Biotechnology has the capacity to change our lives greatly for the better, says Robert May. But it could also do massive harm. It is vital to establish where the social, cultural and ethical boundaries lie in a range of scientific fields – and to maximize the good use, while minimizing the misuse, of technological advance…
To discover the essence of leadership in the modern world , we must go back to the ancient philosophers. Without virtuous leadership in every sphere of human life, there can be no order and no progress, no security and no prosperity. Lou Marinoff offers an ABC guide to virtue ethics At the World Economic Forum’s…
Howard Dean may not win the US presidency – or even the Democratic nomination. But by harnessing the power of technology and the internet, he has transformed the nature of political campaigning in the US (and in other developed countries) and pioneered new ways to re-engage a disenchanted, disenfranchised public in the democratic process. Lance…
Human migration and displacement is one of the most complex challenges in today’s globalized, interdependent world. Finding lasting solutions to the problems raised by the mass movement of refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants will require commitment and partnership on a truly global scale, says Ruud Lubbers People have always moved across the world in…
The IFC and some 20 leading banks have voluntarily adopted common environmental and social standards in their financing of projects around the world. Is this just good PR? Do the so-called Equator Principles have teeth? Or is it a true breakthrough in terms of the financial community taking greater responsibility for the social and environmental…
Making use of new energy sources and protecting the planet from any further environmental degradation will require new types of partnership between the private sector and non-government organizations. But governments must be prepared to play their part as well. Jonathan Lash looks at how one such public-private partnership, aimed at boosting the use of green…
Hedge funds look set to take off as investors, scarred by recent losses, demand more rigorous management of their capital – and as regulatory changes make the previously clubby and secretive world of hedge funds available to a broader group of investors. Hedge funds always used to be seen as the bad boys of the…
In terms of its organizational resilience and flexibility, its structure and communications, al-Qaeda is not unlike a successful, smart company – or even a venture capital firm. It has a clear message, a charismatic leader, a firm purpose and is not afraid to delegate. Recognizing how it works might be a useful step towards learning…
Iraq’s future is best understood through the lens of its past, says the author Dilip Hiro. But, having failed to prepare for peace in a country where tensions between different ethnic factions and sects were masked by a regime of brutal repression, Iraq’s administrators risk fomenting further internal strife – and hastening the threat of…
News reporting is losing its impartiality, says Ibrahim Helal. In a climate of heightened global anxiety and conflict, the objectivity and balance of the media are at risk. The line between information and opinion is becoming blurred. But balanced coverage of global events is crucial to stabilizing an unstable world A striking phenomenon has evolved…
