The Nation July 12/19, 2021

THE LEADERS OF THE WESTERN WORLD—MEETING FIRST AS THE G7 POWERS IN Cornwall, England, on June 11-13 and then as the NATO members in Brussels on June 14—did not exactly initiate Cold War II. However, they did lay the necessary groundwork by describing a world divided along fundamental ideological lines. On one side, they contend, are the democratic, stability-seeking nations that adhere to international norms and rules; on the other are aggressive, authoritarian states like China and Russia that seek to undermine the rules-based international order. While it might be possible to work across this divide on matters of common concern, such as climate change and nuclear nonproliferation, the West’s main task in the coming decades must be to enhance its capacity to defend itself against the other camp—and diminish…

His conversation with The Nation, titled “Challenging Colonialism in Literature,” has been lightly edited for length. KVH: Could you talk about the importance of understanding the history of anti-Asian violence and anti-Asian racism in this country? VTN: We have to remember that anti-Asian violence in this country has been systemic—it’s not just been directed at individuals. So we think about things like the incarceration of Japanese Americans—that was an act of anti-Asian violence. We think about the murder of six Sikh Americans in 2012 at a gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wis. There have been specific incidents of anti-Asian violence that have been seared in the Asian American memory—things like the murder of Vincent Chin in 1982 in Detroit by two autoworkers who mistook a Chinese American for a Japanese person…

BLACK PEOPLE DELIVERED THE PRESIDENCY TO Joe Biden. His campaign was an embarrassing structure fire until Black voters in South Carolina showed up to save it. They understood—correctly, it turns out, and over the objection of many younger Black pundits like me—that this is a deeply racist country and that a majority of white people would vote for a Republican, as a majority of them have in every presidential election since Nixon honed the Southern strategy. They saw Biden as the candidate best situated to appeal to the minority of white voters who could abide Donald Trump’s bigotry but couldn’t stand his incompetence. And, with a major assist from Kamala Harris to shore up the underrepresented communities who were sick of racism and patriarchy, Biden was able to defeat Trump.…

DOES THE WORLD NEED MORE PEOPLE? NOT IF YOU ASK the glaciers, the rain forests, the air, or the more than 37,400 species on the verge of extinction thanks to the relentless expansion of human beings into every corner and cranny of our overheated planet. There are now 7.9 billion of us, and growing—50 years ago there were fewer than half as many. I’d say we’ve more than fulfilled the biblical injunction to be fruitful and multiply. In spite of all the signs indicating that slowing population growth would be a good idea, the world’s most populous country is aiming for the opposite. In May,, the Chinese government relaxed its two-child quota; now couples can have three. China’s population is getting old: The median age has risen from 24.9 in…

FOR A MOMENT, DIANNE MORALES SEEMED LIKE THE left’s best shot at stopping the more moderate frontrunners in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary race, businessman Andrew Yang and ex-cop Eric Adams. Though she was always a long shot, consistently polling in the single digits, Morales began gaining traction among the city’s fragmented left after allegations of sexual harassment and abuse upended the campaign of city Comptroller Scott Stringer, who had hoped to consolidate progressive support. Morales, a former nonprofit executive, positioned herself as the most left-wing candidate in the crowded field and started bringing in impressive fundraising hauls, qualifying for millions of dollars in matching funds for the first time in March. But less than four weeks before Election Day, the Morales campaign collapsed, and did so in an…

83% People in Japan who oppose hosting the Olympic Games in Tokyo this summer 88% People in Japan who worry that Olympic athletes and staff from abroad could spread Covid-19 6.4% People in Japan who have been fully vaccinated 11,091 Athletes expected to compete in the Olympics 72% People in Japan unhappy with the government’s response to the pandemic -32 Net approval rating of Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga $15.4B Budget for this year’s Olympics and Paralympics, though the actual cost could reach nearly $25 billion 102.4ºF Predicted high temperature in Tokyo during the Olympics…