A report from the SSRC's Center on Law and Public Finance, Rethinking 21st Century Government: Public-Private Partnerships and the National Infrastructure Bank, examines ways to put private capital now sitting on the sidelines to work building much-needed infrastructure in the U.S.

2006 Abe Fellow Daniel P. Aldrich analyzes the Tohoku disaster, crisis "windows," and more for Items & Issues.

A number of SSRC programs have open competitions: Training Awards in Higher Education and Social Inequality in Egypt (Deadline: July 6), Workshop on Youth and Social Stability in Eurasia (August 15), Grants for Collaborative Research on Environment and Health in China (August 22), Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa (August 31), Abe Fellowship (September 1), Abe Fellowship for Journalists (September 15), Dissertation Proposal Development Fellowship (DPDF) Faculty Field Competition (September 30).

The Economic and Social Rights Empowerment Initiative was featured recently in the Christian Science Monitor.

At The Immanent Frame, Sindre Bangstad and others consider the increasing tensions between freedom of speech, freedom of belief, and the rights of religious minorities — namely Muslims — throughout Europe.

In a New York Times online video feature, Michael Cohen and Daniel Serwer debate withdrawing from Afghanistan for "Islam in Focus," a project funded by the SSRC.

2009 IDRF Fellow Wazhmah Osman answers questions about "Watching Soap Operas in Kabul" for The Boston Globe, and 2006 Abe Fellow Sheila A. Smith assesses the impact of Title VI cuts in "America’s Global Future on the Chopping Block" for the Council on Foreign Relations.