International Affairs Review

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International Affairs Review

The International Affairs Review (IAR) provides a unique forum for the policy perspectives of tomorrow's leaders on critical issues facing today's world.

The International Affairs Review is a graduate student-run publication of The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs in Washington, DC. There are two components to IAR. The first is the website. Consistently updated, it taps the wealth of knowledge available from graduate students throughout the country and the world to provide timely, analytical commentary on curre

nt debates in international affairs. The second is the print journal. Published biannually, it provides compelling policy analysis from graduate student communities at some of the world's top international affairs schools. If you are interested in submitting a piece of your own through the print journal or our web edition, please see our submission guidelines: http://www.iar-gwu.org/node/4

12/27/2022

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

As Latin American nations try to reduce gun violence, they face a major challenge: the loose gun policies and mass manufacturing to their north.

12/15/2022

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.]

Security cooperation is important, but not sufficient. Additional aid to Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries is the key to fight human trafficking.

12/13/2022

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

Domestic and international support for Palestine sees recent developments, but there is debate concerning their efficacy.

12/06/2022

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

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.

11/17/2022

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

The United States must secure itself from TikTok — a potentially irresistible tool in the hands of China, its self-identified ideological adversary.

11/04/2022

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

Gender-based violence against women is a pervasive issue plaguing refugee camps, and change is desperately needed.

10/25/2022

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 Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) outlines the World Bank’s plan to tackle climate change, but leaves out a key demographic: women.

10/18/2022

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

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

10/11/2022

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

Madrid’s recent decision on Western Sahara’s future has angered Algeria and jeopardizes cooperation between the long-time allies.

09/30/2022

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

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.

08/30/2022

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

08/25/2022

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

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.

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