International Affairs Review

Staff writer Dominic writes about the international implications of weak gun control laws in the United States, specifically in Latin America. While the gun trade across borders is fueling violence in these countries and also leading to migration to the US, the issue has not been addressed domestically, yet. “ In Mexico, 70% of guns confiscated were made in America” Image description: [A sign warning travelers about the illegality of weapons in Mexico on the US-Mexico border] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/curbing-gun-violence

Curbing Gun Violence in Latin America Requires Changes to U.S. Gun Policies — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW As Latin American nations try to reduce gun violence, they face a major challenge: the loose gun policies and mass manufacturing to their north.

Contributing writer Yury writes about modern-day slavery in the form of human trafficking at the US-Mexico border, and recommends increased foreign aid to combat the root causes of the same. “Due to the increase in illegal migration at the U.S.-Mexico border, more people, especially children, are at risk of becoming victims of trafficking” https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/twenty-first-century Image description: [A man smuggling two migrants at the US- Mexico border.]

Twentieth-first Century Slavery: How to StopHuman Trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico Border — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Security cooperation is important, but not sufficient. Additional aid to Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries is the key to fight human trafficking.

Staff writer Brianna write about the recent developments in domestic and international support for Palestine such as at the reconciliation deal between 14 Palestinian factions and the Arab League Summit. However, the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict makes concrete changes from both events unlikely. “Observers were pessimistic about the efficacy of the summit, especially since one of the main issues to be discussed is Palestine.” Image description: [Algerian President (7th from right) with representatives from the 14 Palestinian factions standing with hand joined and raised in front of the Palestinian flag] Read the full article in the link in our bio. https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/reconciliation-attempts-in

Reconciliation Attempts in Palestinian Politics and their Implications for the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Domestic and international support for Palestine sees recent developments, but there is debate concerning their efficacy.

Staff write Patrick reviews acclaimed journalist Patrick Radden Keefe’s podcast on the supposed connection between the CIA and the Scorpions’ song Wind of Change. While Keefe explores CIA’s “soft power” interests that it has influenced through music in his podcast, the frontman of the Scorpions denies any such claims. “…the Soviet Union and the Iron Curtain soon collapsed after the song was released, and the agency could neither confirm nor deny any involvement with the Scorpions.” Image description: [The album cover of the song “Wind of Change” by the Scorpions (also in the picture)] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/podcast-review-wind

Podcast Review: “Wind of Change” — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Patrick Radden Keefe hosts a podcast series that aims to connect the CIA with a heavy metal band, where the agency purportedly wrote the lyrics to one of their most popular songs in a soft power effort to topple the Soviet Union.

Is it just entertainment when the media you are consuming could be propaganda targeted at you by a government? Staff writer Chris Borges explores the politics behind the social media app TikTok, the CCP’s growing control over personal data and information, and US’s vulnerability to this supposed weaponization of social media. “TikTok is in an even more dubious position as it is beholden not to shareholders but to the CCP, a self-identified adversary of the United States.” Image description: [The “TikTok” logo in the forefront of the Chinese and American flags] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/tik-tok-on

TikTok on the Clock — Time is Running Out for the Chinese-Owned Social Media App — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW The United States must secure itself from TikTok — a potentially irresistible tool in the hands of China, its self-identified ideological adversary.

Systemic violence, weak implementation of human rights regulations, and poor accountability mechanisms are contributing to sexual and gender based violence against female refugees in camps around the world. There is an urgent need for stronger legal enforcement of existing policies for their security. “These women enter these camps hoping to escape the horrors that have overtaken their homes, but are met with continued violence” Image description: [A female Rohingya refugee collecting drinking water at Kutupalong refugee camp in Bangladesh] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/protectingfemale-refugees

Protecting Female Refugees from Gender-Based Violence in Camps — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Gender-based violence against women is a pervasive issue plaguing refugee camps, and change is desperately needed.

