By Ishani Srivastava India has made a name for itself as a wild card at the climate change negotiating table. In the talks leading up to the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP 21), almost all major greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting nations agreed to emission reduction targets. India, the world’s third-largest annual GHG emitter, conceded only... Continue Reading →
Escaping History: Why Russia’s Leaders Cannot Let Go of Ukraine
By Jacob Levitan Before becoming Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky had a TV show, Servant of the People, in which he played Vasyl Holoborodko, a humble teacher who becomes Ukraine’s President. In the season one finale, Holoborodko has an aside with Ivan the Terrible. Ivan cannot comprehend Holoborodko’s assertions that Ukraine does not want Russia to... Continue Reading →
The State of Sanctions Against Russia
By Mary Hopkins As the situation on the ground in Ukraine changes from day to day, so too must the U.S. response. In the absence of direct military engagement – which the U.S. is keen to avoid – the Biden administration has worked with the EU, the U.K., Canada, and Australia to create the largest... Continue Reading →
Putin’s Russia is Hitting its High-Water Mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qb4z78azLYU In this video, Staff Writer Jacob Levitan discusses his recent article about the lead-up to the Ukraine crisis and war.
Is China Cheering for Star Athletes or Just Their Identities? — A Discussion on Eileen Gu Fever
Photo Credits: Wei Zheng via Getty Images Of the athletes representing the 91 National Olympic Committees participating in the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, none captured the same international attention as China’s star freestyle skier, Eileen Gu. Despite having won three medals for the Chinese team — two golds in big air and halfpipe... Continue Reading →
How to Prevent Future Shortages in the Medical Supply Chain
By Tyler Parmelee The COVID-19 pandemic has shined a spotlight on several vulnerabilities throughout American society, from dismantled state unemployment systems and chronically underfunded school districts to fragile service sector employment and a lackluster social safety net. One particular vulnerability could have uniquely devastating consequences during future crises if left unaddressed: the U.S. health care... Continue Reading →
Putin’s Russia is Approaching its High-Water Mark, and He Shot the Post-War World Order Getting There
By Jacob Levitan The television or the refrigerator is the Soviet twist on Rome’s panem et circenses method of placating the people. The regime can offer either thrilling television of Russia’s exploits or provide a full refrigerator, but not both. Since the Arab Spring, Russian TVs have shown Russian forces challenging the U.S.-led, rules-based world... Continue Reading →
A Conversation About Nagorno-Karabakh
By Mary Hopkins and Jacob Levitan On Nov. 10, 2020, Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders met in Moscow to sign a Russian-mediated ceasefire that ended the 2nd Nagorno-Karabakh War. One year on, two Johns Hopkins SAIS organizations -- the Global Security and Conflict Management Club and the Central Asia and Caucasus Club -- organized a panel... Continue Reading →
“On Creating a Catalan Future” with Mary Hopkins
In this video, staff writer Mary Hopkins discusses her recent article and interview with Dr. Victoria Alsina, Minister of Foreign Action and Open Government in Catalonia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5heTmL7SaU
The Gentrification of Adams Morgan
By Mary Hopkins Displacement is a familiar story here in Washington, D.C. Whether it’s because of sudden spikes in rent or property taxes so high that homeowners can’t keep up, black and brown folks inevitably get pushed out while white folks move in. But these things don’t come from nowhere. Before pricing even comes into... Continue Reading →