Featured

Aug 27, 2018

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has invited representatives of the Taliban, Afghan government, and delegates from 11 countries bordering Afghanistan—including China, Iran, and Pakistan—to peace talks in early September. However, without both Afghan and U.S. government representatives attending the peace talks, the extent to which the conference makes progress in negotiating with the Taliban is uncertain.

Aug 27, 2018

Aug 14, 2018

Saudi Arabia Human Rights Abuses Highlighted

Aug 14, 2018

Since his instatement as both crown prince and Minister of Defense in 2017, Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has sought to modernize Saudi Arabia, with the lifting of a long-standing ban preventing women from driving being an early indicator of change within the kingdom. Despite this sign of modernization, however, the Saudi government has continued to violate international human rights.

Aug 14, 2018

Jun 27, 2018

Insecurity and Climate Change in Lake Chad

Jun 27, 2018

The United Nations Environment Programme believes that Lake Chad has lost 90% of its waters since 1960. A proposed canal may alleviate some of the economic and physical drain; yet this solution would also give rise to new security challenges and allow projections of Chinese power across Central Africa.

Jun 27, 2018

Apr 9, 2018

Protests in Gaza

Apr 9, 2018

Confrontation, violence, and death have marked the "Great Return March", a series of protests in which residents of Gaza demand the right of return to ancestral family homes. Israel's violent response has earned international attention--and backlash.

Apr 9, 2018

Mar 31, 2018

Cambridge Analytica: Breaking into the Private Sphere

Mar 31, 2018

As publicly shared information begins to circulate across the globe, so does privately shared information. As the investigation on Cambridge Analytica continues, we must consider the possibility that with the arrival of the internet the line separates the public and private has become significantly blurred.

Mar 31, 2018

Managing Iran: A Path Forward With the Iran Nuclear Deal

Mar 31, 2018

On January 12th, United States President Donald Trump decided to waive sanctions on Iran in accordance to the Iran Nuclear deal instituted by former President Barack Obama, but reiterated his disdain for the deal and his plans to pull out if the deal is not renegotiated. If Trump does go through and withdraws from the Nuclear deal, it will have multiple devastating impacts that will damage U.S. interests in the Middle East and across the globe.

Mar 31, 2018

Mar 25, 2018

2018 National People’s Congress: Why China May Never be a Democracy

Mar 25, 2018

The 2018 National Congress has cemented Xi Jinping as China’s leader into the foreseeable future. This is a huge blow for pro-democracy activists within China and around the world.

Mar 25, 2018

Mar 9, 2018

Egyptian Elections

Mar 9, 2018

Current President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi came into the presidency promising to clamp down on extremism, especially in the Sinai Peninsula. To that end, the regime has engaged in a series of drastic human rights abuses that includes mass arrests, torture, restrictions on free speech, and media blackouts. The Egyptian elections that are due to be held later this month appear to be neither free nor fair, with the current regime doing everything in its power to stifle political opposition and maintain its grip on the country.

Mar 9, 2018

Feb 26, 2018

Reforms in Saudi Arabia: Real Progress or Cause of Future Instability?

Feb 26, 2018

The new focus in entertainment reflects the mission of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, as he seeks to dramatically shift the country economically, socially and culturally. But while these changes are progressive and positive economic and social steps for a country that has often been criticized by the Western world, Salman’s actions are perceived by many in the Kingdom as naked power grabbing moves, and, as a result, may lead to instability in a country that has been an island of stability in a highly volatile Middle East.

Feb 26, 2018

Feb 22, 2018

Mugabe's Legacy

Feb 22, 2018

November 21, 2017 marked the end of Robert Mugabe’s three-and-a-half-decade tenure as the Zimbabwean head of state. One of the most important questions surrounding the fall of Mugabe is how a man who was once seen and revered as a central figure in Zimbabwe’s independence movement came to be deposed by his own military.

Feb 22, 2018

Feb 18, 2018

The Maldives: An Emerging Geopolitical Flashpoint

Feb 18, 2018

On February 5th, 2018, the President of the Republic of Maldives declared a 15-day state of emergency after the country’s Supreme Court ordered him to release a number of opposition political members that he had imprisoned.Beyond the image of an idyllic tropical paradise, the Maldives has firmly been placed on the map as an increasingly important geopolitical area in the Indian Ocean.

Feb 18, 2018

Feb 11, 2018

Winter Olympics: Bridging the North and South

Feb 11, 2018

The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Games in South Korea is more than just another major sporting event for the host country. This February, South Korea marches into the Winter Olympics hand in hand with the North, after more than 20 years since the two countries last competed together as a united team in a major sporting event.

Feb 11, 2018

Feb 8, 2018

Egypt and Israel Increase Security Cooperation

Feb 8, 2018

Recent reports by the New York Times and the Washington Post have revealed that the Egyptian and Israeli governments have been secretly working together on counterterrorism efforts in the Sinai Peninsula. The fact that the Egyptian and Israeli security apparatuses have been cooperating in recent years has never really been a secret, but the surprising thing about these reports is just how close that relationship has become.

Feb 8, 2018

China: The New World Leader

Feb 8, 2018

While the rest of the developed world is gravitating away from the idea of an integrated global market, China is leaning into it. The Belt and Road Initiative is a call back to the age when China ran the world’s economy, an age the world may be about to witness again.

