I made my first visit to Washington, D.C. over spring break. It was prime time in the city for elementary and middle school field trips, so a constant mass of children roamed the halls of our nation’s museums alongside me. I attempted to distinguish myself — convey my maturity and wisdom (and my Georgetown-chic sensibilities) […]
Tag: democracy
The EU-Mercosur Deal Reveals Fractures in Europe’s Decision-Making
In attempting to strike a trade deal with the South American regional bloc Mercosur, Europe finds itself at a familiar but critical political crossroads. It struggles to balance procedural and institutional caution with the need to act decisively. The long-awaited EU-Mercosur trade agreement, one of the largest free trade agreements (FTAs) ever designed, was negotiated […]
A Filipino Take on Game of Thrones
The President and Vice President of the Philippines are currently at war with each other in a feud that seeks to burn the entire nation. In 2021, Ferdinand Bong Bong Marcos formed an alliance with Sara Duterte in one of the most peculiar political match ups of the twenty-first century. They would go on to […]
When They go Low, We Go… Also Low
When the majority of Californians get together to attack democratic safeguards in the name of preserving a balance, we aren’t really getting a compromise. Instead, it’s a loud, blatant signal that the system is eating itself. Proposition 50’s passage signifies that political polarization has gotten to the point that people on both sides of the […]
Violating Constitution, Congress Lowers Majority Threshold to Confirm Presidential Nominees
New changes to the Senate present a striking change to congressional power. Article Two, Section Two, Clause Two. “Provided two-thirds of the Senate concur, the President shall appoint Officers of the United States.” This is a constitutional clause dictating that the Senate must have a supermajority to confirm Presidential nominations to the Bureaucracy. However, it […]
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 […]
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 […]
California Ballot Propositions: The Flaws of Direct Democracy
In 1911, California’s government was almost completely controlled by the Southern Pacific Railroad. Through bribery, this railroad company maintained a firm grip on the legislature. And then (at last!), the Progressive Movement swept the nation. The state amended its constitution to allow voters to decide directly on legislation and constitutional amendments. Political power had been […]