles but sowed
- -
MARTIN WALKER
President Richard Nixon believed the believed the Nixon Richard President “a Central Intelligence Agency was for Ivy Leaguerefuge intellectuals op- William In the case of posed to him.” the director to become who rose Colby, Nixon of central intelligence in 1973, But this excellent and was almost right. RandallWoods, by biography thorough a noted University historian of Arkansas Vietnamof the era in American poli SenatorWil of biography whose tics for was nominated the liam Fulbright subtle and a more gives Pulitzer Prize, argues that Woods sympathetic analysis. Scout a Boy devout and Catho- Colby, lic who hated totalitarians stripe, of any and alwayswas Constitution the to loyal His loyalties of the day. to the president driving him to pursue his undoing, were counterinsurgencydoomed policies in him appear a vil- which made Vietnam, disclosethen to and the liberals, to lain embarrassments long-guarded CIA’s HENRY KISSINGER ONCE NOTED THAT KISSINGER HENRY REVIEWED BY SHADOW SHADOW THE CIA EGAN COLBY AND WILLIAM Divided Loyalties Divided WARRIOR:
SHADOWCURRENT WARRIOR BOOKS - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY way. Colby then suggested to his superiors to his suggested then Colby way. that he should be parachuted into Spain one of his favorite professors was Edwin of his favorite professors one Works to the Public an adviser Corwin, Colby After graduating, Administration. attended Columbia Law School for a serving before year of Stra in the Office operating II, War tegic ServicesWorld in bravely local movements with resistance and Nor behind enemy lines in France - - Colby had become a passionate sup passionate a become had Colby porterDeal while an under of the New where graduate in the 1930s at Princeton, HORST FAAS / AP IMAGES HORST FAAS a of inspects the shotgun South Vietnam, then head of the U.S. pacification program in Colby, William rural villager in Thua Thien province in 1969. widespread internal distrust. Above all, all, Above internal distrust. widespread crafts of an a fascinating tale Woods World American life that was shaped by and Vietnamthe War, Cold the II, War and theWar, a challenge of remaining while being human liberal and decent ruthlessly. these conflicts fighting
SHADOW WARRIOR - - - , an , The Nation THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Colby himself did not quite fit this this quite fit did not himself Colby doubtlessly similar disillusion.) will face who Elbridge Colby, His father, mold. line of Mas a long from was descended had Puritanssachusetts and seafarers, and taught to Catholicism converted at the UniversityEnglish literature of and marriedmet he where Minnesota, the Catholic Mary Egan, Margaret After immigrant. daughter of an Irish in volunteeringCross Red the with he joined I, War SerbiaWorld during Army when his country de the U.S. he his dismay To clared war in 1917. not to Canal, was posted to the Panama Afterwar, the in France. the battlefront university to the he returned to com plete his doctorate rejoined but soon the Army for to provide his wife and was born who William, newborn son, was Elbridge Colby Fatefully, in 1920. where Georgia, Benning, posted to Fort a black soldier was shot and killed for failing to yield the sidewalk to a white after an all-white jurycivilian; acquitted wrote an Colby Lieutenant the shooter, outraged letter to the base newspaper in that was republished event that blighted his military career. which Tianjin, He was later posted to Williammeant that spent part of his developing what his in China, boyhood grasp of “fair” described CIA file as a - -
The Agency “attracted what nowadays what “attracted AgencyThe of the Franco regime. of the Franco regime. to organize the overthrow to organize the be parachuted into Spain parachuted into be superiors that he should superiors that lby suggested to his to his Colby suggested we would call would we the best and the bright the politically men liberal young est, Ivy League the finest from and women campuses and with the most impeccable social and establishment backgrounds,” Honorable later wrote in a memoir, Colby people “young Theywere (1978). Men spirits adventuresome and ‘vigor’ with who believed fervently that the commu to be met aggressively, had nist threat (Change and courageously.” innovatively, and “terrorist,” to “communist” the word genera- the of said be might same the and CIA after that joined the tion 9/11, to complete the antifascist campaigns by campaigns antifascist the to complete by Franco of the overthrow the organizing After the war, They demurred. regime. armeda newly with law degree fledged for the worked Colby Columbia, from helping LaborBoard, Relations National join- before unionize, to garmentworkers been formed.just which had CIA, the ing
SHADOW WARRIOR
