Russia has never been busier — or more exhausted. After three years of war, the Kremlin boasts record-low unemployment and record-high labor shortages. Factories can’t find welders, farms can’t find drivers, and the defense industry is devouring what’s left of the civilian workforce. The result is an economy that runs without advancing — its motion […]
Category: World
Ethiopia’s “Renewal Through Planting” and the Politics of Green Authoritarianism
The intense Ethiopian sun burns down as thousands of volunteers in green shirts, school children alongside politicians, take up shovels and saplings in a publicly broadcasted spectacle to plant millions of trees in a single day. They are participating in the world’s largest state-led reforestation campaign, Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, with official figures claiming that […]
The Euro Problem: Is Further Integration the Solution?
Twenty-five years after its launch, the eurozone is failing its citizens. In Spain, the unemployment rate sits at 10.29 percent. In Greece, 26.9 percent of people are at risk of poverty or social exclusion. Meanwhile, Italy’s public debt has climbed to 137.9 percent of GDP, the second highest in the euro area after Greece. The […]
Decolonizing the Climate Crisis
In the Atacama Desert of Chile, the promise of clean energy for the world comes at a steep cost. Beneath the salt flats that power electric vehicles in the Global North, Indigenous communities struggle with water scarcity and environmental degradation. The imbalance between the consequences for the South and North shows that the pursuit of […]
A Faraway Rebel Group Upped Their Game Enough to Hurt the Average American
Despite the world being more connected than ever, much international conflict feels disconnected from people’s day-to-day lives when it has no day-to-day effect. Beyond the rational, moral judgements made about foreign conflicts, empathizing with the tragedy and loss, in terms of the direct impact on citizens’ lives, these distant wars are often considered, at best, […]
The Rise of Developing Nations from the Chinese Net Decline
As cranes dotted skylines across Nairobi, Colombo, and Karachi in 2013, China’s vast Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) had sprung into full velocity. Pouring over $1 trillion into developing countries symbolized their promise to rewrite the global economic map. However, today, those exact cranes remain inactive. The dozens of lower-middle-income nations that had once received […]
The End of Ideology, the Rise of Identity
In 1989, Francis Fukuyama suggested that history had reached its end, not because events would cease, but because humanity had supposedly resolved its deepest political question: how to live. Liberal democracy, he argued, met the human demand for recognition (what the Greeks called thymos) more fully than any rival. After the fall of communism, politics […]
The Dystopian Spiral of Third-Country Deportations
Shuttled out of countries under mysterious circumstances, dropped off in foreign states, and left with little legal recompense, the story of modern third-country deportees sounds like something out of a political fiction. But third-country deportations are intensely real, and they are only increasing. Third-country deportations occur when a non-citizen is deported from their current nation […]
Remembering the City of Darkness
Near downtown Hong Kong, about a kilometer away from where Prince Edward Road East crosses the Kai Tak River, lies a historical artifact in the form of a lush and serene public space: Kowloon Walled City Park. A wandering tourist might find its name a bit strange. Kowloon — sure. Park — makes sense. But […]
Netanyahu Faces the World, and the World Walks Out
When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took the stage at the United Nations General Assembly on Sep. 26, 2025, symbolism freighted the event. His address was not merely a policy statement: It was a high-stakes performance under the twin shadows of war crimes allegations and a Trump pardon that cleared a path for him to […]
Geopolitical Tug-of-War: Moldova Decides Between an EU or Russian Future
Between Romania and Ukraine, a tiny country in Eastern Europe is choosing its path for the future in historic parliamentary elections. The neighboring war in Ukraine and the country’s own ongoing challenges mark this collective choice as especially important. The Republic of Moldova held critical parliamentary elections on Sep. 28 for all 101 seats in […]
Diplomacy as Performance in Trump’s Saudi Strategy
Unlike most U.S. presidents who traditionally make their first foreign trip to Canada or Mexico, Donald Trump broke precedent in 2017 by choosing Saudi Arabia and returning again in 2019. These visits signaled a dramatic recentering of U.S. foreign policy around Riyadh, reflecting Trump’s fascination with Saudi wealth, spectacle, and geopolitical leverage. Yet, as Saudi […]
Bolivia’s Plurinational Promise in Ruins?
A political era has ended in Bolivia. The ruling party, Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), is projected to fall from its comfortable majority of 96 out of 166 seats in both chambers to a staggering total of two seats in the new legislature. MAS is not just any Bolivian party. After the party rose to power […]
The Geopolitical Power of Hallyu
Does the name “J. Y. Park” ring a bell? If so, chances are that you have brushed shoulders with the K-pop industry. While not a household name outside of K-pop fandom circles, this Korean songwriter and entertainment CEO also maintains the almost unexplainable role of “weird dad of the K-pop industry” – from overly-autotuned and […]
The Skew of Global Climate Finance
As a mother of eight, Ebada Yusuf had now lost her third child. Sitting next to the body of her four-year-old son, Salman Mohamed – who died that morning from severe malnutrition and measles in Baidoa, Somalia – Yusuf questioned the reason behind the conditions of their suffering. In May of 2021, Africa suffered from […]
As Syria Emerges From Civil War, What Are the Consequences of its Cultural Destruction?
Broken pottery vessels in ransacked museums. Blown-up ruins in sandy villages. The crumbling dome of a mosque, open to the yawning blue sky overhead. These are the images of Syria’s destroyed cultural heritage that dominate the Western imagination. But what do these scenes of destruction actually mean, and can we really dismiss them as just […]
What Silicon Valley and Shenzhen Forgot
At a startup fair in Shenzhen, often called China’s Silicon Valley, a robotic arm salutes the Chinese flag while a camera scans the crowd for faces to greet by name. Six thousand miles away in Palo Alto, an engineer pitches an AI model that can generate lifelike images of anything, except, he jokes, “political context.” […]
The Power Outage That’s Breaking a Nation
On 25 September, at dusk, Antananarivo went dark. Mothers lit candles to cook dinner; children did their homework by phone light. By midnight, thousands were in the streets, demanding power — the kind that runs lights and governs nations. Years of neglected infrastructure, mounting debt, and mismanaged fuel supplies had finally caught up with the […]
Who Gets to be a State? The Politics Behind Recognition
On September 21, a coordinated effort by the Western nations of Britain, Australia, Canada, and Portugal aimed to promote a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by announcing their recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. This decision happened amidst the escalating humanitarian crisis following continuous Israeli offensive attacks, which have caused global outrage over […]
Germany’s Free Speech Dilemma
A few supporters have gathered in front of the podium in the small eastern German town of Gera, as Björn Höcke, a far-right politician of the German right-wing extremist party AfD, addresses the crowd. He excites those present with his uniquely sounding, slightly old-fashioned, patriotic rhetoric. Waving his hands, the politician shouts, “Everything for…” and […]
Serve the People, March the Nation
In Beijing’s 2025 military parade, symbolism mattered as much as firepower. Alongside next-generation drones and hypersonic missiles, President Xi Jinping stood in a Mao-style suit, flanked by foreign dignitaries like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. Chinese state media called it a celebration of national “rejuvenation,” but for those who came of age during the […]
Lebanon Is A Mess … That Kind Of Works?
A deeply divided population. An explosion, a mass government resignation. A militia stronger than the military, an invasion from the South. And yet, survival. In January 2025, elections in Lebanon brought to power President Joseph Aoun, the first president in three years since the previous president stepped down after the 2020 crisis. Since then, the […]
Four Years After the Fall of Kabul, Afghan Refugees Have Nowhere to Turn
In the months after the United States-backed government of Afghanistan first fell to the Taliban, international condemnation of the regime and support for Afghan refugees were swift and widespread. But now, the shifting tides of international immigration policy have definitively turned against Afghan refugees. As Iran, Pakistan, and the United States all begin to either […]
Indonesia and the Chronically Online Political Voice of Gen Z
Searching Indonesia on TikTok once yielded viral videos of an 11-year-old kid racing boats and “aura-farming”. Now, the same search is instead met with clips of burning buildings, demands to the government, and the “Jolly Roger” flag from the 1997 Japanese manga and anime One Piece. These two jarringly different snapshots have one thing in […]
Why Foreign Policy Needs a Feminist Perspective
In July of 2022, women took to the streets of Sri Lanka in protest of the burden disproportionately placed on them by decisions made by their government leadership. Due to the corruption and economic crisis caused, many women were left to carry an even larger share of the domestic work which sparked protests all across […]
Managed Paralysis in Global Climate Governance
In the outcome clause of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the phrase “accelerating efforts toward the phase-down of unabated coal power” suspiciously aligns with a common political phrase: “we will make meaningful progress.” However, both of these nonbinding statements — with little to no supporting […]
From Selfie to ISIS: How Western Powers Paradoxically Fund Terrorism
Picture this: fierce eyes, shiny gown, and a golden coffin worth millions. The perfect Kim Kardashian Met Gala Instagram post — fabulous, viral, and unforgettable. The photo lit up Instagram faster than any official Met ad campaign and accidentally exposed one of the biggest art trafficking scandals of the decade. The coffin wasn’t just a […]
Symbolic Strikes, Real Consequences in the Middle East
The death of Ahmed al-Rahawi, Prime Minister of the Houthi-controlled government in Yemen, represents an escalation of Israel’s military strategy: a move from targeting infrastructure to assassinating leaders. Israel confirmed responsibility for the airstrike that killed al-Rahawi and portrayed it as a necessary dissuasion against the Houthis’ ongoing missile and drone attacks. Since 2023, the […]
The Same Old Corruption Story in Argentina
Corruption in South America is hardly breaking news, but the Milei scandal cuts differently because it was never supposed to happen here. Javier Milei, the President of Argentina, rose to power as a chainsaw-wielding outsider who promised to destroy the “political caste” and end decades of backroom deals. Now, leaked recordings point straight at his […]
The “Sacred” Lobby: An Investigation of Religious Advocacy and its Impact on Geopolitics
In 1968, sociologist Peter Berger prophesied that by “the 21st century, religious believers are likely to be found only in small sects, huddled together to resist a worldwide secular culture.” Sixty years later, few predictions have aged worse. Religion, and subsequent religious advocacy, is not retreating from public life—it is increasingly becoming an effective political […]
The Chinese Dream Versus a Chemical Crisis
China has backed itself into a diplomatic corner. In order to achieve its ambitious goals, Beijing must balance its reputation, relations with potential investees in the Global South, and relations with the United States. In terms of the U.S., Beijing wants to project power, mainly by winning the trade war through strategic leveraging of counternarcotics […]
The Refugee Camp That Time Forgot
Nestled in the arid terrain of northeastern Kenya, the Dadaab refugee complex stands as one of the clearest examples of a humanitarian system that has lost its way. Established in 1991 as an emergency response to the outbreak of civil war in Somalia, Dadaab was designed to be a temporary solution. But over three decades […]
The Illusion of Progress: The Unfulfilled Promise of Gender Quotas
When Claudia Sheinbaum was officially inaugurated as the 66th president of Mexico on October 1, 2024, she became the first female president of Mexico and the first Latin American president of Jewish heritage—all after running in the first majority-female Mexican election. Mexico’s election system is fascinating, and an extreme example of a trend that can […]
The Global Playbook: How Athletes Are Used to Sway Political Voters
Athletes set the tone in stadiums, not parliaments. However, in the era of political dependence on the intersection of technology and media, athletes have become unlikely but potent allies in politics. Once national icons, sports figures across the globe are now being redrafted into entirely new uniforms: those of political activists, cultural symbols, and even […]
Times of Change: What Should Starmer Do Next?
Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister of the United Kingdom, came to power on the back of a single-word election slogan: ‘Change’. At its core, his Labour government committed itself to transforming Britain from an economically stagnant country with poor public services to a clean energy ‘superpower’ abundant with economic growth. And yet, he has […]
Milei and MAGA: A Love Story
If the pragmatic James Carville gave us the slogan “It’s the economy, stupid,” we now have an ideologue’s response. Javier Milei, the self-described “anarcho-capitalist” President of Argentina, won the 2023 presidential election off the back of his rallying cry “Long live freedom, Goddamnit!” Just last month, Milei’s slogan, glistening and italicized, found itself engraved on […]
Nauru’s Citizenship for Sale: Golden Visas and the Price of Survival
Imagine lazing on a beach on an island in the South Pacific — the temperature is always 80 degrees, the water always perfect, a mimosa in one hand and a pair of sunglasses in the other. Life has never been better on the paradise of the Nauruan shores. This isn’t real. What won’t be noticeable […]
The Shadow Fleet’s Hidden Hand: Russia’s Sabotage of Underwater Infrastructure
The Cold War might be over, but the cables beneath the Baltic Sea suggest otherwise. In a world increasingly dependent on digital connections and undersea infrastructure, Russia’s maritime behavior feels less like routine navigation and more like a game of cloak-and-dagger warfare. The culprit? Russia’s elusive “shadow fleet”—a murky network of commercial-looking vessels suspected of […]
India’s Regulatory Crossroads: Can It Balance Growth and Control in the Tech Era?
In just two years, a 194 million dollar investment by Apple’s supplier, Foxconn, has turned Chennai into a thriving tech hub. This shift, fueled by policy overhauls and geopolitical shifts, positions India as a prime alternative to China’s production dominance. But how did India get here, and what hurdles remain as it steps into the […]
With Fear for Democracy, the World Dissents: The Authoritarian Surge
Reflecting on the historical tides of American politics, resisting Russian influence was a bipartisan imperative, with conservatives leading the charge against Soviet expansionism during the Cold War. Today, however, that dynamic has shifted, with segments of the American right increasingly willing to align themselves with the Kremlin, a development that would have once been unthinkable. […]
Undermining Stability: How U.S. Policy Shifts Impact South Africa’s Fragile Democracy
Amidst the changing political tides in South Africa, shifting U.S. policy under the Trump administration exacerbates longstanding tensions. The withdrawal of crucial aid and contentious public statements have not only influenced domestic policies but also threatened the stability of a nation striving for equitable governance. Since the historic election of Nelson Mandela in 1994, the […]
The End is Nigh (Again): How Media Alarmism Numbs Voters
On January 28, 2025, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock forward one second toward midnight, bringing the world 89 seconds to nuclear apocalypse. The idea of the apocalypse is nothing new, whether or not one has the misfortune of regular media notifications. In December 2012, half the world was convinced that the […]
Washington Exits: WHO Cares?
In recent years, the U.S. and the World Health Organization (WHO) have had a relationship that makes Hollywood breakups look tame. In 2020, President Donald Trump walked out, slamming the door on what he called a dysfunctional, China-biased bureaucracy. A year later, Biden rushed to patch things up, eager to restore American influence in global […]
Might Makes Right: the DRC, Rwanda, and a Shifting World Order
The winding path of international politics has reached a fork of values: enduring liberalism versus an emergent imperialism. Our new path will be chosen in Central Africa, a war-ridden and oft-ignored part of the world, where the Democratic Republic of the Congo is facing a resurgence of violence inflicted by its neighbor Rwanda. In 2012, […]
Medals and Meddling: Unraveling the Olympic Paradox
This year’s Olympic games were one for the books. The world watched, enamored, as Simone Biles won gold after gold, as Turkish Yusuf Dikec nonchalantly walked to the stand and fired bullseye after bullseye, as Australian Rachael Gunn did her best interpretation of a kangaroo interpreting the movement of a dying fish. For a few […]
Africa 2.0: The Rise of African Agency in International Politics
The extensive literature on post-independence African development highlights the challenges and opportunities for African agency in international politics. In essence, agency is the ability to influence or exert power on other parties or coalitions. Between the 1950s and 1990s, African states glimmered in global news as victims of corruption, civil wars, frequent regime changes, brutal […]
From Flags to Protests: How Kenya’s Unity Challenges Governance
Tear gas fills the air, crowds chant beneath a sea of fluttering flags, and Nairobi’s streets transform into battlegrounds of resistance. When their government has fueled corruption and promoted ethnic divides, the public employs a unique force in protest: national pride. Unlike the divisive nationalism that fuels xenophobic rhetoric, Kenya’s patriotism demands accountability and change. […]
A Tale of Two Slogans: Brexit Britain After Trump
During the 2017 United Kingdom general election, Prime Minister Theresa May ran on the slogan that she would provide ‘strong and stable leadership’. What followed was a weak electoral performance and two years of chaos as her government failed to pass a Brexit deal. Looking back at her premiership, one could hardly pick a more […]
Silencing the Messenger: The War on Truth and Free Press
Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,200 journalists were killed, with UNESCO reporting that 85% of these cases remain unresolved. Journalism, once hailed as a pillar of democracy, has now become a perilous profession. This culture of impunity reflects systemic failures at the national and international levels to protect journalists and hold perpetrators accountable. The result […]
Space Race 2.0: Profits, Power, and the Politics of the Cosmos
Capitalism is out of this world—quite literally. The commercialization of space is propelling us into a second space race, one that is fundamentally different from its Cold War predecessor. Unlike the 20th-century contest between the United States and the Soviet Union, this new race is driven by private enterprise, technological ambition, and the pursuit of […]
“Nothing But a Stain Will Remain”: Russia and the Baltics Threatening Nuclear War
The world has grown numb to the idea of nuclear war. Generations of children grew up practicing nuclear drills under their high school desks, as if fake wood covered in old gum and graffiti would fend off a nuclear winter. As a result, international media has given little coverage to the newest threats, dismissing them […]
On the Precipice: Southeast Asia Faces Trump 2.0’s Geopolitical Shake-Up
As Americans grapple with the aftermath of the November 2024 presidential elections, Southeast Asia stands at the critical nexus of its fallout, confronting a new and uncertain geopolitical reality. As Donald Trump returns to the White House, it marks a pivotal moment for the region. Trump’s “America First” policies, characterized by heightened protectionism, volatile diplomacy, […]
South Africa’s Gold Mining Industry and its Conscription for Death
Over the past century, South Africa’s gold mining industry has amassed immense wealth and global recognition, fueling the nation’s economy. . Yet, beneath the glittering surface lies a grim reality: a legacy of chronic illness, poverty, and death. The gold mining industry is built on the systematic exploitation of indigenous laborers from neighboring countries, shaped […]
Monkeys Go Bananas: Enough Animal Exploitation, Not Enough Action
Animals play an indispensable role in the lives of humans, shaping our psychological development, supporting livelihoods, and driving global economic systems. Indeed, a child’s early cognitive education is scientifically incomplete without learning about animals. Humane aquatic farming provides 500 million people in developing countries enough money to live another day. Animal pollination services contribute upwards […]
Echoes of Silence: How Aynaghor Exposes South Asia’s Hidden Repression
For the first time in half a decade, Michael Chakma saw the sun. He had escaped, but he could barely remember where to go or who to call. Five years prior, Chakma was abducted by Bangladeshi intelligence, and from that day on, he was subjected to torture, stuck in the darkness, and only able to […]
Echoes of the Earth: A Battle for Sacred Lands
The coast of South Africa’s Eastern Cape, near the Dwesa-Cwebe Nature Reserve, is a picture of calm. Clouds rest on the horizon, and gentle waves turn the sand into a reflection of the blue sky. But this serenity faces a threat—one driven by the demands of a warming climate and an economy rooted in fossil […]
Drone Warfare is Eroding the Right to Life
Technology has made war feel as remote as a video game: armed drones hover above like silent arbiters of life and death, striking targets with the press of a button. These “precision” machines, initially confined to distant battlefields, are now used in routine counter-terrorism operations and even domestic policing. But who really pays the price […]
ASEAN Navigates Techno-Geopolitics of AI in U.S.-China Showdown
As artificial intelligence (AI) cements itself as a cornerstone of global power, Southeast Asia finds itself at the center of a complex and high-stakes rivalry between the United States and China. Established in 1967 amid Cold War tensions, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was designed to foster regional stability and cooperation, helping its […]
Orania, South Africa: Apartheid as a Protected Right
In Orania, South Africa, white separatism is upheld as a right. Residents will argue that South Africa has turned its back on the white population, a practice they refer to as “reverse racism.” One resident adamantly says, “I see nothing wrong with apartheid.” The chairperson of Orania will tell anyone listening, “Our [white] culture is […]
The Duality of Bollywood: Modi’s Populist Playground
Introduce a good-looking, heroic, male protagonist and a pretty girl with an antagonistic father. Develop a flimsy love story, throw in some brawls with slo-mos and replays, and add scenic cuts to the lovers’ singing and dancing in Switzerland. Make the father abruptly realize the protagonist is the best option for his daughter and conclude […]
A Deeper Shade of Blue: the Tories’ Leadership Woes
On the 5th of July 2024, members of the British Conservative Party, or Tory Party, woke up to their biggest-ever general election defeat. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the parliamentary party was reduced to a rump of 121 seats, merely a third of the 365 seats they earned in the 2019 election. […]
Fraud at the Polls: The Last Stand for Democracy
In the early hours of July 28, Venezuelans lined up outside polling stations across the country, hoping to cast their votes for a new president, a new beginning. They waited in the sweltering heat, talking in hopeful whispers about change. But by nightfall, their hope was shattered. Nicolás Maduro, long accused of authoritarian tactics, declared […]
Nigeria: How Resource Wealth Trapped a Nation in Neo-Feudalism
In the heart of Lagos, a crowd gathers—voices raised in unison, banners waving with the words ‘End Bad Governance.’ It’s 2024, and Nigerians have had enough. Economic hardship, soaring inflation, and corrupt leadership have driven thousands to the streets. They are protesting against a system where oil wealth trickles up, but never down. Nigeria boasts […]
The Limits of Israel’s Wars
The Prussian General Carl von Clausewitz famously said “War is merely the continuation of policy with other means.” A state sets a definable list of objectives, and when diplomatic or conventional political means do not suffice, it turns to military means to achieve its goal. War may be accompanied by violence, destruction, and chaos. However, […]
From Abandoned to Essential: China’s Ban on International Adoptions Signals a New Era for Daughters
For decades, Chinese daughters were abandoned in favor of sons, leading to waves of international adoptions like Kate’s. This new restriction on international adoption seems to signal a change in how Chinese society views its daughters today.
