[LINK] A morning roundup

[rfmcdonald]

• David Boaz's blog post "Stumbling in Sweden" has created a significant debate around Johan Norberg's article in the summer 2006 issue of The National Interest, "Swedish Models". Norberg's contention that Sweden has been experiencing slow decline owing to the post-1970 expansion of the welfare state is controversial. Certainly the debate below Boaz's post is fierce.


• Karl D. John's Asia Times article "Vietnam's south takes leadership wheel" examines the growing influence of south Vietnamese in Vietnam's political and economic hierarchies.


• Henry Farrell at Crooked Timber takes a look at The New Republic's hostility to bloggers. He, and commenters, are unimpressed.


• angel80 dissects the claims and failings of the Japanese whaling industry. It turns out that the Japanese aren't that fond of whale meat, after all. Why, then, a pro-whaling position? Vested interests.