It’s February already, and I can’t believe I’ve gone this long without The Economist’s World in 2008.
No, seriously.
This situation is dire. This annual special outlines the past year’s events and makes predictions for the next. It covers the most prominent issues of local, regional and international importance.
And now, it’s February, meaning 8.3 percent of the material has already outlived its relevance. With each day, that statistic increases by .27 percent. With each day, I lose touch with the issues plaguing this world by .27 percent.
No, seriously: This lack of “The World in 2008” is seriously problematic.
This British news magazine is a god among current affairs publications, outshining Time, U.S. News and World Report and Newsweek.
The Economist delves into the politics of every major region in the world, with specific sections for American and British politics, as well as science, finance and the arts.
The Economist‘s “The World In . ” series, especially The World in 2008, makes predictions for every major industry in the world and briefly summarizes the upcoming year for almost every nation on the planet.
No, seriously: These predictions are of utmost importance. The rise of China and its summer Olympics, the progress toward peace between Israel and Palestine and for the entire Middle East, the growing instability of Russia, the politics of energy … These topics, and many more, are discussed in “The World in 2008.”
And I remain removed from such analytical foreshadowing! “50 Facts That Should Change the World,” “The Political Junkie Handbook,” “The CIA World Factbook for 2008,” the latest issues of Foreign Affair and Foreign Policy, and Time’s Year in Review for 2007 — I have passion for these issues and easy-access evidence to support my opinions.
Now, I won’t compose forecasts for the year. I acknowledge that I have not yet developed my credibility into well-argued and well-supported punditry. But to continue to drown in the level of ignorance I unsuccessfully swim in drives me insane and screams “epic failure!” in living up to the title of “political science major.”
No, seriously: “Political science major” comes with connotations. One must read one of the newspapers from the Billiken Readership Program daily; staunchly support a political party (as well as a particular candidate); tediously reason through every controversial issue of moral significance; and be extremely politically correct.
I flunk in almost all respects, and I do not see much improvement for me in the future without the special knowledge contained within the pages of this special magazine.
No, seriously: I’m not overreacting. English clergyman and essayist Sydney Smith once said, “To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in, and scramble through as well as we can.”
The best way to start to scramble through the things worth doing, in my case, is to build a foundation of knowledge. Without proficient knowledge of the problems that plague our world, one cannot develop plans or implement solutions in real time.
As a political science major, I spend too much time planning how to best allocate my resources and support the greater good on issues of importance in my field. I buy too many reference works and hoard written material. I look into the best-of-the-best of current affairs publications to make sure I receive adequate, informed, credible and accurate reporting.
All that time and energy is still not enough, but it is all directed toward where I’m headed and where I intend to direct my time and resources.It’s February, and there’s still no sign of “The World in 2008.” Despite the tragedy, there are other things to worry about. Seriously: I need to get a move on.
Allison Reilly is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences.