Eren Yeager and America’s Preemptive Foreign Policy Strategy
“If we kill all our enemies on the other side of the sea, will we finally be free?” – Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan, Season 3, Episode 22: “The Other Side Of The Wall”) The disconcerting parallel between Attack on Titan’s (AOT) Eren Yeager and United States (US) foreign policymakers lies in their shared use […]
Russia’s Grip on Sovereignty and Democracy
Ukraine fights for freedom, while Belarus clings to dictatorship. At the heart of both struggles lies the same force: Vladimir Putin’s relentless pursuit of control over post-Soviet states. Ukraine is not the only country fighting against Russian influence. Aleksandr Lukashenko, who embraces the title as Europe’s last dictator, was elected president of Belarus in 1994. […]
Portugal Elections Mark Europe’s Surge Toward Radical Right
In April, Portugal was supposed to celebrate its 50-year anniversary of democracy, leadership, and stability since the Carnation Revolution, which overthrew the right-wing dictatorship that had led the country for decades. However, in March, just one month before this great milestone in the country’s history, it is facing political turmoil and democratic decay. Populist right-wing […]
China-West Conflict Making a Move to Africa?
From censoring Winnie the Pooh to attacking ships in the South China Sea with water cannons, China’s anti-Western international agenda has long been centered around political posturing and aggressive ploys for greater regional influence. However, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent actions suggest a new, rather unique, international strategy: spinning a globe and speaking with leaders […]
Dishonorable Killings: The Role of Police Brutality in Pakistan
Honor killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions, and political violence are just some of the words used to describe the police in Pakistan. These murders were not executed by some enraged mob but by the police—those responsible with enforcing the law and protecting the citizens of their country. The case is part of a broader pattern […]
The West’s Antichrist: The Rise of Antagonizing Iran
Over the last four decades, the West, led by US administrations, has been antagonizing Iran and discouraging any cooperation with Tehran and the Ayatollah, Iran’s supreme leader. When asked who the “greatest adversary” is to the United States, for instance, Vice President Kamala Harris said that it was obviously Iran, surprising many that consider China […]
South Africa Takes on Israel: A New Front in the Gaza Conflict
In a landmark move on December 29th of 2023, South Africa initiated legal action against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention due to Israel’s actions in Gaza. This unprecedented case raises not only complex legal questions but also shines a spotlight on ongoing humanitarian crises and […]
Reaches and Limits of Papal Influence
In a recent statement regarding the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, invoked anger when he suggested that the Ukrainians should have the “courage of the white flag” to come to the table and negotiate. That statement has been met with staunch rebuttal from the Ukrainians, with […]
Latin America’s Hamptons and Regional Tourism in Uruguay
Nestled between Brazil and Argentina lies the hidden gem of Uruguay, a nation filled with a rich cultural history, gorgeous beaches, and Argentinians on vacation. The nation officially gained its independence in 1828 after turning hands from several imperial powers. Uruguay developed throughout much of the 20th century as one of Latin America’s more progressive […]
Mr. Gorbachev, Did the Wall Actually Fall?
When the Berlin Wall was torn down with angle grinders and shovels on November 11, 1989, the people of Germany had one of two entirely different experiences. In the West, life continued. The borders were a little bigger, and the Allied presence lessened a little, but they lived on. But in the East, everything changed. […]
2024 Elections: Redefining Global Politics
“I voted … I’m so happy … I’ve voted for the ANC, is that OK?” One woman, who had just cast her first vote in South Africa’s first democratic elections, asked Elizabeth Sidiropoulos, now the Chief Executive of the South African Institute of International Affairs, this question. This fundamental premise for the people to freely […]
Why is Ecuador Working With Gangs?
Once known as an “island of peace,” Ecuador has descended into seemingly irreparable violence. In 2023 alone, the police recorded a striking 8,000 deaths in Ecuador, which was eight times more than the number of deaths recorded in 2018. Ecuador’s recent homicide rate greatly surpasses those of Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico—in fact, Ecuador currently has […]
The Storied History of Sudanese Jazz
Around the year 1955, in the city of Omdurman, Sudan, a cartoon illustrator for the Al-Subyan magazine struck up a friendship with several students whose residence was just across from his office. These students had recently moved to Omdurman from South Sudan after the suspension of Rumbek Secondary School, which occurred on account of rising […]
In Myanmar, Military Drafts Scare Away the Educated
“There’s no future for the youth.” —Tun Myint, Professor of Political Science at Carleton College VOA In Myanmar, youth are forced to confront a deadly choice. The country’s precarious position is under constant threat from rebel groups. Since the 2021 coup that replaced democratically elected leadership with a military junta, Myanmar has teetered on the […]
Southeast Asia is Rebalancing the Scales
At the height of the Cold War in the 1960s, much of anti-communist Southeast Asia aligned itself with the United States, entrenching U.S. hegemony around North Vietnam and its close allies in communist China. These countries regarded ties with the U.S. as a way to maintain and develop their economic and political strength in a […]
A Tale of Two Tax Inspectors
On April 2nd, 2024, Bassirou Faye became the youngest president in Senegal’s history, less than a month after his release from prison. Faye, a relatively unknown figure in the political arena, received the support and endorsement of Ousmane Sonko, the main opposition leader against former Senegalese president Macky Sall. Sonko himself had been disqualified from […]
The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone: Where Criminals Rule
The meandering Mekong River divides Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos at a geographical point colloquially known as the Golden Triangle. On the Southwestern banks lies Thailand, an economic powerhouse in the region. In the Northwest lies Myanmar, a nation struggling with significant conflict, pushing some farmers to opium production to make ends meet. In the Northeast […]
Will Somaliland Gain Recognition?
Tensions are surging between Ethiopia and Somalia following what the Somali government views as a severe breach of its sovereignty. The conflict stems from Ethiopia signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Somali breakaway region of Somaliland. As part of the deal, Ethiopia will gain military and commercial access to the Red Sea through […]
Israel and Iran at the Precipice
The Middle East is no stranger to armed conflict, but the month of April nearly saw the region embroiled in its most substantial war in decades as long-term enemies Israel and Iran exchanged blows. Despite their decades-long animosity, these exchanges marked the first time that either country initiated direct military strikes against one another’s territory […]
Convicted Panamanian Presidential Candidate Continues the Race
“The alliance to save Panama invites you tomorrow, Saturday, at three in the afternoon in the Plaza de Santa Ana to a large rally at the start of the campaign,” said former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinelli, after his appeal was denied, cementing his 10 year prison sentence. In May 2024, Panama will hold its national […]
A Call for Unity in Southeast Asia
In early March, Taylor Swift began the first of her six-night residency playing her critically acclaimed Eras Tour in Singapore. The city-state was one of only two countries in Asia hosting the popstar on the international leg of her tour, due to a deal struck by the Singaporean government and Swift regarding the Eras Tour. […]
Controversy Sparks Amid Chinese Military Bases in Africa
In an international world of constant strategic moves, especially when it comes to military assets, there is bound to be conflict between countries. This time, one such conflict happens to be flaring between China and the United States over nothing less than the continent of Africa. A proposed naval base on Africa’s coastline is causing major […]
The Modern-Day Pirates of the Middle East
In the rugged terrain of Yemen, where political lines blur and allegiances shift, the rise of the Houthi rebels marks a pivotal chapter in the nation’s turbulent history. The Red Sea, a critical piece in commerce and exchange, has become home to the Houthi rebels, a group causing chaos and disrupting geopolitics in the Middle […]
Southeast Asia is Never Getting Back Together, Like Ever
Taylor Swift’s breakups have always been displayed on the world arena, with the usual formula of news outlets releasing every detail about her relationship online and Taylor announcing a new song about it. Her most recent breakup however, defied the status quo that the Swifties have come to expect: her breakup was transnational, political, and […]
On The Emerging Hunger Crisis in Sudan
In 2019, the number of people facing acute food insecurity in Sudan was 5.8 million. Today, that number has reached 20.3 million, nearly half of the population, and is continuing to rise. In April of 2023, conflict between rival sectors of Sudan’s military, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began […]
The Dehumanization of Palestinian Men by Western Media
On the 7th of December 2023, images of IDF soldiers conducting mass detentions in Northern Gaza emerged on social media platforms. These depicted dozens of Palestinian men in the town of Beit Lahia kneeling on the ground, stripped naked, with their hands tied behind their backs. Similar episodes of mass incarcerations were repeated throughout Northern […]
France Constitutionally Protects Abortion in Monumental Vote by Legislators
In an era where reproductive rights are a hot-button issue in many countries, France has managed to explicitly codify abortion within its constitution—the most extensive protection of abortion and assertion of reproductive rights a nation has enacted in history. In response to an amalgamation of tension elsewhere over abortion, as well as persistent activism within […]
Volcano Fears Heat Up in Iceland
In November of last year, after detecting a flow of moving magma stretching nine miles long under Grindavík, a fishing village in southwest Iceland’s Reykjanes Peninsula, officials ordered an evacuation of at least 3,000 people living in the area. Although the evacuation took place as a preventative measure, not because citizens were in immediate danger, […]
Japanese Military Expansion: A Story of War Amnesia
In late December of last year, the Japanese parliament approved a 112.07 trillion yen ($787 billion) draft budget for the 2024 fiscal year. Although the aggregate budget is lower than that of the previous year, the defense budget increased by around 16%, with the parliament voting to allocate almost eight trillion yen to defense spending. […]
Transnistria Could Be the Next Greatest Threat to Ukraine
Two days ahead of the Russian presidential election, incumbent President Vladimir Putin was asked in a national address about the potential use of nuclear weapons in the Russia-Ukraine War. He replied that he currently doesn’t see the point, but that “weapons exist in order to use them.” The war is quickly ratcheting up, and with […]
Violence and Disaster in the Middle East: An Analysis of October 7th
“The problem of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was always trust. This is just a case of broken trust, this is a case of broken everything.” –Professor Ron E. Hassner Conflict Breaks Out: A Timeline October 7th, 2023. Hamas, a terrorist group operating within the Gaza Strip, fired a cascade of around 2,200 rockets into southern Israel. […]
No More Neutrality: Swedish Accession to NATO
In a seismic departure from its long-standing policy of military neutrality, Sweden has officially joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The decision, made against the backdrop of heightened Russian aggression and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, marks a significant turning point in Sweden’s foreign policy. As Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson poignantly said, “Sweden […]
Japan’s Little North Korea
Every morning, in a school located in the heart of Tokyo, high school students change into traditional uniforms, file into their classrooms, and gather under portraits of North Korea’s former leaders Kim Jong-il and Kim Il-sung. Most have never set foot on the Korean peninsula. This is a school for Koreans in Japan; specifically, those […]
The Dangers of Politicizing Western Humanitarian Aid
At the dawn of the 20th century, failing dictatorships and crumbling empires left millions of people vulnerable to poverty, hunger, war, and extermination. The “free” world, with all its graciousness, has aided tens of nations to alleviate their suffering. Statistically, numerous humanitarian assistance projects, which the Western bloc primarily manages and funds, have shaped the […]
The Threat of Growing Leftism in U.K. Academia
British academia leads the world in research, innovation, and creativity. The U.K. is ranked third in the world for published scientific research alone, with around 200,000 citable publications in 2020. Yet, U.K. universities are far from leading the world in academic freedom. Liberal identities have become dangerously intertwined with the identities of the institutions. In […]
Chipping Away at the Bloc: Hungary’s Crossroads with the EU
Following the large-scale casualties of World War II, the human condition was at its trough. Some 75 million lost their lives, and a similar number of people were forced to flee their home countries. Consequently, the European Union (EU) formed, intended to create a coalition that negotiates intercontinental peace in the midst of conflict. However, […]
Chaos and Anarchy Reign in Helpless Haiti
Trigger warning: Brief discussions of sexual assault and violence against women. Having spent the past decade and a half reeling from major earthquakes and epidemics that have killed and displaced hundreds of thousands, Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country, has fallen into a state of anarchy and chaotic violence. Beginning in early March, gangs—which have […]
Women Can be Anything! Even Suicide Bombers.
She was sixteen years old when she killed three people. Passing through an Israeli checkpoint in Southern Lebanon on April 9, 1985, Sana’a Mehaidli was determined to become a martyr of the Syrian Social Nationalist Party. She triggered her explosive-laden Peugeot, killing herself and two nearby Israeli soldiers. She went down in history as the […]
Is Indonesia’s New President a “Cuddly Grandpa” or Cunning Dictator?
Thousands of young Indonesians cheer as Prabowo Subianto dances up onto the stage in Jakarta. Known by his mononym, Prabowo, the friendly figure has been a popular presidential candidate in the world’s third-largest democracy. Many of these Indonesians are too young to know that Prabowo was not always the dancing grandpa he appears to be […]
A Litmus Test Of Modi’s Political Tradecraft
In a matter of weeks, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will find himself awaiting poll results for the nation’s General Election, wondering whether he will be reelected to office for a third time. This time, however, will be very different from Modi’s previous runs—in 2014, the man was a fresh face to Indian national politics, […]
How India’s Hyper-Nationalist BJP Regime Enables its Femicide Epidemic
On May 20, 2023, a 16-year-old girl was stabbed 21 times on a busy street in New Delhi, India. At one point, the knife was lodged into her skull, rupturing it. She was then bludgeoned with a cement block as passersby slowed, watched, and walked on. The entire scene was captured on CCTV. In March […]
How Government Inaction Threatens Migrants’ Lives in a French Refugee Camp
Every year in northern France, between the popular tourist venues of the Opal Coast and the cold Flemish beaches at the border with Belgium, thousands of people hide behind dunes and between bushes waiting for the sun to set. When the sky is dark and the air still, they drag on the shore precarious embarkations—commonly […]
From Cricket to Corruption: How Imran Khan Won an Election from Prison
In the tumultuous landscape of Pakistani politics, Imran Khan’s journey from a cricket star to a prominent political figure has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. In the 1980s and 1990s, Khan served as an all-rounder on the Pakistan cricket team and was regarded as one of cricket’s best. However, in 2018, Khan was elected […]
The Case for a United Ireland and Why It’s Only a Matter of Time
More than 750 years after the arrival of the first English occupying forces in Ireland, the passage of the Government of Ireland Act by the British Parliament in 1920 partitioned the island into two separate pieces. In the south, the majority-Catholic population gained national independence as the Republic of Ireland, finally free from centuries of […]
Is China Dismantling Democracy in Latin America?
“After all, who can blame a country for being able to take advantage of another country to the benefit of its citizens?” After visiting Beijing in 2017, former President Trump made a statement that may accurately reflect China’s contemporary foreign policy. Deemed the “Chinese miracle,” China has lifted 850 million people out of poverty since […]
The Climate Crisis is Worsening Gender Inequality in Education
One in every five children currently not enrolled in school resides in Nigeria. Despite primary education being entirely free and compulsory, over 10.5 million children are currently out of school. Gender plays a significant role in this pattern of educational deprivation. The net attendance rate for young girls in Nigeria is around 47% percent, compared […]
Pakistan Moves Forward with Mass Deportation of Afghan Migrants
Over 450,000 migrants have fled Pakistan for Afghanistan amid a worsening rift between the two governments. This wave of migration comes after the passing of the Pakistani government’s November 1st deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country or face deportation. Pakistan’s policy has sparked significant humanitarian concerns, as well as an increase in tensions […]
In the Shadows of Australia’s Citizenry
The Australian Aboriginal people were victims of terra nullius: the driving principle behind much of European colonial ventures meaning “no one’s land.” Despite their 65,000-year history in the lands of Australia, the Indigenous population faced displacement upon the arrival of unfamiliar people, culture, and languages from Europe. From a Eurocentric standpoint, the “barbaric” behavior of […]
Panda-Monium: The Love Story of Pandas and Washington
In 1972, two ambassadors left China for the U.S. They did not speak a word of English or Mandarin. In fact, they could hardly walk on two feet. These were not people, but pandas, China’s national animal. Since arriving in America, they have become an enduring symbol of the goodwill and cooperation between China and […]
More Than a Techno Club: Bassiani as a Political Frontier of Georgia
Buy a one-way flight ticket to Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. Once there, stroll across the Bridge of Peace to the eastern bank of the Kura River. Seek out a discreet black archway concealed beneath the largest sports arena in the city, and you will step into a dimly lit dance floor with DJs […]
A New Perception of Right for New Zealand
October 26th of 2017 was a historic day for not only New Zealand, but the world. Jacinda Ardern stepped up to the podium in Wellington to be sworn in to office, where she would become the youngest female head of government in history at age 37. Her center-left campaign and agenda at the helm of […]
Lessons in Hitting Rock Bottom: The United Kingdom’s Fall From Grace
In September 1923, the Empire of Great Britain, already the largest the world had ever seen, grew to its peak geographic size following its assumption of control over the territory of Palestine. A century later, the United Kingdom has become one of the foremost declining powers of our time as domestic incompetencies, divisions, and delusions […]
Not My Child: Parental Pressure on Teachers in South Korea
In South Korea, suicide is the leading cause of death among teenagers. It is the number one cause of death for young people since 2017, and the number of deaths continues to rise. Popular media and expert surveys pin the blame on the country’s rigorous educational system. Students are not only weighed down by long […]
Decolonizing the Climate Crisis
Western society has become entrenched in finding solutions to climate change that fit into a colonized understanding of the world. Much of Western academia operates on the widely-held assumption that the Anthropocene Epoch has led to the current climate crisis and the solution to climate change lies in reverting the world to how it was […]
The Devil Wears Fast Fashion: Myanmar’s Clothing Dilemma
While the usual contenders of Paris, London, and Milan persist in the battle for the fashion capital of the world, their chances in the global arena have recently been trumped by the emergence of a new competitor: Myanmar. Much to the world’s surprise, clothing exports have recently dominated Myanmar’s exports this year, reaching a record […]
Beyond APEC, Protestors Stand in Solidarity
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, held in San Francisco from November 11-17, gathered leaders from its 21 member states to deliberate on regional economic issues. On the morning of November 15, President Biden and Xi held their talk at Filoli Garden to discuss economic cooperation as well as topics including fentanyl, artificial intelligence, climate […]
Electricity Shortages Continue to Plague South Africans
Lloyd Albert, who owns two bakeries alongside his brother, is often forced to bake through the night in order to have products to sell during the day. He is in this position because he must plan around South Africa’s regular power outages, which exist as part of a load-shedding program. Like many other South African […]
The Stakes of Egypt’s Next Presidential Elections
Amidst the latest atrocities in the Middle East, the world’s attention has again turned to commonly overlooked regional powers such as Egypt. Until recently, many of these powers had faded from political discussion since the end of the Arab Spring, superseded by the Saudi Vision 2030 seizing social media to highlight the progressive Gulf and […]
Dissent and Democracy: Prime Minister Modi’s War Against the Indian Press
The violent unrest in Kashmir and Prime Minister Modi’s calculated decisions backsliding journalistic freedom have recently come to a head with Modi’s decision to press charges against author and activist Arundhati Roy. Roy commented on Kashmir’s relationship with India in 2010, and in response, Modi’s government has brought back a colonial-era sedition law to justify […]
The 2000-Year Bleeding Struggle of Egypt’s Minorities Persists
On July 18, world news spread as an Egyptian Court sentenced Coptic Egyptian human rights advocate, Patrick Zaki, to three years of prison for “spreading false news.” After 22 months of pre-trial detention, Zaki was reported to have suffered from physical and mental torture during his time in Egypt. Airport security detained him following his […]
Armenia Is on The Precipice. What Will The World Do?
