Chapter 1: The United States in a Turbulent World

Exercises

Looking at the War on Terrorism

1. Go to the Office of Management and Budget's Web site at www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

2. Access the president's latest budget (FY 2008) and read the budget documents on the following departments: Defense, Homeland Security, and State.

3. What agencies and actors are identified in the documents? Which actors are funded and vested with more responsibility than others?

4. What are some of the main policy suggestions in the documents?

Examining U.S. Primacy

1. Go to the World Bank's Web site at www.worldbank.org .

2. Access the "Data and Research" link, then the "Data Website."

3. Explore the different key indicators and data sources. In which areas and indicators does the United States lead? In which areas and indicators does the United States trail?

4. What are some reasons the United States might lead in some areas and trail in others?

5. Based on the paradox discussed in Chapter 1, which sets of numbers are most likely to change and why?

Exploring Soft Power

1. Go to the Pew Research Center at www.people-press.org and under "Survey Reports" access the most recent survey report on foreign opinions of the United States. The Chicago Council on Global Affairs has a survey that supplements Pew at www.thechicagocouncil.org/curr_pos.php .

2. Describe the opinions toward the United States . Are they mostly favorable or unfavorable?

3. What are some recent examples of soft power by the United States that contribute to these opinions?

4. In what ways could soft power contribute to the success or failure of the war on terrorism?