On Order for Review

In his new book, Democracy as Problem Solving: Civic Capacity in Communities Across the Globe (2008: MIT Press), Xavier de Souza Briggs shows how civic capacity—the capacity to create and sustain smart collective action—is crucial for strengthening governance and changing the state of the world in the process. Analyzing emerging practices of collaboration in planning …

Two U.S. Companies Helping Egypt Restrict Its People

Although snuffing out dissent and cutting citizens off from the world aren’t actions generally associated with the American ideal, two U.S. companies are helping the Egyptian government do just that as populist protests continue shaking the African nation. The tear gas and smoke grenade manufacturer Combined Systems, Inc. is based out of Jamestown, Pennsylvania. But …

Assisi-Rome 2nd Meeting

The first meeting, in Assisi on Saturday 22 January 2011, was off the record.  The letter is in the Franciscan Order’s hands.  The third meeting, with a major trans-Europe foundation, is off the record until the Secretary-General obtains approval to proceed with broad dissemination of the letter. The second meeting, arranged by Sergio Germani, was …