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the South Caucasus has been at the crossroads of regional and great power geopolitics. For the past three decades, the most difficult to navigate of these flashpoints is Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian-majority enclave in Azerbaijan has long been at the center of a power struggle between Armenia and Azerbaijan. […]
Red-Tagging and Reclamation: Manila Bay Activists Freed!
On September 2, 2023, Jhed Tamano, a programme coordinator of the Community and Church Program for Manila Bay of the Ecumenical Bishops Forum, and Jonila Castro, a member of the Alliance for the Defense of Livelihood, Housing and Environment in Manila Bay, went missing while volunteering in a fishing community near Manila Bay. Local eyewitnesses reported […]
France’s Ban on Religious Symbols Violates Free Expression
France, a nation with a history entangled with the church and fraught with religious conflict, has become staunchly secularist in modern politics, prompting a decades-long political controversy over the existence of Islamic symbols in public schools. On September 4, 67 girls were sent home from French public schools after refusing to remove their abayas, a […]
Argentina at a Crossroads
On October 22nd, voters flocked to the polls to elect the new president of Argentina, amongst intense political and economic strife. All three candidates offered different solutions to the same problem: how to fix the economy. By the end of the day, it became clear that the top two contenders, Sergio Massa and Javier Milei, […]
Europe’s Reluctance to Address the Legacy of Slavery
The transatlantic slave trade and the exploitation of enslaved African laborers in the Americas stand as one of the darkest, most horrific pieces of the history of Western civilization. Without the motive, the means, the organization, and the dedication of European colonial powers in establishing and perpetuating this system of slavery, the modern world may […]
Humanitarian Crisis and Concerns of War in the Aftermath of Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
An uncertain future lies ahead for Nagorno-Karabakh following a swift Azerbaijani military takeover of the breakaway region, which gained de-facto independence in 1994. This region, historically inhabited by Armenians but internationally recognized as part of and currently controlled by Azerbaijan, has been at the center of multiple conflicts since the dissolution of the Soviet Union […]
Is Biden’s Absence Proof of ASEAN’s Fall Into Vestigiality?
On September 5th, the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met in Jakarta, Indonesia, under the guidance of Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The Southeast Asian bloc’s 43rd meeting commenced under tense conditions, including Beijing’s release of China’s newly declared territory map and the marked absence of United States President Joe Biden. Of […]
The Koreas: Stars of a Familiar Global Standoff
70 years after South Korea and North Korea called a ceasefire on their ongoing armed conflict, tensions have run high between the two countries, but not culminating in mass violence. Their diplomatic relations continue to remain frosty, and their differences have diverged further through their respective alliances with the United States and Russia. Given the […]
Japan’s Forgotten Children
I don’t have any dreams [for the future]. —Nozomi M., living in an institution, Osaka, December 2011 Without Dreams: Children in Alternative Care in Japan In a country with falling birth rates, an aging society, and an alarming population crisis, thousands of children are slipping through the cracks. Japan’s failing foster care system creates a […]
Turmoil Before the Storm: Underlying Political Risk in Libya
Derna was a beautiful seaside town, built on the ruins of a Greek colony by Spanish Muslims in the late 15th century. It was home to Libya’s first movie theater, dozens of religious buildings, cafes, and bookstores. It was a town rich with culture and intellectual vitality. But the physical evidence of that is now […]
A Bookend to 20 Years of Turmoil? What Thailand’s New Government Means for the Country
After four months of political limbo, yet another dramatic episode of Thai politics drew to a close. The general elections in May offered a scathing rebuke of the military-backed government. The progressive Move Forward Party (MFP), led by Pita Limjaorenrat, pulled a huge upset that headed 151 out of 500 seats in the lower House […]
One Chinese Barbieland, Two Semi-Autonomous Dreamhouses
The Barbie movie has dominated the movie industry with record breaking successes: it stands as the highest-grossing film of 2023 worldwide, highest-earning live-action movie directed by a female worldwide, and the 15th biggest movie of all time—truly capturing the kenergy it promised. But the Barbie movie has become much more than a successful film. Barbie […]
Three Presidents, Two Entities, One Dilemma
You may think that one president is enough to deal with, but imagine having three. Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), a Western Balkan country with a population of three million, has an unparalleled tripartite presidential system. Yet even three presidents cannot resolve Bosnia’s dilemma of ethnic division, nor promote significant economic development. Historical Background Bosnia’s turbulent […]
Catholic Controversy on the Brink of Polish Elections
In March of this year, a documentary came out that presented new evidence to support the claims that former Pope John Paul II was aware of sexual abuse happening within the Catholic Church of Poland during his time as archbishop and chose to cover it up. The specific allegations claim that the late pope knew […]
How Gabon’s Coup Marks the End of an Era for France
On August 30, shortly after President Ali Bongo was reelected for his third term, a group of Gabonese military officers from the presidential unit seized Bongo, his son, and six other individuals and held them prisoner in his palace. The instigators of the coup justified this abduction on account of Bongo and his accomplices allegedly […]
Dissatisfaction and Disappointment at UNGA78
“Compromise has become a dirty word. Our world needs statesmanship, not gamesmanship and gridlock . . . It is time for a global compromise. Politics is compromise. Diplomacy is compromise. Effective leadership is compromise. Leaders have a social responsibility to compromise in building the common future of peace and prosperity for our common good.” With […]
Guatemala’s “Uncle Bernie” Faces Potential Coup After Presidential Victory
Guatemala is on the verge of a political coup amid election turmoil. In the country’s recent presidential election, progressive candidate Bernardo Arévalo secured his victory with 58% of the votes, defeating the former first lady Sandra Torres’s 37%. The unprecedented victory of this dark horse candidate has provoked wrath and fear in the country’s political […]
India’s Newfound Leadership Status in the Global South: A Recap of the 2023 G20
Recently, the Group of Twenty major world economies, also known as the G20, met in New Delhi to pursue environmental and social concerns through international economic cooperation. With an ever-growing global economy and the unique international political moment of the Global South looking for a bridge to the West, India could step into that role […]
Situating Haiti’s Current Crisis Within a History of Imperial Abuse
The small Caribbean nation of Haiti is currently experiencing a crisis, the likes of which are difficult to comprehend. Having seen its president assassinated by foreign mercenaries two years ago, it currently has no elected government officials; the entire nation, but particularly the capital Port-au-Prince, is ravaged by gang violence, kidnappings, and murders; nearly half […]
Press Issues Take Rise in India
“I have resigned. You won’t hear me on NDTV anymore saying, ‘Hello, I’m Ravish Kumar.’” These were the final words uttered by Ravish Kumar during a YouTube video last November in which he declared his official departure from New Dehli Television (NDTV). The Current State of Affairs Kumar making his exit from NDTV is just […]
The Devolution of Democracy: A Systematic Decimation of Israel’s Judiciary
“Ambition must be made to counteract ambition. The interest of the man must be connected with the constitutional rights of the place. It may be a reflection on human nature, that such devices should be necessary to control the abuses of government,” wrote James Madison in Federalist No. 51. Madison understood that an absence of […]
El Salvador’s New “Mega Prison” and Bukele’s Crackdown on Gang-related Crime
“Our one rule, besides stick together, is don’t get caught.” This simple quote from S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders highlights the struggle between group identity and self-identity, as seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy who believes he is an outsider to society. In his world, there are only two types of people, “Greasers” and […]
Japan and South Korea Seek Reconciliation Amidst North Korean Missile Threats
Following a North Korean missile launch on the 14th of April, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea have agreed to increase the frequency of missile defense exercises and discussed resuming joint training. While the U.S. has maintained its presence in East Asia as well as its good relationships with both Japan and South Korea, this […]
Citizenship: A Make or Break in Human Rights
The realm of modern politics has been an era in which the state formation dominates. The intricate web of political institutions that comprise a state determines the degree to which people enjoy freedom, civil liberties, and the power to petition that state. What often distinguishes those who have these abilities from those who do not […]
Promising Progress, Never Peace: The Weapons Crisis in Kashmir
On Monday, January 2, 2023, six people, among them two children, lost their lives in a blast attack on the Kashmiri village of Dangri, which is in India-controlled Kashmir. The attack occurred mere hours after two gunmen shot at three houses in the same village, where five were injured and four died. Later known as […]
Hellenic Railways’ Spiral into Hell
Graffiti–tagged, charred, and crumpled remains of steel carriages of Hellenic Train Intercity No. 62 and another freight train lay on the rails of the Athens-Thessaloniki railway on February 28th, 2023. The intensity of the flames and the gruesomeness of the carnage that awaited the families of the 57 victims epitomized the scale of the tragedy […]
Turkey’s 2023 General Election: A Turn in Turkey’s Democratic Future
Turkey today has undergone democratic backsliding in recent decades, as Turkish President Erdogan has transformed Turkey into an increasingly authoritarian state. With its general election ongoing, Turkey has been thrust into the spotlight as current President Erdogan faces opposition Kemal Kilicdaroglu. President Erdogan has become increasingly unpopular due to policies that dismantled key aspects of […]
A Case For Kosovo
Despite war, violence, and continued internal struggles, Kosovo has managed to build a functional democracy in the two decades following its independence from Serbia. Although the country’s democracy is young, it has already experienced success through free and fair elections, reform initiatives, and the participation of civil society organizations. Nevertheless, Kosovo continues to face powerful […]
The Successes of Brazilian Civil Society
Despite being free from military dictatorship since 1988, Brazil has struggled to build a robust democracy. However, one area of democracy in which Brazil has flourished has been the civil society sector. In times where government action was absent or insufficient, civil society organizations have stepped in to provide and advocate for citizens. Though their […]
Islamophobia is on the Rise in Sweden
Recently, Swedish officials came under fire for allowing the burning of a copy of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, in front of the Turkish embassy. Turkey quickly condemned the actions of the Swedish government and threatened to withhold North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership from Sweden. Turkey’s threat holds significant weight as Sweden’s neighbor, Ukraine, […]
Philippines Looks to U.S. for “Maintenance of Peace” in South China Sea
China’s culture of aggression in the South China Sea once again reached the headlines in the wake of a recent altercation in Philippine waters. On February 6th of this year, a Chinese Coast Guard cruiser engaged a Philippine Coast Guard vessel. The Filipino ship was headed to supply the crew of a beached ship turned […]
The Politics of Cannabis in Thailand
Walking down the streets of Khao San Road, Patong Beach, Pattaya walking street, or any other central tourist destination in Thailand, it’s easy to see one product for sale everywhere: cannabis. But how did a country that strictly criminalized cannabis come to where it is now? The answer lies in the post-pandemic economy and political […]
Orbán’s Assault on Academic Freedom
Since his election in 2010, President Viktor Orbán of Hungary has been wreaking havoc on liberal democratic institutions and channels of political and everyday freedoms. Orbán has changed the rules of the game. Among his major assaults on democracy have been changing the original constitution to override constitutional-court decisions, introducing a new constitution, and implementing […]
No Freedom of Expression: Russia’s Crackdown on Dissenting Musicians
On a crisp autumn evening in 2014, fans packed into Moscow’s International House of Music to see one of Russia’s most famous musicians, Andrei Makareivich, perform. However, just a few minutes into the concert, Russian nationalists would pepper spray the crowded venue. While attacking the attendees, they chanted that Makereivich was a traitor due to […]
Why China’s Growing Influence in the Middle East Matters
Trailing behind the exit of the United States, China has taken an interest in the Middle East, brokering diplomatic deals between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This is a surprising role for China to take on, as the country has, in the past, shown relatively little interest in that region of the world. The spike in […]
Simultaneously, the U.S. and U.K. Move to Shut Out Asylum Seekers
As various global crises continue to stimulate substantial waves of migration on both sides of the Atlantic, the United States and the United Kingdom are taking parallel steps to close their doors to migrants in need. In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security recently published a new rule, set to go into effect […]
The Modern Great Experiment: India’s Climate Policy
India is somehow facing the largest problem of the twenty-first century while achieving some of the largest growth of the twenty-first century, and many are wondering exactly how. The answer might just lie in their climate policy. India’s Unique Historical, Demographic, and Political Positions Gaining independence in 1947, India as a nation has only been […]
Reworking Rocky Relations: What Burkina Faso’s New Alliances Mean for the Region
Last month, Burkina Faso rocked global news when it announced the termination of its military agreement with France. The ex-colonial European power had been occupying the jihadist-hit West African state since 2014. It has dispersed around 400 special troops in efforts to expand its presence in the Sahel region. Burkina Faso is still combatting an […]
Rise in Terrorist Attacks Sparks Tensions on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Border
A recent bombing of a Peshawar mosque by a faction of the Pakistani Taliban or Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has prompted fears that Pakistan’s terrorism problem is growing. The attack killed over 100 people, many of them police officers. The TTP initially claimed responsibility, although TTP leadership later denied involvement and blamed a breakaway faction. January […]
Democracy Under Attack in the United Kingdom
In the United Kingdom, the right to protest is under direct assault by the Conservative government. However, some of their efforts were recently dealt a significant—but limited—blow by a body of unelected nobles and aristocrats. On February 7, the House of Lords handed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s government a substantial legislative defeat by rejecting several […]
IOC Bans 2024 Olympic Athletes Due to Nationality
“There is no such thing as neutrality when a war like this is going on, it is obvious that any neutral flag of Russian athletes is stained with blood.” – Volodymyr Zelensky In succinct unity with Ukraine, 30 countries including the United States are threatening to pull out of the 2024 Summer Olympic Games being […]
Brazil’s Role as a Global Laboratory of War Against Misinformation
In 2018, a video of former President Barack Obama calling his successor Donald Trump a series of expletives gained traction online. While this was engineered by deep fake technology, a tool used to digitally alter a subject’s actions and speech, the public was widely ignorant of its origins. Consequently, the video circulated primarily through social […]
Climate “Loss and Damage” Can Change and Restitute the Future
This November, the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) brought the world together in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt, for an intervention of sorts. A priority confrontation centered around the United Nations Environmental Programme finding that finance flows to support developing countries in their adaptation to climate change have fallen short of estimated needs. Indeed, the discrepancy between […]
India’s Progressive Step in LGBTQ+ Rights
Deepika Singh vs. Central Administrative Tribunal and others A recent Indian Supreme Court ruling has acknowledged the existence of nontraditional partnerships, including same-sex parents, stepparents, single parents, and adoptive parents, and grants such parents equal protection and social benefits under the law. Previously, the law failed to recognize nontraditional families’ entitlement to parental rights and […]
Environmental Justice Through Clean Cooking
Your kitchen fills up with smoke. Your immediate reactions are a) your meal is probably jeopardized and b) you should clear the air out before the smoke triggers the fire alarm. Although we regard smoke’s thick presence with agitation and a tad of disappointment, at least we have a signal that tells us that our […]
FIFA’s Long History of Corruption Amid Qatar Controversy
On November 20th, 2022, the Federation Internationale de Football Association World Cup began. This year, Qatar, a small country of only 11,500 square kilometers (4,440 square miles), roughly the size of Connecticut, is hosting the event throughout five cities. Qatar will be accomplishing a lot of firsts this season, including but not limited to the […]
What is Driving the Rise of Anti-Immigration Sentiment in Europe?
As the far-right Sweden Democrats party won 20 percent of the votes in Sweden’s general election this September, many predict the rise of the nationalism and anti-immigration sentiment throughout the country—even in places previously considered safe havens for immigrants. Nativist parties such as Sweden Democrats, who perceive immigrants as a threat to their state’s national […]
What the Truck Was Going on in Canada?
At the beginning of 2022, hundreds of Canadian truckers took to the roads to protest, in their view, government overreach in the form of vaccine mandates and Covid restrictions. Hundreds of 18-wheeler trucks sat idle in the streets of Canada’s capital, Ottawa, like a blood clot in the heart of the nation, totally blocking traffic […]
Boko Haram’s Terror Festers Unabated
With close to 100,000 deaths occurring in Nigeria, it’s unsettling that the name “Boko Haram” isn’t dominating headlines. The insurgency group has destabilized and devastated the Eastern Nigerian region, leaving a severe humanitarian crisis in their wake. The militant group has terrorized in the name of a purer Islamic state and to oust the current […]
Lebanon in Crisis: Nothing More to Lose?
“I have nothing more to lose.” These were the words of Lebanese citizen Sali Hafiz after storming a bank with a toy gun to withdraw her own money. Her widely publicized action, which she said was to pay for her sister’s medical bills, triggered a second wave of bank “robberies” in Lebanon. Despite this, the […]
The Mental Health Challenge of Migration
Since the morning of February 24, when missiles first rained down and troops stormed into Ukraine under the direction of Russian President Vladimir Putin, 7.8 million Ukrainians have fled their besieged homeland. The majority have arrived in neighboring European countries, where they await the assistance of foreign governments. As the European Union (EU) grapples with […]
Iranians Are Protesting An Oppressive Regime
Mahsa Zhina Amini. A name that will be etched into history books as Iran grapples with its extreme, tyrannical policies. Detained by authorities on September 13th for not wearing her headscarf correctly, Amini was taken to a re-education center where she suffered a coma. Three days later, Mahsa Amini was declared dead. Iranian authorities said […]
The Little Red Dot’s Solution to the Environmental Crisis
In 1798, economist Thomas Malthus proposed his theory of the Earth’s carrying capacity. Taking into consideration various environmental factors, he posited that humans will eventually exhaust Earth’s finite supply of natural resources, placing a hard cap on human population growth. In the modern context, the dire state of climate change is the primary culprit for […]
What Can We Learn From the Norwegian Prison System
In class roughly two months ago, an ex-felon came to talk about how he managed to turn his life around while in prison and how that allowed him to reduce his sentence and create a meaningful civilian life. To this, I wondered, why do prison systems not inherently focus on rehabilitation and focus so much […]
Does the ICJ’s recent ruling on reparations matter if Uganda won’t pay?
