The Diplomatic Envoy April 2016

Volume VIV Issue VI

INSIDE

FOCUS ON POLITICAL SYSTEMS page 6&7 INTERNATIONAL NEWS ISIS in Southeast Asia; Haitian Politics Page 2

Netanyahu Visits AIPAC; Ukrainian Pilot Sentenced Page 3

ISIS Losses Outweigh Successes; South Sudan Peace Accords Page 4

ISIS Attacks Across the Globe Page 5

Opinion Media Universal Coverage on Terror; Problem with NGOs Page 8

Nuclear Conference Page 9

spotlights Chris Mazzacane; Emily Balan Page 10

diplomacy news SDG Challenge; SHUNA at Penn State Page 11

Conflict Conference; Bartoli Lectures in SO Page 12

April 2016

State Department, Pentagon Evacuate Employees in Turkey Leah Cerilli Staff Writer

Both the Pentagon and the U.S. Department of State have ordered family members of employees stationed in several Turkish regions, primarily in Incirlik Air Base, to leave due to security concerns, as reported by NBC. Facilities in southern Turkey, as well as the provinces of Izmir and Mugla, have been evacuated. In a statement, Air Force Gen. Philip M. Breedlove said the decision was made “in consultation with the Government of Turkey, our State Department, and our Secretary of Defense.”

According to the Washington Post, Breedlove added that the goal of the decision is to keep military families safe and to ensure that U.S. forces can

Photos courtesy of the Christian Science Monitor

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (left) speaking with American President Barack Obama at a press conference.

be fully effective.

A separate advisory issued by the State Department said it ordered the evacuation of family members of their employees working at the U.S. consulate in Adana in south central Turkey, and in Izmir

and Mugla provinces on the western coast. Official travel has been restricted to “mission critical” only and a travel advisory was issued, according to Russia Today.

The State Department warned that foreign and U.S.

tourists have been explicitly targeted by terrorist organizations and that they should be especially careful to avoid any travel close to the Syrian border.

Continued on Page 2...

Tension Between Ukrainian President, PM Escalates After Release of Panama Papers Matthew Schaller Staff Writer

Ukraine’s attempts at escaping Russia’s shadow have been undermined in recent months by government infighting and scandal that threaten any possibility of a peaceful resolution.

It all began in mid-February, when Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk barely survived a parliamentary vote that would have forced him to resign. According to Newsweek, out of 226 members of parliament required for a majority, 194 voted against him.

Yatsenyuk, who became prime minister in 2014, has become the center of attention as the conflict in the east has now stagnated. “All that I have done, I believe, has been to do the right thing,” Yatsenyuk said as MPs were in the process of

voting, Newsweek reports.

President Petro Poroshenko issued a statement preceding the vote claiming that 70 percent of the Ukrainian people had lost faith in the government under Yatsenyuk and that in this time of political and economic upheaval, “the mistakes outweigh the achievements,” as stated in Newsweek.

Before the vote was taken, MPs took to the floor and criticized Yatsenyuk’s entire record as prime minister, from his economic policies to his proposed plan to construct a $225-million wall on the Russian border.

According to Otilia Dhand, Central and Eastern Europe analyst at Teneo Intelligence, “His dismal popularity ratings in recent months were probably a result of the public perception that Yatsenyuk failed

Photos courtesy of Euro News

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko denies allegations of tax evasion.

to deliver a shift to more transparent political culture and deal with legacy of high-level corruption.”

However, with the recent revelations of the Panama Papers, Yatsenyuk may have found some political momentum. As stated by the papers, President Poroshenko attempted to use an offshore company in order to com-

pletely restructure his business.

More specifically, the company in question acquired his chocolate company Roshen.

With this information now made public, Poroshenko is in a delicate situation. In addition to Yatsenyuk, the President has been also been criticized for his record on fighting corruption.

Continued on Page 4...

April 2016 Page 2

international news

ISIS Affiliate Increases Kidnappings in SE Asia Theodore Ezike Staff Writer

On March 10, a video surfaced of two Canadian citizens, John Ridsdel and Robert Hall, and Kjartan Sekkingstad, a Norwegian citizen, who were taken hostage in the Philippines by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), an extremist Islamic militant group with historic ties to Al Qaeda and ISIS. The video showed the two men kneeling with knives to their throats reading a prepared speech, pleading with the Canadian government to pay their ransom. According to CNN, the Canadian Department of Global Affairs is

aware of the situation and is working closely with the Philippine government to gather more information.

Abu Sayyaf is demanding 1 billion Philippine pesos ($22 million) by April 8 for their release, reports the Straits Times.

The group claims that if their demands are not satisfied, they will execute the captives.

It is unclear whether the Canadian government will pay for the release of John Ridsdel and Robert Hall. Last year, the German government paid 250 million pesos for two German nationals captured by Abu Sayyaf.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who was on a

tour of the United States while the deadline for the demand elapsed, did not comment on the kidnapping. Canada, like the United States, has a policy of not negotiating with terrorists, which has received criticism from the Canadian media.

On March 29, Abu Sayyaf hijacked a shipping vessel and kidnapped its crew of ten Indonesian nationals, according to Time Magazine. The group is demanding $1 million for the crew’s release. The situation is tense as Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu claims that the Indonesian government is willing to consider deploying troops

Haitian Political Process Moves Forward, Parliament Approves Interim PM Jack LaForge Staff Writer

In the wake of the resignation of Haitian president Michel Martelly, Haiti remains a country devoid of a stable democratic government. In February, Martelly stepped down from his position as head of state with many people dissatisfied due to the belief that Martelly was making “non-democratic” decisions as president.

Al Jazeera reports that Haitian leaders signed an agreement to install a caretaker government as President Michel Martelly stepped down.

With protesters still reeling from the failed presidential elections of 2015, many remain just as vigilant of an abuse of power by the interim president. The first order of business for Interim President Jocelerme Privert is to establish an interim prime minister from now until the twice-postponed presidential runoff vote scheduled for April 24.

However, according to the Jamaica Observer, the Haitian parliament rejected economist Fritz Jean, who was named

by Privert to serve as interim prime minister.

On March 26, the Haitian parliament approved the interim president’s second nominee, as reported by the Associated Press. Enex Jean-Charles has since absorbed the duties

and five warships to the area, as reported by the Anadolu Agency. The owner of the ship is willing to pay the ransom.

Late on April 8, the deadline for the western captives, Abu Sayyaf released an Italian missionary, Rolando del Torchio, who was captured in early October. According to Reuters, the reason for his release is unknown.

Abu Sayyaf, which means “bearer of the sword” in Arabic, was originally a part of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), a separatists Muslim group in the southern Philippines. After MNLF began formal peace talks with the government in 1991, Ab-

durajak Abubakar Janjalani, a high-ranking member of the organization who fought against the Red Army in Afghanistan, splintered off from the party and created Abu Sayyaf.

