Turkey under Atatürk offered an appealing model for the Muslim world, in the view of U.S. officials, but its more recent independence on important internal issues may provide a more useful model.
China is undergoing an unexpected artistic renaissance, with wary support from the government.
One surprising obstacle to the entry of former communist-bloc countries to the EU: the role and power of organized labor.
America's youth are reading less...or at least not reading the right stuff.
ATHENS:
A History, from Ancient
Ideal to Modern City.
By Robin Waterfield. Basic.
The election of 2004 suggested much bad blood between the two parties, but questions remain about how polarized the electorate really is.
Having military brass dabble in politics can make for a volatile mix.
Mud-slinging in politics is a time-honored American tradition. But is there anything so bad about throwing a few political barbs?
CATCH AND RELEASE:
Trout Fishing and the Meaning of Life.
By Mark Kingwell. Viking.