Feb 8, 2018

Feb 4, 2018

Airplanes and International Trade: The Boeing/Bombardier Dispute

Feb 4, 2018

When jetting around the world, air travelers typically associate their journey with how long the security line was, or how bland the airplane food. But little do passengers know, the real battle is between airplane makers as they vie for market shares.

Feb 4, 2018

The Hmong Crisis: The Secret Tragedy of Laos

Feb 4, 2018

Among the silent ongoing conflicts in Southeast Asia, the Hmong problem in Laos remains as one of the longest unsolved crises in the region. Despite the magnitude of the bloodshed, the international community has not found a solution to the Hmong problem, and today many members of this ethnic are still struggling against governmental persecution.

Feb 4, 2018

Jan 31, 2018

Foreign Domestic Workers in Hong Kong

Jan 31, 2018

Until recently, Hong Kong’s middle and upper classes lived in utopic ignorance regarding the welfare of foreign domestic helpers. However, news articles exposing the systematic abuse of foreign domestic workers published in recent years have opened Pandora’s Box.

Jan 31, 2018

Jan 19, 2018

The Philippines: The Bastion of Southeast Asian Jihadism

Jan 19, 2018

Unfortunately, terrorism has become one of the major transnational threats of our times. The rise and expansion of groups like Al-Qaeda or ISIS, and the international scope of their attacks have harmed multiple societies, regardless of their location. However, Southeast Asia has emerged as a significant bastion for terrorists, and most specifically jihadists. Today, their safest haven in the region has become The Philippines, a country whose recent history has been marked by the attacks of different terrorist groups. However, what is the reason behind this geostrategic choice of Asian jihadists? What role does terrorism play in the Philippines today?

Jan 19, 2018

Dec 11, 2017

Kiribati: Where to go from Here?

Dec 11, 2017

As the issue of climate change continues to grow each year, low-lying coastal countries such as the pacific nation of Kiribati may become completely uninhabitable within decades. But then, where do the people go?

Dec 11, 2017

Dec 6, 2017

Mugabe’s Fall from Grace: A New Era for Africa

Dec 6, 2017

After 35 years of rule over Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe’s dictatorship over the former British colony came to an unceremonious end November 21st after a military coup removed him from power.Though Zimbabwe’s economy is still in ruins and its population nursing wounds from Mugabe’s brutal crackdowns, this is no doubt a new era for the country and Africa.

Dec 6, 2017

Nov 27, 2017

Egypt's Failed Counterterrorism Policy

Nov 27, 2017

This past Friday, Egyptians experienced the deadliest terrorist attack in the country’s history. To many, this latest tragedy is yet another example of Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s failed counterterrorism strategy.

Nov 27, 2017

Nov 18, 2017

Railways and Subways: Chinese Technology in the United States and Abroad

Nov 18, 2017

China has traditionally invested in infrastructure projects in the developing world. Now, the superpower has turned its sights to a new recipient: the United States.

Nov 18, 2017

Nov 3, 2017

Anti-Globalization Wave Reaches New Zealand

Nov 3, 2017

On October 26, Jacinda Ardern, the leader of the center-left Labour Party, was sworn in as New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister. The same month also saw the election of populist-leaning governments in two other countries. How does the New Zealand general election fit into the context of anti-globalization?

Nov 3, 2017

Oct 30, 2017

NATO’s Military Build-up in Eastern Europe: Necessary or a Prompt for Retaliation?

Oct 30, 2017

NATO’s military buildup in Eastern Europe is a pertinent issue that requires careful consideration from both sides to prevent the signaling of wrong intentions and aggravating tensions further.

Oct 30, 2017

Prospects for Peace: Hamas and Fatah Reconcile

Oct 30, 2017

With shifting leader preferences, new international interest in securing a negotiated settlement, and worsening civilian conditions, will the new round of Palestinian reconciliation efforts finally lead to peace?

Oct 30, 2017

Djibouti: A Small Country with Big Importance

Oct 30, 2017

The importance of this small African nation is often overlooked. However, it's geostrategic position, control of vast oil reserves, and advent of a relationship with China promises to increase its importance on the global stage.

Oct 30, 2017

Oct 26, 2017

Women and ISIS

Oct 26, 2017

Although it seems that the sun is setting on ISIS’ power as a terrorist group and quasi- state, recent findings suggest there has been a resurgence in recruitment, particularly of women. How do these changing dynamics affect strategies to combat ISIS?

Oct 26, 2017

Oct 4, 2017

Senator Kaine and an Able Grand Strategy

Oct 4, 2017

In this year's July edition of Foreign Affairs, Senator Tim Kaine (VA-D) became the latest statesman to try his hand at the challenge of crafting an American grand strategy for the post-Cold War world. Not surprisingly he failed, both as historian and as grand strategist.

Oct 4, 2017

May 12, 2017

Latin American Democratic Crises Prolonged, Not Averted

May 12, 2017

Even if Paraguay and Venezuela do not slide into total dictatorship, neither will qualify as legitimate democracies in the eyes of other Latin American states and the rest of the world. This serves as an impediment to the kind of Latin American unity necessary for the preservation of regional trading and security blocs MERCOSUR and UNASUR – organizations Paraguay and Venezuela both belonged to for several years before Venezuela was removed from MERCOSUR in late 2016 for violating the bloc’s democratic bylaws. Setbacks such as this stall the movement towards Latin American political and economic integration that underpins both organizations.