Abu Sayyaf received secret funding from Osama Bin Laden’s brother-in-law and began conducting terror attacks and bombings throughout the southern Philippines and Malaysia. In September 2014, the group pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and the Islamic State. Since then, Abu Sayyaf has kidnapped over 15 foreigners and many Filipinos.

Contact Theodore at theodore.ezike@student.shu.edu.

Turkey Evacuation Continued from Page 1...

Photos courtesy of BBC News

Haitians protesting at an anti-Martelly rally in January, before he resigned.

of appointing a cabinet to run everyday state affairs.

With many Haitians nervous of the current government choosing to abstain from a democratic election process, Jean-Charles said to Reuters, “We can give the guarantee that we won’t do anything to try to remain in power for any longer than necessary.”

According to the New York Times, there are still doubts that the scheduled presidential runoff vote on April 24 can be met. Jean-Charles also stated, “It will be up to the new electoral council, following a technical assessment of what remains to be done, to deter-

mine whether the April 24 deadline can be made or not.”

Since the devastating earthquake of 2010, the Haitian people continue to suffer despite $13 billion in humanitarian aid from countries around the world. Cholera outbreaks, a scarcity of clean drinking water, and extreme poverty are several things that a large portion of Haitian citizens have to deal with on a daily basis. The challenges that Haiti faces today are insurmountable without a strong form of government that is elected by and for the people.

Contact Jack at jack.larforge@student.shu.edu.

The Washington Post cites completing assignments at an estimate that about 670 home, and travel outside the people will be affected by the base was banned. State Demove, while 100 more living in partment spokesman John Ankara and Istanbul will be alKirby said that the decision to lowed to stay. evacuate family members livThere are multiple theories ing in the Adana consulate was surrounding the primary conbased on “running analysis of cern behind the order. Many threats” rather than a single news outlets such as CNN specific threat. believe it is linked to ISIS acIncirlik is particularly valutivity, citing a government offiable in the fight against ISIS cial who provided that reason. because it is located about 100 Russia Today argues miles from Syria’s it could be due to border. As stated The State Turkey’s crackdown Department warned by Russia Today, against the Kurds in the number of airthat U.S. tourists the southeast, near have been targeted men at the base the borders with by terrorists and they has skyrocketed Syria and Iraq. from 1300 to 2500 should be especially A few weeks since the Turkish careful. prior to the order, government began Incirlik Air Base allowing airstrikes had been placed under Force against ISIS from Incirlik Air Protection Condition Delta, Base. The base was previously the highest level of force proon lockdown in July 2015 due tection that is used by military to terrorism concerns, prohibbases. Specifically, the Delta iting troops and civilians from level means that either a terleaving the gates. rorist attack has taken place in The sentiment of an elethe immediate area or “intelvated risk is not just felt by the ligence has been received that United States. Shortly followterrorist action against a speing the announcement, Isracific location or person is imel warned its citizens to leave minent,” according to military Turkey as soon as possible and guidelines. avoid any future travel.

Schools have been closed Contact Leah at with children receiving and leah.cerilli@student.shu.edu.

international news

April 2016 Page 3

US, Israeli Sources Contradict on Canceled White House Visit Adam Howard Staff Writer

In February, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced his intention to attend the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference in Washington, D.C. on March 20-22. A few days later, the White House announced that U.S. President Barack Obama would be visiting Cuba on the same days.

Amid speculation that the inelegant timing on the part of the U.S. would ultimately lead to Prime Minister Netanyahu skipping the trip, the Prime Minister decided to reach out to the White House to schedule an earlier date for a meeting, to which President Obama agreed, reports Reuters.

Then in March, the Prime Minister’s Office released a statement that Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer had informed the White

House that, while Prime Minister Netanyahu “appreciates” President Obama’s offer to meet with him, he is unlikely to attend the AIPAC conference, The Guardian reports.

According to the Obama administration, Netanyahu wanted a meeting with Obama on either March 17 or 18, a request the White House was happy to accommodate, reports Foreign Policy. However, after receiving an invitation for a March 18 meeting, word of Netanyahu’s cancellation spread.

The White House claims that it was waiting for Prime Minister Netanyahu to confirm when reports of Netanyahu’s decision to cancel the trip surfaced in the Israeli media. Several outlets, including Haaretz, identified President Obama’s schedule as the main reason for the cancellation.

Ned Price, a spokesman for the National Security Council, stated that the White House

was “looking forward to hosting the bilateral meeting and [they] were surprised to first learn via media reports that the Prime Minister opted to cancel his visit,” reports MSNBC. Price denied that the White House was unable to accommodate Netanyahu, and the Prime Minister’s Office has denounced allegations that President Obama was snubbed.

It remains a mystery why exactly Netanyahu chose to skip his annual trip to the U.S. The Prime Minister’s aides have suggested that Netanyahu canceled his trip in order to avoid 2016 U.S. presidential election sensitivities, according to MSNBC. Another reason could be that negotiations on the American security aid package for the next decade have stalled with dissention continuously cropping up on both sides and no resolution in sight. The simplest and perhaps most believable explanation posed by

Photo courtesy of YourNewsWire.com

Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu gives a speech at an AIPAC rally.

CNN is that President Obama and Prime Minister Netanyahu have simply seen enough of each other after seven years of less than amiable relations.

This is not the first time that communication between the two leaders has broken down. Only a year ago, Netanyahu shocked the Obama administration by making a surprise visit to the U.S. to lobby before a joint session of Congress against the Iran nu-

clear deal.

The New York Times suggests that as the Obama administration seeks to put a bow on its foreign policy legacy, continued disharmony between the U.S. and its strongest ally in the Middle East is certainly not how it wants to be remembered, particularly as it strives toward reviving its Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts.

Contact Adam at adam.brinkley@student.shu.edu.

Russia Sentences Ukrainian Pilot to 22 Years Vincent Maresca Staff Writer

On March 22, a Russian court sentenced Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko to 22 years in prison for murdering two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine. According to the New York Times, prosecutors provided reports from the Donetsk city court during the trial.

In June 2014, Lieutenant Savchenko gave the coordinates of the location of a rebel-held checkpoint to Ukrainian troops. Russian journalists Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin, who worked for a state-owned news channel, were present at the targeted checkpoint when the mortar shell from the Ukrainian side hit the area and killed them.

An hour after the bombardment, Savchenko disappeared from her team.

Several disputes remain regarding Savchenko’s sudden detention in Russia. According to her alibi, rebel forces of the Luhansk Republic kid-

napped and transported her across the border into Russia.

