An American foreign policy that includes the promotion of human rights as one of its missions can draw on a tradition rooted in the Declaration of Independence. The assertion of universal equality and the designation of unalienable rights, "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness," have shaped American political culture. That the reality of American life has never fully realized these ideals and at times failed them egregiously, notably in the institution of slavery, does not negate the validity of the ideals themselves.
by Amy Zegartvia HAI Human-Centered Artifical Intelligence | Stanford University
Friday, March 12, 2021
The US intelligence community faces a moment of reckoning and AI lies at the heart of it. Since 9/11, America’s intelligence agencies have become hardwired to fight terrorism. Today’s threat landscape, however, is changing dramatically, with a resurgence of great power competition and the rise of cyber threats enabling states and non-state actors to spy, steal, disrupt, destroy, and deceive across vast distances — all without firing a shot.
In his first Hoover Institution appearance as a newly appointed distinguished visiting fellow, former deputy national security advisor Matt Pottinger described how Washington can capitalize on its maturing bipartisan consensus concerning the United States’ competition with the People’s Republic of China.
A history of paper money and inflation in China, from Edward Chancellor's Wall Street Journal review of Jin Xu's Empire of Silver. In these sparse paragraphs is most of monetary (and fiscal!) theory, along with a history I was not aware of.
Yesterday, Tyler Cowen published his interview with Hoover Institution economist John Cochrane. It’s a lot of fun and full of insights. I recommend the whole thing.
As a young man, Egypt’s legendary playwright, Tawfiq Al Hakim had worked as an assistant to the Attorney General in the Egyptian countryside. There he would witness firsthand the dismal state of the country’s fellahin and the grave injustices Egypt’s rural population lived under. The experience would leave a profound impact on the young author and would shape his views of Egypt’s ills and the necessity for social change that became evident in his literary works.
If the Biden Administration lives up to its campaign promises and early governing pronouncements, human rights will play a larger role in its foreign policy than in that of the Trump Administration. This isn’t necessarily good news.
The Hoover Economic Policy working group seminars are now online for anyone who is interested. Follow the link and click "news and events." These happen on Wednesdays at noon, and are put up soon after. Interesting speakers, interesting discussion.
by John Yoo, Robert J. Delahuntyvia National Review
Friday, March 12, 2021
President Biden’s airstrike against a pro-Iran militia base in Syria on February 26 may do little to change the balance of power in the Middle East. A few bombs, which allegedly killed or wounded one or two fighters, did little to deter Tehran’s low-intensity campaign against the U.S. military in Iraq.
We study the mental health of graduate students at 8 top-ranked economics PhD programs in the U.S. using clinically validated surveys. We find that 24.8% experience moderate or severe symptoms of depression or anxiety—more than two times the population average.
interview with Michael J. Petrillivia Education Gadfly (Thomas B. Fordham Institute)
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Hoover Institution fellow Michael Petrilli discusses the expanded and fully refundable child tax credit that’s included in President Biden's Covid-19 relief bill—and why it should give conservatives pause.
Two cofounders of the Climate Leadership Council say they want to combine a carbon tax policy with “supercharged innovation” to carry on the legacy of former Secretary of State George Shultz, a former Hoover Institution fellow who died in February.
The Chinese delegation should expect direct, unfettered talks when it meets with its US counterparts in Alaska next week, and Beijing is advised to do its part in addressing strained relations, the State Department said on Thursday.