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Colby’s New Deal sympathies put him Colby’s Their biggest problem was finding Italian cars with trunks big enough to hold the stacks of lire they were funneling to the non-Com- munist parties, politicians, and newspapers. ty, would never come to power. Running to power. never come would ty, in the program political the largest action of some a budget had Colby history, CIA’s One of his colleagues a year. $30 million problem later recalled that their biggest Italian cars with trunkswas finding big they hold the stacksenough to of lire funneling to the non-Communist were and newspapers. politicians, parties, “La as known at odds with the woman and influential, the celebrated, Signora,” in ambassador very conservative U.S. Boothe Luce—althoughClare Rome, wife second was later convinced Colby’s that La Signora an affair had and Colby in Rome of atmosphere vita the dolce in Luce hated Socialists almost the 1950s. believed Colby as Communists; much as that they and the Social Democrats were potential allies in the anti-Communist - - - - - This was not the conventional WASP WASP the conventional This was not assignment for the CIA first Colby’s the language along with an affinity with with along the language his future. shape that would Asia was Nor of CIA legend. background aristocracy to join the Colby of the CIA, and counterintelligenceits intelligence focused the Soviet on sections Union he was a para Instead, and Europe. military type who specialized in covert and raising and training secret action of James the alleged words In armies. of CIA counterin head Jesus Angleton, (whom than 20 years telligence for more leader the future later fire), would Colby As “just a paratrooper.” of the CIA was “The spy himself later wrote, Colby that masters and counterspies feared of operations flamboyant the high-risk, jeopardized the security ‘the cowboys’ of their carefullyand cover constructed clandestine networks.” he was where was in 1950 in Sweden, arms dumps and recruitto set up secret underground go would who volunteers in the event of a Sovietto fight invasion. or In the earlyWar, of the Cold years was aforces suchganizing stay-behind then Colby work. major part of the CIA’s po- the to took he where Italy, to moved litical aspect of covert operations like a that the seeking to ensure duckto water, political largest par Italy’s Communists,
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- - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY When Colby arrived in Saigon, opin When arrivedin Saigon, Colby ion within the U.S. mission was already was already mission within the U.S. ion Henry Ambassador divided between who were and his staff, Cabot Lodge Jr. trying to withhold military aid in order Dinh Diem’s Ngo President force to democratic to make reforms, regime and the military staff and the Pentagon, The such condition. any which rejected Kennedy, F. of John in 1960 election of the the spread who was fascinated by to the developing world and War Cold counterinsurgencyby and covert opera gave knew well, kind Colby the of tions Colby Indochina a new prominence. foundrunninghimself armies of secret operating mountain tribesmen in Laos, dispatching gueril CIA-backed airlines, trying and Vietnam, in vain Northto las administration the Kennedy to dissuade which gave Operation Switchback, from prime responsibility for the Pentagon counterinsurgency policy in South U.S. work,” it won’t Secretary, “Mr. Vietnam. chief of station), where he arrived he in the where chief station), of dayswaning brief of that interlude be rule in 1954 and the end of French tween increasingly bloody startthe of America’s was sufficiently It peaceful involvement. runtime to have to a for Colby first at changed, That soon ScoutBoy troop. Vietnam of the and the next 17 years take up half of this book. engagement - - - Colby’s Asian affinities ensured that ensured Asian affinities Colby’s in 1956 he was invited to succeed the in 1956 he was invited legendary Lansdale in running Edward coun its effective and the CIA station terinsurgency operation in the Philip saying he wanted He declined, pines. the defeat of the Communists to secure was that Once election. 1958 Italy’s in was appointed deputy Colby achieved, chiefstation in Saigon (he quickly to rose struggle. Moreover, Colby’s New Deal be New Colby’s Moreover, struggle. Plan, liefsVanoni to support led him the a Keynesian-style policy economic that Washington, reported to Colby was also, rally to a way Socialist and working-class warning Luce it bitterly, opposed support. horse for Trojan a become that it would strategy to be (Colby’s proved Moscow. Italian Socialistthe endedParty correct; in 1963 with the Communists its pact and joined the ChristianDemocrats in a government.)coalition Colby found himself running of mountain secret armies tribesmen in Laos, operating CIA-backed airlines, and dispatching guerillas to North Vietnam.