May 12, 2017

Apr 20, 2017

Hungry for Power – When Democracies become Authoritarian

Apr 20, 2017

Venezuela and South Korea are both presidential republics/representative democracies; they have a system where the executive branch exists separately from a legislature, and elected representatives – not citizens themselves – vote on legislation. Currently, these two countries are experiencing high political tensions, making headlines all over the world. The two cases share some common threads which are worth noting.

Apr 20, 2017

Editorials

Featured

Oct 10, 2018

Ukraine Gains NATO Aspirant Country Status, But Faces Challenges to Full Membership

Oct 10, 2018

Ukraine has a lengthy history of partnership with NATO dating back to the 1990’s, but there remains much to be done before the country can obtain membership status.

Oct 10, 2018

Oct 4, 2018

The Misunderstood African Diaspora in America

Oct 4, 2018

The African diaspora population has been consistently increasing in America, reaching a population of 2.1 million and making up 4.8% of the United States’ total immigrant population in 2015. Given the increasing presence of the African diaspora in the U.S., a central question remains, when will America began to educate itself about Africa and its people?

Oct 4, 2018

Aug 4, 2018

U.S Provides Aid to Egypt, Human Rights Abused

Aug 4, 2018

By choosing to sideline human rights concerns in an effort to address national security interests, the Trump administration has effectively given Egypt’s government a green light to continue to abuse human rights in the same way they have for years

Aug 4, 2018

Jul 6, 2018

The Mediterranean Crisis of Les Misérables

Jul 6, 2018

One day more. Another day, another destiny. This never-ending road to Calvary. When I first heard Jean Valjean’s lament, the main character of the acclaimed Broadway musical and Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, I was only a six-year old child that hardly understood what being a refugee implied. Seventeen years later and after having devoted my graduate studies to the analysis of International Relations, I do not only understand the depth of Jean Valjean’s claim, but I can’t help to identify it in every refugee that has arrived at the European coastline since 2011.

Jul 6, 2018

Apr 30, 2018

Guaranteeing the Rights of Immigrants From Pakistan

Apr 30, 2018

While many Pakistani migrants have taken illegal measures to seek refuge in Europe, the international community has failed these immigrants, as it has denied them their basic rights as human beings to asylum and an adequate standard of life.

Apr 30, 2018

Mar 15, 2018

The Dynamics of Fiji-New Zealand Relations: What Now, and What Next?

Mar 15, 2018

This year will prove to be a momentously telling year for Fiji. 2018 sees the second wave of democratic national elections since Frank Bainimarama’s coup, and is an event that will be closely observed by its estranged South Pacific neighbour, New Zealand, among others. If both nations recognise their shortcomings and atone for them, the storm clouds can and will part in the South Pacific.

Mar 15, 2018

Feb 23, 2018

Should the Electoral Process in Some African States be Discontinued?

Feb 23, 2018

One may argue that the winds of democratic change have finally reached the shores of Sub-Saharan Africa. But more importantly now, how can we create an electoral system which protects the rights, voices and needs of the despondent while still maintaining the legitimacy and the sanity of the electoral process?

Feb 23, 2018

Jan 30, 2018

Hakka Revivalism: A Story of Language Conservation in the 21st Century

Jan 30, 2018

In December 2017, Taiwan (Republic of China) became the first government to recognize Hakka as an official national language. For the Hakka, a ‘guest people’ without a homeland, preserving its language remains the most vital aspect of continuing the group’s culture, which has played such an indispensable role in shaping China and Southeast Asia in recent history.

Jan 30, 2018

Jan 28, 2018

Cyber Security and Warfare

Jan 28, 2018

The world has slowly descend back into a Cold War-era great power competition in cyberspace. The WannaCry attack is just one of the first consequences to be felt.

Jan 28, 2018

Jan 16, 2018

Deal Maker? Trump’s ignorance regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict

Jan 16, 2018

Despite declaring that he will give brokering a peace deal “one hell of a shot,” Trump has instead almost surely erased any hope of finding a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict during his tenure.

Jan 16, 2018

Dec 13, 2017

Global Security Issues: The Yemeni Ordeal

Dec 13, 2017

Can the silence of the United Nations Security Council be attributed to its role in the events in Yemen?

Dec 13, 2017

Dec 11, 2017

The United Nations' systemic failure to respond to humanitarian crises

Dec 11, 2017

Since the inception of the United Nations in 1945, the maintenance of international peace and security has been its top mission and central theme. However, recent history has proved that the organization, in its current form, is impotent at responding to massive abuses of human rights especially when it comes to genocides and ethnic cleansing.

Dec 11, 2017

Dec 9, 2017

Detonating the South Pacific: Beaches, Bombs and the Movement for Denuclearisation

Dec 9, 2017

While 2017 has seen the resurfacing of the chronic nuclear question plaguing international affairs, it also brings forth a hopeful reminder — the 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s stringent nuclear-free foreign policy. The South Pacific has proven that there remains a very real alternative to atomic diplomacy, and should be recognized for its efforts in advocating for communication and diplomacy rather than open atomic deterrence.