On February 9th, 2022, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordered Uganda to pay the Democratic Republic of the Congo $325 million in installations over five years, the most extensive reparations awarded by any international court in history. The decision comes as a follow-up to a 2005 ruling which found that Uganda had violated international […]
Europe’s New Iron Curtain: An Interview With Dace Dzenovska
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine surprised the world. As an ethnic Latvian, this advance scared me. Vladimir Putin finally made his move to reunite the Soviet Union. Putin has historically called the dissolution of the Soviet Union, “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” He has had his eye on Ukraine to reincorporate into Russia for […]
Queer Nigerians Take on Police Brutality
Initially set to be published in Spring 2021. Those who routinely use Twitter are probably familiar with the massive protests that swept through Nigeria last September. There is also a good chance that this was the only coverage they saw of the event, despite it being the largest protest in all of Africa in 2020. […]
Haiti’s Encroaching Dictatorship and the Forces Behind It
Initially set to be published in Spring 2021. On February 11th, a sea of protesters marched into the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Sharp chants of “down with the dictatorship” accompanied by the boom of rallying drum beats rang out through the crowds of thousands as police responded with rubber bullets and tear gas. Only a […]
The New Switzerland: India on Russo-Ukrainian War
The international political community, a victim of increasing globalization, has grown to be an intertwined, tangled web of complex alliances. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spent his years in office with an intense focus on foreign affairs and international relations, engaging actively with nations across the globe. While Modi works his way around the […]
Palestine’s “Religious” Conflict
On April 17, 2022, there was a historical Abrahamic religion ‘reunion’ as Christians celebrated Easter, Muslims celebrated Ramadan, and Jews celebrated Passover. These three religions all share a common holy site: Jerusalem, as each religion’s founding prophet had some connection to it. So it’s a bit ironic that during this historical weekend, fighting broke out in […]
Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and The Present Global Food Crisis
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought the world to the brink of what Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has described as a potentially “apocalyptic” food crisis. The ongoing conflict has halted agricultural exports from Ukraine, a country long known as the breadbasket of Europe and Russia and the world’s largest exporter of wheat and […]
Nayib Bukele: Millennial President, Age-Old Autocrat, Institutional Wrecking Ball
In 2021, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele described himself as “the coolest dictator in the world” on Twitter. If Bukele limited his eccentricity to Twitter, such a declaration would cause about as much harm as Elon Musk’s memes. However, between planning to promote Bitcoin in Miami while chaos consumes his country at home and exploiting […]
In Sudan, Pro-Democracy Protesters Won’t Compromise Again
As the world was rocked by the tremors of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, people across the globe were awed by reports of thousands of ordinary Russian citizens protesting against their autocratic leader’s war. That they incurred considerable risk in doing so was quickly evident as protestors were arrested and beaten by police officers, and media […]
Snail-Paced “Justice” in Myanmar
One year after Myanmar’s Coup, bullet casings line blood-stained pavements, and the sounds of gunfire, explosions and dampened cries of protest fill the air. In an unprecedented period of civil war, violence in Myanmar has escalated, with intensifying conflict between the Tatmadaw (Myanmar’s armed forces) and its opposition armed civilian groups. The conflict has resulted […]
The Silenced LGBTQ+ Students in China
“We’ve had three social media accounts being censored consecutively, but we do not want to give up yet,” an anonymous Chinese LGBTQ+ organization student leader disclosed during an interview, “even when my university counselor has notified me to halt all activities in my organization, or I may receive penalties from the school.” In June of […]
Following the Green Road of the Marea Verde: Colombia Decriminalizes Abortion
The Court Case On Feb. 21, Colombia’s Constitutional Court delivered a groundbreaking decision for reproductive rights. The country’s top court voted in a 5-4 ruling to decriminalize abortion for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, delivering another victory for the Marea Verde, or Green Wave in Latin America—a movement that has caused landmark reforms that […]
Piecing Back a Shattered Peace in Europe: An Interview with Darren C. Zook
Professor Darren C. Zook teaches in Political Studies and Global Studies at UC Berkeley. His research interests include human rights, comparative Asian politics, international law, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. BPR sat down with him, dressed in one of his signature floral-patterned shirts, to discuss the Russo-Ukrainian War’s impact on international law […]
Guatemalan Maya Take the Country to Court
On February 9, Indigenous elder Rodrigo Tot testified before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) on behalf of Agua Caliente, a Q’eqchi’ Maya community. For the first time in history, in Maya Q´eqchi´ Indigenous Community of Agua Caliente v. Guatemala, Guatemala is facing judgment in international court for violating Indigenous collective land rights. The […]
France, The Sahelian Insurgency, Climate Change, and The Recent Coup d’etats
One Day In January Early Sunday, January 23, 2022, intense gunfire was heard outside of military bases and Burkina Faso’s presidential palace in Ouagadougou. Mutinous troops demanded the dismissal of their country’s military chiefs and more significant resources to fight the Islamist insurgency, which killed 2000 and displaced over 1.5 million in recent years. On […]
Media Bias Covering the Russian Invasion
As Ukrainians continue to be forced out of their homes, lose loved ones, and are scared for the future, countries around the world have rallied their support. Still, news of wars and refugees isn’t new, and when asked what makes this situation different, reporters have shamelessly stated that Ukraine is a “white” and “Christian” country. […]
Targeted (government) harassment: The kind a Hijab can’t protect you from
The Hijab is a headscarf or veil worn by Muslim women in the presence of males, as per their religion. Open to several interpretations, some women also find wearing the Hijab liberating and a means of avoiding harassment. Because of the complexities in how the hijab is viewed, there are often violent reactions to the […]
Open Source Investigations: Legal Accountability and Ethical Labyrinths in the Dawn of a New Era of International Justice
On January 19, 2022, the New York Times released an article analyzing declassified surveillance footage of a tragically miscalculated US drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan from August 29, 2021. The grainy video footage captured by a heat-detection camera was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the US Central Command and exhibited graphic […]
Gilead May Not Be Far From Reality: The Case of Hungary
Katalin Novak, the newly elected Hungarian President, is all for women’s rights. In a manner of speaking. In a propaganda video shared in December 2020, back when she was Minister for Families, Novak encouraged women to have children and “bear the burdens of others.” She added that other women should not “believe that women have […]
The Irony of the Balaclava
As we start our roaring 20s wearing face masks and getting vaccinated, it makes sense that companies are scrambling to meet their consumers’ needs. On top of the pandemic, climate change has been causing record-breaking cold temperature changes worldwide. Enter the balaclava—France’s newest fashion trend. As Paris continues its fashion week, viewers can expect to […]
Unravelling the Israel-Palestine Conflict – Can We Collapse the Dialectic in This Generation?
Conflict stemming in the land of Israel and Palestine regurgitates toxic attitudes towards Zionists, Israelis, Arabs and Jews, with one group painting another as the oppressor or terrorist in the extreme cases. The picture shifts based on where in the various timelines an analysis begins. In Israeli and Palestinian governments, the question of how to […]
The Party Heuristics of Color
Back in November 2016, I was talking to a foreign family member about the results of the American election, when out of nowhere they exclaimed that Hillary Clinton won since the map was mostly red. Here I had to pause and do a double-take: Donald Trump had won, with the red Republican party. While they […]
How COVID-19 Illuminated Racism in Australia
COVID-19 took everyone by surprise, with its wildfire spread and infection rates. While not particularly deadly in and of itself, COVID-19 can worsen the effects of preexisting conditions and cause complications that lead to death. Around the world, indigenous communities lacked the resources to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to their communities. The disparities caused […]
Ethiopia’s Tigray Crisis: Famine, Humanitarian Tragedy and Tribal Politics
The year-long conflict in Ethiopia’s northern region of Tigray has ushered in one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Through it all—killings, looting, sexual violence, and displacement—civilians continue to pay the high price for the descent of the second-most populous country in Africa into ethnopolitical confrontations and mass starvation. In November 2020, tensions […]
‘Unscientific’: Commission on Education, Science, and Technology in Guatemala Unanimously Votes for Anti-Trans Bill
Content Warning: This article mentions reports of transphobia, homophobia, and sexual violence. In December 2021, 21 lawmakers in the Guatemalan Congress’ Commission on Education, Science, and Technology unanimously approved Bill 5940, a prejudicial measure that restricts adolescents’ access to information about transgender identity. Since Bill 5940 was unanimously approved by the Commission on Education, Science […]
Amid Crisis in Venezuela, Traffickers Target Fleeing Migrants
Oil dependence. Falling production. Spiraling economy. Soaring debt. Hyperinflation. These are just some of the aptly-named “grim indicators” that led the Council on Foreign Relations to the conclusion that “Venezuela is the archetype of a failed petrostate.” Despite severe economic woes, the Venezuelan autocrat Nicolás Maduro has maintained his grip on power after claiming victory […]
Where Will Universal Jurisdiction Go from Here?
In mid-January, Germany drew headlines when a Koblenz court found Syrian colonel Anwar Raslan guilty of torture, murder, and sexual violence. A few months before the conviction of Raslan, a French court determined that legal action against a member of Syrian state security, Abdulhamid C., could not proceed. A common theme unites the two cases: […]
The Sino-Russian Relationship: Out of Sincerity, or Forced by Circumstance?
The scenes of the 2022 Winter Olympics’ opening ceremony in Beijing stuck out as a muted affair compared to the pomp and grandeur of the Summer Olympics fourteen years ago. While the 2008 Olympics symbolized China’s ascent onto the world stage among the world’s great powers, the 2022 Winter Olympics instead highlight China’s increasing isolation […]
The Human Cost of Putin’s Vanity
At 6 a.m. on Thursday in Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the beginning of a “special military operation” in Ukraine, capping off months of international concern about a war between Ukraine and Russia. In his nationally televised speech, Putin repeatedly underscored the supposed presence of Neo-Nazism and genocide of pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine as […]
The Sino-Indian Conflict: Are Boundaries Made To Be Invaded?
When two of the fastest growing nations in the world draw a Line of Actual Control (LAC), its demarcation is treated more as a boundary that is intended to be violated rather than adhered to. Each country tests its limits by building infrastructure, deploying a greater amount of military personnel, and starting spontaneous skirmishes with […]
What Debt-for-Nature Could Mean For Developing Countries
In 1842, Charles Darwin referred to the Belize Barrier Reef as “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies.” With its gleaming turquoise waters, verdant clusters of mangroves and rainbow of brightly-colored coral rising from the seafloor, it is plain to see why. In addition to its aesthetic appeal, the site is home to multiple […]
Clipping Hong Kong’s Wings: Cathay Pacific’s Downward Spiral, and How Hong Kong Will Suffer
The image of a Cathay Pacific 747 on final approach towards Kai Tak Airport, making a sweeping turn over Checkerboard Hill, mere feet above the sprawling concrete apartments and neon signs of Kowloon, forever remains ingrained in the consciousness of Hongkongers as a symbol of their city. Today, people can no longer witness this sight […]
Iraqis with Disabilities: The Voting Accessibility Crisis
On October 10, Iraq held its parliamentary elections to determine the members of its Council of Representatives. Just prior to the elections, Human Rights Watch, based on the feedback of people with disabilities, advocated for Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission, or IHEC, to ensure greater accessibility at voting polls. Iraq has one of the largest […]
Changing Climate, Changing Politics: the Presence of the Environment in Germany’s 2021 Election
Germany doesn’t elect its leaders based on charisma. Descriptions of Angela Merkel, like many adjectives thrown around German affairs, consist of stoic, calm, and unemotional, both in her politics and her public presence. Part of this is due to Germany’s political system, one in which the charismatic, ceremonial head of state, the president, is an […]
Laundering Reputation: Gulf Countries and ‘Sportwashing’
In the wake of the George Floyd protests during mid-2020, Formula 1, the highest class of single-seater motorsport in the world, launched a campaign named “#WeRaceAsOne” that saw teams and drivers adorn their equipment with a rainbow logo, a show of solidarity for diversity and inclusion. Both Liberty Media and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile […]
What Can We Expect in the 2022 French Presidential Election?
This coming April, French voters will elect their new president. While the election is still months away and not all candidates have been announced, speculation is well underway. Most notable has been the rising presence of right-wing populist and TV anchor Éric Zemmour, who is making waves by scaring the political establishment with his neo-Nazi […]
Russia’s Losing Fight Against the Coronavirus
Much of the world is facing the beginnings of a post-pandemic world. While countries are starting to return to a semblance of normalcy given high vaccination rates, Russia is going into lockdown. The 25th of October marked a new somber milestone—what Russians refer to as “анти-рекорд” (anti-record)—of 37,930 cases in 24 hours. The day also […]
Colombia’s Back-Breaking Battle for Reproductive Rights
Vibrant green banners ripple through the air, joined by cheers, chants and triumphant fists. Crowds of women publicly rejoice, embracing each other and jumping with joy. Some shed tears, overwhelmed by the magnitude of the moment. Over the past year, advocates for legal abortion in Latin America have greeted several success stories with emotion and […]
The Mercury Monster Lurking in the Amazon
Suriname is the Earth’s most heavily forested country. The Amazon rainforest covers about 93% of the terrain. In the last two decades, however, the increase in gold mining and subsequent use of the element mercury in gold mining threaten this green country and the rest of the Amazon. Since 2000, the price of gold has […]
Who Calls the Shots?: Vaccine Inequity in Africa
Vaccine scarcity. Vaccine famine. Vaccine apartheid. An indictment on humanity. In whatever colorful language it is couched, the conclusion is the same: Africa is not getting vaccinated, and something needs to be done. Since Africa announced its first confirmed case of COVID-19 in February of last year, the pandemic has broken over the continent in […]
How a Train Crash Shed Light on Taiwan’s Unique Heritage and Flaws
While the vast majority of the world dealt with lockdowns and the trauma of the pandemic, Taiwan stood as one of the few COVID-free havens. Hence, for this year’s Tomb-Sweeping Day, Taroko Express Train 408 was crammed almost to full occupancy, with no pandemic restrictions to curb the number of passengers. Thus, when the train […]
The First One Hundred Days of the Taliban Administration
The United States completed its official mission to remove troops from Afghanistan in August. Before the final plane departed the Taliban had already reclaimed Kabul, and with it the governance of the country. In 100 days since the administration took office, there has been little opportunity for quiet thought or reflection, to examine in one […]
Caught in the Middle: The Immigration Crisis Between Morocco and Spain
At the end of August, diplomatic sources confirmed that Karima Benyaich, the Moroccan ambassador to Spain, would resume her duties in Madrid. The announcement signaled reconciliation after a months-long diplomatic crisis. Morocco recalled Benyaich from her post in May after tensions between the two countries escalated following Spain’s decision to allow Brahim Ghali, leader of […]
Japanese menstrual leave policy: The road to menstrual equity?
In 2016, Alisha Coleman, a Georgia woman working as a 911 operator, was fired from her job after leaving menstrual blood on her office chair twice due to her menopause. As a result of the incident, Coleman and the ACLU sued her former employer for unlawful workplace discrimination. Currently, there is no federal law in […]
The Indian Federation: The Saga of a Converted Oligarchy
Is the largest ‘democracy’ in the world under the threat of becoming an oligarchy? From telecommunications to steel, every sector in this nation is dominated by only a few businessmen. These names are repeatedly acclaimed in the news, as they acquire more assets and reach greater heights. But as the public rejoices in their success, […]
Russian Media Experienced Unprecedented Crackdown Ahead of Parliamentary Elections
Over the past few months, many organisations in Russia have been faced with new pressures from the government which severely limit their ability to function. This came at a time when United Russia — the political party most loyal to Putin — sought to secure a majority in the Duma, the lower house of the […]
What does AUKUS mean for future geopolitics?
On September 15th, 2021, US President Biden, Australian Prime Minister Morrison and UK Prime Minister Johnson announced the finalization of a new Indo-Pacific security deal, dubbed AUKUS. At first glance, AUKUS looks like a mutually beneficial agreement. It allows for a greater sharing of intelligence from the United States and the United Kingdom to Australia, […]
UN Diplomats, Global Leaders Talk Climate in Advance of COP26; Action Lags Behind
The 76th United Nations General Assembly meant to provide resounding motivation to combat climate change. The first return for many world leaders to the assembly hall since before Covid-19 was meant to confront the most substantive issues facing the international community. Tangible climate policy should come out of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of […]
Who Has Missiles, Who Buys Missiles, Who Decides
Jonah Hill and Miles Teller, according to friends I’ve spoken with, successfully romanticized the arms contracting business in the 2016 movie War Dogs. Guns, girls, excitement and fear all play into the fetishes in a boy’s mind should he be raised amidst American capitalism and the international military industrial complex. The film focuses on those […]
Environmental Activism in Latin America Comes with a Deadly Cost
In December 2020, Indigenous Honduran environmental activist Félix Vásquez was killed in front of his family by a group of masked men in the village of El Ocotal. His assailants were armed with pistols and machetes, scarring his family forever. This attack was a response to Vásquez’s efforts to help protect the environment and advocate […]
Australian #MeToo Movement in full force: Sexual abuse survivors protest from the streets of Canberra to the halls of Parliament
Trigger Warning: This article mentions details about sexual assault, harassment, violence and rape. In early March 2021, Australian Attorney General Christian Porter announced that he would be taking “a short period of leave” since being accused of raping a 16-year old girl in 1988, despite denying the allegation. Recently, current and former female employees […]
How American Foreign Policy in Yemen Could Change under Biden
The Middle Eastern country of Yemen is home to both a civil war and a dramatic humanitarian crisis. A quarter-million people have died, many directly from the conflict, while others have died due to malnutrition, exposure, and diseases. Millions more are homeless and starving. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has publicly stated that Yemen is “now […]
The Litany of Consequences if Kremlin Critic Alexey Navalny Dies
Alexey Navalny is a man of many names: Russian dissident, opposition leader, activist, investigator, lawyer, nationalist. Navalny, the most famous Russian opposition leader against Putin’s regime, is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence for embezzlement. Beginning in the early 2010s, Navalny came to embody the possibility of change under an increasing dictatorial regime. Prior to […]
Transgender sex workers disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19 pandemic in the Dominican Republic
The COVID-19 pandemic is already a significant issue in the Dominican Republic. The country reached 100,000 cases by September 2020, and over 250,000 by March 2021, reducing key economic activities like tourism. Consequently, the pandemic has posed financial difficulties for many Dominicans, increasing global poverty rates and reducing healthcare accessibility. Specifically, 40,000 jobs have been […]
Return of The Troubles? Violence in Northern Ireland Threatens Peace Between Unionists and Republicans
On March 29, several hundred young people primarily identifying as Loyalist, or Irish people with close ties to Great Britain, took to the streets of Belfast, torching vehicles and throwing bricks, fireworks and gasoline bombs at riot police attempting to restore peace. The violence did not end there. Until April 9, the day of Prince […]
The Child Made Your Chocolate
Modern Slavery Individuals at the bottom in a supply chain are often separated from the product of their labor, and insufficiently acknowledged as individuals. Chocolate supply chains in particular can be obscured to the point of near invisibility when trying to understand where beans have been farmed, who has farmed them, and at what cost. […]
Trauma Such as This in Peacetime: The Story of the 2020 Belarusian Protests
“I saw bruises that covered their entire bodies…I was particularly struck by a bruise on the face of one of the patients. It had the shape of a boot sole. The patient had been kicked in the face….I never could have imagined that I would see trauma such as this in peacetime.” These are the […]
Dire COVID Conditions Grip Brazil
Dire COVID Conditions Grip Brazil Brazil is currently the worst place on Earth for COVID-19. The nation has the highest rate of new cases compared to any other country in the world. The current death toll in Brazil is approximately 300,000 COVID deaths, a number topped only by the United States. The healthcare infrastructure has […]
Resistance Beyond Borders: HK19 Meets Myanmar’s Anti-Coup Movement
The recent Myanmar Coup is hardly unprecedented. Myanmar was governed by a military dictatorship from 1962 to 2011, leaving the country under the iron fist of the Tatmadaw, the Burmese Military. The strength of the Tatmadaw was enshrined by the 2008 Constitution, which guarantees one third of parliamentary seats to the military, reserves leadership of […]
Everything You Need to Know About the COVID Vaccine: Part 2
It’s over in a second. A quick prick and then you’re done. You don’t feel any different in the moment, but that tiny shot has such far-reaching implications. It symbolizes the pandemic slowly grinding to a halt. For me, getting vaccinated was like finally being able to breathe fresh air after a year. It gave […]
Imprisonment of controversial dissenter sparks protests across Russia
Russian politician and activist Alexei Navalny returned to Moscow on January 17, after five months spent recovering in a German hospital from a near fatal poisoning, which he blames on Vladimir Putin. Navalny was immediately arrested upon his return, as the government threatened would happen, and has since been sentenced to a penal colony for […]
Can India Live Up to its International Role as The World’s Largest Democracy?
