Center For Strategic & Global Studies

             "If you don't see the connections you won't see the world.”
                          Thomas Friedman, The Lexus and The Olive Tree.

Initially, upon reading this quote from New York Times columnist and author, Thomas Friedman, my thoughts were directed toward interdisciplinary political constructing analysis. Specifically, I visualized guiding students in developing an approach to foreign policy analysis that would examine the connections between geography, economics, political history, sociology, and law. All of these connections and their nuances would be open for exploration.

The whole “connection thing” was exciting. And yet, for me there was still a piece missing. This piece resulted from a game played when I was ten or eleven. I had become aware of the achievements of Dr. Ralph Bunche, the first African American to win a Nobel Peace Prize. Dr. Bunche, a former professor of political science at Howard University, had negotiated the armistice between Israel and Palestine in 1949.To put it simply, I was in awe of him. My father,   an advocate for understanding politics contextually, insisted I play a game with him and my mother. One week, he was Palestinian and I was Israeli. The next week we reversed roles.   While this game was instructional, it was also fun. Even though the Internet had not been invented, I still searched for clues everywhere. Yet, there was still an element missing—another voice. Today, I recognize the missing voice as the perspective from the African-American community (the collective).

Since then, my world has expanded beyond the segregated community of my childhood. Colin Powell, Condelessa Rice, as well as the individual and collective members of the Congressional Black Caucus, are visible and influential. CNN, MSNBC, Fox and local affiliates of ABC, NBC, and CBS ensure that African-American analysts/experts are prominent interpreters of issues and events occurring in the national and international arenas. We in the African-American community are no longer foreign policy outsiders. And yet, I still wonder if we have become insiders into the network of foreign policy experts. Where are our foreign policy think tanks, journals, and research publications? To what extent are our opinions sought on developments in Africa, Asia, Europe, or the Middle East?

Today, when Senator Obama is attacked for his lack of foreign policy experience, I find myself getting defensive. I wonder when the next generation of Obamas and political science experts debut on the national stage if they will be ready. How much experience will they be expected to have? In my mind it is difficult to separate experience from opportunity. Certainly, it can be argued that the opportunities experienced by Senator Obama and his generation of scholars, politicians, and lawyers make those of African-American baby boomers pale in comparison. However, the potential for leadership in the international community (the world) is both incremental and progressive. Community organizing, political involvement and academic involvements are all developmentally important. These bridges provide access to the larger communities of business, politics, and finance.

So, let's go back to the roots. For the most part, the academic communities from which many of the major “think tanks” are supported and emerge, for the most part, have not been located on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The voices are there, but the opportunities are still somewhat restricted. The “base,” which is an important part of Mr. Obama's policy development perspective, must make its voice heard. This voice is certainly not monolithic. Within itself, this voice is quite diverse. However, more to the point, with the changed landscape of web pages, emails, and blogs, a range of perspectives can be presented from within this community.

We of World Watch view the world, interpret it, and hope to build the bridge between our portion of academia, the international academic community, and those entrusted with policy, formulation and development. We will analyze the world under a microscope—one that examines the political, social, cultural, and economic implications of domestic and foreign policy development. International crime, global terrorism, worldwide health issues, educational development, commerce, and trade are all examined. Russia, China, India, Africa, and the Middle East are explored closely and personally. Admittedly, our expectations are limitless. But what else could be expected of world watchers?

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World Watch

May 5, 2008

Note: The opinions expressed are not and will not be the opinions of Norfolk State University, the Department of Political Science, or any department or school within the University.

World Watch Edition 1

World Watch
Edition 1