The World Bank Group’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP), while outlining crucial objectives for climate change mitigation, fails to view its plan through the perspective of gender, leaving out, yet again, one of the most vulnerable groups susceptible to climate change - women. “As water becomes scarce, women will have to travel farther away from the safety of their communities to collect water.” Image description: [A female farmer in Gauhati, India, harvesting paddy in a paddy field] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/the-world-bank

The World Bank Must View Climate Change Through a Gendered Lens — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW The Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) outlines the World Bank’s plan to tackle climate change, but leaves out a key demographic: women.

Caitlin Mittrick writes about the career trajectories of members of the American Academy of Diplomacy and their advice for aspiring professionals in international development and humanitarian assistance. “No matter where you go, there is bureaucracy, but you have to decide what your tolerance is.” “Reflect on what motivates you, what you like to do, and the kind of people you like to do it with, instead of thinking about a particular position” Image description: [A delivery of COVAX COVID-19 vaccine in Sudan by a USAID representative] Read the full article at the link in our bio. https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/the-development-life

The Development Life: A Guide to Aspiring Professionals — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW With over 9,000 employees working for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), international affairs students are exploring the benefits of a career in development. Following long development and humanitarian assistance careers, American Academy of Diplomacy members share their experie

Spain can play a strategic role in mitigating the decades-long unsteady relations between Algeria and Morocco in the face of intensifying energy insecurity in the EU and decrease irregular migration from the North African countries to Spain. “The Madrid-Rabat-Algiers relationship has significantly deteriorated in the past year. In August 2021, Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco as part of ongoing disputes and disagreements stretching back almost three decades. Spain entered itself into this dispute by offering to assist Morocco to increase its natural gas supplies, refine them on Spanish soil, and send them back to Morocco for domestic consumption.” Image description: [An oil refinery in Hassi-Messaoud, Algeria] Read the full article at the link in our bio. https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/deteriorating-spain-algeria

Deteriorating Spain-Algeria Relations Endangering Energy and Migration Cooperation — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Madrid’s recent decision on Western Sahara’s future has angered Algeria and jeopardizes cooperation between the long-time allies.

Statecraft as a central tool in Australia’s foreign policy can help build alliances and secure defense capabilities to face China’s growing influence in the South Pacific region.

“The South Pacific, comprising 16 diverse and geographically dispersed nations, is now a theatre of great power competition. The Solomon Islands, brought into focus due to China’s activities which provoked internal unrest, have been at its strategic epicenter over the past two years.”

Image description: [Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison welcoming the Prime Minister of Solomon Island Rick Houenipwela at the Parliament House in Canberra]

https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/australia-statecraft-and

Australia, Statecraft, and the South Pacific — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW In the age of great power competition in the South Pacific, the return of statecraft is becoming increasingly important for Australia and other like-minded nations.

While historical analogies help simplify a complex past, such simplification of select memories associated with the Cultural Revolution allows the CCP to justify crackdowns against pro-democracy students and contemporary independent Marxist activists.

"From the crackdown on pro-democracy protesters to the arrests of contemporary Marxist students, the CCP has misused the memories associated with the chaos of the Cultural Revolution to serve its own political goal, which is to maintain its monopoly of power."

Image Description: [Chinese people demonstrating during the Cultural Revolution]

https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/the-chinese-communist

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Leadership’s Use and Abuse of the Cultural Revolution’s Memories to Justify the Tiananmen Crackdown and Arrest of Marxist Students — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW While historical analogies help simplify a complex past, such simplification of select memories associated with the Cultural Revolution allows the CCP to justify crackdowns against pro-democracy students and contemporary independent Marxist activists.

Forging down the path of coercive diplomacy to deal with the DPRK's persistent efforts to become a nuclear weapons state is the best possible option.

"While the exact size and strength of North Korea's nuclear arsenal remain unclear, analysts believe North Korea's nuclear capabilities increase every year and the nation is now capable of reaching as far as the east coast of the United States with a nuclear weapon."