Following the passage of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) of 2019, India thrust itself into the global spotlight. The legislation quickly gained notoriety for fast-tracking citizenship status for all undocumented immigrants who aren’t Muslim. Riots, protests and uproar ensued. While the world turned its attention to the protests from the liberal Indian community, people paid […]
Confronting China: The Best Deterrence Lies in a Multilateral Alliance
In my last article, I detailed some of the strategic and technological changes that the U.S. needs to make to its military strategy to successfully deter China from military action in East Asia. Though maintaining our military edge is important, China is a rising power while the U.S. is in relative decline. China has both […]
Violent protests continue in Peru over government corruption
On November 9th, 2020, the President of Peru, Martín Vizcarra, was ousted from office by the Peruvian Congress. Vizcarra was popular and supported by the majority of constituents due to his pledge to dismantle corruption by government officials. In his place, Congress appointed a little-known politician named Manuel Merino. Both the appointment and his Cabinet […]
The Man Behind Al Masri In Life and Now Death
Osama bin Laden’s body slid into the North Arabian Seas from a US warship within twenty four hours of his assassination on May 2, 2011, in accordance with Islamic tradition. A broadcast by former President Obama announced the news late at night to US citizens and the world. The image of the White House Situation […]
Confronting China: Restoring U.S. Military Hegemony in East Asia
Over the last decade, Americans of all political parties have been waking up to the threat posed by China. With rapidly growing military and economic might, China seems determined to further its own interests at the expense of the freedom, liberties, and sovereignty of neighboring countries and the liberal-democratic institutions which underpin the global order. […]
A Modern Genocide
It started in 2017. Qelbinur Sedik was 47 and a teacher at Uighur Muslim internment camps in Xinjiang. Sedik was told she was required to get an IUD inserted to prevent her from getting pregnant. The IUD caused bleeding so she had it illegally removed. A year after that, she was routinely checked for an […]
Lockdown within a Lockdown: COVID-19 in the Gaza Strip
On August 25, the Gaza Strip went into lockdown after a family of four that had recently returned from the West Bank tested positive for COVID-19, the first case of the virus in this densely populated territory outside of isolation centers. Since then 2,613 cases have been reported, although a shortage of testing kits means […]
Conflict Rages between Armenia and Azerbaijan
On September 27, 2020, a decades-old conflict began between Armenia and Azerbaijan over a territory called Nagorno-Karabakh. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as an Azerbaijan territory, but the regional government is run by ethnic Armenians who want to secede and join Armenia. During Soviet control of the region, the ethnic nationalism displayed by both Armenia and […]
Saudi Prince Signals Frustration With Palestinian Leadership
Saudi Arabia has been a crucial ally to the Palestinian struggle for statehood, supporting with diplomacy and finance essentially since the cause commenced in the early twentieth century. It comes as some surprise then that it might weaken its commitment with such a long standing cause for justice. Saudi Arabia has yet to enter “normalization” […]
A Precarious Peace: Israeli-Jordanian Relations
The 1994 Israeli-Jordan Peace Treaty ushered in an unprecedented era of diplomatic relations, brokering peace between an Arab nation and Israel in ways previously unimaginable. This peace process has enjoyed longevity into the present day; yet this historical peace was not without unease and will certainly crack under pressure if the United States and Israel […]
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: The Trafficking of Sweden’s Migrants
In times as politically uncertain and turbulent as these, it is tempting to idolize countries that appear idyllic. For many, Sweden is that utopic model that other Western democracies pale in comparison to. While Sweden is a remarkably functional and stable state with many admirable qualities, its consistent celebrity amongst those of us unfortunate enough […]
BLM Protests Challenge France’s Colorblindness
Justice Pour Adama As Assa Traoré, a French anti-racism activist of Malian descent, followed the murder of George Floyd in late May 2020 and the subsequent Black Lives Matter protests that erupted across the United States, she saw in it the opportunity to seek justice for her brother and awaken a colorblind France to the […]
The Uneasy Stability of Lebanon
On August 4th, 2020, a large fire broke out in a warehouse next to the huge grain silos in the port of Beirut, Lebanon. Later, at 18:00, there was an explosion followed by a series of smaller explosions, akin to fireworks. Approximately thirty seconds later, a massive explosion that resembled a mushroom cloud wreaked havoc […]
On Thin Rice: Analyzing Trade Policy in Nigeria
Of all disputes between African nations, the rivalry over jollof rice sticks out. Packed with onions, savory spices and pureed tomatoes, jollof rice is hailed by West Africans as a staple dish, sparking heated disputes between Nigerians and Ghanians over who has the better recipe. Beyond its culinary significance, rice in Nigeria is at the […]
Everything You Need To Know About The COVID-19 Vaccine
It was the kind of statement that made you pause and look at the person wondering, “What on earth would prompt them to say something like that?” Unfortunately, this was a fairly regular occurrence. As someone who began every morning searching for the phrase “coronavirus vaccine” and reading the latest news articles, I became a […]
What Makes a Terrorist, What Makes an Ally
As members of the United States, we are given a designated list of what groups and which people we ought to believe engage in terrorism. Yet what the government considers and what is ignored when adding or omitting a name to that list is obscured. The United States’ relationship with terrorism was choreographed following the […]
The Cocalero’s Legacy: What Evo Morales’ exit means for Bolivia
On November 10th, 2019, Bolivian President Evo Morales was pressured to resign at the demand of military leadership amid controversy around his re-election. The results showed a clear Morales victory without the need for a second-round runoff vote, but observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) had determined that Morales’s first-round win could not […]
Tumult in Taipei: Western Media Coverage of the 2020 Taiwanese Presidential Election
The dominant perception of Taiwan as effectively irrelevant to the workings of East Asian politics is detrimental to both the future of Taiwan and of free markets and media within the Chinese economic and political orbit. A key misunderstanding lies in the evaluation of Taiwanese politics solely within a Taiwan-China relations framework rather than a […]
Weighing Education Against Women’s Rights In Tanzania
When Mwajuma was fifteen and living in Shinyanga, Tanzania, her parents informed her she would have to drop out of school. She was getting married. Such instances of child marriage are not uncommon in Tanzania. It’s ingrained in the culture and in the law; the 1971 Law of Marriage Act allows girls to legally get […]
Brexit: An End to the Uncivil War
In July of 2019, Boris Johnson defeated numerous moderates within his own Conservative Party to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Political pundits immediately called him a lame duck. He had no mandate, no working majority and no realistic plan to pass Brexit, which loomed ominously over his premiership after destroying the careers […]
Contagion and Conflict: Hong Kong’s Protests During Epidemic
A Hong Kong resident died on February 5 after contracting the coronavirus, making him the second victim to succumb to the epidemic outside of mainland China. Though Hong Kong has remained relatively unimpacted by the outbreak, coronavirus’s effects have far-reaching implications for politics in the territory. In the past month, the coronavirus from Wuhan (recently […]
The last stronghold of resistance: Idlib in War
Buried under the very important and drastic news of the ‘stock market crash’ and concerns over Bernie Sanders’ health lies the “insignificant” story of bloodshed and misery: the War for Idlib. In March 2011, when the Arab Spring spilled over into Syria, the Syrian people and the international community thought that change was underway. However, […]
Everybody’s Zion: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and Resolution
Driving by car, the entire State of Israel is less than six hours tip to tip. The world outside the window changes from barren desert to sudden, massive artificial forests, erected through donations by millions abroad who have “planted a tree in Israel” for fun, as a birthday gift, or for some other celebration; and […]
The Art of State Engineering
Under the guise of development and democracy, state architecture is being used to conceal the centralization of power in both Malaysia and Singapore as leaders grapple with how to literally engineer the perfect, coordinated society. How does one engineer a harmonious state? Singapore’s People’s Action Party (P.A.P.) and Malaysia’s U.M.N.O. Party will argue that you […]
Technology with Chinese Characteristics: China’s Strategic Vision in 2019
Standing before the 17th General Assembly of the Chinese Academy of Sciences just over a year after his election to office, Xi Jinping opined, “we cannot always decorate our tomorrows with others’ yesterdays.” Five years later on October 1st, 2019, President Xi echoed that sentiment while addressing a crowd of thousands in Tiananmen Square, declaring, […]
The Fate of a Nation
In the span of three years, from 1986 to 1989, the Iraqi Military Force killed between 50,000 to 182,000 Kurds and destroyed 90 percent of all Kurdish villages in Northern Iraq. This dark episode in history is often referred to as the Anfal Genocide. As the persecutions against the Kurds continued in Iraq, many sought […]
What’s In A Word? The Republic Of North Macedonia And NATO
The EU accession process is not an easy one. To win support from current members, states pursuing membership must often make hard-fought diplomatic compromises and concerted efforts to put their domestic affairs in order. North Macedonia was expected to have a particularly difficult time; the government faces major ethnic tensions with Bulgaria and still faces […]
Ethiopia’s Narrowing Window For Peace
Meskel Square, despite its lack of even one traffic light, is the busiest intersection in Ethiopia. It is a fitting representation of Addis Ababa, the bustling capital city of 3.6 million people which it resides in. However, on October 9th of this year, Meskel Square was ordered completely shut down. On the same day, an […]
Years in the Making: How Hindu Nationalism Has Shaped Indian Policy Towards Kashmir
A phone blackout. Military troops deployed to enforce a statewide curfew. Foreign journalists banned from entering a region the size of Idaho. Thousands arrested — including protesters, activists and politicians. In the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir, this has been the reality since August of 2019. And it could get worse. Jammu & Kashmir […]
Gangs and Gulags: How Vladimir Putin Utilizes Organized Crime to Power his Mafia State
“I’m sorry, the Russian Mafia is after me.” While this statement sounds like it’s straight out of a 1960s Bond movie, it was actually uttered by disgraced NFL defensive lineman Justin Bannan on October 16th after non-fatally shooting a woman in a building he partly owned. The validity of Bannon’s claim is for prosecutors to […]
Mozambique’s Resource Curse
Just last month, Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi signed a peace accord with Renamo, a former rebel movement, and proclaimed that it would “allow for the long-lasting peace that all Mozambicans have so longed for.” Unfortunately, not long after ending one-armed movement, Mozambique is facing yet another insurgency in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. However, […]
The Raucous Minority (Myth?)
Featured Image: Masses gather to grieve and pray outside of St. Anthony’s Church, Kochikade On the 21st of April 2019, three churches and three luxury hotels were targeted in a series of coordinated suicide bombing attacks across Sri Lanka. The attacks were linked to the National Thowheeth Jama’ath (NTJ), a local Islamist terrorist group whose […]
Heating up in the High Arctic
The idea of global warming has physically manifested itself most clearly in the melting ice caps. Series of satellite images can quantitatively determine that polar ice is receding at an alarming rate. Most often the narrative goes towards saving polar bears and seals, but rarely do people’s minds jump to the thought of warships steaming […]
Libya: Going Green
Currently The internet will tell you that a bullet wound could heal within no more than two weeks, barring any tissue or bone damage. But one can imagine some degree of psychological trauma contributing further to a healing process. Consider the cause for bullets flying to begin with and the timeline continues to extend. Dozens […]
Korea and Japan Struggle for an Escape from Another Quagmire of History
Present a map of East Asia to Koreans and then to the Japanese and you will soon find that they each use different names for the same territory. What Koreans call the “East Sea” is the “Sea of Japan” for the Japanese; the Japanese will refer to a tiny island in that sea as “Dakeshima,” […]
Julius Malema: Land Expropriation Without Compensation
The Face of Radical African Resistance Julius Malema, the powerhouse leader and founder of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), is currently one of the most significant political firebrands in South Africa. At the age of 38, he has spearheaded the second largest opposition party to the African National Congress (ANC) and spent the last six […]
The Chinese Government Greets Its 70th Anniversary with Anxiety Rather Than Jubilation
In June 1949, a few months before emerging as the victor in a trailing civil war, Mao Zedong articulated the two pillars that would embody the new system of governance: a “domestic united front under the leadership of the working class” that would lay a foundation for “people’s democratic dictatorship” and an international alliance with […]
Dam Shame: Examining China’s Hydro-Hegemony
It was done in a panic. As Japan’s rapid and devastating invasion of China continued inward, Chinese President Chiang Kai-Shek turned to the Yellow River, a symbol of Chinese civilization, to accomplish what his soldiers could not. In early June, 1938, Chinese troops were ordered to destroy the dykes along the river with the hope […]
Que Sarin, Sarin
Accusations of war crimes far predate the international law that defines those crimes; the first recorded international trial for war crimes occurred in 1474, while formal international law on the subject was only promulgated in the 1890s. Of course, once the concept of a war crime emerged, the exploitation of war crime accusations for political […]
Is the Kashmir Lockdown a Ticking Time Bomb?
On August 5th, 35,000 paramilitary Indian troops mobilized to join the 700,000 already stationed in Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian-controlled state in the Kashmir region. Soon after the move, the entire state was put under intense lockdown, which the Indian parliament claimed was in response to a new and violence-prone political movement that had emerged […]
Unpopular Populism: The Dismal Prospects for Far-Right Politics in Canada
He has repeatedly called climate change a “hoax” perpetrated by “environmentalist alarmists.” His immigration policy includes building border fences, restricting family reunification, and making temporary foreign workers less competitive. And he spends much of his time railing against “the Liberal cult of diversity” on his Twitter account, a platform he uses to comment on — […]
The Evolution of Italy’s Five Star Movement: From Populist Firebrands to Establishment Gatekeepers
“Mussolini was less brash, at least he called his coup a coup!” thundered comedian-turned-politician Giuseppe “Beppe” Grillo. This attack from a 2015 blog post concerned then-Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s proposed referendum on election reform. The inflammatory language used was par for the course for Grillo. His party, the Five Star Movement (M5S), had recently entered […]
Kaczyński’s Mazurka
Since 2015, Poland has experienced a period of democratic backsliding. This trend has greatly worried European observers; developments in Poland are troubling enough on their own, but they also presaged a tremendous resurgence of the nationalist right across Europe, and ruling governments are concerned that they might be next. Hungary elected a similar ethnonationalist, rightist […]
Nigerian Elections: a Divergent Violent Pattern and Future Uncertainty
Nigeria just re-elected Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for his second four-year term. His opposition in the election, Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), lost in his fifth bid for president. In Nigerian history, the election of incumbents is common, as only one failed reelection bid has occurred since the […]
Universal Jurisdiction, Universal Justice: Prosecuting Syrian War Crimes Abroad
In August 2013, a defector from the Syrian regime with the code name “Caesar” stunned the world by smuggling photos out of Syria illustrating abuses taking place at the hands of the Assad-led government. Tens of thousands of graphic photos illustrated “evidence of widespread torture, starvation, beatings, and disease in Syrian government detention facilities.” The […]
The Ascendancy of Non-State Armed Actors
States no longer need to declare war to wage it. Citizens have, for the most part, remained ignorant of their respective nations’ new “foreign policy” and the increasing ease to engage in conflict. Underlying the new strategies of modern warfare include modern economic and political upheaval, globalization, but also most importantly, an upheaval of the […]
The Politics of Food in Venezuela
For much of Venezuela’s population, food has become a luxury. Once the envy of Latin America, the oil-rich nation has become synonymous with starvation and suffering. Food lines have replaced supermarket queues, as more and more citizens in cities like Caracas desperately wait hours for even a chance at anything that could potentially feed their […]
Behind the Scenes of ‘Crazy Rich Asians’
Within its first 9 days of release, Crazy Rich Asians made $50 million dollars. Tickets sales were surging due to its diverse cast and plot. Critics, actors, movie buffs, and movie watchers all across the world were praising this movie for achieving not only success in the box office but also in representation. However, while […]
With Enemies Like These, Who Needs Friends? Vietnam’s Offshore Balancing Act
When the USS Carl Vinson made a port call to Da Nang, Vietnam last year, reactions both within the US and abroad were mixed. US government statements were muted, emphasizing the role of port visits in routine diplomacy but also linking them to ongoing freedom of navigation operations. Chinese state media generally issued condemnations of […]
Womad: The New Face of Feminism in Korea?