This was denied by the Russian government, who claimed that Savchenko illegally entered Russia of her own will as an asylum-seeker, according to Russia Today. An interview confirmed that a rebel soldier, by the nickname Ilim, captured the Ukrainian pilot just before the journalists’ deaths.

Some of the victims’ families and relatives welcomed the verdict, but chose not to give further comment. Russia Today reportedly interviewed Igor Kornelyuk’s brother Oleg, who called the ruling “just” and hoped that during Savchenko’s time in jail, she “may mend her own ways.”

Ukraine has acknowledged Savchenko as a Ukrainian hero for her role behind the frontlines directing artillery, but Kornelyuk finds it strange that Ukraine would give her such a title.

Savchenko’s sentencing caused public outcry inside Russia and abroad. U.S. State

Photo courtesy of European Union

Nadiya Savchenko was sentenced 22 years to a Russian prison.

Department spokesperson John Kirby said in a statement that the case is a blatant violation of international law and norms, citing the Minsk II agreements and calling for Savchenko’s immediate release and return to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ statement was in line with the United States’, and declared her immunity under the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).

Five days after Savchenko’s sentence, demonstrators peacefully gathered in Moscow to support the Ukrainian pilot.

According to Ukraine Today, the people were activists from Solidarnost, a group formed by the late Boris Nemtsov, who was Putin’s main rival during the last presidential election.

Despite following the correct procedures and having permission from the city administration, the crowd was dispersed by police and nine people were arrested.

Russia strongly reacted against foreign criticism. As RT News reports, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented on the State Department’s wording, pointing out that the Minsk Agreements do not apply to Savchenko’s case. She also denounced other words in the statement such as “endured interrogation, solitary confinement, and forced ‘psychiatric evaluation,” indicating that the United States abused inmates at the Guantanamo Bay prison, and captured numerous foreign citizens within the United States.

The judge who convicted Savchenko did not take into account her PACE immunity because she acquired it after the murder of the two journalists.

As of now, Savchenko’s health is declining. According to Ukraine Today, Ukrainian consuls visited her in prison and reported her refusing nourishment, and having nausea and a low blood pressure.

Savchenko insists on being examined only by non-Russian doctors.

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister and 2014 presidential candidate Yulia Tymoshenko announced on television that Russia would release the pilot through either extradition or a prisoner swap. However, Savchenko’s defense lawyer Ilya Novikov pointed out that the pilot will not return to Ukraine two weeks after the verdict, but that the Putin government will make a decision during this period.

Contact Vincent at vincent.maresca@student.shu.edu.

April 2016 Page 4

international news

South Sudan Peace Accord Losses to ISIS Finally Results in Concessions Continue to Outweigh Success Mark Turon Staff Writer

Between 2014 and 2015, the Islamic State held territory roughly the size of the United Kingdom. According to Reuters in January, ISIS territory shrunk by 40 percent in Iraq and about 20 percent in Syria, with the Syrian army finally beating ISIS in what was a tremendous victory for President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Palmyra.

Although Palmyra is a vital control point for any group, it revealed just how reliant the Syrians are on the Russians.

That same day, Russian warplanes carried out bombing runs that killed 100 targets within a day.

The Islamic State’s territory, factored in with Palmyra and Iraqi advances beyond Ramadi, has shrunken by a combined 22 percent of its total unofficial territory.

Following the losses suffered on the territorial front, the Islamic State carried out attacks in Iraq, Syria, Turkey, France, Belgium, Thailand, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Pakistan, Niger, Tunisia, Egypt, U.S., Libya, Cameroon, Somalia, and Yemen, among others.

Considering that dozens to hundreds of innocent people were killed and hundreds were more injured, the victories against the territorial caliphate is less of a success compared

to expanded terrorist strikes.

The casualties suffered by the warring parties in Syria and Iraq among the Kurdish peshmerga, the most effective force taking the fight to the Islamic State, should be factored in.

Of the peshmerga, 1,345 soldiers lost their lives leading the attacks against the Islamic State, according to the Atlantic. Further plans are developing between the Iraqi security forces and the peshmerga to lead another series of coordinated offensive tactics to sever supply lines to Fallujah while liberating Mosul.

While the Kurdish peshmerga along with the Iraqi security forces fight the Islamic State on the ground, the United States continues to support them with airstrikes and confirming the killing of ISIS targets almost every day.

The Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said last December that 2016 will be the year of “final victory” against the extremist group.

The victory at Palmyra was a great success as Syrian government forces supported by Russian warplanes reclaimed the historic city. However, casualties were not the only cost of the battle, as the 2000-yearold Temple of Bel and the Arch of Triumph, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites, were destroyed.

Contact Mark at mark.turon@student.shu.edu.

Photo courtesy of Reuters

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir Mayardit (left) and rebel leader Riek Machar negotiate the Arusha Agreement, signed in January 2015.

Alexander Stringer Staff Writer

Since its recognition as a state by the United Nations in 2011, there has been nearly continuous conflict in South Sudan, and the world’s newest country is currently fighting two different wars.

The first conflict has been raging since independence, and is mostly a spillover of ethnic strife in Sudan proper fought mainly between two tribal groups in the eastern half of the state. Lou Nuer and Murle tribesmen have been engaged in a series of cattle raids and gunfights since 2011, according to ECC Platform.

While South Sudan was trying to contain tribal warfare, Vice President Riek Machar split from President Salva Kiir in December 2013, in what some call a freedom fight, others a coup, as cited in BBC News.

In August 2015, there seemed to be hope for the war-shattered state as both

sides signed a peace accord.

Although the leader of the rebel forces, Vice President Machar, signed the agreement, there has been virtually no progress in bringing peace and stability to the country, likely due to a near-perfect storm of conditions that immediately followed this deal.

Neither side has been prudent in enforcing the peace, with the Council on Foreign Relations claiming that continued small conflicts around the state have forced some 1.6 million people out of their homes. Leaders of both sides have blamed the other for failing to uphold the ceasefire, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.

Almost a year after the ceasefire was signed, the fighting has only gotten worse.

One of the major issues with implementation is that, while the peace deal addresses the two major fighting groups and creates a power sharing system between them, the accords say nothing about the

number of other rebel groups that have sprung up since the ceasefire, Al Jazeera reports.

These forces have come to represent the other minority ethnic groups that did not take part in the original fighting of the civil war, though it is alleged that several of these groups have joined with Machar’s remaining forces in the nation.

There is, however, a shred of hope in this situation. While the violence has maintained its intensity, and the ceasefire is far from being in full force, President Kiir has finally fulfilled one of the first measures of the agreement.

Kiir issued a formal proclamation naming Machar Vice President again, according to Al Jazeera.