SHADOW WARRIOR - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY But it was too late. By then, Colby’s Colby’s By then, But it was too late. student of the special characteristics of the student of the from the lessons wars and peoples’ and British experiencesMa in French believed and elsewhere, Vietnam, laya, in or lost won be would that the war U.S. at a time when the But the villages. Orange Agent to was sowing Air Force and defoliate jungles giving crops poison and increas combatants, to enemy cover Army conscripts ingly demoralized U.S. staging crude search-and-destroy were stubborn belief in rural Colby’s missions, In 1975, becamedevelopment quixotic. back the bedraggled CIA welcoming he outraged teams after the fall of Saigon, insisting that and startled by many more been almost won war had the peoples’ began administration when the Nixon the most Perhaps withdrawal. its slow charitable has to is that one explanation to maintain morale, believe in something believed that he and the CIAand Colby bureaucracy understood in the U.S. alone this kind of war. notori become had - Phoenix Program and ous for torture and assassinations, CIA was being discredited, his beloved college cam as on as well in Congress at was even lower Its reputation puses. and Nixon where Whitethe House, securitynational were Kissinger adviser no outraged that they received had - - - Revelations of the CIA’s role in the the in role CIA’s the of Revelations Always the loyal soldier, Colby put put Colby Always soldier, the loyal program were an important factor in important an in factor were program in the eyes Vietnam the War discrediting a serious Colby, of the American public. mined Colby’s best efforts to strengthen mined Colby’s evidence strong despite And the hamlets. always Colby maintained to the contrary, was designed that the Phoenix Program Viet local and convert arrest, to identify, rather assassinate than leaders, Cong estimates that however, Woods, them; Viet than 5,000 more operatives Cong killed supportersand more and were captured. than 10,000 others were corrupt military in Saigon under regime he told Secretaryhe told of Defense Robert plan referring to a Pentagon McNamara, insertto into saboteurs and commandos even as Ambassador Vietnam, North Lodgewas trying to run the CIA to get Diem. President a coup against as known program his heart into a U.S. (Civil Operations and Revo CORDS which lutionary Support), Development ruralpromoted and sought development Vietnamese to secure hamlets from also CORDS infiltration. Communist included the infamous Phoenix Pro CIA-led covert the war against gram, Viet- who routinely terror cadres Cong ized to the Saigon villages seen as loyal The often killing leaders. village regime,
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- - - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Some in the CIA never forgave him Someneverin the CIA him forgave ministrations that were easing Cold War War Cold easing ministrations that were He was finally Pres sacked by tensions. 1975, in November ident Gerald Ford until months three office in remaining H. George president future by replaced offer turned Ford’s down Colby Bush. W. and to NATO, ambassador to become into private life and law practice. retired in and his death for his forthrightness, a supposed canoe in south accident ernMaryland rumors sparked 1996 in Local watermen killing. of a revenge body, left Colby’s were how wondering fewwhich showed signs of water im one ended up on could have mersion, side of a sandbank while his sand-filled If he canoe was found the other. on explains the Woods and was murdered, way to save an institution that remained that an institution to save way even as he vital to American security, firmlyandsupported arms the control ad Nixon-Ford the of détente policies Some in the CIA never for CIA never in the Some in and his death gave him, canoe accident a supposed in Maryland in southern of rumors 1996 sparked a revenge killing. - - - - Colby had taken the helm of the CIA the helm of the CIA taken had Colby Ever the lawyer, Colby followed the law the followed Colby Ever the lawyer, and the Constitution and came and the Constitution clean to He believed this was the only Congress. warning Egyptian of the 1973 attack War. Kippur Yom the that precipitated had their communications (Knowing the Egyptians had been compromised, hand-de and radio messages sent false orders.) the real livered this deluge. just before 1973, in May scandal was unfurling, Watergate The White was swinging the Nixon House and Con paranoia, panic and between events be investigating soon would gress in a series internal revealed of secret CIA reports that became as the known de The documents jewels.” “family scribed attempts, botched assassination and illegal spying links to the Mafia, The Justice Department Americans. on was preparing charges against Colby’s had who Helms, Richard predecessor, such on matters and misled Congress CIA loyalists among known become call title would as what a later book The Throughout hisWho Secrets Kept the Man . makes the case that in Woods book, own in activities instances such as the CIA’s Vietnam illegal intelli and its domestic the agency was left taking gathering, gence responsibility for policy disasters that were decisions. of presidential really the result
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a Wilsona Center senior
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n Wood’s solid and intriguing solid and intriguing Wood’s , will be published will be published The Devil’s, Cave many contemporaries judged him contemporarieshim many judged (1994). His latest His latest History A (1994). War: The Cold MARTIN WALKER, this summer. scholar and a member of The Wilson - Quarter is the author of editorial advisors, board ly’s of novel, harshly. harshly. self-questioning and political division. politicaland self-questioning division. to both loyal to remain sought Colby court to the Machiavellian his CIA and and for White House, of the Nixon that, biography suggests that history that suggests biography may be kinder. - - By that time, the Cold War was over over was War the Cold By that time, evidence thoroughly, the vengeance the vengeance evidencethoroughly, exacted. to be 20 years took not only had and the CIA survived but in at the heartremained the vast U.S. of Colby that extent, To empire. telligence even his heirs though vindicated, was Vir at CIA headquarters in Langley, all to relearn the hard have would ginia, of counterinsurgencylessons warfare casts Woods and Afghanistan. in Iraq in an impossible hero as a flawed Colby a series an honorable man fighting time, well as Washington in of vicious wars, during a period of American as abroad,