Dec 9, 2017

Nov 27, 2017

Climate Change: Actions Speak Louder than Words

Nov 27, 2017

We might know all the facts and all the necessary steps that need to be taken not to reach the 2°C threshold. But actually acting upon this knowledge is a whole different story. We need to understand the importance of nature and how people are affected by it: not just factually, but emotionally. In a globalized world, we need to extend our empathy to all corners of the earth. Climate change knows no circle nor national border.

Nov 27, 2017

Nov 20, 2017

Saudi Arabia’s Dangerous Play in Lebanon

Nov 20, 2017

What sounds like the blurb on the back of a Tom Clancy book jacket is the actual series of events that has taken place over the past few weeks between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

Nov 20, 2017

Nov 12, 2017

Soul-Searching During the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Nov 12, 2017

A.I., Big Data, IoT, Cloud, 3D printing, Bio-engineering, Smart farming, Drones, Self-driving. All these big words signify the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). What is unique about the term is that it was pointed out in advance, unlike the former three.

Nov 12, 2017

Oct 30, 2017

Women As A Source Of Survival And Advantage: The Case For Saudi Arabia

Oct 30, 2017

When it comes to economic assets, Saudi Arabia has historically missed out on leveraging its most important reserve, the capacity and capabilities of women. Indeed, women are the key ingredient to bringing about true transformation to our country. Today, under the visionary HRH Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, we are seeing the beginnings of this take shape.

Oct 30, 2017

Oct 13, 2017

Addressing the Rohingya Crisis: What is Happening in Myanmar?

Oct 13, 2017

The Rohingya crisis has recently saturated western media, but the persecution of these people has intensified within the last 200 years. Paralysis in the international community aggravates generations of abuse with consequences felt within and beyond Myanmar. The current situation is devolving into ethnic cleansing, threatening a "final solution" for the Rohingya people.

Oct 13, 2017

May 6, 2017

Refugees are not the Villains

May 6, 2017

In 2011, the U.S. and its allies tried to forcefully install a democratic system in Libya by removing its president of 42 years, Muammar Gaddafi. He was killed soon after by militants. Gaddafi had succeeded in improving many societal services in Libya, including education, health, and housing. According to the World Bank, in 2010 Libya had the sixth highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa, and its population’s life expectancy ranked number one. In his 2011 remarks on Libya, while Gaddafi was still in power, President Obama said, “Of course, there is no question that Libya – and the world – will be better off with Gaddafi out of power. I, along with many other world leaders, have embraced that goal, and will actively pursue it through non-military means.” Unfortunately, Libya has been standing on shaky grounds ever since the U.S and its allies removed Gaddafi from power...

May 6, 2017

Apr 24, 2017

Is China the Key to Bringing Stability to the Korean Peninsula?

Apr 24, 2017

China is North Korea’s sole ally. Since intervening on behalf of North Korea during the Korean War, China has been a staunch supporter of the Communist North Korean government. In the past, China has done little to pressure North Korea to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons and its provocative missile tests, but that may soon change. I

Apr 24, 2017

Apr 20, 2017

Bluster with Bombs: Trump’s Ultimately Meaningless Strike on Syria

Apr 20, 2017

The use of sarin indicates that Assad’s chemical weapons program is far more extensive than intelligence experts and policymakers believed. In the wake of the 2013 chemical attack in the Ghouta district outside of Damascus, the U.S. and Russia backed a plan by which Syria would give up its chemical stockpiles. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)would then transport and dismantle them under international supervision. By spring of 2014, the Obama administration reported that all of Syria’s reported chemical weapons had been removed from the country. Since then, the Syrian government has used chlorine gas on rebels on multiple occasions.

Apr 20, 2017

Apr 7, 2017

Temporary Fixes

Apr 7, 2017

Leveling contradictory examples of isolationist, pragmatic and Machiavellian policy choices, the new president appears to be leaping down the same path of support for brutal authoritarian regimes and to be supporting vicious insurgent movements in favor of a “quick fix” in the Middle East. Clearly failing to hide his reverence for the autocratic institutions of oppressed nations, President Trump is pursuing an unsustainable, counterproductive and outright dangerous policy that, according to all logic, will produce tangible benefits for neither the American people nor the average citizens of literally any other country.

Apr 7, 2017

Apr 1, 2017

Venezuela is at Risk of a Coup

Apr 1, 2017

On Thursday, Venezuela lost its last vestige of representative democracy when President Nicolas Maduro, aligned with the country’s supreme court magistrates, suspended the Venezuelan National Assembly. In a move derided by the international community, Maduro and the magistrates removed the opposition party from power and effectively completed Venezuela’s transformation into a one-party state. These developments, coupled with an economic and humanitarian crisis, make a military-backed coup d’etat against Maduro’s government a very real possibility.

Apr 1, 2017

Mar 22, 2017

Africa: Why Economists Get It Wrong (and why Morten Jerven Gets It Right)

Mar 22, 2017

The use of one trend—chronic growth failure—to describe postcolonial African growth is like drawing a linear line of best fit through a circular function. While the line will inadvertently intersect the function twice, this line in no way properly describes the relationships between data points. Combine this with the one-size-fits-all insistence that bad institutions and bad governance account for slow growth. We are left with a determination for why growth in Africa has failed that may appear aesthetically salient, but exercises no real explanatory power or guidance for future strategies.

