World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

Andrew Bacevich is one of the more thoughtful critics of American foreign policy.  He is an historian at Boston University and served in the US military (his son was killed in Iraq while serving).  He has written a very interesting essay entitled “How We Name Our Wars Matters” which raises a number of thought-provoking issues.

The end of World War II in the Pacific Theater continues to be highly controversial.  The American interpretation of the conclusion of the war is that the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought the Japanese to surrender on American terms.  Others argue that the Japanese were already prepared to surrender.  Yet another interpretation is that the threat of Soviet intervention in the war persuaded the Japanese to quit the war.  Foreign Policy has a great article making the Soviet intervention argument.

Youth unemployment in Europe continues to rise, with Italy’s rate also breaking the 40% mark.  The numbers of young people unemployed in Europe is truly staggering, and increasingly dangerous politically.   Some are worried that this summer could see protests by those who have given up on the political and economic system to address their situation.