In a recent press release, Machar accepted the appointment and will be returning to Juba on April 18 to begin forming the transitional government.

Contact Alexander at alexander.stringer@student.shu.edu.

Ukraine Tension, Panama Papers Continued from Page 1...

Photo courtesy of Reuters

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says he did nothing wrong, after leaked documents suggested he had set up an offshore company as a tax haven, according to BBC.

According to the Ukrainian Constitution, the president may not take part in any entrepreneurial activity. In addition, Poroshenko did not reveal the ownership of the shares in his financial declaration. Nonetheless, this could be defended on a technicality that there was no actual payment for the shares undertaken. The papers also revealed a surprising aspect of Poroshenko’s business dealings.

Rather than taking the standard route of utilizing foundations, or more specifically nominee shareholders, the president chose to implicate himself as a stakeholder in the offshore company.

As of now, the documents have revealed no wrongdoing on the part of the President.

However, with unpredictability now the norm in Ukrainian politics, it remains to be seen what

effect, if any, this will have on the Ukrainian people and their perceptions toward their elected officials. According to the Kyiv Post, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk will likely stay in his position until September as the Panama Papers scandal has forced President Petro Poroshenko to focus his attention elsewhere.

Contact Matthew at matthew.schaller@student.shu.edu.

international news

April 2016 Page 5

2016 Bombings Across the Globe

How ISIS Has Grown in Scope Alexander Stringer Staff Writer

Since claiming responsibility for the Paris attacks in November, ISIS has increased its violent acts in Europe and the Middle East. In fact, since November, there has been at least one bombing from affiliates of the terror cell each month, not to mention regular military exercises, according to the New York Times. Considering the sheer volume of these bombings, the details can get lost in the news cycle, here is the Envoy’s briefing on 2016 bombings with casualties above 20.

January 11 – Muqdadiyah and Baghdad, Iraq On January 11, Daesh conducted bombings in two Iraqi cities. In Baghdad, ISIS members with suicide vests stormed a shopping mall, detonating among crowds of shoppers.

Further militants moved in to take hostages, killing several.

There was also a car bomb in a suburb on the other side of the city. The day brought about 18 deaths and 19 injuries, Reuters reports.

Muqdadiyah, a city on the fringes of ISIS territory, witnessed its own string of violence. Two car bombs in the city claimed 20 more lives, with no official injury count being released. These two events combined created the highest death toll in three months.

January 12 – Istanbul, Turkey This was the first of several bombings in Istanbul this year.

The bombing took place in the heart of a major tourist attraction in Istanbul, Sultanahmet Square, claiming the lives of some ten tourists, all of them German, according to CNN. Following the incident, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu vowed to stop attacks from the terror group in Turkey, only for the city to be rocked by more explosions a month later.

January 14 – Jakarta, Indonesia In their first attack in Southeast Asia, ISIS executed two bombings and a number of firefights in the streets of

Jakarta, in predominantly Muslim Indonesia. The Guardian reports that seven militants barricaded themselves inside a Starbucks, exchanging fire with police for three hours before detonating themselves.

An additional attack took place at a police station where ISIS members fired upon several police officers, killing two before being shot themselves.

The whole ordeal left eight dead and some 24 injured, mostly from the Starbucks bombs.

January 26 – Homs, Syria The city of Homs has witnessed incredible amounts of violence from the Islamic State, with the first of numerous bombings this year taking place on January 26. This day of violence, according to Reuters saw two separate bombings, the first a car bomb at an Assad-regime security checkpoint.

While crowds gathered around the site of the first bomb, a second attacker, supposedly in a military uniform, detonated a suicide belt among the onlookers. Estimates put the death toll at 29, with unknown numbers of injuries, though they are assumed to have surpassed a hundred.

January 27 – Ramadi, Iraq The attacks of January 27 in Ramadi were specifically targeted at Iraqi military personnel in the city. Al Jazeera reports that there were a dozen car bombs detonated across the city over the duration of the day, claiming 55 soldiers and injuring an unknown amount of people, both military and civilian.

January 31 – Damascus, Syria As ISIS moved closer to negotiations with United Nations peace groups, they also attacked a Shia section of Damascus. According to the Guardian, the attack, which took place at one of the holiest Shia shrines in the city, was targeted at religiously-aligned freedom fighters in the city.

This attack claimed more than 60 lives and over a hundred were injured in the explosions.

Photo courtesy of the Jerusalem Post

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is a jihadist militant group that follows a fundamentalist Sunni sect of Islam.

Another attack on February 9 in Damascus, this time a car bomb, claimed an additional eight lives. The car was detonated in the parking lot of a police station, and injured 20 people.

February 21 – Homs and Damascus, Syria These attacks came on the same day United States and Russian officials announced progress toward ending the Syrian civil war, part of a twopronged offensive that day in Syria. Two explosions rocked Shia-majority sections of the city of Homs, one a car bomb, the other a suicide vest. Al Jazeera reports the number of deaths to be 42, with an additional 100 injured.

The second phase on this day took place in Damascus.

This attack at the Sayyida Zeinab shrine, the burial place of Mohammed’s granddaughter, was executed as local schools were dismissing students, so as to inflict maximum damage on Shia youth. The bombs were detonated from a car in the parking lot around the shrine before militants with suicide vests rushed fleeing crowds.

The total mortality number stands at 134, with an additional 180 injured.

February 28 – Muqdadiyah, Iraq In the second attack on the Iraqi city this year, two bombs were detonated across the city.

The first was a suicide vest detonated in a small crowd– details about this bombing are patchy at best.

The second bomb, however, was far more high-profile, taking place in the middle of a funeral for a prominent local Shia leader. In total, these

attacks claimed the lives of 40 peoples, including two high-ranking military officers attending the funeral. An additional 58 were injured.

March 6 – Hillah, Iraq An ISIS militant drove an explosive-laden truck into a military checkpoint in Hillah, Iraq. This marked the third bombing around Baghdad that week, with this attack being by far the largest, killing 61 and wounding 95 more. The bomb was so powerful it leveled all buildings at the checkpoint, and destroyed dozens of cars lined up to enter the city.

March 19 – Istanbul, Turkey In the early morning there was a second bomb detonated

by ISIS this year in Istanbul, Turkey. The attacker, wearing a suicide vest, supposedly detonated early on accident, resulting in fewer fatalities.

The attack was intended to occur closer to government buildings, but ended up exploding several blocks away in the middle of a street, claiming four lives and injuring 36.

March 22 – Brussels, Belgium Just days after the arrest of Salah Abdeslam, a man wanted for planning the Paris attacks, ISIS retaliated in Belgium against the European community, detonating three coordinated nail bombs. Two of these bombs exploded within the Brussels Airport and one in a metro station.