Mar 22, 2017

Refugees and Regimes: Using Historical Precedent to Address the Migrant Crisis

Mar 22, 2017

The belief that the United States is not in an adequate state to embrace refugees ignores not only the strength of the U.S. as a global world power, but also the example that countries with far fewer resources than the United States set. Lebanon has the greatest per capita concentration of refugees in the world. With a two-year political vacuum, decades-old internal divisions, and an infant government, Lebanon is in a comparatively far less adequate position to welcome refugees.

Mar 22, 2017

Feb 28, 2017

The European Far-Right: A Platform Rooted in Fear, Not Fact

Feb 28, 2017

Geert Wilders, a Dutch politician and founder of the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom (PVV) was recently indicted in a hate speech lawsuit for rousing discrimination against immigrants in his country. The Netherlands is holding federal elections in mid-March. Wilders’ party is leading in nearly every poll. The PVV is set to win.

Feb 28, 2017

Feb 23, 2017

Chinese College Student Perspectives on President Trump and Why They Matter

Feb 23, 2017

So how do Chinese college students in China view President Trump? The answer is not in Trump’s favor. Because of his campaign rhetoric and aggressive stance on the South China Sea - most notably Steve Bannon’s prediction of a war in the region – the Chinese people have long been wary of Trump’s foreign policy ideas. Talking with Chinese students at Tsinghua University and Peking University, I found that they believe Trump’s behavior and attitude towards their country is unhealthy for developing a constructive relationship between the two nations.

Feb 23, 2017

Feb 10, 2017

The Geopolitical Consequences of Sinking the TPP

Feb 10, 2017

Economists can argue about the economic merits or shortcomings of the TPP, and there are certainly many of each. But an equally significant—and much less talked about—consideration is that of the geopolitical consequences of withdrawing from the free trade agreement.

Feb 10, 2017

Feb 1, 2017

Wanted: Federal Position

Feb 1, 2017

In sum, the government is struggling to attract the upcoming generation and soon the government will be in dire need of new employees. What could go wrong? Clearly, a federal hiring freeze contributes to, rather than alleviates the problem.

Feb 1, 2017

Jan 31, 2017

Turning Against the Silicon Prophets: The Walling off of the Digital West

Jan 31, 2017

Seven years on, that spirit of tech optimism seems amusingly naïve. The Prophets of Silicon Valley were wrong. The much expected end of history remains as elusive as ever in the Digital Age. Occupy Wall Street slowly asphyxiated without a definite end game. The specter of austerity lingers across Europe. Of the nations involved in the Arab Spring, only Tunisia has made lasting democratic reforms.

Jan 31, 2017

Research

Featured

Oct 13, 2018

China’s Search for Energy: Implications for U.S. Policymakers

Oct 13, 2018

China’s strategy to secure its energy resources can pose a serious geopolitical challenge for American diplomacy. In order to address the increasing complexity of energy geopolitics and diplomacy today, the U.S.-China bilateral relationship must be placed in their broader strategic, economic and political contexts in order to produce fruitful outcomes for both countries.

Oct 13, 2018

Oct 11, 2018

U.S. Coercive Diplomacy towards North Korea: Rocky Road to Singapore

Oct 11, 2018

Trump administration’s coercive diplomacy was effective in bringing North Korea to the negotiating table at the June 2018 landmark summit in Singapore.

Oct 11, 2018

Oct 1, 2018

Addressing Conflict in Mali: Political, Humanitarian, and Security Problems

Oct 1, 2018

One of the most pressing questions in peacekeeping today is whether and how peace can be achieved in Mali. This research is an attempt to provide a history of the conflict in Mali and insight on whether there is still hope for achieving sustainable peace in the conflict-affected nation.

Oct 1, 2018

Jul 25, 2018

Economic Causes of Interstate and Intrastate Wars

Jul 25, 2018

War has always been a central and controversial feature of international relations. This comparative analysis examines the economic factors responsible for the causes of both interstate and intrastate wars.

Jul 25, 2018

Jul 5, 2018

India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy: Understanding India’s Spheres of Influence

Jul 5, 2018

The current evolution of the IOR and SCS into the larger Indo-Pacific region has refocused the world towards the multilateral interest of the States in the Asian maritime region. India’s position in the maritime region is currently at a crossroad, where it should no longer continue to press along its past, littoral-oriented maritime policy. This paper analyzes India’s stake in the newly adopted Indo-Pacific region vis-à-vis the South-East Asian Regional Security Complex, and its eastern neighbor- China. A change in Indian policy is imminent, and the paper looks to answer the fundamental question of ‘how should India’s policy evolve?’ A comprehensive insight into India’s larger interest in accordance with what the authors establish as ‘India’s 3 spheres of influence’, and establishing a three-pronged approach to maximize the output in these spheres, is what the paper recommends. An ever-changing domain of international relations is on the verge of a landmark transformation, and it’s imperative that India acknowledge this, with a gradual transformation in its own policies. The paper looks to create a strong blend of established theory, past state-practice, primary and secondary observations. Following this, it looks to serve as a framework on which India can reorient its policies whilst still retaining its image and interests it has secured over the course of its independence.