SHADOW WARRIOR - - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY erywhere and right here, centered on us, us, on centered erywhere and right here, articulating every itself in from direction to (“me-mapping,” position our current With GPS in our phrase). use Garfield’s cars Google Earth and our phones, on often maps more consult ever than we this cartograph ways, In some before. up our ways is opening ic explosion of it is inuringthe us to in others, seeing; and created which maps are by processes Technol to the structures they impose. ogy choose feel allows us to our that we By Simon Garfield Gotham 464 pp. $27.50 So need to understand maps. we in, when a journalist with the dexterity and of Simon the Garfield takes on breadth news. it is happy historylong maps, of the map,” “on puts it, as Garfield are, We the map And it or not. like whether we It is simultaneously ev is new. on are we
- - - able
DANIEL ROSENBERG
To understand the world we now live the world understand live now we To - or a preci rescue er a dramatic snow the exposé by recent A bombing. sion politician Malte Party German Green provider, Spitz that his phone showed was not only Telekom, Deutsche OUR INFORMATION AGE IS ALSO AN AGE AGE IS ALSO AN AGE OUR INFORMATION It seems that every the day of location. news a new media reveal exploit made wheth geolocation systems, possible by REVIEWED BY A MIND-EXPANDING EXPLORATION EXPLORATION A MIND-EXPANDING LOOKS THE WORLD OF THE WAY Where We Are Where We MAP: ON THE to track his location to minute, minute It was but was doing so systematically. his store not only to identify him, able and make it available for information, analysis—it was doing all of this as a Telekom Deutsche matter of course. was following him automatically on the principle that the personally iden be information might somehow tifiable The German weekly newspaper useful. under ZeitDie assembled data released as an inter court and put it online order movements Spitz’s map showing active detail. in astonishingly fine
ONCURRENT THE MAP BOOKS
- - Just My Type: A A Type: Just My . More likely, you’ll likely, More . THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY If you love cartography, it won’t take it won’t cartography, love If you tues of On the Map new districts crafted Gerry’s by allies in the state senate. of the vir you to convince work any be foisting friends not it on who are since Garfield has cartophiles, yet them into the fold. to lure the goods as another in his work He presents the popular object-that-changed-the- of which Mauve: his own world genre, That a Color One Man Invented How example. is a fine Changed the World quite But that characterization isn’t no single object at there’s since right, but rather a vo the heart of the book, like , On the Map cabulary for seeing. book recent Garfield’s - - - - wears its substance lightly. lightly. its substance wears On the Map geographies, but we can’t really do so really do so can’t but we geographies, understanding of some have unless we how using, are we which projections we and what alternatives them, got we might consider. also an om but it is tellsIt big story, a the historynibus of little stories from of of short composed chap cartography, keyters on artifacts—such as the 1507 to employ the first Map, Waldseemüller curious ex “America”—and the name an 1812 electoral amples—for instance, “ger term the got which we map from “Gerry,” a portmanteau of rymander,” the name of the Massachusetts from Elbridge Gerry, at the time, governor for the shape of the “salamander,” and WIKIPEDIA some as artificially flat world maps that distort landmasses and show Unsatisfied with traditional isolated from unveiled it in 1943, “Dymaxion Map.” Life magazine Buckminster Fuller created a truer-to-scale one another, at home. map and instructions to fold it into a 3D structure providing readers with a pullout
ON THE MAP
- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY is a real pleasure to read. to read. pleasure is a real Garfield doesn’t take himself too se- Garfield doesn’t cities drawn in, creates a detailed and and a detailed creates drawncities in, with the world, of much map of faithful densities in and physical contours fine see to expect might one as just cities, the this time, the same At in a satelliteview. includ telling distortions, map produces where regions of entire ing the omission or unpopular. is prohibited Facebook map demonstrates the The Facebook social networking ubiquity of electronic balkanizing as its as well in everyday life, how about saysalso It something effects. embodying a fantasy of a see maps, we no requires that “writesthat map itself,” in maps that put Great only data. art, weird. look our expectations question Dymaxion the Map for example, Take, which projects of Buckminster Fuller, the world the surfaces of an ico onto (a 20-sided three-dimensional sahedron be unfolded in may that polyhedron) diagram, The Facebook directions. many - pro Mercator recent some plotted onto looks perhaps a Google map, jection, like the world itself. inscribing itself by and mostlyThat’s an advantage, riously. On the Map push its own it doesn’t ways, in some Yet it is not a book a deep level, At best points. systems, knowledge but about maps about it is And example. one of which maps are intellectually when it pursues this strongest - - mappae mundi showsmappae world is really heart at the Among the contemporaryAmong examples From Ptolemy to Mercator to the sat to Mercator to Ptolemy From - Gar TomTom, provider llite navigation e field shows how maps have both reflected have maps how shows field Great maps that put in question our expectations look weird. and shaped ways shaped and theunderstanding of the And world. of is a map consisting Garfield gives - connect than simple arcs nothing more of Facebook positions ing the geographic a friends the world on around projected this Remarkably, background. dark plain, with no landmasses or of lines, network of the project. Little maps matter: John maps matter: Little of the project. of the London 1854 map Snow’s cholera that the diseaseepidemic demonstrating Hollywood star maps, was waterborne, tabloid the maps from sensational and “Map roads, of the such as the 1817 press, Wherenear to the spot Mary Ashford is tied to But the book was Murdered.” gether by the history of the world map. the history by gether of the world map. of these Each one us the world imagined. as it has been , is good for dipping for dipping is good , Fonts About Book cover it also merits but being read into, to cover.
