Governance

My blogs over the past few years have agonized over the American Decline, but I was gratified that my last blog forecasting an Obama re-election proved accurate, and I also got the move to collaboration right. Lord knows we futurists need credibility.

By Jay Herson

The city of Fayetteville, Arkansas, is expected to double its population over the next 20 years. Like many cities its size, Fayetteville has been growing by sprawl, which places strain on the land available to grow food for the local population.

The decline of the US is pretty well-accepted now by all but the most fervent believers in American exceptionalism, with books and articles on the decline appearing regularly. The Foreign Policy magazine’s website features a “Decline Watch” column reporting the latest grim statistics, while Steve Pearlstein, The Washington Post business editor, asks “Can we Save American Capitalism?”

Although digital divides between the world’s industrialized and developing areas loom large, development experts are finding ways to cross them.

Markets celebrated the new plan for recapitalizing Itanian and Spanish banks. Mark Blyth, professor of political science, isn’t so sure celebration is the correct response. Is this really a turning point in the crisis or just another kicking of the can down the road?