On May 1, 2018, a South Korean female nude model at an art class in Hongik University uploaded numerous photographs showing a fellow male model posing nude onto a website called Womad. Its users reacted enthusiastically to the post, mocking the male model’s features and applauding the “bravery” of the female model’s action. Overnight, the […]
The Troubles With Brexit
When the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave to the European Union in the summer of 2016, few recognized the true consequences of their choice. Nowhere would that choice become more consequential than in the six counties of Northern Ireland. As the only place in Britain that shares a border with another EU […]
The Wandering Earth and the “new” Chinese nationalist idea
Recently, a Chinese sci-fi film called The Wandering Earth has not only made headlines in Chinese mainstream media but has also aroused heated discussion about its quality, symbolic meaning, and theme, reflecting the emergence of a new type of nationalism among the Chinese general population. What is The Wandering Earth about? “The sun is aging […]
The Country with No Majority: Interethnic Relations in Ethiopia
In a sense, every Ethiopian is a minority in their own country. Ethiopia is roughly 30 percent Oromo, 27 percent Amhara, and 6 percent Tigrayan. While the Oromo are numerically the largest group and the Amhara have historically been culturally dominant, the Tigrayans exercise an outsized influence in both politics and the economy. However, in April 2018, […]
Murder and Famine: Sand’s Story in 21st Century India
In 2004, Sumaira Abdulali, one of India’s foremost environmental activists, drove to an illegal sand mining site. Upon her arrival, four men, including the son of a local Indian National Congress politician, smashed her side window, dragged her out of the car and beat her in an effort to silence her efforts to stop the […]
Kashmir Amidst Neighbouring Political Gains
The following article was written for Berkeley Political Review as part of a collaboration with Davis Political Review. Legend says that on the great Mughal Emperor Jahangir’s deathbed, he was asked what his life’s most treasured experience had been? To this he replied; “Kashmir – everything else is worthless.” Given to his deep love for Kashmir, he […]
Jeremy Corbyn: An Unsatisfactory Alternative
The following article was written for Berkeley Political Review as part of a collaboration with McGill International Review. Today, British politics are engulfed in one sole issue: Brexit. As Theresa May spent the past two years attempting to reach an agreement concerning Brexit, her approval ratings faltered to around 27 percent. The January 15th vote on her […]
Poland’s Illiberal Trajectory Continues to Challenge the European Union
Every year in Poland, Narodowe Święto Niepodległości, or the Polish Independence Day, is celebrated in Warsaw, commemorating the anniversary of the restoration of a sovereign Poland after over a century of invasion and domination by the German, Russian and Austrian empires. In 2017, however, the tone of the festivities soured, making international headlines as it […]
China: Overhauling the Internet
To the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), amassing cyberpower is a matter of life and death. The tight control over affairs in cyberspace is essential to regime stability and longevity in China; the CCP stated, “If our party cannot traverse the hurdle represented by the Internet, it cannot traverse the hurdle of remaining in power for […]
Eritrea, a country without journalists
On September 18, 2001, as the rest of the world reeled from the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, the president of Eritrea decided journalists were no longer needed in his country. Isaias Afwerki, Eritrea’s dictator at the time and who still remains in power, announced that all independent media organizations were to […]
Jamal Khashoggi: A Veiled Political Battle Between Saudi Arabia and Turkey
Middle Eastern politics of late have shaken the rest of the world. On the 2nd of October, journalist Jamal Khashoggi reportedly entered the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, and never exited. Khashoggi, a Saudi national most recently living in Virginia on self-imposed exile, was a well-known critic of the Saudi regime. The Saudi […]
The Talk of Toilets in India
Jaya, an educated college woman in India, falls in love with a man, Keshav, who has an incredibly superstitious family. She has to pretend to have two thumbs on her left hand in order to convince his dad to get them married. Despite the odd obstacles she went through in order to marry him, she […]
The Stolen People: Australia’s Aboriginals
“They take your young from you and you have so many taken, you are not whole,” says Helen Eason, an indigenous Australian woman. The Stolen Generations, only brought to a halt in the 1970s, remains a traumatic and salient black mark on Australia’s history. As part of the government’s Child Removal Policy, Helen Eason had […]
Cuba’s Healthcare System: A Political, Social, and Economic Revolution
In the news and media, Cuba is portrayed as a country too ambitious for the political reality we live in. The political reality we live in here in the United States tells the story of a free market-based health care system, where the government is not responsible for the well-being of its people. But is […]
Indefinitely Negotiating, Fruitlessly: The INF Treaty and European Security
Russian diplomacy has a well-demonstrated tendency to sow doubt in the minds of believers in international law. More disturbing, though, is Russia’s skill for flouting formal treaty obligations and escaping consequences. Since the early 2000s, Russia has issued a series of statements attacking arms control treaties, alleging violations by NATO countries and the United States, […]
Venezuela’s Unintentional Regional Influence
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, much like his predecessor Hugo Chavez, often appears on national television to address the country on the problems facing the nation and to boost approval ratings. However, during a television appearance in November 2017, Maduro made a very public gaffe that highlighted the growing corruption and inequality in Venezuela. During the […]
The Mystery of CFC Emissions
Thirty-one years ago, the world was facing an environmental crisis. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) had over the previous century become widely used in refrigeration, insulation, and firefighting. However, the emissions of CFCs into the atmosphere was destroying the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects the planet from harmful ultraviolet radiation. In 1987, 46 nations agreed to the Montreal Protocol, […]
Transitions: Transgender Rights in Pakistan and Iran
In May 2018, the Pakistani parliament passed the Transgender Person (Protection of Rights) Act, enacting strong protections for transgender rights. Pakistani society, as well as South Asian society more broadly, contains individuals of a third gender called Khwaja Sirah, who are born with male anatomy but wear clothing generally thought of as female. To the west of […]
Natural Disaster Relief is No Horsing-Around Matter for Geopolitics
A magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale and reports count over 200,000 casualties—Haiti’s 2010 earthquake was one of the first natural disasters that received widespread attention for its devastating impacts on the nation’s people and infrastructure and detrimental impacts of international disaster relief. The United Nations aid programs that reached the nation led to […]
China’s Uighur Muslim Camps: The Face of Non-Western Islamophobia
You can stop saying “assalamu alaikum” to your neighbor, shave your beard, tell your children not to speak of their prayers, even try to fake tickets for an international flight, but you can never truly escape the terror. The psychological trauma remains of knowing that every move you make, every word you utter can lead […]
China’s Pursuit for Global Influence Starts to Face Resistance
In northern Laos, blue and white silos tower over blue and white cement plants, which employ workers in blue and white jumpsuits. Something corporate has occupied this jungle. The country is getting its first railway, financed by Chinese loans. Laos has an abundance of natural resources but practically no infrastructure to extract and transport them. […]
A Thought on Rethinking Global Mental Health
This article contains themes regarding depression and other mental health complications. Reader discretion is advised. Psychiatric patients in Ghana’s prayer camps aren’t only tied down by the constraints of their mental ramifications, they are physically shackled, tied to dark concrete cells, and forced to eat, sleep and defecate in confinement. This treatment that seems […]
Captain of the Team, But Is He the Captain of the Country?
Imran Khan is a cricket-star-turned-politician who used a mixture of religious zeal and anti-corruption anger to catapult himself from the cricket ground to the office of the Prime Minister in August 2018. He ran a bruising campaign that damaged his relationships with other political parties in Pakistan. However, upon deeper reflection, there were forces other […]
Canada as a “Bi”lingual State
Canada’s debate on the need to be bilingual predates the country’s independence. The last time that Canada’s bilingual duality was not a controversy was when English settlers were just crossing the Appalachian mountains and fur trapping was among the most lucrative businesses. When Europe colonized North America, the French occupied the area that is now […]
Basra in Flames, with No Water to Put out the Fire
Basra is a city located in the southeast of Iraq, bordering the countries of Kuwait and Iran. Basra is known as the oil capital of Iraq, yet despite the abundance of wealth, the whole country, and especially Basra, has been suffering from a stagnant economy. Government corruption, financial mishandling, and high unemployment took the Basrawis […]
Facebook: Myanmar’s Misinformation Megaphone
UN Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee, upon reporting about the Rohingya crisis last March, concluded, “Facebook has now turned into a beast.” Indeed it has. In Myanmar, what was once intended as a harmless social networking platform has warped into a powerful vessel for the government to target its citizens with inflammatory rhetoric and propaganda. In […]
Failing Grade: How China’s All-Important Exam is Stunting National Growth
Every year, for two days in June, China comes to a standstill. Construction work is halted, traffic is diverted, and motorists are banned from honking, lest they disturb the nine and a half million teenagers taking a college entrance exam they believe will dictate their careers, wealth, and perhaps even marriage prospects. Drones are dispatched […]
China v. the US: Tariff Threats and Redirection Techniques
On the economic front, the world has recently been shaken by the continued intensification of the Chinese-American trade war initiated by President Trump. Marking just over a year since Trump began his Section 301 investigations on Chinese trade, the newest tariff policy Trump is threatening to impose on total Chinese exports is $200 billion dollars. The […]
The Maldives in Crisis – But What Do Yameen?
The turbulent political developments of the Maldives now, more than ever, have proven twofold: manifesting in both local political power-plays, and larger geopolitical conflict. This year alone, the Maldives has undergone turbulent political developments— including a state of emergency announced in February under the current Abdulla Yameen presidency, and the recent return of the opposition […]
D10, Democracy, and Donald
Since 2014, a group of high-ranking officials from leading democratic nations have held secret meetings each year to discuss protecting the liberal world order. Who’s this mysterious group? They call themselves the D10, and its members are no surprise: America, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, Australia and South Korea, and the European Union. But […]
Turkey: Where Do We Go From Here?
On June 24, 2018, incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, despite what nearly every polling statistic said, won the election, reestablishing himself as the nation’s authoritative figure. Erdogan, a socially conservative yet economically liberal leader, had had a turbulent first term in office, including a coup attempt from the Turkey Armed Forces, a shut-down of […]
Saudi Arabia: A Modern Prince’s Unconventional Quest for Power
In an era where world leaders wield Twitter as their political weapon of choice, Saudi Arabia has initiated a sanctions war with Canada–culminating in the complete severing of relations between the two countries–on the basis of a single tweet. On the surface, this appears to be a bizarre overreaction by the Saudi government. Yet, in […]
WeChat isn’t China’s Facebook. It’s something bigger.
It’s often hard for people outside of China to wrap their heads around the vast capabilities of WeChat. Writing it off as a “knock-off Facebook” does it an injustice. In fact, it might be the most potent form of propaganda China has ever employed. “China’s App for Everything” may appear to be but a copycat […]
Saudi Arabia and Iran’s Rivalry: Politics Under the Veil of “Deep-Rooted Sectarianism”
During the 2015 Hajj season, when a tragic stampede of pilgrims killed at least 2,426 people, including 465 Iranians, a war of words commenced between Saudi Arabia and Iran. While Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini accused Saudi Arabia of murdering Muslims as they fulfilled their Haj duty, Saudi clerics accused Iran’s leaders of not even being Muslim. […]
NATO: Losing Sight of the North Atlantic?
President Trump’s campaign trail rhetoric focused heavily on presenting a tough, assertive image of American power. Indeed, he broke new ground in toughness — not only did he take traditional US opponents to task, but traditional allies as well. At a July 2016 campaign rally in Wisconsin, Trump had harsh words for the North Atlantic Treaty […]
How Climate Change Will Empower Russia
Former Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Rajendra Pachauri once said, “Nobody on this planet is going to be untouched by the impacts of climate change.” People fear that the very existence of the planet may be in jeopardy, given the reality of anthropogenic global warming and the fact that sea levels are rising, oceans are […]
China and India: The Emerging Power Struggle of the 21st Century
Over the past 40 years, Asia has experienced unprecedented levels of peace and prosperity, as the bloody conflicts of the Cold War gave way to a relatively stable order. This stability has allowed trade and commerce in the region to flourish, facilitating the emergence of China and India as substantial economic powers. China’s economy is […]
The Political Side of Fútbol
The FIFA World Cup is the most watched event in the world, and this summer, it will be played in Russia. There are 32 teams competing for the title, with powerhouses such as Germany, France, Brazil, and Spain considered to be the favorites to win it all. Unfortunately, the United States will not be represented […]
The Price of a Fish: Illegal Fishing and the Consequences for Latin America
“The ocean is like a checking account where everybody withdraws but nobody makes a deposit.”–Enrique Sala, National Geographic With the UN Food and Agriculture Organization stating that 70 percent of the world’s fish population is in crisis and with coastal and island countries relying on fish for 70 percent of their food, the maritime politics […]
Chinese Military Expansionism in the South China Sea
In 2017, the brinkmanship between Kim Jong-Un and President Trump and the looming prospect of conflict drew a great deal of attention to the Korean Peninsula. Meanwhile, a less dramatic but nonetheless defining geopolitical struggle has been unfolding further south in the East Asia region, in the South China Sea. At the heart of these […]
Multiculturalism in Europe: The Sami
Indigenous: the very word brings to mind Native Americans or Australian Aborigines. It is quite difficult to disentangle this word from the notion of “non-indigenous” Europeans colonizing “indigenous” people on a distant continent. There is, however, a group of people in Europe who can claim to be indigenous: the Sami. These nomadic people from the […]
What Really Happened to Egyptian Democracy?
Egyptians went to the polls on March 24th of this year. El-Sisi, Egypt’s current President ran for a second term in an election described by Human Rights Watch as “farcical.” Following the 2011 Tunisian uprisings, democracy seemed to have finally arrived at the doorstep of the Arab World. With the toppling of Egypt’s long-standing authoritarian leader […]
A Real Pain in the Dniester: A New Era of Tension in Moldova
Moldova is the 33rd-largest country in Europe, a small slice of land tucked between Ukraine and Romania. Politically, however, it is stuck between the EU and Russia. While this corner of the continent rarely makes headlines in the United States, it is far from tranquil and has been unable to escape the strategic maneuvering of […]
At Face Value: Full-Face Veil Bans in Europe
If Denmark is any indication, the conflict between secularism and multiculturalism in Europe is not likely to be settled any time soon. The government of this Nordic country is planning a ban on full-face veils. Denmark’s Justice Minister Søren Pape Poulsen attempted to justify the ban by declaring: “It is incompatible with the values in […]
Anti-Semitism & the Left
A common thread in left-wing politics is egalitarianism. Across the West today, liberal and socialist parties and activists fight for various progressive causes, from anti-racism to increased welfare to gay rights. One of the oldest forms of prejudice, however, one with deep roots in European history, remains embedded in the political left. Anti-Semitism has not […]
One Country, How Many Systems?
September of 2014 saw Hong Kong’s gleaming central business district, one of the most important financial hubs in the world, turn into a virtual conflict zone, replete with shouting mobs, police in riot gear, and clouds of tear gas. In an atmosphere of discontent for the national government in Beijing, Hong Kongers took to the […]
Papa Putin and Mother Russia: The Historical and Political Implications of Domestic Violence in Russia
In Russia, nearly 40 women die every day due to domestic violence. This rate is around three per day in the United States. The women that survive are too often left with scars, burns, or permanent disabilities, and are subject to continued threats or violence. Despite this, in February of 2017, Russia’s legislature overwhelmingly passed […]
Yasukuni Shrine: More Than Just Honoring the Dead
The Yasukuni Shrine is tucked away off a bustling Tokyo street, a stone’s throw away from the Imperial Palace at the center of the city. In the grounds around its palatial Shinto-style architecture lie a series of shrines commemorating the millions of people who died in the internal struggles that created modern Japan as we […]
By Any Other Name: Kazakhstan’s Alphabet Migration
Kazakhstan is no stranger to changes in the national language. In the country’s history, the written script has changed four times while the language in question, Kazakh, has remained the same. Migrating from its original runic scripts, Kazakh adapted adopted Arabic script under the influence of Islamic traders in the 8th century, modified it slightly […]
An Olympic Thaw, or Not
The opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics was a symbol of hope. Dressed in all white, athletes from North and South Korea marched together under the same flag. The Olympics have long been a site of international sportsmanship, but the last time the two Koreas marched together was in the Olympics of Winter 2006, under the […]
The Inclusion-Exclusion Paradox
“A pedestal is as much a prison as any small, confined space.” —Gloria Steinem In the cruel winter of 1989-1990, Mongolia’s future hung on a precipice. Starting on December 10, 1989, demonstrators filled the Youth Square of Ulaanbaatar, demanding an end to the Communist regime that had killed hundreds of thousands. Eventually, the demonstrators won […]
Duterte vs. The ICC
An estimated twelve thousand dead; bounties offered for each rebel head; and calls for increased violence, including encouragement to shoot female fighters in the genitals: This is the current state of the Philippines. Since 2016, the nation’s democracy has appeared to be spiraling out of control, as thousands have been slaughtered in President Rodrigo Duterte’s […]
Defective Democracies
With a friendly slap in the face and shake of the hand, the president of the European Commission addressed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán as “dictator” during his visit to Latvia in 2015. This name-calling was most likely in response to Orban’s recent appeals for an illiberal democracy, professing his plan to separate Hungary from “Western European […]
How Successful was the Arab Spring’s Only Successful Revolution?
December 17, 2010 is a date Tunisians will never forget. Mohamed Bouazizi, a local resident of Sidi Bouzid was going about his day selling produce on the street corner when a police officer approached him. The officer claimed Bouazizi did not have a license to sell and seized his scale. Infuriated by the poor economic […]
The Digital Gold
When I was very young, my parents always indulged me before bed with exotic folktales every night before sleep, coaxing me to sleep with stories of great adventure. Of all these stories, the one I found most fascinating was “Ali Baba and Forty Thieves.” “Open Sesame!” a magic word that opens the gate to measureless gold, […]
A Look at the Aftermath of the Battle for Mosul
On any given morning, the vibrant but battered city of Mosul is bustling with commercial activity, the liveliness of its citizens contrasting starkly with the devastation of the landscape that lies around them. After more than two years under ISIS’s oppressive rule, the city is finally beginning to enjoy the fruits of its rehabilitation efforts. […]
The M-word
Macedonia, Greece, or the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia? Depending on the name you choose, you’ll be taking sides in an ongoing debate that began in 1991. Since Macedonia declared its independence, its neighbor Greece has refused to recognize its constitutional name. Who would have known that countries have identity crises just like us? Greece alleges […]
Conflict in Lima: The Ongoing Fight between Peru’s President and Congress
In the Federalist Papers Nos. 10 and 51, James Madison defended the separation of powers among branches of government by noting: “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” Yet, while constitutional design must compel governments to limit themselves, constitutional design should not prevent the government from achieving anything of significance at all. In the Germany of […]
Power Dynamics: China’s Hard Path to Clean Energy
From Trump’s election through his decision to pull out of the Paris agreement, doomsday predictions about Trump’s approach to climate policy have largely mellowed to anxious reassurances that all is not quite lost. Rather than causing a collapse in American resolve to fight climate change, Trump’s public repudiation of the Paris agreement spurred American mayors, governors, […]
The Sovereign State: A Look at Catalonia and Kurdistan
“Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all others, the most improper to defend us.” ― Thomas Paine, Common Sense Part I: Catalonia Catalonia, an independent region in the northeastern part of Spain, has recently returned to the international scene. On October 1st, 2017, […]
Be Careful What You Wish For: A Contentious Peace in Colombia
In October of 2016, the Colombian government put forward a national referendum. Voters were asked to approve a new peace deal with the FARC rebels, ending decades of civil war – but they rejected it. This was a major setback, but the legislature ratified a revised peace agreement two months later. Since then, the government […]
Manus Island and Australia’s Complex Relationship with Humanitarianism
On July 23, 2013, Kurdish journalist and now refugee Behrouz Boochani arrived in Australia via broken-down boat after two months of travel, accompanied by 65 other refugees fleeing Iran. Boochani was leaving his home country to avoid impending arrest and imprisonment for his politically inflammatory writing, and hoped to find in Australia a new home […]
Tale of Two States: Cameroon’s Crisis
“Que l’on se comprenne bien, il n’est pas interdit d’exprimer des préoccupations dans la République. En revanche, rien de grand ne peut se construire dans la surenchère verbale, la violence de rue et le défi à l’autorité.” “Let me make this very clear: it is not forbidden to voice any concerns in the […]
A crippled democracy? The 2017 Kenyan Presidential Election
NAIROBI – On the eighth of August, Kenyans across the nation lined up in front of the polling stations and proudly exited with ink-stained fingers as their bodily evidence of democracy. Reigning president Uhuru Kenyatta was elected for a second term in office and international observers such as the European Union and the Carter Center praised […]
An Eritrean Exodus
Eritrea is emptying out. Over the last decade, hundreds of thousands of Eritrea’s 4.5 million people have fled the country. This is all the more remarkable considering that Eritrea is not at war. Unlike other migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, Eritreans are not fleeing from armed conflict at home, but from their own government. Eritrea is […]
The Crisis of the African National Congress: The Coming Intraparty Conflict
Upon assuming the South African presidency, Nelson Mandela proclaimed, “The time for the healing of the wounds has come.” At the time, South Africans hoped that the end of apartheid would also bring an end to the civil strife that the country had experienced for so long. During the late 1990s and the early 2000s, […]
Lebanon: Too Beautiful for its Own Good
National pride has historically been founded on biases and ignorance of a country’s flawed history. But of course, it is also founded on some merit. It takes one visit to understand why so many in Lebanon beam at the mention of their nation. Cedar trees from thousands of years ago stand tall across from ancient […]
Red Threatens the Rainbow: the Legalization of Gay Conversion in Brazil
Vibrant flags shot through with glitter, bass-pumped music echoing through the street, flamboyant outfits, public displays of affection, lots of smiles – these are all things ubiquitous at Pride Parades all over the world. Nowhere is the Pride party bigger or better than in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which holds the record for hosting the largest […]
A Caribbean Catastrophe
Another hurricane. Massive devastation. The inevitable loss of life. Hurricane Irma’s catastrophic wrath made landfall in the Caribbean in late August, following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. By the first week of September, the dangerous Category 5 storm had already left its mark on the area, including the U.S. Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos, St. […]
Whose Allies Are They, Anyway? : North Korea’s Illicit Trade and the Role of China
North Korea. The world’s least free society, behind the world’s most militarized border, with the world’s most threatening nuclear weapons program. Despite a fanatical ideology of self-reliance, juche, Pyongyang maintains selective contacts with the outside world. These contacts are primarily aimed at maintaining the stability of the North Korean economy, and they have generally been […]
Crossroads Blues
Crossroads Blues In 1965, the city of Singapore was kicked out of Malaysia. It was poor and isolated, with an economy wholly subsidized by Britain’s Royal Navy. To the north, Malay extremists threatened to instigate a coup and regain the island. To the south, the Indonesian military toppled the pro-communist government, killing millions and threatening […]
Lost in Transit: Sub-Saharan Migrants in Libya
Kalilu Drammeh, an 18-year-old Gambian Muslim, was not welcome in Libya. His skin color distinguished him from the Libyan population, as well as from the Arab and Berber refugees from elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa. On his journey to the Mediterranean, smugglers singled him out for verbal and physical abuse. In Libya, […]
AI (Part I): Anew Infrastructure
“Artificial intelligence” (AI) is sometimes jokingly used to label tasks that computers cannot yet do. Among these is possessing a sense of humor, which “requires self-awareness, spontaneity, linguistic sophistication, and empathy,” and extends beyond the wonky errors of Google Translate and auto-generated YouTube captions. However, in spite of its apparent shortcomings, AI has silently yet […]
The “Scourge of South Korea”: Stress and Suicide in Korean Society
“Suicide is everywhere,” says South Korean author Young-ha Kim, referring to modern Korean society, in his op-ed for the The New York Times. Countless others have documented what some call “the scourge of South Korea” – the fact that people of all classes, ages, and genders are committing suicide at exceptionally high rates. South Korea […]
Mauritania: A Place of Continuing Slavery
Moulkheir Mint Yarba tends goats in the Sahara Desert and works long hours in the sun for little to no pay. Yarba constantly fears the prospect of rape and on one day, upon returning home, she found that her master had left her young infant out in the sun to die. Following the death of […]
K-poppin’ Politics
On April 1, South Korea’s biggest Korean Pop stars arrived in Pyongyang to perform a joint concert with North Korean colleagues. The countries planned the three-day tour with meticulous attention to detail to avoid conflict over dances, lyrics, and costumes. They organized the concert, forebodingly titled “Spring is Coming”, as a gesture of good will […]
“Eat the Rabbits”: Venezuela’s Plan to Curb its Food Crisis
Government mismanagement of oil revenues, international debt, and rampant inflation have led Venezuela into an extreme food crisis with only one plausible solution: eat the rabbits. At least that’s the plan recently proposed by President Nicolás Maduro. This is not the first instance we have seen such a simple solution to a complex national issue […]
Statue Statutes: Will Renaming Bring Reconciliation?
