Perilous Passageways: African Migration to Europe
Despite the known risks, immigrants continue to attempt the journey from Africa to Europe every day. The last 15 years have seen a dramatic increase in African migrants trying to make it to Europe. These facts beg the question; if the path is so dangerous, why do they continue to go?
Fair Play? World’s Fairs as Tools of Power and their Future
Since their inception in 1851, World’s Fairs have been landmark events celebrating worldwide achievements and inventions from televisions to telephones. Nations have historically utilized the events to project messages of their national superiority on the international scene. Despite still happening in the modern age, they make relatively little noise. But what has happened to the fairs?
The Killing of Alexei Navalny: A New Era of Repression and the Future of Russia
Alexei Navalny was pronounced dead while imprisoned in Russia. His death was condemned by numerous world leaders as an affront to the freedom of the press and an example of Putin’s repression. After Russian elections in March, it is unclear how Russian opposition groups and the Kremlin will proceed without Navalny.
Rivers of Resilience: Indigenous Activism Against Hydroelectric Dams Around the World
Indigenous communities of the Klamath Basin are celebrating a historic victory they thought might never be possible: the undamming of the Klamath River. The river has been the focus of resistance movements for decades. This accomplishment reflects a broader global movement against hydroelectric dams, spearheaded by Indigenous communities from around the world. However, progress for groups such as the Tapayuna people of Brazil has not been met with equal success.
A Shifting EU?: The Rise of the Far-Right in Europe and Upcoming EU Elections
Due to both long-held grievances and recent developments, far-right parties in Europe are experiencing a surge of support. Once de-facto political outsiders, these parties are shifting the balance of European and EU politics.
The Venezuela-Guyana Territorial Dispute: A 250-Year-Old Conflict Reignited
Last December dispute between Venezuela and Guyana over the resource-rich Essequibo territory was reignited. Despite international recognition of Guyana’s claim to the territory, Venezuelan voters passed a referendum claiming sovereignty over the region and an immediate need to retake the territory.
You Can’t Separate the Irishman from the Rebel: Exploring the link between Irish music and activism
There is an undeniable trend in Irish music of dissent and protest. Since the 1700s, the Irish have used music to overcome hardships. Among Irish musicians today, this translates not only into producing media about these topics but taking action that translates into change.
Venezuela's Economic Crisis: Navigating Turbulent Waters
Venezuela, known for possessing the Earth’s largest oil deposits, has navigated through economic fluctuations. Administrative shortcomings have turned its prosperity into a center of economic and political decay. The future of Venezuela remains uncertain, with hopes resting on avoiding the pitfalls of the petrostate paradigm.
Exploitation or Salvation? The Impacts of Foreign Mining Involvement in Panama
Panama is at a crossroads after a recent court ruling regarding foreign mining in the nation. Will the country choose to break free from foreign involvement and further develop its domestic industries or continue its interdependence with foreign nations?
In Plain Sight: The Johnny’s Scandal and Japan’s Culture of Silence on Sexual Assault
This past year, the annual Japanese New Year’s special Kouhaku Utagassen, seemed a little different: no male J-pop groups were featured. Last year, a former member of the talent agency Johnny’s and Associates accused the late president and founder, Johnny Kitagawa, of multiple sexual assaults. The agency holds a virtual monopoly over J-pop boy bands, so this accusation was more than a takedown of a singular talent agency: it unveiled the ugly underbelly of the entire industry to the rest of the world.
Guatemala's Tug of War: The Struggle for Democracy Amidst Corruption
Bernardo Arévalo, a sociologist turned political reformer, managed to win the Guatemalan presidential election last August. He was officially sworn in as president on January 14 after an hours-long attempt by the Vamos party to derail his inauguration. However, the Vamos party’s hold on systemic power will likely frustrate the new president’s ambitions to combat corruption.
Exploitation of the Deep Sea, The Last Untouched Ecosystem on Earth
The need for alternative metals used as raw materials to build clean car batteries is dire, the likes of which will help to fuel the green revolution. Yet their extraction has caused discourse, as some of the largest caches of such metals lie 300 kilometers below on the deep ocean floor.
Beyond the Wall: Rethinking the Purpose and Design of the U.S.-Mexico Border
The border between Mexico and the United States is a stark dividing line between distinct nations. The border has become increasingly militarized, serving as a checkpoint to police flows of goods and people. But the border serves many purposes beyond just security. It is a key channel of international trade, a symbol of both division and unity. Many scholars and activists are drawing attention to these complexities, advocating for a reimagining of the space.
Gaza’s “Rain of Fire”: Understanding the Consequences of White Phosphorus Use on Civilians
Following Hamas’ October 7th attack, Israel has engaged in an aerial bombardment of the Gaza Strip. In response, human rights organizations have criticized the civilian toll of Israel’s bombardment. One component of this humanitarian calamity is the use of white phosphorus.
The American War in Vietnam: The Remembrance of 300,000 Lost Souls
Embedded within the soil of Vietnam’s Quảng Trị province lies the shrapnel of deployed bombs, chemical herbicides, and fragments of human bone and flesh from a war that ended half a century ago. In those same killing fields upon which monuments now stand lie the unrecovered bodily remains of an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese soldiers.
Trade, Development, and Debt: What China’s Belt and Road Initiative Means for Africa
In the last twenty years, China has funded $170 billion worth of development projects in Africa under the “Belt and Road Initiative.” The initiative aims to connect Asia, Africa, and Europe through infrastructure, but the BRI has been met with skepticism. Questions about China’s intentions in the region and the BRI’s long-term effects on the economies involved are paramount to the West
Forest City: Empty Developments, Empty Promises
Malaysia’s Forest City, a $100 billion development project, is in question. Concern over China's involvement in the project, as well as the project’s lack of environmental integrity intertwine to create a consensus that the project is prioritizing foreign capital over Malaysians and the environment.
Trouble in the Sahel
In the deserts of West Africa, lies one of the most serious humanitarian and security crises. The Sahel region is now known as the de facto center for global terrorism with numerous Islamist extremist groups taking land and conducting attacks on civilians and governments alike.
A Rocky Past and a Hopeful Future for the United States & UNESCO
In July of 2023, the United States formally rejoined the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) after pulling out in 2018. The organization shares a surprisingly rocky history with the U.S. This fraught relationship highlights the prospects for the United States, its culture, and its projection of soft power.
Technological Solutions Ensure a Future for Cultural Heritage
This October, the British Museum announced a $12 million plan to digitize its entire collection. This comes in response to a recent scandal where a curator stole several uncatalogued artifacts. The institution is not alone in this. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the role of digital archives from making artifacts, art, and other valuable data available to museum staff to making them accessible to the public.