There has been much media and public attention on this bombing, the second attack in a major European city and nation within six months without much provocation. At the time

of writing, eight people have been arrested in connection to the plot that killed 32 and injured an additional 340.

March 25 – Aden, Yemen In a triple car bombing at security checkpoints in the largest city in southern Yemen, ISIS struck yet more terror into the Middle East. Two bombs were in cars, hitting a Saudi Arabian base in Aden.

The third was in an ambulance that used its sirens to get close to a security checkpoint before detonating. The attacks killed 26 and injured an unknown number.

March 26 – Baghdad, Iraq In yet another bombing near Baghdad, ISIS made a public performance akin to the Paris attacks. A bomber wearing a suicide vest walked into a crowded stadium towards the end of a soccer match and detonated in the crowd of leaving fans.

CNN reports that the crowd had been celebrating a local team’s championship, and in an unverified video, the bomb can be seen detonating while the athletes received their trophies. The attack claimed the lives of 40 and injured another 65.

There were more bombings and terror attacks in any of the first three months of 2016 than in all of the 1980s and ‘90s combined. The media brings attention to the most gruesome and alarming of these acts, ignoring countless others due to the frequency of incidents.

Contact Alexander at alexander.stringer@student.shu.edu.

focus on

April 2016 Page 6

Spain

Poland Mark Turon Staff Writer

The Republic of Poland has many similarities to other democracies such as the United States. Poland contains a national assembly and two legislative houses that are known as the Senate, or upper house, and the Sejm, or the lower house.

The Sejm is an ancient Slavic term meaning “gathering” so not only is the Sejm something of tradition, but it also represents history. However, Sejm was also used to collectively name all three chambers of parliamentary authority comprising the lower house, upper house, and the monarchy during the years when Poland was a kingdom.

Poland’s government has endured through the years from kingdom to commonwealth to second republic to the current republic. After the collapse of the communist regime of Poland in 1989, the historical bicameral assembly, the Senate and the Sejm, was reinstated.

Today the Sejm is composed of 460 deputies elected based on the proportion of the votes they garner in the national election. In other words, if a party received fifty percent of the vote, then that party would earn about fifty percent of the seats to fill with their candidates.

Public participation is similar to in the United States as both nations are representative democracy, meaning that the people elect a small group of representatives to represent them in government to handle the political problems that take place within government.

Polish citizens elect 460 representatives to the Sejm and 100 representatives to the Senate.

Although any candidate from any political party is allowed to campaign for positions within the national assembly, if the candidate’s party cannot obtain at least five percent of the vote from the national electorate, then they will not be eligible to take elected positions that term.

The judicial system is where Poland greatly differ-

entiates itself from the United States. In Poland, the judicial branch plays a far greater role in decision-making. Within the judicial branch there are four major institutions, which include the Supreme Court of the Republic of Poland, Supreme Administrative Court of the Republic, Constitutional Tribunal of the Republic of Poland, and the State Tribunal of the Republic of Poland.

Each of the judicial institutions has an active role in parliament. Based on the approval from the Senate, the Sejm also appoints a Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection.

This commissioner position is tasked with guarding the implementation of the rights and liberties of citizens to the laws passed for the country.

Three months ago in January, Polish President Andrzej Duda signed a bill that brought the media under direct control of the state. The Law and Justice Party radically changed the way the constitutional court handles its rulings by requiring a two-thirds majority instead of a simple majority and the number of judges increased from nine to thirteen. The judges were elected from the Law and Justice Party specifically. In response to these rulings, hundreds have gathered in cities around Poland to protest calling the rulings as bringing about the degradation of democracy, according to Deutsche Welle.

Regarding the Syrian refugee crisis, Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski told the Middle East Eye that Christian refugees would be more welcome in Poland, explaining, “I am saying this with full awareness avoiding any political correctness … Security is more significant than any beautiful ideals.”

For these reasons, among others, protesters have taken to the streets, according to the New York Times. The current political problems in Poland have prompted the European Commission to open a threestep inquiry whether Poland is violating the union’s democratic norms.

Contact Mark at mark.turon@student.shu.edu.

Photo courtesy of Sputnik News

Thousands of people took to the streets of Spanish cities preceding the December elections to protest against global military conflicts and violence.

Daniel D’Amico Staff Writer

Spain is currently a parliamentary monarchy comprised of 17 autonomous regions.

The President is Mariano Rajoy from the Popular Party.

The country has recently fallen into an economic crisis from which it is still recovering. As a result, the past elections in December yielded shocking results. In addition, there are sources of tension that continue to build.

The twentieth century has seen many changes between various political systems in Spain. The first quarter of the twentieth century consisted of several attempts on the king’s life, assassinations of three prime ministers, labor strikes, uprisings, and even bombings.

Following these events was a hybrid of a monarchy and dictatorship and then a Second Republic. The rule was solidified by Francisco Franco after a bloody civil war in which he established a repressive dictatorship in 1939.

The post-Franco rule saw the rise of two new political parties that are still prominent parties today. These are the Popular Party (PP) and the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party (PSOE). However, the election this past December saw the rise of two new parties, Podemos and Ciudadanos.

The PP acquired a mere 28.7 percent of the votes, PSOE 22 percent, Podemos 20 percent and Ciudadanos 13 percent, as reported by the Guardian. These results were shocking as no party received

the majority necessary to form a new government.

The Popular Party controlled the government from 2011-2015. They are conservative whereas the Spanish Socialist Worker’s Party is composed of social democrats. Of the newer parties, Podemos is leftist while Ciudadanos is center-right.

These parties do not differ on many key issues. Podemos is driven by the fight against corruption and define themselves as not being with the left or the right but with the people, according to the party website.

Many of their supporters have never been part of a political party or have been disconnected from politics.

Ciudadanos draws support from those who are fed up with the PP but skeptical of Podemos. They focus primarily on individual liberties, transparency in government, and a mix of social-democratic and liberal economic policies.

Another big issue is the lack of public interaction in the political system. Recently, the percentage of people who were interested in politics and read newspapers decreased.

Additionally, the percentage of electoral participants in general elections decreased. This has resulted from a variety of factors including government corruption and scandal among other key issues. It also shows the growing discontent with the major political parties.

One of the other problems plaguing the Spanish nation is the issue of Catalonian independence. No parties believe in the complete separation of

Catalonia from Spain, but Podemos does believe in a greater sense of autonomy.

There is also the issue of immigration which has increased significantly over the past decade. The Moroccans and the Romanians have shown the largest increase.

Many of the parties are calling for stricter legislation regarding immigrants. Regardless, they also see the extent to which immigrants benefit the country, especially as far as the economy is concerned.

The election results go a long way to show the current feelings of the Spanish people. While many still support the PP and PSOE, others are fed up and want a change. As a result, the Ciudadanos and Podemos received many votes, further splitting the ballot.

