Contenu du sommaire : Une nouvelle guerre des étoiles ?

Space Security and the International Dilemma
A recent New York Times article, reporting that the Bush Administration was on the verge of adopting a policy that would open the way for weapons in space, sparked a strong international response. The story was premature. However, failure to find an international framework now might lead to de facto weaponization - an eventuality that would undermine rather than enhance international space security.

The Global U.S. Policy and the Future of the American Model
Energy is certainly a driving force behind America's global strategy. However such a link shall be carefully considered in order not to confuse the complex exigencies it seeks to answer. The issue goes well beyond mere domestic supply or the close ties between the energy business and political leaders. This article analyses how the control of natural resources is meant to feed the American model or “way of life”, and what is the impact of China's economic development in this context.

Failing States, Moral Culture, and Foreign Policy
The implosion or removal of totalitarian regimes usually gives way to an explosive growth of antisocial behaviour. To stabilize the governments in the societies involved, it is not enough to help the development of the institutions of a civil, democratic society; a moral culture must be fostered that will ensure voluntary compliance with the do's and don'ts on which all stable regimes are based. Establishing moderate interpretations of Islam in the constitutions of Muslim nations could contribute to express a new moral culture. Several changes in public diplomacy, foreign aid, and other elements of foreign policy are needed to favor moderate religious values.

Public Diplomacy and Soft Power
Often seen as the last and least of the various instruments of national power, a public diplomacy that adroitly leverages the cultural resources of its society can under some circumstances achieve a great deal. Joseph Nye's soft power is useful for understanding the larger context in which public diplomacy functions. This article assesses the relationship between public diplomacy and soft power in the contemporary context of the global war on terror and the United States' new quasi-imperial role in the Middle East.

George Kennan's Legacy. George Kennan made a major contribution to U.
S. foreign policy by suggesting a “containment policy” in regard to the Soviet Union and in leading the group that drafted the Marshall Plan. Subsequently, his advice was often at odds with American policy. Nevertheless, his fundamental attitudes and assumptions had a greater influence on American diplomatic practice than was apparent at the time. American policy would be more effective today if more attention were given to Kennan's recommendations.

The Peculiarity of the American Economy. The European Union is lagging behind the U.
S. in terms of economic growth and dynamism. American demography is on the rise whereas Europe's is declining, productivity rates are higher in the U.S., labor laws grant more leeway to workers and employers alike, and research and innovation benefit from a better environment. However U.S. growth rests on fiscal and monetary imbalances that make it and global financial stability vulnerable. To survive, both the U.S. and the EU « models » must go through structural reforms.

Homeland Security Policy: an Assessment. Homeland security is the key U.
S. domestic response to the 9/11 attacks, which highlighted the vulnerability of its territory. Homeland security represents no less than a governmental revolution, echoing the huge defense and national security reforms undertaken in the wake of the Second World War. Its impact on U.S. foreign policy, and therefore on the rest of the world, is significant. However homeland security lacks conceptual coherence and organizational effectiveness.

Narcotraffic networks in the United States
Drug trafficking is usually simplified through a nation-based division of labor where production would be Colombian, smuggling would be Mexican, and consumption American. However such a vision fails to acknowledge a daunting reality: prior to reaching consumers once they have crossed the Río Bravo, drugs find their way through prospering trafficking networks in U.S. territory.