World Politics News   Articles for World Politics Course

For the first time in 13 years, the US is considering a defense budget that does not include funds for an ongoing war.  The defense budget will actually decrease in real terms, continuing a trend that extends back three years.   The budget cuts do reflect a clear reduction in the commitments of the US, and will likely cause some degree of apprehension among American allies.  It is unlikely, however, that the Congress will implement all these cuts–there are well organized lobbies that will fight to restore weapons funding.

The world may be entering a “post-automobile” world.  By 2050 there will be more than 9 billion people living in cities, and it is difficult to imagine that these many people could travel effectively with private automobiles (forgetting the environmental hazards of so many cars).  There are two major issues of concern that stem from this emerging reality:  what industries will replace automobiles, and can those industries employ nearly as many people as automobile factories? And what alternative means of transportation exist that could handle that many people comfortably and conveniently?  All transitions are difficult to imagine, but this one in particular seems virtually intractable.