Thomas Barnett Blogging

Barnett begins his column this week by citing Krueger's study "What Makes a Terrorist," ties that to the idea that the way to fight global terrorism is to foster the growth and strengthening of the middle classes in developing countries, esp. those with authoritarian governments (i.e. almost all of the MidEast). The upshot:

In the end, it’s true that politics explains terrorism, but likewise that economics explains politics.

This long war requires long efforts, not seductive shortcuts.

The United States should be in the business of applying both its hard and soft power assets toward the same end: defending and extending globalization’s spread. Feed stomachs and wallets first, and then hearts and minds will follow.

Elsewhere, Barnett is interviewed at Time's China blog. Nothing especially revelatory, but still interesting.