ON THE MAP
(2001), (2001), is a professor of his- of is a professor
n THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY tory editor and at the University of Oregon With - Antho magazine. at Cabinet at large of is author of Cartographies he Grafton, ny Timeline (2010) and, A History of the Time: of the of Histories editor with Susan Harding, (2005). Future DANIEL ROSENBERG The Ghost Map Map The Ghost and Steven Johnson’s through this voyage (2006) willenjoy millenniatwo of cartographic history logically local accounts in Dava Sobel’s logically local Sobel’s in Dava accounts Winchester’s Simon Longitude(1995), World the That Changed The Map too. very much,
- - - , for example), for, example), iconic 1933 Lon 1933 iconic - intuition. In places where it vaults from one from it vaults where In places intuition. occasionally it map to another, interesting Scholars will want more loses its thread. accounts longer detailed notes, of key ar (Harrytifacts Beck’s map Underground don the extraordinaryless on and a bit and of are Maps in this account the curious. or smallestone of biggest, first, the ten will General readers type or another. of the amazing wish for color images or—better yet— artifacts here, depicted These quibbles aside, an exhibition. technology, in history, interested readers chrono the more and ideas who liked
ON THE MAP
- - - - The New Republic New Republic THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY This is not to say that he is against This is not to say contributing editor, displays a thorough displays a thorough contributing editor, grasp that struc of the complexities nology makes more decisions for us, nology for decisions us, more makes trackmakes it easier to analyzeand be hier long-standing dismantles havior, barriers flow the to erodes and archies, of communication. unlike many Furthermore, progress. critiques in humanistic who engage of a Morozov, technology, and markets, about policy, debates ture In his previous book, governance. Side ofThe Dark Internet Delusion: Net - “cy he challenged (2011), Freedom belief in the “naïve the ber-utopianism,” By Evgeny Morozov PublicAffairs 415 pp. $28.99 Morozov of technology. philosophy claims challenges widespread that life dramaticallywill improve tech once - - - is a dif
EVAN SELINGER EVAN
Evgeny Morozov pushes back MorozovEvgeny pushes back TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIMISM IS SILICON IS SILICON TECHNOLOGICAL OPTIMISM indi As most pervasive export. Valley’s Google’s from remarks recent cated by and chief financial senior vice president out- this rosy Pichette, Patrick officer, that the conviction is guided by look if but canthe world be fixed is broken use technologywe our us from to save - the success of proj Emphasizing selves. self-driving car, suchects Google’s as without auto Pichettefuture a envisions when human jams, and traffic accidents - ineffi fallibility—ourjudgment, flawed propensity and to make cient behavior, mistakes—is kept in check. While ideology. against this techno-fix Click Here Save Everything, To to with references read—filled ficult theoristsdiverse and thick with case an exemplarystudies—it also provides REVIEWED BY THE FOLLY OF TECHNOLOGICAL OF TECHNOLOGICAL THE FOLLY SOLUTIONISM TO SAVE TO SAVE HERE: CLICK Technological Fixes Technological EVERYTHING,
TOCURRENT SAVE EVERYTHING, BOOKS CLICK HERE - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY And he adds “solutionism” to the list of “solutionism” he adds And strated the “superiority decentralized of stratedthe as protesters and horizontal networks” After via social media. communicated Morozov MubarakHosni abdicated, organizational challenges points out, and hierarchicalchallenged conflicts 2.0 model. this Revolution the about discussions mistakes that mar of technologyrole in political reform, and behav privacy, crime reduction, Solutionism—a term ior modification. Morozov urban draws planning from when studies—results and architecture - - - In his new book, he continues to to he continues In his new book, In Cairo’s Tahrir Square in February 2011, a man joins protestors calling for the ouster of Hosni Mubarak’s of Hosni Mubarak’s Square in February 2011, a man joins protestors calling for the ouster Tahrir In Cairo’s role in the social media’s once crediting Voices long-term regime, while holding a sign praising Facebook. revolution have grown quieter since. KHALED DESOUKI / AFP / GETTY IMAGES KHALED DESOUKI / AFP / GETTY IMAGES emancipatory commu of online nature a stubborn refusal on nication that rests ide The its downside.” to acknowledge ology“Internet-centrism,” rise gives to era as a rev which the current depicts olutionary“everythingis which time in change.” profound undergoing suchtake to task people as the young Wael Google executive Cairo-born who saw the Arab Spring Ghonim, the in history, as a watershed moment of a leaderlessproduct that, movement supposedly- demon as Morozov puts it,
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------THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Tinkering with the Internet won’t Tinkering with the Internet won’t easy. Overcoming isn’t solutionism reasons for their circle limiting em- of reasons even in sometimes frankly, and, pathy Mo core, its At xenophobia. dulging in presumes the proposal rozov worries, inferior, were generations that previous they biases wished to imprisonedby to to bear due forced were shed but technological constraints. causes of the root of pro many address and pre Morozov insists, vincialism, willit that authoritytending lends to example, For other misguided claims. Zuckerberg founder Mark Facebook has proclaimed that animosity in the Middle East persists because lack of a This hatreds. not deep of connectedness, self-serving if every implies that notion Morozov account, a Facebook had one stop.” wars would “all writes, evident is The outlook throughout dating back to ancient Greece, history, when Plato defended the primacy of us to organizeing mathematical reasoning Morozov that new predicts an ideal city. will long of solutionism emerge versions familiar after the technologies we’re We right. He’s outdated. with become technology to expect continue to deliver the imperfections of the hu us from though history doesn’t condition, man support that idea.
