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Uniform approach

Outsourcing has a bad name – a way of cutting labour costs by employing people in India and China (over three million US jobs will be lost to this trend by 2015). But there’s also a growing move for nations to outsource everything from their military to postal services that, properly harnessed, could raise standards and redefine what makes a country. This is who we would employ.
The long view

Jonathan Raban, Raúl Abreu Lastra and Ferruccio de Bortoli tell Monocle who they would like to hear less about next year.
A very civil service

From the ancient Greeks onwards, wise governments have seen the benefits of outsourcing. But what would a modern state look like if it put all of its ministries out to tender, employing the best foreign governments and private companies to run them? This is *Monocle*’s cabinet reshuffle.
Five alive

Which territories and nations are due their turn in the international spotlight? Monocle reveals five areas – from an EU island nation to a sprawling South American state – that will be in the headlines for all the right reasons over the coming year.
The way ahead

Global forecasting requires an expert view, so we called on four leading thinkers for a considered analysis of the future: Michael Axworthy, former head of the Iran section at the British Foreign & Commonwealth Office, looks at how the diplomatic turmoil surrounding that country might play out; Michael Shifter, vice-president for policy at the Inter-American Dialogue, foresees a Latin America free from US dependence; Malcolm Cook, programme director for the Asia Pacific region at the Lowy Institute, outlines the dilemmas China will face as it embraces superpower status; and Peter Reid, vice-president for communications at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, predicts a more liberal approach to foreign relations in a future Clinton White House.
Shaking it up

Are you familiar with all of these leaders? Monocle profiles three whose influence will continue to grow and grooms two necessary leaders of its own.
The long view

Colin Bradford, Simon Anholt, Paula Scher and Ilkka Kanerva on 2008.
Iron in zion

They cost just €70 to make, but Hezbollah rockets have forced some Israeli towns to be abandoned. So Israel is building Iron Dome, an anti-missile shield. If it works, it could change the pace of diplomacy in the region and beyond.
The long view

Surin Pitsuwan, Hanna Anbar and Mark Leonard give their views.
Early warning

From making life a misery for passengers at airports to making war with their neighbours, Monocle takes a look at the organisations, countries and people who are destined to hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons in 2008.
Up for adoption

In Germany home-owners can generate power and sell it to the national grid. Genoa runs an inspiring van-share scheme that’s cutting congestion and in Estonia they have adopted a simple fiscal reform that’s kept the economy booming. Ministers and mayors hoping for re-election in 2008 should study these public policy initiatives with care.

Seasonal selection / Global

Gift guide

Amanda phones, Tretorn shoes, Leica cameras, iPod Touch, must-have books and magazines, plus wooden skis - our holiday gift guide has it all.

By: Saul Taylor

Photography: David Sykes

Gift guide

No. 9 – Dec 2007/Jan 2008

Something for the holidays
With just one month left until the holiday season, we have compiled the following wishlist of gifts we’d like to find under our Norwegian spruce. And for the lazy givers among you, take heed: if you must buy socks buy Falke Naturfein, knitwear should come from Zanone and, at the very least, we expect our stockings to be stuffed with Delta Valencia oranges.

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Konfekt Korner

Uniform approach

The long view

A very civil service

Five alive

The way ahead

Shaking it up

The long view

Iron in zion

The long view

Early warning

Up for adoption

Shop flawless

Window of opportunity

Taking account

Techno tradition

Arte & Craft

Art corps

Fresh start

Skill set

Off the rails

Roots finder

Natural by design

Gift guide

Time is everything

Nimmanhaemin

Ration nation

Observation

King for a day

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