This result was not as shocking as it could have been if Podemos won as previously predicted by some. The PP under Mariano Rajoy has been rife with scandals and corruption. Many people also desire an increase in government transparency.

It is unclear who will comprise the new government.

Many think that a coalition is likely, but between whom is another question entirely.

Whoever ends up in government, they have many obstacles ahead. Economic troubles include rising inflation and growing unemployment. This election marked the end of the two party system in Spain with the emergence of the two new major parties.

Contact Daniel at daniel.damico@student.shu.edu.

political systems

April 2016 Page 7

Turkey Emily Balan Layout Editor

The Republic of Turkey has dominated the news recently amid pervasive terrorism and the refugee crisis in the Middle East. The European Union and the Turkish government recently agreed to take back refugees for resettlement in an effort to establish safe, legal channels of migration from the Middle East to Europe.

This negotiation to stem the mass migration could not have been accomplished without an effective political system. Turkey’s government resembles the parliamentary European-style much more than some of its theocratic Middle Eastern neighbors.

Turkey, with a population dominated by Sunni Muslims, provides freedom of religion to its citizens and has built a reputation for secularism in the public sector, unlike many other neighboring Muslim nations, as stated in the U.S. State Department’s website.

For example, the independent judiciary branch called the Constitutional Court can strip public financing of or outright ban political parties

that it deems anti-secular or separatist.

It does, however, have a reputation for the suppression of free speech much like its southern neighbors. This is a concern for those who view the most recent election in November with pessimism.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has been accused of capitalizing on the confusion from terror and migration to advance his own political party, the right-wing Justice and Development Party (AKP), New Eastern Outlook reports.

The Turkish president declared early elections in November after the regularly scheduled election in June 2015 resulted in a deadlock, which is legal grounds for an early election.

The June election also saw, however, a fall in the AKP’s comfortable majority lead that it has held since coming to power in 2003, the Guardian reports. The AKP gained an almost 10 percent increase in supporters. In a record-high 85 percent voter turnout in the general election in November, the AKP won the majority of delegates in the National Assembly.

While this has the semblance of democracy, critics point to this climate of fear that inhibited participation in the June election. On the other hand, this high voter turnout could be explained by confidence in a much-needed strong majority party in order to effectively address the country’s economic, ethnic, social, and foreign policy challenges.

The AKP is headed Ahmet Davutoğlu, the country’s prime minister since August 2014 and former minister of foreign affairs from 2009 to 2014. President Erdoğan, former prime minister from 2003 to 2014, assumed the 12th presidency in August 2014. The president is elected for a five-year term by direct elections and is largely a ceremonial role while prime minister administers executive decisions.

Turkey’s Grand National Assembly is the primary legislative body of the country and comprises 550 members, who are elected for a fouryear term. Voting is by proportional representation and a party or candidate’s selection is conditional on a 10 percent nation-wide participation minimum.

South Korea

Colin Kimberlin Associate Editor

With a tumultuous past since its initial partition in 1948, the Republic of Korea (ROK) has emerged as one of Asia’s prominent economic powers. International Parties, including the United States and United Nations, have had constant contact with South Korea as it entered the 21st century due to the presence of a violently Totalitarian neighbor, North Korea.

War between both the Koreas initially broke out in 1950, following South Korea’s proclamation of partition, and ended in 1953 without a peace agreement. This has left South Korea technically at war for more than fifty years.

Considering this “active” warzone between two nations, South Korea has developed both economically and socially

with the onset of rampant globalization and a rapidly evolving political system. Following the end of war between the two countries, South Korea’s politics became dominated by the question of unification with North Korea.

But other factors have begun to develop in South Korea, as the political process became ever more faceted, as rapid economic development, democratization, and eventual alliance with the United States occurred.

At the beginning of South Korea’s politics following war, unification was the primary concern of political leaders – or at least for their careers – as the authoritarian rule utilized “the rivalry with communist North Korea as a means to weaken the (political) opposition,” according to Victor Cha of Oxford College.

Entering into the post-Cold

War era marked the rise of Korean nationalism that sought to embrace North Koreans as “brothers.” This spike in unification-based nationalism fell under the presidencies of Kim Dae-Jung and Roh Moo-Hyun.

President Park Chung-Hee left a legacy of controversial developmental experiences in 1962 and 1979. South Korea joined the economic powerhouses, nicknamed “Asian Tigers,” as rapid market development occurred following Park’s choice, in conjunction with his Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, to become a member state of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Despite all economic development, South Korea faced the nineteen-year dictatorship under Park that was categorized as “political backwardness,” according to Cha. This almost two decade regime,

Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera

Pro-Kurdish groups rally amid the June 2015 elections in Turkey.

The unicameral Assembly gained a number of delegates from multiple political parties following the November election, according to the Brookings Institute.

The AKP, the right-wing winning party with 49 percent of total voters, received 317 deputies. The center-left Republican People’s Party (CHP) got 25 percent, or 134 deputies. The pro-Kurdish, left-wing Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) received about 11 percent, or 59 deputies. Finally, the far-right Nationalist Moveone that maintained the relationship between government, banks, and big businesses in South Korea, was met with a currency crisis in 1997.

But prior to the currency crisis, the military authoritarianism of Chun Doo-Hwan was broken down and transitioned into a democracy in 1987. During this initial spark of democratization, direct presidential elections by the South Korean public, civilian control of the military, and the growth of civil society were driven by mass movements of university students, intellectuals, and the rising consumer middle class of this democratized South Korea.

Currently, Park Guen-Hye is South Korea’s eleventh president, and happens to be the only female to attain the presidency thus far. Despite her rather profoundly attained position, she is slated to become a lame duck president with two years still left in her presidency, according to The Diplomat.

ment Party (MHP) got about 12 percent, or 40 deputies. It is unclear why the voter percentages do not match the number of delegates.

The challenge for this government moving forward will be focused on the massive migrant movement in and across its country, as well as fighting the terrorism at its front door, meeting the needs of every ethnic group within its sovereign borders, and bolstering its lagging economy.

Contact Emily at emily.balan@student.shu.edu.

Moon Jae-in, Park’s previous opponent who she beat out in the 2012 election, has been voted into the head position of the current opposing party – New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD).

Despite his imminent rise to presidency, as South Korea’s single-term system rules out Park for the 2017 election, Moon still faces the task of uniting a fragmented political party and having to makeover their public image, as according to the Diplomat approval rates for NPAD reached a low of 21 percent.

The current contention between South Korea’s political factions will only continue to escalate as the presidential election of 2017 draws nearer. In the next two years, the ever present eye of the South Korean public will continue to watch scornfully as the fight for the next president has already begun.