- - - - - Consider one of Morozov’s examples: examples: Morozov’s of one Consider We continue to expect continue to expect We deliver us technology to from the imperfections of the human condition, doesn’t though history support that idea. In the pages of this very magazine [“A verythis of the pages In magazine [“A Spring 2012], After All?” SmallWorld the of director Ethan Zuckerman, proposed MIT Center for Civic Media, people to connect modifying Facebook in the developed world with those in This could happen, developing nations. to recommend were if Facebook he said, us with whom far away strangers from In Mo a friendlyers might have chat. mistake first Zuckerman’s mind, rozov’s limited was to frame the general public’s in global affairs as a commu interest solved be that could nicationproblem Zucker doing, In so technology. with social, complex people’s man ignored and psychological political, cultural, someone (1) invents a problem, (2) mis (2) problem, a invents (1) someone and as a genuine fiction this represents using advocates (3) and dilemma, urgent technology it. to fix
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- n
is an associate professor is an associate professor
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY N SELINGER of philosophy at the Rochester Institute of of philosophy Technology. EVA much for using all the ammunition at for all using much the ammunition In a climate excessive of his disposal. Morozov’s technological optimism, offers a timelybook of consideration resourc of investing the consequences but also our materiales—not just ones, that offer projects dreams—in hopes and impossible redemption. - - Despite the merits of his argument, the meritsDespite of his argument, To Save Everything, Click Here is some Click Save Everything, To his make To pilltimes a bitter to swallow. Morozov portrays key boosters critique, of role debates about the in the public such as Jeff Jarvis and Clay technology, as opportunistic peddlers of Shirky, very also about selective He’s bombast. to bolster his the material he presents right but market the now arguments, of ideas is so imbalanced in favor place of technologyof idealistic conceptions that Morozov should not be blamed too
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THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY In 1884, a hapless German farm girl In 1884, By Brian B. Hoffman Press Harvard Univ. 298 pp. $24.95 duringglands number a on autopsies fatigue, suffered had who patients of and vomiting, loss, weight faintness, he in 1855, Writing skin. darkened Although a link. tentatively proposed he was attention, nobody paid much eventually with immortality rewarded becamewhen the malady as known Addison’s disease. disease. Addison’s She had a hospital. to was admitted vomiting, headaches, bouts of anxiety, doctor’s a Under difficulties. vision and eye An her arteries rigid. were fingers, exam found blood in the back of her who anatomist The She died. soon eyes. her body noticed did the autopsy on glands, adrenal twingirl’s the in tumors but knew not what to make of them. - , in , ad
), the adrenal adrenal the renes), HANNAH HOLMES HANNAH
, by Harvard by of professor Adrenaline, Then Thomas Addison, an English an English Addison, Thomas Then Glands have long labored in the shad labored long Glands have ow of organs. In autopsies of yore, the of yore, In autopsies of organs. ow anatomists castby aside were adrenals and large the of allure the by dazzled Sitting near (or obvious kidneys. Latin)the kidneys ( They neither small nor tidy. glands are the tops of the kidneyssag over like ignored They were globs of errant fat. in medical texts until Bartholomaeus after Eustachius noted them in 1563, ignored. and large by which they were adrenal noted abnormal physician, In our buttoned-down age, we forget that we age, In our buttoned-down objected when no one was a time there a tried transfuse to from blood you if a parts or remove from sheep to a child, them. without live dog to see if it might about suchput us in Books fumblings can we watch the human where a place strivingmind for clarity candle-lita in era. suchopens Hoffman, Brianmedicine B. a portal. MEDICAL HISTORY IS PULSE-RAISING STUFF. IS PULSE-RAISING STUFF. MEDICAL HISTORY REVIEWED BY A Heart-Racing History ADRENALINE
ADRENALINECURRENT BOOKS - -
THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY This was news. The circulatory system This was news. all the accounts, cured all the accounts, cured ry, competing chemists had purified the chemists purified the competing had ry, glands. of the adrenal ingredient active to breathing free restored Adrenaline stemmed bleed fever, people with hay Adrenaline restored free breathing to people with stemmed bleed- hay fever, ing, and, if you believed hemorrhoids and bedwetting. it on dogs. Upon injection, the dogs’ the dogs’ injection, Upon dogs. it on and their spiked also, blood pressure hearts raced. A sub- was notoriously to control. hard stance that could alter its behavior was the turn By of the centu worth money. - - - As decades passed, enough of these As decades passed, George It was another English doctor, An impala in the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. National Reserve, Kenya. An impala in the Masai Mara FRANS LANTING / CORBIS - prob surgeons found—by tumors were en- had who patients of bodies the ing illness bouts of and rigiddured blood the link was strengthened. vessels—that Surgical of those cancerous removal (if mysteri remarkably glands proved - ously) curative. to col the notion got who first Oliver, glands adrenal the extracts from lect feedand them to sheep and calves, of gaslight had This being 1893, people. Oliver and Dr. supplanted candlelight, a rudimentary even invented had in- strument the radius of that measured Under these laboratory condi arteries. he concluded that sheep adrena tions, line caused human arteries constrict. to With tested on having been adrenaline the next logical step was to try humans,
ADRENALINE
- - - n is the is the THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY HANNAH HOLMES QUIRK: Brain Science Brain of QUIRK: most recently, author, . Personality Peculiar Your Makes Sense of www. appears at , Human/Nature Her blog, She in Portland, lives hannah-holmes.com. Maine. Science writer None of this translates from the lab lab the this translates of from None discovery As the units of scientific an obscure protein is overlooked. is overlooked. protein an obscure Beta-blockers, benchbedside table. to the which adren Grandpa takes to prevent are spurring his wearyaline from heart, in this academic portion known of the an receptor “ß adrenergic onlybook as (Thatis a ß funny-looking tagonists.” The drugs might we beta.) letter, Greek hyperthyroid tremor, take for migraine, or alcoholism gut bleeding, symptoms, “ß brieflyare recognized as additional follow we Closely, antagonists.” receptor name and its adrenaline’s over the fight but there epinephrine, synonym, Greek injector of the EpiPen is no mention that severely allergic people carry today. to small organs, entire from shrink, and to the synaptic spac to cells, glands, the chasm between the cells, es between and the public yawns wider. researchers a popu- first books—the These conjoined lar history a biochemistry and the second butreview an awkward paper—present illuminating study of science history.
- - - - - More important, a shot of adrenaline a shot of adrenaline important, More historyAdrenal unfolded in measured Medical history kettle of fish. is a fine ing, and, if you believed all the accounts, believed all accounts, the if you and, ing, hemorrhoids bedwetting. and cured Drug wild. went companies surgerycould rescue patients whose due to complica cratered blood pressure its pop-culture In fact, of anesthesia. tions story overdosed a researcher began when life restored then a dog with anesthetic, Adrenaline to the heart. with an injection of asthmatic constriction also relieved the airways life-saving with speed. when an offendsteps during the years ing body part was summarily plucked But because the chemical itself held out. investigators as medicine, such promise smaller on and to investigate, continued smaller scales. But biochemical history is a completely not easily and one - digest dish, different When consumer. the average ible by laboratorythe on lands adrenaline bench Hoffman this book, through halfway coat and the attri the white slips on by Paper stylebution of the academic. pas in traditional and academic paper, this history is detailed—the voice, sive cAMP, kinases, discovery of cyclases, The various recep then genetics. GDP, cella to access that granttors adrenaline of discoverer No thrice are diagrammed.
ADRENALINE
- - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY ery School District were white, while while ery School white, District were of the public school student 90 percent of African-Amerbody is composed - 2010 through From icanchildren. people three Carr shadowed 2012, Gerald schools: three representing who was a 14-year-old lynn Stewart, charter-school at the start freshman recruit and TFA research; of Carr’s Harvard graduate Aidan Kelly; and charter school principal Mary Laurie. By Sarah Carr Bloomsbury 316 pp. $27.00 out in a city play would whose nance” overwhelmed infrastructure, “decayed long-simmering racial social services, inequalities make and gross tensions, The potential it perversely American.” the fact for was heightened by tension educators hired that most of the young state-run Recov to teach in the new,
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P. L. THOMAS P.
