Germany—Appearance and Reality Germany—Appearance and Reality
Amid economic stagnation, polls show increasing skepticism about the competence of German elites. Can a resurgent Green Party bring political renewal?
Jun 7, 2011 / Norman Birnbaum
What WikiLeaks Does—And Doesn’t—Tell Us About Germany What WikiLeaks Does—And Doesn’t—Tell Us About Germany
State Department cables have exposed the secret collusion of German politicians with the United States. But our media have missed the really big story: the striking rise in popular...
Dec 7, 2010 / Norman Birnbaum
General Petraeus, PhD, at the University General Petraeus, PhD, at the University
Gen. David Petraeus pays a visit to Georgetown, where he takes questions but doesn't always answer them.
Feb 1, 2010 / Feature / Norman Birnbaum
Memories of Ted Kennedy Memories of Ted Kennedy
Senator Kennedy was recognized worldwide as a leader of the American left. What is less recognized is his connection to a social justice-oriented Catholic faith.
Aug 28, 2009 / Feature / Norman Birnbaum
The Left Forum–Or, Why City Hall Doesn’t Listen The Left Forum–Or, Why City Hall Doesn’t Listen
Whoever now governs the country (a point on which there was no agreement) is likely to remain resolutely indifferent to the message of Left Forum 2009.
Apr 23, 2009 / Editorial / Norman Birnbaum
Miseries of ‘Il Manifesto’ Miseries of ‘Il Manifesto’
Italy's small, independent, radical daily is an indispensable voice on the left.
Mar 18, 2009 / Feature / Norman Birnbaum
The Half-Forgotten Prophet: C. Wright Mills The Half-Forgotten Prophet: C. Wright Mills
A half-century later, re-evaluating the works of C. Wright Mills, in The Politics of Truth.
Mar 11, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Norman Birnbaum
Obama’s Berlin Visit Obama’s Berlin Visit
A nation whose citizens have been largely turned off to politics held Barack Obama in a fervent embrace, viewing America once again as a place of new possibilities.
Jul 26, 2008 / Feature / Norman Birnbaum
The Strange Silence of Günter Grass The Strange Silence of Günter Grass
By concealing for a near-lifetime that he had served in the Waffen SS, literary giant Günter Grass treated himself with an indulgence he did not hesitate to deem a moral defec...
Aug 18, 2006 / Books & the Arts / Norman Birnbaum
Is Israel Good for the Jews? Is Israel Good for the Jews?
An American Jewish identity that centers on unconditional defense of Israel is not healthy--for either American Jews or Israel.
Aug 5, 2006 / Feature / Norman Birnbaum