In the town of Kitchener, Ontario, the statue of Sir John A. MacDonald is struggling to find a permanent home. The bronze likeness of the nation’s first Prime Minister, created by famous Canadian sculptor Ruth Abernethy, was initially commissioned to be featured alongside other statues of past statesmen in a new city park celebrating Canada’s […]
No Longer a Gold “BRICS”?
“China and India could really go to war,” I said to myself when rolling down the comment area of a Chinese news site. “Group Fight between Indian and Chinese Troops, Indians Thought They Won!” the title of the article provocatively claimed, referring to the conflict between Chinese and Indian troops, in which both sides threw […]
Rwanda’s Path to Gender Equity
When Justine Uvuza returned to Rwanda after the 1994 genocide, she was shocked by the state of her country. At the time, the little remaining infrastructure and shattered political systems that resulted from the Rwandan genocide comprised the leading narrative of the country. But when she returned, what stood out most to Uvuza was […]
Still Stuck in the Cold War? Turkey, NATO, Russia, and the Art of Patronage
Russia announces new arms deals almost daily, and successfully completes them nearly as often. But the sale of Russian arms to a NATO member is a strikingly rare event. Last month, Turkey signed an agreement to purchase the S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system from Russia, following in the footsteps of Belarus, Algeria, and China, all […]
Blood for Trees: The Plight of Uncontacted Tribes in Brazil
Last month, around the Jandiatuba river in the Amazonas region of Western Brazil, a small cohort of illegal gold miners happened upon a group of indigenous people, members of one of many uncontacted tribes throughout Brazil. Reports state that these miners murdered between ten to twenty people, including women and children. This massacre would have […]
Qui est Emmanuel Macron?
On the evening of May 7th, spectators across the world took a deep breath of relief, as French rejected an extreme-right presidential candidate. Despite the (at least) momentary respite and the soaring optimism in the ‘heart of Europe’, the question remains if the new President, Emmanuel Macron, can transform the momentum of his campaign into […]
Lies, Dam Lies, and Statistics
Tension is brewing on the Nile. Ethiopia is building a massive dam on the Blue Nile with the swaggering name of “Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.” Once completed, it will be the largest dam in Africa. Egypt and Sudan are the two downstream countries that could be the most affected by the dam, and they couldn’t […]
The Recession of the Pink Tide
Empty shelves in Venezuela Lenin Moreno’s April victory in the Ecuadorian presidential election must have brought sighs of relief to socialists across the continent, who have been buffeted by scandals and electoral defeats in recent years. Still, it was a close fight. Guillermo Lasso, the conservative candidate and a former banker, was able to win […]
The Ghost of Zheng He: China’s Naval Base in Djibouti
Six hundred years after the Ming Dynasty explorer Zheng He landed in Mombasa and brought back a giraffe, China’s trade presence in East Africa is very much alive. In recent years, China has been expanding a web of infrastructure projects across the African continent. Now, China is in the process of constructing a naval base […]
Fear and Loathing in the Balkans
On January 14, 18 years since the end of the Kosovo War and six days before the inauguration of President Donald J. Trump in the United States, a train left Belgrade, Serbia, bound for the city of Mitrovica. Mitrovica lies in either northern Kosovo or southern Serbia, depending on who you ask, and that train […]
România: Fixing a Broken Record
On January 18th 2017, thousands of Romanians swarmed the streets in anger to oppose their government’s reported plans to adopt an emergency law, which would decriminalize forms of corruption if the damages caused amounted to less than $48,000. Though the government withdrew its plans to approve the bill, these protests have now become a nightly […]
100 Years of Mugabe?
In a true birthday bash, the oldest president alive, Robert Mugabe, celebrated his 93d birthday on February 21st. The ostentatious celebration, including a 93-kilogram cake for the invitees to indulge in, is the antithesis of the standard of living of $3.24/day for the average Zimbabwean. A severe economic crisis is looming in the country and the […]
Cybercrime: The Spark Which Started Russia’s Cyber Crusade
On the day the Soviet Union fell, the whole world watched, looking to see what would rise from the ashes of the fallen empire. By 1998, Russia’s military spending hit an all time low, and it was expected that the new federation could not compare to it’s glorious military past. Yet over the next decade, […]
The Long Road To Peace In Central America
Can Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador Band Together to Banish the Gangs? In November 2016, the three Central American countries of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador announced the establishment of a multinational taskforce to combat gangs and cross-border violence in the region. The three form Central America’s “Northern Triangle”, a region that often appears in […]
The Third Time’s Not the Charm: Corruption in Somalia’s Election
On February 8th, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed was elected President of Somalia, defeating the incumbent Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. This was the culmination of the third election cycle since 2009. In 1991, the central government fell to armed opposition groups. Since then, elections have been held in 2009, 2012, and 2017, although the 2009 election had to […]
Rohingya with No Rescue
Ambia Khatun rushed her two children out of her burning house on the early morning of November 23. Unable to escape in time, her husband lay with the burning remnants of their villages, killed once the Myanmar army started firing. 37-year-old Khatun is one of the 1.3 Million Rohingya Muslims living in Myanmar’s […]
Frozen in Place: Canada’s Arctic Policy
Canadian Ranger transporting supplies in the Arctic during Canada’s annual sovereignty Operation Nunalivut It’s 1984. Cold War animosity is back to normal and the U.S.S.R has announced its boycott of the Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Ronald Reagan and his promise to fight the “evil empire” have succeeded in one of the greatest electoral landslides in […]
Indonesia in the Democratic Recession
Muslim protesters calling for the imprisonment of incumbent Jakarta governor Basuki Purnama on blasphemy charges On February 15th, millions of Jakarta residents went to vote in their third gubernatorial election since democracy took hold. More than a simple exercise of voting rights, this election represents a referendum on the direction of Indonesian democracy. The […]
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité threatened in 2017 French Election
A conservative wind is sweeping through the so-called Western liberal democracies- staunching liberal reform and creating a political conversion of protectionism intertwined in a nationalistic discourse. France has proven no exception to this political trend. In the wake of the April 23 presidential election, two populist candidates- Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron are leading […]
The Fate of Futenma
In a historic decision, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has accepted a court-mediated settlement to halt the construction of the American military base in Henoko. The victory for the local anti-base movement signals the first time in history that the federal government has sided against American military interests. However, given the back-and-forth nature of this […]
When the Music Turns Off, Matisyahu’s Actions Begin
UC Berkeley’s spacious areas like Memorial Glade and Lower Sproul Hall serve as a center stage for concerts with big name performers. Last April, reggae singer Matisyahu performed a free concert to a large and engaged crowd on Lower Sproul hosted by the Berkeley Hillel and UC Berkeley’s Jewish Student Union. The concert was a […]
The Thrilla in Manila
By Griff Potrock Since the recognition of independence in 1946 and the mutual defense treaty signed in 1951, the United States and the Philippines have been staunch allies. This alliance has included establishing US bases in the Philippines, joint Filipino-American military exercises, hundreds of millions of dollars in aid, and protection under the US […]
Bolivarianism: A Fanfare for the Common Man?
Hugo Chávez clapping in front of a portrait of Simón Bolívar Not long ago, Venezuela sought to brand itself as a leader, a resurgent power eager to lead the escape from U.S. imperialism towards true Latin independence. With a new constitution and the charismatic Hugo Chávez at the helm, Venezuela underwent extensive political, economic, and […]
Rebuild and Recover
Rebuild and Recover: Earthquakes and Economic Crisis Strike Central Italy Central Italy is still reeling from a string of powerful earthquakes that rocked the region in late October. Dozens of hilltop towns were flattened, dealing further damage to communities already emptied by a grinding economic recession. Many villages were razed and almost 50,000 were displaced […]
A Friendship Gone Astray
The Growing Divide in Chinese-African Relations In December 2015, President Xi Jinping was declaring Zimbabwe to be China’s “all-weather friend.” Less than a year later, President Mugabe of Zimbabwe was accusing the Chinese of undermining his nation’s economy and “taking advantage” of Zimbabwe’s women. This seemingly rapid transition in relations might appear to be unexpected, […]
The Emperor’s New Groove
Just weeks ago, China officially unveiled the J-20, its first stealth fighter, at Airshow China. The sleek jet was met both with derision from engineers who view it as little more than a knockoff of the American F-22 and F-35 and concern from policy experts who worry that the modern and inexpensive fighter may tip […]
America’s ADHD Nation
Image source: The Japan Times After a summer filled with doping scandals, barred athletes, and the Rio Olympics, Russian hackers exposed American gymnast Simone Biles in September for taking prohibited medication during the games. No scandal came of the revelation because the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) pre-approved Biles of her Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) medication. […]
South Africa: Demographics and the One-Party State
A voter shows her inked thumb after voting in South Africa’s municipal elections For the party that led South Africa out of Apartheid, a monopoly on the future of South Africa has long been assured — that is, until last August. Taking home only 53.9% of the vote in the municipal elections, the African National […]
The King of Kong
China has long struggled to contain separatist movements around its periphery. Until now, the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) focus has been on deterring activists and leaders in Tibet and the northwestern region of Xinjiang, while militarily dissuading Taiwan, where it has never held sway, from formalizing its independence. In Tibet and Xinjiang, the Party uses […]
The Cost of Conservation
How Conservation Endangers Indigenous Rights The term “climate refugee” is increasingly entering the mainstream as more people are displaced due to climate change. But what about those being pushed out of their homes by people who want to save the planet? Will there be a rise in what former U.C. Berkeley lecturer Mark Dowie […]
The Forgotten Migrants Of Central America
America’s Harsh Rhetoric On Immigration Policy Bleeds Across The Border By Adrian Hernandez-Morales The Northern Triangle, a region in Central America surrounding Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, is perhaps one of the poorest and most violent places in the world. The predominance of gang rivalry, post-civil war instability, repressive political regimes and extreme poverty […]
Europe: At the Crossroads of Crisis
This article is the second of a three part series aiming to demistify the Syrian refugee crisis. Part one can be found here. As the largest democratic nation in close proximity to Syria, Turkey has been at the forefront of the international refugee crisis. Over the past five years, Turkey has accepted over 2.5 million […]
Medellín Rising: Interview with Governor Sergio Fajardo
This past March, UC Berkeley’s Center for Latin American Studies Department held a series of guest lectures by Sergio Fajardo, current Governor of Colombia’s Antioquia department and former Mayor of Medellín. A mathematician who studied at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Fajardo implemented transformative policies in Colombia’s 2nd most populous department and Medellín, its main urban center and former […]
Argentina: The Division of the Kirchneristas Portends the Return of the Right
After twelve long years of left-wing Kirchnerismo, the center-right political alliance Cambiemos (“Let’s Change”) finally took hold of the Casa Rosada, Argentina’s presidential residence. Only two months after losing the presidential elections against the center-right alliance on December 10th, Argentina’s former ruling Frente para la Victoria (“FpV”) bloc has already begun to crumble. With newly […]
Religion and Politics: The Limitations of Secularism and Liberal Discourse in the Non-West
This past weekend, Europa Laica (Secular Europe), a non-profit organization committed to the promotion of secularism, the secular state, and the separation of church and State in Europe, launched its first conference after 15 years of initiation. The conference took place in Madrid, same city where the organization’s headquarters are located, and it culminated with […]
How an Indian Biotech Company Shot Ahead on the Zika Vaccine Long Before The Rest of the World
Open any news website and you’ll come face-to-face with heartbroken Brazilian parents cradling a doleful infant with microcephaly, a condition in which people are born with abnormally small heads. Next to that are the statistics: Brazil has a conservative estimate of 500,000 to 1.5 million cases of the Zika virus, which has now spread to […]
The Rise of Cocaine in Peru
When thinking about drug production and trafficking, narcotics industries span across the globe in a complex network. From opium production in Afghanistan to synthetic drugs throughout the West, each drug has a historical connection to a specific region in the world. Perhaps the most well known relationship between a drug and geographical region is cocaine […]
The Decline of Mugabe and the Political Surge in Zimbabwe: What is to be, or not to be in the post-Mugabe era?
After years of authoritarian rule in Zimbabwe, it looks as though the tide is set to change. Political tension in Zimbabwe was demonstrated in a recent ten-hour long meeting of the country’s ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union—Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF). Several party members were either suspended or expelled without being given a chance to argue […]
Operation Lava Jato: Brazil’s Worst Nightmare
Operation Lava Jato continues to unveil the deep cracks of corruption that have sickening the Brazilian political system for decades. What started out as an investigation carried out by the Federal Police of Brazil against suspected cases of money laundering from the part of executives, has now spilled over what seems to be a huge […]
Will the Rainbow Flag Fly Over China?
Following last summer’s landmark Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage in the U.S., and the world’s first-ever legalization through the popular vote in Ireland, legions of rainbow flags were hoisted up from Australia to Colombia. However, in South Korea, conservative evangelicals and other anti-marriage equality protesters outnumbered proponents 25,000 to 20,000. A parallel narrative […]
Iran’s Private Sector: Putting Up a Fight on an Uphill Battle
By the end of this year, you will likely see Tehran displayed on the departures list in the airports of many major European cities. With the passing of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name of the Iran nuclear deal, Iran has had an influx of business inquiries from Western companies. Headlines […]
The Missing Part of Haitian Progress: The Forgotten Children
Haiti is home to 10 million people and the first modern revolution predicated on freedom, equality and justice of all. But among all the nations in the Western Hemisphere, none have faced greater challenges to improve the lives of its children. Yet, the forgotten children of Haiti may offer the very things that Haiti needs […]
Nobels and Whistles in Beijing
Tu Youyou was labeled with “three noes”: no medical degree, no doctorate, and no work overseas. And yet, she became not only the first Chinese woman to win a Nobel Prize, but also the first Chinese citizen to earn a Nobel Prize in science. Tu was honored as one of 2015’s three Nobel laureates in […]
Where Are They Now?
The Unfinished, Yet Uncovered Saga of the Central American Migrant Crisis When news broke in June 2014 that an unprecedented 50,000 unaccompanied Central American children had arrived at the U.S. border since October 2013, the White House declared it an “urgent humanitarian situation,” drawing the attention and concern of the U.S. government, media, and public. By […]
Ringed by Walls – Changing Perceptions of Israel in the U.S and Abroad
As President Barack Obama delivered the words “A nation ringed by walls will only imprison itself”, many analysts pointed the statement as an adage against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Of the fences of Guantanamo Bay, the trade barriers of the Asia Pacific, the obstacles to American citizenship, Obama’s farewell address to the United Nations […]
The Fake Liberation: Dissecting the Impact of Saudi Arabia’s “All-Women” Cities
Saudi Arabia, the country where women are not allowed to go in public without a chaperone, have individual rights in court, drive, wear clothes that show off too much skin, wear too much makeup, study engineering, architecture, or political science, interact with men outside the family, use swimming pools, compete freely in sports, try on […]
Guatemala’s new president, the comedian—Morales’ Morality Campaign
Beginning in April, Guatemala’s streets swelled with massive weekly protests calling for two goals: for President Otto Perez Molina to step down, and to end political impunity and corruption, two traits with entrenched legacies in Guatemala. Both the people and the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), a UN-backed investigative committee which began work […]
To the Land of the Kiwis—Problems Arising from the Chinese and Indian Tidal Wave of Immigration to New Zealand
New Zealand today has more ethnicities than there are countries in the world. Starting in 2013, the land of the Kiwis has seen record net gains of migrants from countries such as India, China, the Philippines and Britain. New Zealand’s two largest immigrant pools are Chinese and Indians—who now comprise of 17 and 16 percent of […]
The Nordic Model: No Universal Holy Grail
Nordic countries have become somewhat of an international sensation. In the last decade, they seemed impervious to the economic and social woes that ossified economic growth in Europe and Asia and reflected extreme inequality in the United States. Many attribute their success to the “Nordic model,” a unique political and economic template that has raised […]
Turkey’s Role in the Syrian Crisis
Turkey’s assistance to the Islamic State goes beyond providing open borders for ISIS militants. By the end of 2015, Turkey is expected to host as many as nearly two million Syrian refugees. The country opened its doors to create a ‘safe haven’ for those fleeing persecution, many of whom ended up moving to cities on […]
The Waning Hermit Kingdom (Part II): The Challenges of Korean Reunification
In January 2014, the North Korean government supposedly announced that it had successfully landed a man on the sun. However, contrary to such macho announcements from government mouthpieces, the sun is beginning to set for the backwater Hermit Kingdom. Continued famine, declining international aid, and increased dissemination of non-governmental information (discussed in Part I) have […]
“Leapfrogging”: Can developing countries truly skip over fossil fuel reliance in favor of renewable energies?
