In The News

South China Sea Multilateralism: Diplomat

Prashanth Parameswaran May 18, 2019
The United States, Japan, India and the Philippines conducted a presence operation in the South China Sea to support freedom of navigation and challenge China’s claims to large swaths that go beyond the boundaries set out by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. “[T]here have been a range of measures undertaken by countries to manage the ongoing situation in the South China Sea, be it...

Trump Plan to Release Immigrants: Washington Post

Isaac Stanley-Becker May 17, 2019
UPDATE: The acting chief of the US Department of Homeland Security says the agency will not relocate migrants to Florida. Far-right policies on trade, foreign aid, family planning, climate change and global security from the United States and other developed nations disrupt economies of developing nations and spur immigration. The US president tries harsh measures to deter immigration and spur...

The Far Right and Women’s Rights: Independent

Maya Oppenheim May 15, 2019
Voters select candidates for many reasons including economic and security issues. Women make up the majority of registered voters in many nations, yet large numbers support candidates who display misogynistic streaks. Far-right candidates are gaining traction. “From the parliamentary gains of far-right populist parties in Europe to those authoritarian demagogues that have gained power at the...

Fold or Double Down in Trade Talks? New York Times

Chris Buckley and Steven Lee Myers May 13, 2019
Trade talks between China and the United States have abruptly been put on pause as Chinese President Xi Jinping backed away from previously agreed upon terms that would reform laws constraining US businesses in China. US President Donald Trump and trade representative Robert Lighthizer responded by insisting on their demands, stalemating negotiations that otherwise might have been concluded....

Istanbul Rerun and Turkey’s Future: Foreign Policy

Can Selçuki May 13, 2019
Turkey’s Supreme Election Council ruled that Istanbul will hold another mayoral election, invalidating a previous win for Ekrem Imamoğlu, the opposition candidate from the Republican People’s Party, or CHP. That outcome was a setback for AKP, the ruling party. Can Selçuki argues in Foreign Policy that the council’s decision places Turkish democratic elections in peril. Selçuki writes that Turkey...

Viktor Orbán’s War on Intellect: Atlantic

Franklin Foer May 12, 2019
After the fall of the Soviet Union, Hungary was eager to join its Western European peers and was host to some of the best universities. Viktor Orbán, Hungary’s prime minister in the early part of this century and again since 2010, is on a mission to systematically stamp out the intelligentsia elite class that he views as an anathema to the right-wing populist policies of his Fidesz party. Public...

South Africa Election: BBC

May 10, 2019
South African voters headed to the polls. The governing African National Congress leads with about half the votes counted. “Analysts say that if the ANC vote remains above 55%, it will enable President Ramaphosa to strengthen his grip on the party,” reports BBC News. “Votes are cast for parties, with seats in the 400-member National Assembly allocated according to the share of the vote gained by...