As an international relations student who is inspired by careers surrounding development, I’ve heard less than auspicious fortunes told to me. Peers and professionals alike understand “development” as a field to be something strictly along the lines of charity work, bake sale tables, and picketing in front of the White House. As a reader on this blog, you probably do not identify with this misconception, but may have experienced similar skepticism in response to your interest in development. “Development,” although used so liberally and often peppered in academic works and titles, actually does describe viable, professional fields far beyond the … Continue reading
Is the International Community Asking for Post-Election Violence in DRC?
The following was published originally originally on the UPenn SID blog on December 6, 2011. This Tuesday, December 6th, the National Election Commission of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is due to announce the preliminary results of last week’s tense Presidential contest. Analysts and academics have warned all week that some degree of violence will likely follow the flawed election between incumbent Joseph Kabila, opposition leader Etiesnne Tshisekedi, and the nine other candidates in the running. If violence does ensue, to what extent is the permissive environment created by the international community to blame? The election process to this … Continue reading
Complex, Intimate Paths to Violent Jihad
The Real Lives of Islamic Radicals By Ken Ballen They could be any teenagers in an all-American coming-of-age story. Experimenting with drugs, racing cars their parents gave them, and spying on girls, they have the same inclinations as characters in American Graffiti eager to rebel and to find their independence. Except that these kids are all boys, and their female counterparts are separate and veiled. Instead of a quaint California town, their story unfolds in the harsh Arabian Desert. Instead of meeting for shakes and fries at the local diner, they enjoy eating sweet dates, making a game of spitting the … Continue reading
Welcome to the New SIRJOURNAL.ORG
Dear Sigma Iota Rho members, On behalf of the SIR Journal of International Relations executive board and the online journal team, I am pleased to announce the new SIRJOURNAL.ORG. Throughout the past semester, we at the Epsilon chapter of the University of Pennsylvania have been revamping the online journal and envisioning an expanded forum for undergraduate scholarship, unbounded by geographic and temporal constraints—a truly universal medium for academic expression and debate. SIRJOUNAL.ORG follows in the tradition of the print journal in offering undergraduate students of international relations a channel for participation in scholarly discourse, yet takes this objective a step … Continue reading
Fighting human trafficking through strawberries, chocolate, and shoes
Human trafficking is indeed a global phenomenon leaving virtually no corner of the world unscathed. Even you and I, as we sit in front of a computer in a dorm room, coffee shop or any other location, are, most likely, indirectly affected by modern day slavery. Think about what you ate for breakfast. Do you know exactly where it came from? How it was cultivated? By whom? For the most part, these are not questions we ask ourselves on a daily basis. Considering the prevalence of trafficked people working in industries such as agriculture however, the answers may surprise you. … Continue reading
Of Sovereign Debts and Sovereignty
Speculations on the European sovereign debt crisis abound. Whether Germany shall remain the main creditor for a collapsing European Union is in large part a political rather than an economic decision. Angela Merkel faces a strong domestic pressure and her March 27th electoral loss of the Baden-Württemberg constituency, traditionally an electoral stronghold of her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, sent a clear message to the tenacious Frau Merkel. Domestic and European politics are far from separated: embarking in the “ever closer union” may well prove to be a suffocating constraint on policy decisions by leaders of the European member states. … Continue reading