Home ›

Blog Articles by Category

The Shifting Ground
Al-Borsa: An Oasis for Egyptian Democracy

Over a year since the beginning of the Egyptian Revolution in Tahrir Square, the popular mood in Egypt continues to swing between hope and uncertainty. While much media attention has focused on the ongoing symbolic role of Tahrir Square in the revolution, another strong visible manifestation of an evolving new Middle East, mostly led by the youth, is being cultivated in the nearby streets of downtown Cairo. The area known as Al-Borsa, named after the country’s stock exchange building located at its heart, consists of a network of handsome pedestrian streets in the heart of downtown Cairo.

By Brett Marsh  |  May 4, 2012
Share|
The Shifting Ground
Venezuela After Chávez

As it becomes increasingly likely that Hugo Chávez’s cancer will prove fatal (he announced earlier this month that his cancer had returned and that he would undergo surgery and radiation therapy to fight it), it is important to consider what might become of Venezuela should its charismatic leader pass away.

By Alex Palmer  |  May 3, 2012
Share|
Democratization
A Specific Interpretation of The Arab Spring

In an attempt to depict the Arab uprising as revolts inspired by the Iranian Islamic Revolution, Tehran recently hosted a conference called the “Islamic Awakening” and invited a number of young Arab activists. Unsurprisingly, no Syrian activists were invited.

By Majid Rafizadeh  |  April 24, 2012
Share|
The Cutting Edge
Persistent Paralegal: Understanding Personal Privacy in a Social Media Age

In an age of increasing social media usage, there are growing concerns about individual privacy within social media and the contours of now-outdated laws that are invoked to protect individuals.  Considering the wealth of information provided on social media websites and the monitoring and marketing potential of this information, more issues regarding individual privacy violations are bound to occur.  

By Guest Blogger  |  April 22, 2012
Share|
Inside the Eurozone
European Immigration Reform: How Fear Drives Policy

The Schengen Agreement has long been part of what makes Europe unique. With the elimination of domestic border controls, the agreement allows for unprecedented freedom of travel between member countries. One common border now stands between much the European Union and the rest of the world. As soon as international travelers pass through a checkpoint, they are welcome to visit 26 different countries. This arrangement, however vaunted, is now the subject of increased scrutiny from across the continent.

By Pat Lane  |  April 10, 2012
Share|
The Shifting Ground
A Divisive Path: Why the BDS Movement Won't End Violence in Israel

In response to "Israel Apartheid Week," a global student campaign that swept across university campuses last month, there has been a great deal of discussion among students and academics concerning Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel. As stated in its call to action, the BDS movement seeks to "end the occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantle the Wall, recognize the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality, and respect, protect, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in UN Resolution 194." What remains unclear, however, is the mechanism through which the movement plans to translate its numerous declared successes into actual policy change within Israel.

By Laura Logan  |  April 6, 2012
Share|
The Cutting Edge
The Opaque Atmosphere: Robert Kirshner and the Future of Astronomy

NASA’s glory days are over. Since the end of the space shuttle, the world’s fascination with space and its exploration has begun to wane. In tough economic times, it has become increasingly difficult to justify NASA’s extravagant budget, while other more socially relevant programs have gotten the axe. What, then, is the future of space exploration? Is it to discover how to make space tourism a viable option? Exploit space’s natural resources for consumption? No one is quite sure how to profit from space yet, but there are certainly many ambitious (and incredibly wealthy) entrepreneurs out there who see space as what it is: the largest unexploited resource in, well, the universe.

By Mathilde Montpetit  |  April 2, 2012
Share|
Democratization
Syria's Three Scenarios

Undoubtedly, the Syrian regime and its security apparatus are emboldened and empowered by the Moscow's and Beijing's two vetoes of a UN Security Council resolution which was not calling for a military intervention or a comprehensive regime change but for a peaceful transition to democratic system of governance in Syria. The failure of the UN Security council to pass the resolution which was embracing an Arab League plan and being endorsed by the majority of demonstrators in Syria particularly in the city of Homs led to the escalation of violence across the country. Russia and China’s veto contributed to the belief held by the Syrian government that brutal use of force could eventually put an end to a popular uprising.

By Majid Rafizadeh  |  March 24, 2012
Share|
Conference Center
The One-State Conference

The One-State Conference
March 3rd-4th, 2012
The Harvard Kennedy School of Government

When is an idea so dangerous that it should not be voiced?  When does political discourse become hate speech?  Which proposals are appropriate for the university, and which should not even receive the tacit acknowledgment that comes with the permission to use its space?

By Michael Mitchell  |  March 8, 2012
Share|
Inside the Eurozone
Austerity's Children

How do you define a generation?

Not easily. With countless exceptions and contentions, the characterization of an era is a project for the masochist. It is an endeavor far easier to criticize than to realize. This point proves especially true when one seeks to define the present generation, as the task is undertaken without the benefit of hindsight. Difficult as it may be, characterizing the present era offers the social sciences a useful predictive tool to gauge what the future holds for politics, economics, and society as a whole.

By Pat Lane  |  March 3, 2012
Share|