The status and activities of the Center for Strategic and International Studies and its ties to Georgetown University are described. CSIS serves as a kind of open university for policy makers, outlining the issues and policy choices that the U.S. will face in the future. It maintains a professional staff of 25, has a politically conservative…

Based on an examination of numerous manuals, the current content and approaches to the study of French contemporary civilization are presented. Analytic commentary is provided of the books considered. (SW)

Currently some skepticism exists concerning the value of area studies--especially the concept of "national traits." Also, the alleged motivational value may be offset by the sacrifice of language-learning time. German language teaching has followed the U.S. lead; American teachers might profit from German experience. (Text is in German.) (WGA)

Provides a brief overview of political and economic developments of the past 25 years in Africa. Maintains this was a period of experimentation with vast differences in the ways in which governments dealt with human and natural problems. (JDH)

There is currently a shortage of students and funds in colleges around the country for Southeast European studies courses. Proposes ways to solve this problem through the more efficient use of existing resources. (RM)

North Korea is a country about the size of the state of New York, inhabited by about 23 million people. It came into existence after the conclusion of World War II following decades of occupation of the Korean Peninsula by the Japanese empire. Dividing the peninsula into North and South Korea was the politically expedient solution to one of the…

This journal presents new perspectives and materials on Japan that are engaging, relatively jargon-free, and shaped so that their usefulness in a college classroom is readily apparent. The journal represents an example of the potential for genuine scholarship that lies within interdisciplinary studies. Articles grouped under the topic of…

Oceanic art has long been recognized for its quality and its influence on Western art. This CD-ROM presents over 100 of the finest examples of art from the Pacific region in the form of museum photos, contemporary video segments, and music. The CD-ROM includes such artifacts as masks and carvings from Melanesia, canoes and storyboards from…

Contains a collection of comments by Russians about their country and the U.S.; gives questions for discussion with secondary and college students. The statements serve to stimulate discussion and, together with additional study, may provide valuable information about the life style and living conditions in the Soviet Union. (AM)

Suggests and annotates educational materials for use by instructors of college-level courses on regional geography of Europe. (Author/DB)

Asserts the importance and necessity of reviews of scholarly publications to the researcher. The form, content, and availability of scholarly reviews is discussed. (EJS)

Discusses the changes in the University of Connecticut's Proseminar in Latin American and Caribbean Studies graduate course that focused on: (1) interdisciplinary faculty participation; (2) a workshop model emphasizing development of fundamental skills; and (3) training in the use of research resources. Evaluates the course and highlights areas…

This paper, intended as lecture material for university students or as background material for teachers of social studies and world history, assumes that students already have some knowledge about the origins, practices, and beliefs of Islam, but that they have no prior background about Indonesia or its history. The paper describes the diversity…

Area studies should form a part of the entire teacher-training curriculum. They should be contemporary in content. Order of presentation is discussed. A concept of beginning and advanced area study treatment is described, using certain specified teaching materials. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)