Contact Colin at colin.kimberlin@student.shu.edu.

opinion

April 2016 Page 8

Media Should Adopt Universal Coverage on Terror Aidan Dion Staff Writer

On March 22, the Western world suffered another blow from the hands of the Islamic State. Before the dust settled from the bombs that killed 32 civilians at Zaventem Airport and Maelbeek Metro, rhetoric was already in works to strike back against the terrorist organization. This process is nothing new, however, for the Islamic State.

Having lost nearly a quarter of territory in Iraq and Syria over the last month, the Islamic State’s claim of an indestructible caliphate has been called into question, discouraging possible recruits. As they lose more ground in the territory, a global Caliphate is becoming nearly impossible.

Instead, they have attempted to prove their capabilities via attacks in France, Turkey, Indonesia, America, and Germany. For Western countries, the Islamic State is no longer a faraway threat. They have passed Europe’s doorstep and entered into the homeland.

The pressing issue is, “What

do we do now?”

Following the Paris attacks, French president Francois Hollande proclaimed that they are at war while also pledging not to put boots on the ground. French pride is at an all-time high. Despite this pride, however, only a handful of airstrikes have been carried out in areas that the United States has bombed for the past two years. In reality, there has been little response to European attacks.

But the European media response is greater than ever in comparison to coverage for violence carried out in the East. The selective reporting

by Western media detracts from the true threat of the Islamic State which commits more atrocities with greater casualties in the eastern countries than the individual attacks occurring in western countries.

The rising number of those killed while fighting has now surpassed 470,000 in Syria alone, the bulk of which are civilian casualties. Yet only when the carnage of the Middle East reaches the West do we hear of the fighting. Within one week

of the attacks in Brussels, a suicide bombing in Iraq killed 32 people at a children’s soccer event. Additionally, Turkey has been dealing with several smaller bombings.

There are smaller media outlets that have actively reported on the raging war as well as larger outlets running shorter and simplified stories.

However, few have successfully transmitted the horror of the violence to the masses.

This begs the question, if more Americans were informed of the fighting and violence, would more demand a response?

In a recent poll by Harvard University Institute of Politics, millennials were asked if they would enlist in the armed forces if President Obama called on them to fight the Islamic State. Only a shocking 16 percent said they would answer the call to war.

If the media reported on the harsh reality of the situation like they did on celebrity gossip or “fluff stories,” it is probable that there would be a rise in those willing to make a difference, whether this in-

Photo courtesy of Al Jazeera

The media sets up a shot to cover the aftermath of the Brussels bombing.

creased action would take the form of political movements, monetary aid, or new boots on the ground.

With the increased threat of terrorism around the world and the atrocities committed, it is the duty of the media to provide full and fair coverage so the public can make educated decisions and keep educated opinions.

There are hundreds of

players in the game when it comes to Syria that continues to make intervention difficult.

However, it goes without saying that the main issue is that of the Islamic State. Even if an increase in media coverage does not bring aid to those affected, then at least it will bring some type of dignity to those mercilessly killed.

Contact Aidan at aidan.dion@student.shu.edu.

The Problem with Non-Governmental Organizations Francesca Regalado Managing Editor

Whoever coined the phrase “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” foresaw the rise of startup NGOs in the age of millennials, individually driven by a mission to save the world. Since my freshman year, I have heard Diplomacy majors, whether or not in jest, saying, “If all else fails, I’ll just start my own NGO.”

But there is no reason to reinvent the wheel. Name one cause that does not have at least one civil society group already working on it. There are plenty of mainstream, established organizations that continue to make invaluable contributions to the international community, as well as having the resources and knowhow for successful services programming.

Would-be social entrepreneurs complain that main-

stream organizations have turned into unproductive bureaucracies. The appeal of NGOs originally lies in the lack of bureaucracy, relative to the hoops that have to be jumped through for any government response. Civil society groups have tremendous potential for on-the-ground, targeted responses. Nowadays, as Harvard University researchers Werker and Ahmed point out, governments treat nonprofits as contractors, outsourcing some services (i.e., the dirty work) such as aid delivery for conflict zones.

Of course, there is a rigorous, competitive vetting process for anything that receives government funding, especially when it concerns chronic international quandaries such as the Syrian civil war, or even the rehabilitation of Haiti. According to Werker and Ahmed, the average annual growth rate of NGOs registered with US-

AID is 7 percent, increasing to 531 in 2004 from only 57 in 1961.

But as the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) notes, competition is good in markets, not in the not-for-profit sector. Social entrepreneurs must convince donors that their ideas are different and more valuable than other organizations, that their solutions will have better success. According to the Guardian, the crowded field increases pressure on established NGOs, who have to redirect their focus away from the causes in which they are experts onto buzzword causes and aid innovations that are more attractive to donors.

The crowded field also proves the adage that too many cooks spoil the soup.

In 2011, there were 196 relief organizations in Haiti, according to a Disaster Accountability Project (DAP) report on

relief responses to the 2010 earthquake. A 2011 Oxfam report reveals that competition and finger-pointing among NGOs has hindered Haiti’s recovery, with indecision stemming from the inability of the NGOs to cooperate not only with each other, but also with the Haitian government.

Aside from aggravating competition and undermining coordination, nascent NGOs face the challenge of accountability. DAP reports that out of the 196 NGOs in Haiti, only eight have full or partial situation and activity reports available.

The lack of accountability is not surprising when you consider that small NGOs barely raise enough funds to cover administrative costs such as salaries, especially with the professionalization of nonprofits. Werker and Ahmed note that in 2004, 31 percent of graduates from the Harvard

Kennedy School’s Masters in Public Policy program entered the nonprofit sector. Such data currently does not exist, but it would be interesting to see how many startup NGOs have been launched by bright-eyed college graduates only to close up shop within a year.

The Guardian quotes a community leader in Nairobi, Kenya as saying that aid money should “not fund a western dream, but a local dream.”

Real-world problems should not be reduced to a line on a résumé, or to the personal satisfaction of saying, “I started my own NGO.” Before you decide that you are unsatisfied with the bureaucracy of mainstream organizations, first volunteer for them and experience the good work they do instead of adding to the noise.

After all, saving the world will take a collective effort.

Contact Francesca at francescarose.regalado@student.shu.edu.

opinion

April 2016 Page 9

Nuclear Conferences are a Formality Alexander Stringer Staff Writer

Washington D.C. hosted the Nuclear Industry Summit from March 30 to April 1 to bring together the world’s industry leaders and politicians in discussing the future of nuclear industry and how to ensure nuclear materials are secure.

For all of the good intentions behind the conference, there is no way that any substantive change will come from this meeting due to two facts: one of the largest nuclear states boycotted the Summit, and the black market is alive and well.

