Foreword

Foreword Kristin Carlucci, Saul Garlick, and Beth Hanley Lawrence Summers famously quipped, "No one in the history of the world has ever washed a rented car…why is that? It's because they didn't own it. Somebody else did."1 Ownership Matters. Ownership, specifically in the pursuit of property, has been a pillar of Western democracy since the 17th century. Yet ownership does not only matter in regards to physical property. Ownership matters in regards to states, ideas, businesses, people, processes, and natural resources. Ownership, framed with good governance and legal institutions, is power. In the Summer-Fall 2007 issue of The SAIS Review, we address why we believe ownership matters—ownership beyond the scope of property, into the realm of territory, people, resources, and institutions. Our intention is not to water down the ownership debate within the development community, rather to highlight the range and complexities of such a powerful concept in all areas of international affairs. This issue's authors discuss whether ownership of natural resources is a human right, whether ownership of private enterprises is an essential ingredient of economic growth, whether foreign ownership of domestic entities is a security risk, and if too much ownership is a dangerous thing. The first section of this issue examines the process of privatization—the transfer of ownership from the state to individuals. This section's authors argue that privatization is not a panacea for emerging economies, but it can be a powerful engine for growth if supported by the right institutions. John Nellis gives an introduction to the privatization process, discussing the challenge of rapid ownership transfers and the importance of regulatory institutions and economic incentives for all stakeholders. Three authors from the Center for International Private Enterprise consider the role of legally enforced property rights in transitioning economies, providing examples from their work in Kenya, Montenegro, and Russia. Andrew Barnes looks at the intense struggle for ownership in Russia, where a wave of privatization has been followed by continued government interference in the private sector. In the second section, the focus turns to territorial ownership. Norma Kriger highlights the case of Zimbabwe, where the transfer of land ownership without the support of a legal framework has created a national crisis. Land ownership is also critical to peace and development in the Philippines, as Astrid Tuminez describes in her article on Mindanao. Finally, Boaz Atzili questions whether fixed territorial ownership always makes a state stronger. The section on resources and institutions begins with a discussion of sovereignty and democracy. Edward Joseph finds that an 'ownership doctrine' that compels outsiders to put development processes in local hands can sometimes put states at risk. Matthew Mingus examines the [End Page 1] 2006 national elections in Canada and asks whether the political scandals that shaped the election were driven by a shift from traditional democratic, public-sector values to market-based, private sector values. Sarah Hale looks at the importance of rights not in reference to property, but to resources, as she discusses the precarious legal position of urban water users in the Philippines. Leif-Eric Easley develops the concept of defense ownership in his paper on South Korean and Japanese security policies. Joongi Kim continues the discussion of national security as he looks at varied reactions to foreign ownership of domestic enterprises. The SAIS Review is happy to celebrate the winners of this year's student essay contest. Erica Shein, winner of the 2007 SAIS Review Essay Contest, argues that local ownership of food distribution programs is critical to food security. Jennifer Murray, winner of the 2007 SAIS Review Photo Essay Contest, documents Senegal's informal sector. Pierre Habshi, winner of the 2007 SAIS Review Book Review Contest, discusses Hezbollah: The Changing Face of Terrorism, a new book by Judith Palmer Harik. The issue concludes with three more reviews, of William Easterly's The White Man's Burden: How the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done so Much Ill and So Little Good, Paul Kennedy's The Parliament of Man: The Past, Present, and Future of the United Nations, and The Arab Economies in a Changing World by Marcus Noland and Howard Pack. The articles in...

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