By Nikole Ottolia November 24, 2019 Over the past month, South America has experienced what is being called “the Latin Spring.” Violent protests in Chile, a confusing coup d’état in Bolivia, political unrest in Colombia and the ongoing crisis in Venezuela, have caused anxiety for leaders throughout the region. It was in front of this…
International Affairs/Foreign Policy
Trump’s diplomatic blunder with ASEAN makes way for China’s dominance
By Trixia Apiado December 2, 2019 Source: Department of ASEAN Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ThailandU.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien, fifth from the left with ASEAN leaders and ministers. NANJING, China — From October 31st to November 4th, 2019, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held its 35th Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.…
Continue reading ➞ Trump’s diplomatic blunder with ASEAN makes way for China’s dominance
In the Gobi Desert: An abandoned reactor concept gets a new lease on life
By Danny Brooks November 6, 2019 WUWEI, Gansu Province, China — Late last April, two employees of the government-backed Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics were sacked after permitting the performance of a Taoist ritual at a groundbreaking ceremony for an experimental nuclear reactor. The dismissals are more or less typical of the officially atheist Chinese…
Continue reading ➞ In the Gobi Desert: An abandoned reactor concept gets a new lease on life
Boris’ big bet
By Rahul Raju November 25, 2019 The United Kingdom’s Conservative Party has a new election website homepage. In the background, a looped video plays showing Prime Minister Boris Johnson vigorously shaking hands and enthusiastically taking selfies with people of all ages, his hair characteristically unkempt. Above the video, in bold letters, Johnson’s battle cry –…
Italy adopts new climate change requirement in education system
By Adam DuBard BOLOGNA, Italy – In early November 2019, Italy became the first country to implement mandatory climate change and sustainability lessons in their school curriculum. Education Minister Lorenzo Fioramanti of the Five Star party, one of Italy’s major parties known for its anti-establishment rhetoric and populist policies, announced a new requirement that all…
Continue reading ➞ Italy adopts new climate change requirement in education system
Tensions in Latin America heighten as Bolivia’s President Evo Morales steps down
By Jamie Domer BOLOGNA, Italy – On November 10, Evo Morales resigned as President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia. Following accusations of fraudulent elections and over two weeks of violent protests in major Bolivian cities Santa Cruz, La Paz, and Cochabamba, the Bolivian armed forces turned their backs on Morales and formally requested his…
Continue reading ➞ Tensions in Latin America heighten as Bolivia’s President Evo Morales steps down
SAIS Europe’s CIA history overshadowed by its own obscurity
By Zoe Mize November 20, 2019 BOLOGNA, Italy –– Why Bologna? It’s a common question voiced at SAIS Europe, as students ponder the unusual decision to headquarter SAIS’s European campus in the relatively small capital city of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region. Why not a larger city, a more international city? Why not Rome? …Paris? John Harper,…
Continue reading ➞ SAIS Europe’s CIA history overshadowed by its own obscurity
European Union welcomes new Commission after delay
By Will Marshall December 1, 2019 BOLOGNA, Italy – The European Commission of President Ursula von der Leyen assumed office on December 1 after clearing a final hurdle in the European Parliament. On November 27, Members of the European Parliament (MEP) approved the 27-member College of Commissioners in an uneventful 461 to 157 vote despite…
Continue reading ➞ European Union welcomes new Commission after delay
The “Greta effect”: The Polarized Global opinions of Greta Thunberg
By Laura Rong November 22, 2019 BOLOGNA, Italy -- On November 1, Spain agreed to host the 25th annual United Nations (UN) Climate Change conference (COP25) in December 2019, after Chilean President Sebastián Piñera cancelled plans to host citing domestic unrest. COP25 is the main climate event of the year. Momentum for the conference built…
Continue reading ➞ The “Greta effect”: The Polarized Global opinions of Greta Thunberg
What are Modi’s true intentions in Kashmir?
By Rashi Seth November 11, 2019 BOLOGNA, Italy – It has been three months since the Indian government sent thousands of troops to Jammu and Kashmir, ending seven decades of special status provisions. This brings Kashmir under federal control and splits the state into two territories. The special status provision was introduced as a temporary…
Continue reading ➞ What are Modi’s true intentions in Kashmir?