Early this week, Hillary Clinton visited South Sudan with the sole purpose of pressuring the new nation to restart oil production in an attempt to combat rising oil prices. South Sudan recently stopped producing oil after a deadlock between the South and its northern rival Sudan. The two…
A Closer Look: The Godfather and the 2012 Election
Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s masterpiece The Godfather is unquestionably one of the greatest films of all time, but many fans find that the intricate wisdom found in the film is very applicable to the real world and our daily lives. I believe Tom Hanks put it best in the romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail when he explains “The Godfather is the I Ching; The Godfather is the sum of all wisdom; The Godfather is the answer to any question.” While I could not agree more with Mr. Hanks’ enlightened observation, I wonder could The Godfather provide us with a new point of view for the 2012 election during these troubled times?
Two Dark Money Groups Outspending All Super PACs Combined
Two conservative nonprofits, Crossroads GPS and Americans for Prosperity, have poured almost $60 million into TV ads to influence the presidential race so far, outgunning all super PACs put together, new spending estimates show.
Constantine as the U.S. as the Godfather coercing Gabon on the Security Council. Georgetown goes hard.
Qaddafi’s Spawn: What the Dictator’s Demise Unleashed in the Middle East
The Libyan leader’s ouster dispersed masses of guns and refugees across the region. Already, Algeria has seen attacks by AQIM militants armed with Libyan weapons, Mali has been rocked by a coup led by armed nomads returning from Libya, Niger is struggling to cope with waves of refugees from Libya and Mali, and Tunisia’s economy has been shattered by the loss of its most important trading partner.
True Blood’s Paranormal Politics
My first collaboration with IRMajor…
SPOILER ALERT: If you haven’t caught up on “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” or The Origin of Alliances, you should do so now.
NERD ALERT: Two IR majors (thanks, Constantine!) had too much time and wrote the following essay.
For five seasons now True Blood has given us a look inside the politics of the paranormal, from wolf packs to witch covens, and even trans-dimensional fairy nightclubs. Yet none of these supernatural communities have come close to the global power and immense prestige of the Authority. Whether we hear its name in oaths of fealty or hushed whispers in the shadows, one thing is clear: the “One, True Vampire Authority” is in control and wants to stay that way.
The Middle Kingdom’s Lighter Touch: Chinese Soft-Power in Africa
Coupled with the modernization of its armed forces, China has been using soft-power to gain influence on the African continent. Starting in the 1950s, China has given condition free aid packages, entered into military alliances, pursued development projects, and engaged in arms exchanges with nearly every African country. In exchange, China has been able to expand its access to energy resources; influence in the UNGA and in various other international bodies with seats reserved for Africa; and find new markets for its goods to maintain a booming GDP.
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The Middle Kingdom’s Lighter Touch: Chinese Soft Power In Africa
