From the Atlantic "Quick Study"

The June 2009 issue of The Atlantic has a couple of interesting tidbits in its "Quick Study" section:

• The physical safety of women in a given country is a better predictor of its peacefulness than wealth, level of Islamic influence, or even strength of democracy. Violence against women (including female infanticide and sex-selective abortion) may account for more deaths than all the wars of the 20th century. This kind of cultural aggression likely sparks increased nationalism and, eventually, warfare.

  —“The Heart of the Matter: The Security of Women and the Security of States,” International Security

• Residual psychological effects of the slave trade may be one reason Africa’s economies are so dysfunctional. Africans who descend from tribes that were heavily exposed to slavery show significantly less trust in their local governments, their neighbors, and even their relatives, and they exhibit low confidence in state institutions, the rule of law, and the benefits of civic participation—all attitudes that choke economic growth.

  —“The Slave Trade and the Origins of Mistrust in Africa,” National Bureau of Economic Research

Comments: Wow! Deep cultural elements not only determine macro political-economic behavior, the effects can be shown through the use of cross national comparisons. JAD