In ancient times, the opulent and civilized found it difficult to defend themselves against the poor and barbarous nations, Adam Smith observed in 1776. In modern times, the poor and barbarous find it difficult to defend themselves against the opulent and civilized. It seems the 21st century is more ancient than modern. What else could be said of an era when failed and failing states generate far more worries for the international community than powerful states?
economic freedom of the world
December 1, 2012
2:00AM
On a recent trip to Kenya, my friend and his family crashed head on into an example of why some developing countries cannot grow and prosper.
As they were about to board their flight from Nairobi, the clerk at the exit gate said there was a problem with their boarding passes. Before she returned them and before they could board the flight, they were told they must pay $800 to correct the problem.
November 1, 2009
2:00AM
In decades past, Washington looked across the oceans and worried about the threats posed by powerful states: the British Empire, the Kaisers Germany, Imperial Japan, Hitlers Reich, the Soviet Union.