Jul 5, 2018

May 22, 2018

Landmark Summit Between Trump and Kim

May 22, 2018

North Korea is the greatest threat to U.S. national security due to the rapid development of its nuclear and ballistic missile programs that can enable its brutal regime to launch the nuclear-tipped missiles at the U.S. homeland. Undoubtedly, the Trump administration faces a delicate juggling act to achieve all goals of national interest as well as to prevent North Korea’s rise from a pariah state unless it denuclearizes. However, this research article proves that despite a host of challenges, the historic summit still offers new opportunities to resolve the nuclear crisis with North Korea.

May 22, 2018

May 12, 2018

America and Its Allies

May 12, 2018

An argument for the continuation of American alliances in an era of increasing isolationism.

May 12, 2018

Mar 9, 2018

The Social Dynamics post-Libyan's Mayor Assassination: A Social Constructivist View

Mar 9, 2018

Based on the social constructivist framework, the assassination of Libyan mayor from the city of Misrata represents a pivotal event in the modern history because it may reignite the Libyan multi-layered civil war, empower transnational terrorist networks, and further complicate the ongoing European Union (EU)’s refugee crisis. This research article employs various social constructivist approaches to describe and identify the social dynamics post-assassination of Libyan mayor Mohammed Estewi from the city of Misrata on December 17, 2017. The assassination of this individual, a key powerbroker in the Libyan reconciliation process, is very important since it eliminated a key moderating voice and dampened the hopes for a stable security settlement in Libya (Libya Herald, 2017). Such drastic event in the Libyan politics can not only further polarize the Libyan political arena but also negatively affect the global political system.

Mar 9, 2018

Feb 20, 2018

This Side of Paradise: A glance into human rights violations in the Dominican Republic

Feb 20, 2018

This paper seeks to explore what roles labor migration, economy, international and transnational organizations, and historical strife play in modern Dominican apartheid. The author claims that on top of a historical anti-Haitian sentiment, a lack of suitable social welfare and education programs further the problem to the point of genocidal potential. It is also thought that pressure from transnational organizations, as well as programs through non-governmental organizations could help remedy the situation. However, with Dominican Republic anti-Haitian sentiment being so frequent, as well as relatively small in numbers when compared to other cases of genocidal violence, the international system must take a unique stance when coping with the issue.

Feb 20, 2018

Feb 19, 2018

Divided Poland: Rise of Xenophobic, Eurosceptic, Anti-liberal Sentiments

Feb 19, 2018

A situation that is all the more striking for a country with such a unique historical experience.

Feb 19, 2018

Jan 31, 2018

Putin LGBTQ+ Rights in Context: Russia’s Story

Jan 31, 2018

How has President Putin’s government influenced the violation of the rights of LGBTQ+ people in Russia? This paper examines the human rights violations committed against LGBTQ+ citizens in Russia from 2006 to the present. It fundamentally argues that the basis of anti-LGBTQ+ behavior finds its strength in the Russian home, Orthodox Church, and traditionalist government under Putin. The rights this paper focuses on are the right to freedom of expression, right to assembly, right to privacy, and freedom from discrimination. This analysis finds that under President Putin, LGBTQ+ citizens have experienced greater violence and oppression from a legal standpoint as well as an increase in vigilante violence encouraged by the government’s traditionalist ideology.

Jan 31, 2018

Jan 29, 2018

Ben Franklin and the United States of Europe

Jan 29, 2018

For as long as there has been a United States, there have been Americans offering forward the American federal model as a way to cure Europe’s ills. If the American colonies could overcome their seemingly irreconcilable differences to build a federal state, why couldn’t the Europeans?

Jan 29, 2018

Jan 13, 2018

Women’s Rights and U.S. Foreign Policy

Jan 13, 2018

Through the lens of constructivist feminism and realism, as well as current conditions of foreign policy initiatives between the United States and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, it can be determined that women’s rights issues have grown in importance in the international realm and are becoming a vital part of the foreign policy agenda in the developed world, particularly in the United States. The introduction of women’s rights into foreign policy initiatives by the United States has yet to be completely successful, however, the introduction, and effort in introducing, such initiatives is progress in and of itself. Though it is true that much still needs to be done, it cannot be denied that foreign policy focuses have shifted over time and women are becoming a more prominent topic of conversation all over the world. With the United States at the forefront pressing for more focus on women’s rights and women empowerment, it is only a matter of time before more countries push for the same goal, and inevitable progress will be made.

Jan 13, 2018

Nov 20, 2017

Strains in Sino-Indian Relations: The BRICS Achilles’ Heel?

Nov 20, 2017

This paper seeks to understand the extent to which the strains in the Sino-Indian relations are a potential stumbling block for the BRICS association composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The key finding of this analysis is the extent to which the Beijing-New Delhi relationship is durable precisely because India and China have gained proficiency for mutual trading and proclaiming cordial relations with one another while at the same time engaging in standoffs and territorial disputes. Seemingly unique in international affairs, a similar state of relations and foreign policy is however exhibited by China in relation to Japan, South Korea and the US; thus the cheek-by-jowl coexistence of trade and apparent strategic tensions in the China-India relationship can be viewed in these lenses, and in that sense is nothing unique and is in fact cause to project that the relationship is bound to be tension-fueled and perhaps escalate but not erupt while at the same time not undermining trade relations. Furthermore, shared regional responsibilities, nuclear deterrence, alliance structures and deep trade ties are there to further make the prospect of an outright conflict between the two growing powers that much more unlikely. To that degree, the BRICS association can be said to be relatively secure from unravelling on account of Sino-Indian strains.