There is a popular argument that progress and growth are not possible without reliance on fossil fuel-powered energy. Examples abide to support this claim: almost every industrialized country is (relatively and subjectively) thriving today because of their rampant abuse of coal, oil, and gas. The 1.3 billion people without electricity access are largely concentrated in […]
It Takes Two to Tango
What a bitter runoff between Argentine frontrunners means for its democracy At the first Democratic National Debate, Bernie Sanders knowingly quipped that people would be more prone to vote for him if they knew what a Democratic Socialist was. Sanders presents a new challenge for American voters, quick to stuff Bernie into the oft feared Socialist […]
Argentina’s Soiled National Fabric: The Dirty War, Trials, and Truth Commissions
The truth can be painful. Yet it is, paradoxically, the only way to personal and social peace in Argentina—a country seriously marred by its own history. No matter how much it cleans up its act, it seems like Argentina just can’t manage to scrub out the stains of the “Dirty War” that ravaged the country […]
The Plight of Indonesian Domestic Workers in Hong Kong
The term “domestic helper” conjures images of a devoted caretaker who enlivens a family’s home. But for Indonesian domestic helpers, who have been coming to Hong Kong since the 1990s to work and send money back to their families, and comprise nearly half of Hong Kong’s 329,325 domestic workers, employment in these dream apartments has […]
Hindu Nationalist Violence Increasing in India
In India, there has been a rise in violence against Muslims who have been accused of eating and selling beef. Some Hindus are saying that it is their duty to defend their religious values which state that cows are sacred. Hindus comprise 79.8% of the total population of 1.25 billion Indians while Muslims make up […]
A Shadowy Web of Unknowns: Unearthing the Underground Economy in Nuclear Materials
100 tons of plutonium, 1,000 tons of highly enriched uranium, and 30,000 nuclear warheads make up the known Russian nuclear arsenal today. However, following the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991, large parts of the USSR’s vast arsenal of nuclear-grade weaponry were left scattered and unmonitored, meaning the actual arsenal size may be much […]
Putin’s New Plaything
Vladimir Putin is like a cat. People don’t know what he’s thinking, and the fact that he is unpredictable makes him an enigma. However, the stakes are too high to keep misinterpreting Putin’s intentions. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in Ukraine in 2014 and its recent increase in military aid to Syria demonstrate that Putin is […]
Requiem for a Nascent Democracy: Burundi
From the ruins of a twelve-year civil war, Burundi openly embraced multi-party democracy in 2005 to a great deal of optimism and expectation. Today, the country is in crisis; subject of a United Nations resolution, there are legitimate fears of Burundi slipping into a Rwanda-like massacre. On April 25th this year, Pierre Nkurunziza, the incumbent […]
Cyberwar with China
The U.S. has been hacked on over 700 occasions in just five years on fronts ranging from corporate to private to governmental. Over the past two years, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was hacked on two separate occasions; the hack this year was deemed the largest in U.S. history, with 5.6 million fingerprints and […]
Iraqi National Reconciliation
Iraqi army officers made two attempts on the life of the country’s prime minister, Haider Al-Abadi, before being thwarted by the US Embassy in Baghdad, according to a high-level Iraqi official. This is the latest symptom of the ongoing radicalization and sectarian violence that has plagued post-2003 Iraq. The roots of ISIS’ rise can be […]
The Waning Hermit Kingdom (Part I): A Faltering Kim-Regime
When tensions rose along the Korean Peninsula this past August, it was not military provocation, but South Korean speakers blaring anti-North Korean propaganda that spurred Pyongyang to declare a quasi-state of war. The recent clash between the Koreas involved their first major armed encounter in five years. However, unlike previous military aggression from the Hermit […]
Compassion from Parliament to the Rural Health Clinic
In modern industrialized societies, women continue to encounter stigma and stonewalling when they seek out information about family planning and contraceptive care. But in developing nations, particularly in Malawi, a predominantly rural country in southeastern Africa, the taboo surrounding sexuality encompasses the country so completely that even women don’t believe teenage girls should learn about […]
Trapped in Tradition’s Prison: Why India is Not Ready to Criminalize Marital Rape
Jyoti Singh was brutally gang raped on December 16, 2012. The assault against this 23-year-old New Delhi resident suddenly put India’s laws against sexual assault under a global spotlight, exposing their serious defects. Within the next 56 days, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh signed off on a landmark package addressing sexual violence. For the first time, […]
Lessons from the School of Trumpian Politics along the Venezuelan-Colombian Border
Xenophobic ideology is not new to politics. It is, however, relatively new to Venezuela, which has been one of the more welcoming South American countries to immigrants throughout the second half of the 20th century. On August 19, 2015, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced “Operation Liberation of the People” (OLP). Since then, over 1,500 Colombians have […]
F!
The Feminist Initiative literally blazed onto the political scene and stamped its name on international headlines in 2010, when party leader Gudrun Schyman burned 100,000 Swedish krona on a barbecue at one of Sweden’s largest annual political events. For the last decade Feministiskt initiativ, or F! (with the ! representing an upside-down ‘i’) has sought […]
Trade and Transparency: The Trans-Pacific Partnership’s Elusive Agenda
In his first year in office, President Obama announced one of the primary goals of his international trade policy, U.S. participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a trade agreement between a dozen nations along the Pacific coast. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the TPP represents the “cornerstone of the Obama […]
Internal And External Schisms
Every day news outlets around the world cover the latest horrors committed by the Islamic State (confusingly abbreviated as IS, ISIS, or even ISIL), and it seems the group’s expansion is unstoppable. However, despite its dramatic rise, information has begun to surface about the increasing dissent it faces, both internally and externally. This dissent ranges […]
#VaiaDilma: President Rousseff’s Trust Deficit
Less than five months after voting President Dilma Rousseff into office last October, the Brazilian people have demanded her impeachment. On March 15th, 2015, approximately one million Brazilians, wearing the national colors of green and yellow, took to the streets in a series of nationwide demonstrations and chanted “Out Dilma.” Sao Paulo witnessed the largest […]
Continued Persecution of Christians
“Continued Persecution of Christians” was originally published in the Davis Political Review on April 6, 2015. On April 2, students at Garissa University College in Kenya started their day as usual; waking up, going to class, and attending religious services, completely unaware of the tragedy that would soon unravel. Early in the morning, masked gunmen stormed […]
Russia Looks East
In a move that may further isolate Russia in the eyes of the West, Pyongyang and Moscow have formed a new year of friendship alliance that will deepen political and economic ties between the two countries. In his first trip outside North Korea since taking the reins of power in 2011, Kim Jong Un will […]
A Tale of Two Rulers
Over one and half billion people live in India and Indonesia, two immense nations whose histories have long been intertwined. Last year, in a monumental exercise of democracy, nearly six hundred and ninety million voters went to the polls to elect new leaders in the two countries. In both nations, two challengers who were born […]
Sectarian Strife in Yemen
February 10th, the U.S. Department of State announced a formal withdrawal from its embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, in response to mounting Houthi power in the capital. This departure marks a new political direction for Yemen, from the American-backed government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi to a new regime dominated by the Houthis, a Shiite […]
Darfur: Will the West Ever Care?
When on October 30th, 2014, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s vicious government forces mercilessly raped 221 women and girls over 36 hours, the residents of Tabit stood helpless. The small town of Tabit in Northern Darfur, Sudan, had been subjected to another atrocity. It was not long ago that images of George Clooney’s ‘Save Darfur’ campaign […]
Ratifying Without Resolve
The 21st century was met with an explosion of international documents intended to protect universal human rights. Indeed, the international community is currently flooded with treaties, protocols, resolutions, mandates, and handshakes. However, there is one critical element to all of these policies and ideas that dries up their potential for positive impact – enforcement. Without […]
After Every Winter Comes Spring: Tunisia’s Democratic Flowering
On December 17th, 2010, a 26 year-old vegetable-seller named Mohamed Bouazizi had his unlicensed cart and products confiscated by a policewoman in the Tunisian city of Sidi Bouzid. Not only did the police officer demand a large fine from Bouazizi, but she also insulted his dead father and slapped him. Aggrieved, Bouazizi headed to the […]
Mr. Xi Jinping, Tear Down This (Fire)Wall
In Beijing, signs throughout the city read: “Patriotism, Innovation, Inclusiveness, Virtue.” Like most political slogans, this particular one relies heavily on wishful thinking and an element of deception. China ranks 22 out of 50 OECD economies in innovation, a surprisingly low number given the prowess of the Chinese economy. Innovation itself is synonymous with taking […]
China’s Growing Role in the Afghanistan Peace Process
Following decades of cautious foreign policy, China is now taking a significant role in helping to secure peace in neighboring Afghanistan. China’s interest in Afghanistan is both economic and political: Afghanistan has abundant untapped natural resources, and China wants a stable Afghan government after U.S. and NATO forces leave. China is also growing more confident […]
Falling Forward: The Ramifications of Libya’s Oil Crisis
Oil has fueled the Libyan economy for years, but major clashes between political factions within the nation have produced disastrous consequences for the once lucrative oil industry. Oil was first discovered in Libya in 1959, and the nation became a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) shortly thereafter in 1962. Ever […]
Three Decades Late: U.S.-Cuba Relations
Fifty-four years after diplomatic fallout, the United States and Cuba are finally ready to let bygones be bygones. In his State of the Union address on January 20, 2015, U.S. President Barack Obama called for Congress to reestablish diplomatic relations and to end the trade embargo with Cuba, “ending a policy that was long past its […]
Snapchat Terrorism: Liberty and Security in Britain
When two gunmen stormed the central Paris office of Charlie Hebdo in early January, and slaughtered the magazine’s most prominent cartoonists, Europe stood still in shock. Across the English Channel and a mere 2 hour 15 minute journey away by train, policemen poured into sensitive sites across London, visibly increasing their presence in the British […]
Unlikely Bedfellows
President Obama’s newfound friendship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has the world speculating about the potential strengthening of an alliance between two crucial players in the global arena. In late January, Obama became the first U.S. President to attend India’s Republic Day Parade, a celebration of India’s cultural heritage, thriving democracy, and military strength. […]
The Remarkable Rise of Mozambique
Since the 1990s, Africa has emerged as a region defined by rapid political and economic transformation. By establishing accountable, democratic governments and instituting new economic policies with limited barriers to trade and foreign investment, many of these emerging African nations are showing signs of profound growth and improvement in their standard of living. These developments […]
A Failed State No More: Somalia’s Waning War
Sleek Boeing 737-800s operated by Turkish Airlines fly into Mogadishu’s gleaming new international airport as patients flock to the recently refurbished Erdoan hospital, the best-equipped medical center in East Africa. Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda affiliate that has terrorized Somalia for eight years, is in tatters and on the run from a legitimate federal government that is […]
The AIIB: China’s Economic Evolution
According to the International Monetary Foundation (IMF), the economies of the Asia-Pacific region are growing rapidly, and are expected to account for almost half of global GDP by 2030. However, sustainable, long-term economic growth requires a sound infrastructure network to facilitate the transportation of ideas and goods in the increasingly connected global economy, yet the […]
Viable Ambassadors or Bona Fide Embarrassments?
“Viable Ambassadors or Bona Fide Embarassments?” was originally published in the Davis Political Review on December 9, 2014. What do a soap opera creator, a public relations executive, and a hotel mogul all have in common? Sure, all three donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the 2012 Obama campaign for president. But Colleen Bradley […]
Dysfunction at the Heart of Europe
As a result of high unemployment, below optimal inflation, and dismal output growth, the European Union is facing a severely protracted economic downturn. Since 2008, European policymakers have tried to reignite growth to little avail. Unemployment still hovers at 10.1%, and last year the European Union witnessed a meager .1% growth in GDP. As recently […]
Britain De-Unionizing
Britain is closer than ever to walking out of the E.U. Source: conservativehome.com After narrowly dodging a political bullet when the 2014 referendum for Scottish independence failed to pass, British Prime Minister David Cameron found himself caught in yet another European political struggle, this time on a larger scale. Now, Cameron faces newfound political […]
Empty Promises: The Impact of ISIS on Kurdish-Turkish Relations
The Battle between the Turks and Kurds has been raging for years, but it seems the relationship between the two has reached an all-time low as a result of the unprecedented rise of the Islamic State (IS). Many are beginning to question Turkey’s devotion to the fight against ISIS. Turkey recently agreed to join the […]
The Afghan Honeymoon: Why Post-Election Optimism Won’t Last
The international community has recently showered Afghanistan with much praise. Yet, despite the handful of developments that call for celebration, the nation’s future is nonetheless littered with obstacles for both the Afghan government and its constituents. The Presidential election this June between Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah deteriorated into an acrimonious stalemate, as the latter […]
The Viral Consequences: Pakistan’s Polio Crisis
With the world focusing on the Ebola outbreak ravaging through West Africa, it is easy to overlook an equally dangerous disease lurking behind global headlines: polio. Polio, a highly infectious disease that can cause irreversible paralysis in children, is entirely preventable if young children are frequently given vaccines. Hundreds of thousands of children in the […]
The Northern Sea Route: Could It Be The New Suez Canal?
Under the influence of climate change, Arctic ice is melting away. This scares climatologists, but also intriguingly creates possible economic benefits. The melted ice has opened trade routes and energy resources, attracting the interest of many of the world’s most powerful nations. However, while the melting ice has created these two potential economic benefits, only […]
The Tale of Two Brazils
On October 26th, 2014, incumbent Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff won the second round of presidential elections in Brazil over her challenger, Aécio Neves, though only by a close margin with 51.64% of the vote. President Rousseff now enters her second term since 2011, but the election has left Brazil deeply divided. The contest between both […]
South America: The Selectively Remembered Continent
Post Fujimorismo Whiplash. It is a phrase that might describe the current state of affairs in Peru over a decade after the removal of authoritarian President Alberto Fujimori, who went to extremes to combat narcotics such as engaging in the systematic elimination of citizens associated with the narcotics industry and the Shining Path, a Maoist […]
Can Narendra Modi Shift India’s Standing on the World Stage?
Narendra Modi, India’s new prime minister, isn’t your average politician. He comes from a humble background as a street tea seller, didn’t publicly acknowledge that he was married until filing for party nomination, and even helped break a Guinness World Record by using 3D holographic projections to present 53 simultaneous campaign speeches. This September, Modi visited the […]
Solving Japan’s Energy Crisis
The Fukushima disaster was a traumatic experience for Japan: in March 2011, an earthquake and the subsequent tsunami it triggered led to the meltdown of a vital power plant that left the country in a toxic state. The country’s forty-eight nuclear reactors, once symbols of Japan’s advancement, were shut down immediately. Now, three years later, […]
Forging a Response
Home to strategic military bases, vital trade routes, and valuable natural resources, the South China Sea represents some of the most sought after territory in the world. In terms of trade, about a third of global crude oil traffic and half of global natural gas exports travel through the South China Sea each year [1]. […]
Wasteful Stadiums
The Manaus, Brazil World Cup stadium cost $300 million to build. Source: Brasil.gov The 2014 FIFA World Cup hosted in Brazil has been the most popular one yet. One Brazilian channel attracted a whopping 42.9 million viewers for a single game, the largest global sports viewing audience this year. The ESPN World Cup coverage even broke […]
Referendum is the New Revolt
Weeks of tension, anticipation, and indelible patience led to the ultimate “no”—or “No thanks”, as the Scottish campaign politely advocated—vote on Scottish independence from the United Kingdom on September 18th. Nearly 85% of eligible Scottish voters turned out to give their two pence on the contentious issue, according to NPR’s Ari Shapiro—a turnout that broke […]
Minegolia: The Resource Curse
In 2011, a sparsely populated Central-East Asian nation rose to international prominence as the fastest growing economy in the world, with a monumental 17% growth rate in GDP. Yet, in as little as three years, growth in Mongolia has come crashing down to 5.3% amidst growing economic uncertainty and increasing inequality. What was behind this […]
Courting the Public
In democratic societies, the relationship between candidates and voters boils down to the more-than-familiar concept of courtship. Often, campaigns employ a myriad of strategies to court voters, which include winning the hearts of the people through actions or through words. Even though the conventional wisdom suggests that action speaks louder than words, the time constraints […]
A “Venezuelan Spring”?
On February 4, 2014, a female student was raped on a university campus in the western state of Tachira, Venezuela, spurring student protests across the country. The conflict escalated quickly when three students were killed in clashes with security forces at a rally on February 12. With inflation at 56%, the fifth highest murder rate […]
Can European Data become a Reality?
This past February Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel made a proposal for reduced telecommunications dependence on the US, instead developing Europe’s own “data hub.” Undoubtedly this move reflects an increasing sense of distrust between Germany and the US given recent reports of the US National Security Administration’s extensive surveillance of foreign allied leaders, among other targets. […]
Tunisia’s Second Spring
BY GIACOMO TOGNINI On the 4th of January 2011, smoke billowed along the streets of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia following the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a 26-year old fruit vendor. Impoverished by rising food prices and beaten by corrupt police, Bouazizi’s display of revolt shook and subsequently toppled the regime of Tunisian President Zine El […]
Libya & Leaving The Fortress
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2013 print edition, which can be found here. On September 11th and 12th 2012, US Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were slain at a diplomatic villa and a nearby security compound in Benghazi, Libya. The murder of Ambassador Stevens was the first successful assassination of […]
The Re-Emergence of the European Far-Right
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2013 print edition, which can be found here. Walking through a neighborhood in England while campaigning for the 2010 parliamentary elections, Gordon Brown encountered Gillian Duffy, a loyal Labor Party voter. Brown, former Prime Minister and leader of the Labor Party, was likely expecting a normal campaign meet-and-greet […]
An Enriched Iran?
The international hysteria regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions has been a pervasive topic in foreign affairs since Iran went public with its program in 2002. Major players in the global community, such as the US and EU, have been hurling sanctions, embargos, and condemnations at Iran in an attempt to stymie the development of its nuclear […]
The Brave Reformer
BY GIACOMO TOGNINI Facing -2.1% GDP quarterly growth rate and 12.5% unemployment, Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s problems continue. His government recently passed a new budget that reduced fiscal austerity and increased state spending. His next target is Italy’s constitution, a document that established Italy’s bloated bureaucratic public sector which continues to drain resources from the […]
Are Cold War Politics at Play in the Closure of Manas Air Base?
Next fall will be a busy time of year for our dysfunctional government. Faced with the prospect of midterm elections for a Congress with some of the lowest approval ratings ever and the near complete withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, our country’s bureaucrats will be hoping that nothing else will shake up the second […]
The Mercurial Case of Misuari
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2013 print edition, which can be found here. The Bangsamoro region of the Southern Philippines has seen a great deal of turmoil over the past few decades as Muslims fight for greater autonomy and independence. The Southern Philippines has seen houses burn and cities terrorized in a decades-long […]
Scaling Everest
BY GIACOMO TOGNINI It has been seven years since Nepal’s decade-long civil war led to the overthrow of the world’s third-longest-lasting absolute monarchy and the victory of former Maoist rebels at the polls. Today, Nepal is undergoing a dramatic political crisis that shows no signs of abating before the Constituent Assembly (CA) elections in two […]
The Labor Rollercoaster of a Lifetime
What began as a factory fire months ago has turned into turmoil through Bangladesh. In April of 2013, Rana Plaza in Bangladesh toppled down, killing 1,129 people and injuring 1,900. This was the deadliest factory accident in all of history, topping the eight-story Spectrum factory collapse (also in Bangladesh) eight years earlier. As a result […]
United American Emirates, The New UAE?
As recently as five years ago, energy analysts were in agreement the US would need to begin importing natural gas to keep up with rising consumption amidst depleting domestic reserves. Fast-forward half a decade and the US sits atop one of the largest natural gas reserves in the world, looking to break into the lucrative […]