5:47PM: Zeenia Framroze here at the Kennedy School’s Forum featuring a public address by The Honorable Dilma Rousseff, President of Brazil. The event looks packed – tickets were lotteried amongst the Harvard community, and it looks like everyone who got a ticket has shown up. I’m here with Sarah Siskind, who will be analyzing the … Read more
Corporate aid is redefining humanitarianism in the state capitalism age. Back in January the Economist ran a cover feature on the rise of state capitalism in developing economies, detailing the popularity of state-owned nationals in rising economic powers. China has long adopted this model, dating back to the Great Opening of the 1970s, but recent … Read more
In the last ten years, Afghanistan has undergone significant change in its international position, domestic society and security. Amidst this political turmoil, Afghan women have often been caught in the crossfire. Today, the Karzai government hopes to reconcile with the Taliban – remembered for the hostility of its government’s policies toward women. At this pivotal … Read more
Last week, at the student symposium Tiananmen in History and Memory, I ended my speech with a quote from Nobel Laureate Liu Xiao Bo: “Freedom of expression is the foundation of human rights, the source of humanity, and the mother of truth.” Liu Xiao Bo’s words are not new to my ears, squaring perfectly with … Read more
In December 2011, Hugo Chavez gave the opening address at the first conference of CELAC, the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. This nascent Latin American regional bloc includes all countries in North and South America with the notable exception of the United States and Canada, a scope that suggests its potential as a … Read more
The impact of KONY 2012 has been inspiring. Released on March 5th, it has already garnered over 100 million views on Youtube and Vimeo. The documentary film looking to make the World’s Most Wanted Criminal one of the most famous men on earth has brought advocacy to the mainstream. While hardly the first viral campaign … Read more
Fashion junkies on the lookout for the latest in luxury styles can check off a new venue: China’s annual legislative assembly. This year, all of the major designers made an appearance. One delegate was wearing a $1,000 Hermes belt, another was toting a $4,500 snakeskin Celine bag, one was clothed in a $2,000 fur coat, … Read more
From an American perspective, one could be forgiven for thinking that the French don’t understand freedom of expression. After all, it was only last year that a bill banning the public wearing of a burqa or niqab drew the support of roughly four out of five French citizens. Denying the Holocaust has been illegal in … Read more
In November 2011, the International Atomic Energy Association released a report with compelling evidence that Iran has, “carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear device.” A veritable explosion of frenetic media coverage, heated political rhetoric, and escalating international pressure ensued, given that a nuclear Iran would have serious ramifications for security in … Read more
Oman WHAT HAPPENED After the Tunisian protests in January 2011, 200 Omanis gathered in the capital city of Muscat to protest government corruption and demand a minimum wage increase. After a series of similar, relatively calm February protests, Sultan Qaboos bin Said increased the minimum wage of private sector workers, raised stipends for college students, … Read more