Sarah Carr, an education reporter for an education reporter for Sarah Carr, trina in 2005 only to experience a sec- this time as educators from flood, ond outside the city spilledreform its in to classThough not all shuttered schools. re damaged, been had buildings room formers saw the storm opportunity as an of Many the school system. to rebuild historicallythe city’s struggling public closed schools were into or converted These new char charter institutions. for Teach heavily young staffed by ters, from recruitscreamed America (TFA) elite colleges to serve stints two-year and other educators with similar philos emphasize testing and curtail ophies, of extracurricular in favor activities college preparation. most recently for than a decade, more set Times-Picayune, The New Orleans from transition this how discover to out “technocratic- gover to local control NEW ORLEANS SURVIVED HURRICANE KA NEW ORLEANS SURVIVED AND THE STRUGGLE TO EDUCATE STRUGGLE TO EDUCATE AND THE CHILDREN AMERICA’S REVIEWED BY THREE SCHOOLS, ONE CITY, ONE CITY, THREE SCHOOLS, New Schools, Old Problems Old Schools, New AGAINST HOPE HOPE:
HOPECURRENT AGAINST BOOKS HOPE
- - - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Kellynew teaches at charter critics warned are have often of control the beyond either. mother, But Geraldlynn’s jobs and is two who works that determinedto ensure to has access her daughter the best schoolsof the two likes the KIPP them can find, from divorced ing precision, the messiness—and checks and balances—of democracy.” - “mission Kelly the personifies But recruits. TFA of ary zeal” his ideals clash with the reality His schooling. of day-to-day self-esteem often wilts under school’s approach. approach. school’s - a hy school Sci Academy, “technocrat’s per-regimented run graduates of the by dream: most elite institutions, nation’s always seek in data, steeped Laurie, a New Orleans native, emerges a New Orleans native, Laurie, his students’ lack of interest (or success) (or lack interest of students’ his crafting.hours spent has he lessons the in as a survivor. Once a young unwed moth unwed Once a young as a survivor. to college after she returned giving er, birth and eventually raised four children, only of them to gun violence. to lose two She school was a successful public ed but lost her job ucator Katrina, before when the school district off public laid
- Geraldlynn, who attends Knowledge attends Knowledge who Geraldlynn, SUSAN POAG PHOTOGRAPHY who wears a KIPP school Geraldlynn, Raquel Dillon with her daughter, on academics—maintained focus uniform. Dillon hoped the school’s rules— of enforcement strict and snapping, finger through chants, faith Dillon’s would give her daughter opportunities she’d lacked. to connect with students. culture failed faltered as the school’s Is Power Program (KIPP) Renaissance Program Is Power ambivalence expresses High School, about complaining about her education, ide No-excuses strictness. the school’s KIPPologies such as those embraced by discipline and an on an emphasis place - responsi of personal intense culture bility which in teachers and students that for held accountable outcomes are
HOPE AGAINST HOPE - THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY Carr’s reporting is some of the best the of reportingsome is Carr’s uals’ stories, which have often which have been lost stories, uals’ focus data since on amid the relentless Child of the No the implementation and high-stakes Behind Act Left testing. she articulates Laurie, Through the challenges facing core the of some think “‘I education reform movement: know but I don’t work, good done we’ve atten- numbers (test scores, the that anddance, rates) will graduation always reflect because of the kids work our good For schools to succeed, For schools to “the education says Carr, become an they offer must will of a extension of the a result community—not of its submission.” education reform journalism to date, largely because in individ it is rooted at KIPP which in everyone a embodies “The fable’s wolf. a bad and wolf good Carr actions,” students’] [the over power - that appeal suggest to “seemed writes, no matter higher self, ing to a person’s or teenagers young whether they are carries than rules influence more adults, or demerits ever could.” - - - , Whatever It Takes Education journalism often offers Carr casts a critical simplistic on eye school teachers and neutralized the schooland neutralizedteachers the the Walker, Perry O. unions. teachers’ her gave charter school Laurieheads, without complica but not a new start, taught in public schools Having tions. Laurie career, professional her whole about the charter concerns had takeover But her schools. of the city’s of so many out. dedication to education won Some writers champion solutions. facile to close as the way the schools” “miracle achievement as raise gap as well the test rateslow-in graduation of and scores books several And recent students. come for solution the as “grit” out held have underachieving from kids who come arguing that teachers communities, should demand that students develop a all obstacles drive to overcome personal neither offering excus by nor accepting How Tough’s Paul for example, es—see, Childrenand Succeed and Jay , Scholars Improbable David Kirp’s Be Nice. Hard. Work Mathews’s that embrace schoolpolicies choice and as the primarycompetition for tools reform while ignoring the complicated though she of child poverty, problem offers nuanced praise when reformers she approvingly example, For succeed. taught legend describes the Cherokee
HOPE AGAINST HOPE - - an associate professor of of an associate professor THE WILSON QUARTERLY SPRING 2013 THE WILSON QUARTERLY n - Green in University, education at Furman previously high taught South Carolina, ville, His school in rural English South Carolina. include books recent Ignoring Poverty in the Becoming (2012) and the edited volume U.S. (2013). Teacher and Being a P. L. THOMAS, P. Carr’s story of New OrleansCarr’s is an essential to start. place - stress democratic over models values by choice and through change ing indirect directly of reform instead competition the In institutions. public failing ing offers Carr this advice: epilogue, book’s “If the schools to succeed in the want education the they offer must run, long willthe of a of an extension become submis its of result community—not a understand seeking to anyone For sion.” education and education reform, U.S.
- - - - is a cautionary Hope Against tale Hope WhilechallengesCarr education re form and the limits of good intentions form intentions and the limits of good she advocates, TFA KIPPamong and in a larg confrontations her also grounds KIPP’s both times, “At er commitment: staunchest supporters and its fiercest critics the very insult and demean fami theylies purport assuming by protect to is best what know theyand alone, they, children.” for other people’s about reformers honoring market-based we take on,’ said Laurie, referringthe to Laurie, said on,’ take we of the some school that the accepts fact challenged most and challengingcity’s parallels concern Laurie’s students.” the cen at the often-ignored problem education public in the ter of universal serveto systema created States, United regardless and all equally, students any of background.
HOPE AGAINST HOPE WQ THE WILSON QUARTERLY
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