Nov 20, 2017

Nov 18, 2017

The Importance of Sea Geopolitics: The Case of East Timor

Nov 18, 2017

The resolution of maritime disputes entails a superlative diplomatic effort, which may sometimes leave behind a sense of grievance among the countries involved in the contest. This is not, however, always the case.

Nov 18, 2017

Sep 27, 2017

What Would Happen to Security in Europe if the European Union Broke Up?

Sep 27, 2017

The integrity of the European Union has been called into question after one of its leading members, the United Kingdom, voted to exist the community in a move known as 'Brexit'. What possible scenarios could result from this first step towards union dissolution? And how would European security be impacted if a full union break-up were to take place?

Sep 27, 2017

Jan 8, 2017

Disconnected Development: A Call for New Metrics

Jan 8, 2017

What if every global development project was designed by people in the villages and cities who were the actual beneficiaries of that project...Could this truly work, or is it just a grand-sounding idea?

Jan 8, 2017

Dec 28, 2016

[French] Les Chinois en Afrique : une étude géographique

Dec 28, 2016

Sino-African relations date back to the early 1950s and the emergence of the People's Republic of China as an international actor, but, since 2000, China's presence in Africa has exploded. Beijing's involvement extends beyond trade to influence diverse sectors, such as infrastructure construction, national development funds, natural resource extraction, health, and a Chinese migration pattern that has now settled more than 1 million Chinese in Africa. [Please note that this article is in French]

Dec 28, 2016

Oct 12, 2016

Burning Books and Bricks: a Brief History of Cultural Destruction

Oct 12, 2016

Cultural monuments and sites have historical and personal significance for nations. A radical group may target such sites to demonstrate a blatant and intentional disregard for a culture’s history and to display the scope of the group’s power over a population.

Oct 12, 2016

Apr 18, 2016

Reflections on Modern-day Counterintelligence and Le Carré's"Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy"

Apr 18, 2016

John Le Carré’s novel effectively illustrates the realities of the global intelligence community during the Cold War era and illustrates key components about CI tradecraft, politics, and bureaucracy.

Apr 18, 2016

Social Sustainability of Tourism for the Indigenous Rapa Nui on Easter Island

Apr 18, 2016

Through the newspapers and interviews, it can be inferred that the stakeholders on Easter Island have a collective responsibility to work for more sustainable tourism to preserve not only the environment but also the culture and dignity of the indigenous Rapa Nui.

Apr 18, 2016

Apr 12, 2016

With Japan, China Still Walks in the Shadow of the Past: Memory, Identity and Politics

Apr 12, 2016

In this view, it can be rightly assessed that if China’s current identity is based on the past atrocities motivated by Japanese aggression, then in future discourse China will continue to interpret every Japanese action through this historical prism.

Apr 12, 2016

Mar 28, 2016

The Mirage of Sovereignty

Mar 28, 2016

While sovereignty movements in the Caribbean may be based on strong sentiments of solidarity, unavoidable external forces will significantly hamper success. In defining the accomplishments of a political struggle, protestors must thus look beyond the failure to achieve impossible feats and instead emphasize the “‘unspectacular’ transformations that abound in the daily re-creations of ordinary life” (Bonilla 2015:172). Simply put, activists must not be fooled by the mirage of sovereignty.

Mar 28, 2016

Fighting the Islamic State in the Fifth Domain: Transnational Terrorism in the Indo-Pacific

Mar 28, 2016

By identifying the Islamic State’s primary communication methods and tactics used to establish a growing Indo-Pacific presence, the latter portion will provide a fundamental framework as to how regional actors can expectantly mitigate and reduce the threat to security and stability through the fifth domain.

Mar 28, 2016

Mar 16, 2016

Internet Censorship: The Double-Edged Sword of the Chinese Communist Party

Mar 16, 2016

Although Internet censorship maintains the Chinese Communist Party's ultimate authority, it creates domestic and international consequences that tarnish the Party’s image.

Mar 16, 2016

Feb 26, 2016

Taiwan’s Catch-22: An Analysis of the Republic of China’s Conscription

Feb 26, 2016

Taiwan's conscription does not fulfill its intended purpose of protecting Taiwan from China, but at the same time its advancement is curbed by the island’s tenuous relationship with the mainland. The Catch-22 of the Taiwanese armed forces is that it must improve itself to defend the island but is severely limited by China’s strength.

Feb 26, 2016

Feb 24, 2016

Assimilating Refugees and Cultivating New Roots in Urban Communities

Feb 24, 2016

The paper explains the functioning of the garden and delves into how they interact with the lives of the refugees to aid in eliminating some of the negative factors listed above and instead create a positive outlets and constructive habits for transitioning to an intimidating and confusing new culture.

Feb 24, 2016

Feb 22, 2016

Making Women and Men Vulnerable: International and State Actors’ Gendered Responses in Wartime

Feb 22, 2016

The safety of women is prioritized over that of men because international and state actors construe women as more vulnerable than men. In designating women as more vulnerable than men, international and state actors construct more dangerous environments for men who are not afforded the same protections as women.