Image Description: [The DPRK's intermediate-range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 lifting off.]
https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/north-korea-a

North Korea: A Strategy of Coercive Diplomacy — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Forging down the path of coercive diplomacy to deal with the DPRK's persistent efforts to become a nuclear weapons state is the best possible option.

In 2020, President Joe Biden promised to reengage the US in diplomacy. However, to carry out his promise, he must rejoin UNESCO and recommit the US to building peace through cooperation in science, culture, and education.

"UNESCO felt the impacts of US withdrawal immediately, leading to a funding crisis and cuts to several programs. The US paid around 22% of UNESCO’s budget, about $240 million."

Image Description: [Flags of UNESCO Member States hoisted outside of the UNESCO headquarters in Paris.]

https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/a-recommitment-to

A recommitment to the culture of peace: Why the US must rejoin UNESCO — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW In 2020, President Joe Biden promised to reengage the US in diplomacy. However, to carry out his promise, he must rejoin UNESCO and recommit the US to building peace through cooperation in science, culture, and education.

Nuclear weapons will always be loathed for their destructive potential, but it is hypocritical for nations expanding their own nuclear arsenals to mitigate proliferation to vulnerable states. "Until an enforceable framework for global disarmament can be evidently justified, it may be more pragmatic for the UN to focus on preventing nuclear asymmetries above all else."

Image Description: [The Topol-M missile system TEL stands on display in Red Square, Moscow.]

https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/an-uncomfortable-lesson

An Uncomfortable Lesson From the Ukraine-Russia War — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Nuclear weapons will always be loathed for their destructive potential, but it is hypocritical for nations expanding their own nuclear arsenals to mitigate proliferation to vulnerable states.

Both sides of the Atlantic would benefit from refreshing transatlantic security, which Europe should lead.
"Russia’s invasion of a sovereign nation in Europe has increased public support of giving priority to transatlantic defense, giving European governments a green light to invest in their own security. "
Image Description: [Members of the G7 sitting together around a table with flags of their countries at a G7 leader summit.] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/europes-next-steps

Europe’s Next Steps in Transatlantic Security — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Both sides of the Atlantic would benefit from refreshing transatlantic security, which Europe should lead.

To understand the dynamics of climate change, a challenge that knows no borders, it is important to look at the countries that are championing matters of climate action, and the ones that are falling behind. "Upon the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has utilized the pandemic as ammunition to deter all environmental programs and climate action initiatives. " Image Description: [A factory emitting pollution into the air through its smokestacks] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/the-champions-2

The Champions and Laggards in the Latin American Battle Against Climate Change: Part II — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW To understand the dynamics of climate change, a challenge that knows no borders, it is important to look at the countries that are championing matters of climate action, and the ones that are falling behind.

To understand the dynamics of climate change, a challenge that knows no borders, it is important to look at the countries that are championing matters of climate action, and the ones that are falling behind. "On the Climate Action Tracker (CAT), Costa Rica occupies a rank of “compatible,” which means that Costa Rica has already achieved the Paris Accord’s goal of contributing its fair share to reducing temperatures by 2°C." Image Description: [Christiana Figueres, Costa Rican diplomat and Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/the-champions-1

The Champions and Laggards in the Latin American Battle Against Climate Change: Part I — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW To understand the dynamics of climate change, a challenge that knows no borders, it is important to look at the countries that are championing matters of climate action, and the ones that are falling behind.

Despite a commitment to promote openness in the global internet, the United States’ sanctions policies undermine the internet freedom of average Iranian citizens. "The sheer complexity of the sanctions regime restrains the Iranian internet as many companies lack the ability to navigate the restrictions and simply avoid the Iranian market altogether." Image Description: [Secretary of State Antony Blinken stands in front of a screen with participants of the Summit for Democracy.] https://www.iar-gwu.org/blog/iar-web/the-future-of

The Future of the Internet? How U.S. Sanctions Undermine Internet Freedom in Iran — THE INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS REVIEW Despite a commitment to promote openness in the global internet, the United States’ sanctions policies undermine the internet freedom of average Iranian citizens.