The N.J. Democrat on health care and immigration reform Harvard Political Review: What inspired you to enter public service? Robert Andrews: My father—who had worked for 40 years in a shipyard—lost his job. So we had a family crisis. He was too old to start over again, too young to retire. We had no health … Read more
The co-founder of Partners in Health on PEPFAR and Haiti Harvard Political Review: The organization you helped found, Partners in Health, has had a lot of success in the countries you’ve worked in. But what could you be doing better? Paul Farmer: First, when you grow and try to reach more people, there’s often a … Read more
The Merkel government should nip growing xenophobia in the bud Germany’s recent commemoration of the 20th anniversary of unification was marred by a startling report on the rise of German xenophobia. Conducted by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, a research organization associated with the opposition Social Democratic Party, the study found that public attitudes regarding immigration … Read more
The president of Planned Parenthood on reproductive rights under Obama. Harvard Political Review: Where do you think the focus of the student pro-choice movement should be? Cecile Richards: I think the affordability of contraception is one of the biggest issues. Even though birth control is legal, it’s still not accessible for many women, particular low-income … Read more
Pacific islands take global warming into their own hands It is a favorite Hollywood storyline: a natural disaster is impending, and despite the efforts of the smartest scientists the nation can assemble, the only choices remaining are to evacuate or face annihilation. This fate may actually await low-lying island nations like the Maldives, Kiribati, and … Read more
How Russia’s political culture has failed to escape from the KGB The FBI’s break-up of a Russian spy ring in June has placed Russia’s intelligence services under renewed scrutiny. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, for his part, makes no secret of his KGB past. And there are undoubtedly important continuities between the KGB and its successor … Read more