Feb 22, 2016

Jan 8, 2016

Diplomacy vs. Hostility in the Ukraine: Managing the Escalating Crisis

Jan 8, 2016

This flagrant anti-Russian sentiment in America underscores an increasingly bellicose reaction from the West, and in particular, the US. This reaction however, is misplaced, and though well intentioned, is an overreaction to events not truly concerning the United States.

Jan 8, 2016

A Strategy to Defeat the Islamic State

Jan 8, 2016

The United States must escalate its military campaign against ISIS proportionate to the group’s increasing capabilities, but that a full-scale intervention is neither advisable nor the most effective US strategy.

Jan 8, 2016

Abroad Spotlight

Featured

Apr 11, 2018

Shabbat Shalom

Apr 11, 2018

“Shabbat shalom!” “No thank you” I replied with a bashful smile, assuming that people on the street were trying to sell me something. While the confused looks clued me in that something was strange, I failed to realize that the strange thing was me until hours later when the pieces came together: Shabbat is the Sabbath and the phrase is simply a friendly greeting. As the individuals I came across on the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel on that Friday morning likely deduced, I not only did not know any Hebrew – I am also not Jewish. After filtering through the usual questions – you’re American? (Yes.) Are you on birthright? (No.) Are you Jewish? (No.) – there was inevitably some confusion as to why I was in Israel.

Apr 11, 2018

Jan 29, 2018

Sacrifice and Remembrance in Slovenia

Jan 29, 2018

Just shy of his 25th birthday, my great-uncle S/Sgt. Oscar Rome was killed when his B-17 was shot down by Nazi fighters over Yugoslavia. 73 years later, I visited the crash site in rural Slovenia and found that his sacrifice had become a symbol of American-Slovenian friendship.

Jan 29, 2018

Jan 23, 2018

Resilience and reflection in Addis Ababa

Jan 23, 2018

"The country teaches you to find an inner strength. It is something you may not know exists, but is almost certainly present in all of us." While research on the dairy value chain was the professional culmination of her internship in Addis Ababa, Rachel Brock's personal experiences are what lastingly defined her summer in Ethiopia.

Jan 23, 2018

Nov 27, 2017

Feeling for Stones

Nov 27, 2017

"Beijing is a particularly interesting place as an environmentalist. When daily life is directly affected by pollution, it becomes blatantly clear that something needs to be done. Urgently." Explore how Cynthia's summer spent as a policy intern at a Chinese environmental innovation center restored her hope for the climate movement.

Nov 27, 2017

Nov 1, 2017

Allllllora, mi chiamo Marco…

Nov 1, 2017

Travel through Italy with Marco DiLeonardo's account of his study abroad experience in Bologna, and how his personal roots to the region enhanced his experience.

Nov 1, 2017

Oct 26, 2017

Negotiating the Peace Process: insights from a summer spent in Colombia

Oct 26, 2017

Negotiations strategies, dispute settlement methods, and how to end the war with Colombia's FARC rebels: University of Pennsylvania junior Teddie Levenfiche reflects upon his experiences interning in the Colombian Congress.

Oct 26, 2017

FOREIGN LANGUAGE SUBMISSIONS

Featured

Mar 10, 2018

The Spratly Islands' Conflict: The Challenge to Sea Diplomacy [SPANISH]

Mar 10, 2018

[Article in Spanish] Located in the core of the South China Sea, the Spratly Islands have witnessed successive disputes between the surrounding Asian countries, which have sought to annex them to their territories during the last forty years. The main reason behind this geostrategic conflict is the privileged position of this archipelago, which is placed in one of the most traversed trade routes of the world. In addition, their richness in natural resources, including coal, gas and fishing reserves makes the Spratly Islands one of the crowning jewels of the South China Sea. Since Japan renounced to its rights of claim over them with the signature of the Peace Treaty of San Francisco in 1951, the race towards their control has resulted in several disputes between China, Taiwan, The Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. Regardless of the International law sentences and the mediating effort of ASEAN, these countries are still de facto involved in a silent battle for the control of the Spratly. Therefore, the resolution of this conflict accounts for one of the most defying challenges of modern Southeast Asian diplomacy.

Mar 10, 2018

Oct 27, 2017

Cambodia: The failed democratic dream of the sons of the killing fields [Spanish]

Oct 27, 2017

[Article in Spanish] Since the birth of the modern State of Cambodia, the International Community has questioned the transparency of its political system, apparently veiled under the principles of deliberative democracy. During the 30 years of governance of its prime minister Hun Sen, corruption and fraud have shadowed elections, and numerous cases of intimacy and threats have been reported prior to the celebration of these kind of processes. The fear of losing its hegemonic position has led Hun Sen to start a cleansing campaign against non-aligned media and civil organizations, aiming to eliminate any potential obstacles on its race to the 2018 elections. However, it has not been until the detention of the leader of the opposition party CNRP Kem Sokha on treason charges when the International Community has demanded the cease of these anti-democratic actions. Nonetheless, the past behavior of the Cambodian leader regarding these kind of global complaints leaves small room for hope for those who dream about a truly democratic Cambodia.

Oct 27, 2017

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