Perhaps the most striking facet of the conference is that Russian President Vladimir Putin, who boycotted the conference more than a year ago, stayed home, according to The Guardian. While many have argued that Russia’s self-exclusion only ends up harming them, this is not truly the case.

As the second largest nuclear power in the world, with some 7,300 warheads, their absence sends ripples through the security world.

When the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991, their vast nuclear warhead reserves and fissionable material was left in former Union states, equating to some 3,200 additional warheads and untold amounts of nuclear material left behind.

If the conference wants to talk about nuclear security, a state that abandoned such weapons of devastating power to be picked up by the highest bidder must be included if any sense of security is to be achieved.

While Russia today is arguably more stable than in the immediate aftermath of Christmas 1991, their ability to continuously threaten the world with “loose nukes” has yet to decrease. There have been dozens of attempts by various groups to sell and procure fissionable material since then, including a string of sales by a Russian gang to Islamic State members in late 2015.

While Russian security of nuclear material can be shod-

dy at best, as seen by the 2010 thwarted Moldovan smuggling deal reported by the Associated Press they as a country are a far less threatening power.

Russia has held nuclear weapons since 1949 and has yet to launch one; they are stable, they are rational to a degree, and so their only threat is of faulty auditing and poor security.

The market for nuclear weapons is alive and well, with warheads up for sale in the Black Sea region. Even visiting VICE News associates were offered a price for the nuclear material. With the world growing more hostile from a myriad of new and/or newly recharged Islamic extremist groups, the ability for this market to supply one individual with the materials to detonate a nuclear weapon in a major western metropolis (like New York, Paris, Brussels) grows by the day.

In March, I argued that North Korea was not a threat to the world despite their supposed nuclear bombs, and I maintain this point, since they still have yet to prove their ability to actually successfully launch anything into the air without it falling to pieces.

This is not the case with terror groups, however. They have been able to invade and attack western nations already.

It would be extremely easy for one to detonate a nuclear device in the middle of Europe once they were able to procure it.

The Nuclear Summit has noble and lofty goals and should be lauded for that. Yet they have neglected one of the most critical points in truly getting to a nuclear-secure world: having Russia around to ensure containment.

Without this massive nuclear state involved, the risk of terror-acquisition of material only increases. For there to be real security in the world, all nuclear states must take part in these summits, and all must pursue 100% security, otherwise they will remain but a farce.

Contact Alexander at alexander.stringer@student.shu.edu.

Photo courtesy of Politico

President Barack Obama holds a bilateral with President Xi Jinping of China (R) at the Nuclear Security Summit March 31, 2016 in Washington, D.C.

spotlights Senior Spotlight: Chris Mazzacane: Argentina Emily Balan

April 2016 Page 10

presented Emily with many interesting opportunities.

News Editor When Senator Robert MeThis semester, The Dipnendez (D-NJ) spoke against lomatic Envoy sends off our the Iran nuclear deal at Seton invaluable layout editor, Emily Hall last summer, Emily was Balan. Emily has dedicated the present at an exclusive, offpast year and a half to creating the-record question and anengaging spreads for the Enswer session. voy’s print publication, which When news broke of Fr. has truly blossomed thanks to Warren Hall’s contract termiher hard work, careful eye, and nation, Emily received the first creativity. comments on the report, later Emily, a senior diplomacy lending her quotes to an article and philosophy double major in the New York Times. and journalism and French Additionally, Emily covered minors, found her calling in Pope Francis’s visit to Washjournalism early in her college ington, D.C., and has accrued career. Emily splits her time several bylines for her work at between The Diplomatic EnCNBC. voy and The Setonian, where Through journalism, Emily she serves as news editor. has learned the importance of After a stint writing televiopen communication: it is imsion show and movie reviews portant to overcome any fears for The Setonian, Emily was of talking to people when inoffered an editorial position, vestigating a story, as “99 pera challenge she was “only too cent of the time” they want to eager to meet.” speak about their connection Emily was introduced to to the subject, she says.

The Diplomatic Envoy during When writing a news artiher junior year. cle, Emily recomWhile skimming mends writing a As her last a copy on campiece you yourself semester draws pus, she noticed would want to read. the blank space in to a close, Emily is Presenting a story excited to pursue the publication’s in an interesting layout and decidpackage will ensure her passion for ed to offer her journalism abroad. your readers stay eye for design. engaged.

Emily beIn the fast-paced lieved it was her obligation to world of news, Emily keeps up make the Envoy the best it by starting each day with the could be by revamping the paNew York Times, pairing her per’s look. Thanks to Emily’s morning briefing with NPR creativity and expertise with podcasts and, occasionally, an Adobe InDesign, the publicaissue of the Economist. tion has now exceeded her exAs her last semester draws pectations. to a close, Emily is excited to When Emily is not working pursue her passion for journalon an Envoy layout or a Setoism abroad. After graduation, nian story, she can be found she plans to strengthen her forworking the Digital Breaking eign language skills in preparaNews Desk at CNBC. tion for her dream position as Prior to her CNBC interna foreign field producer. ship, Emily was responsible Emily hopes to combine for blogging, video producher interest in human rights tion, and social media at Huand humanitarian affairs to man Rights First. Her expeproduce an international prorience as a communications gram akin to 60 Minutes. As intern sparked her passion for she takes her talent abroad, video production and honed Emily leaves behind a lasting her Adobe Premier skills. legacy at Seton Hall.

Over the course of her Contact Emily at college career, journalism has emily.green@student.shu.edu.

Emily Green

A political rally the author attended in Buenos Aires.

The Argentine people are known worldwide for the creation of the sensual and alluring tango, yet their true love is an even more passionate subject: politics.

Coming from a country where religion, sex, and politics are three topics banned indefinitely from polite conversation, I was caught off guard when two complete strangers at a language exchange event pressed me for information and opinions regarding the United States presidential race.

With slight hesitation, I indulged and began discussing my political views openly and honestly.

To my surprise, they knew more about the candidates, their positions, their backgrounds, and their proposed plans than the majority of the students I have spoken to on Seton Hall’s campus. Brushing it off as an anomaly, you can imagine my shock when, three days later, a group of young Argentines I met brought up the same topic and discussed it with just as much knowledge and foresight as the others. I came to realize after countless similar experiences that politics and activism are simply a way of life in Argentina.

With the memories of a repressive and deadly military regime fresh in everyone’s minds, and laws that stipulate mandatory voting, it is no wonder that Argentines of every generation work hard to maintain their political voice and exercise their power as a citizen.

This is particularly evident in the manifestaciones (protests) and marchas (marches) that take place regularly throughout Buenos Aires. Out of a mixture of sheer curiosity and a desire to practice my Spanish, I always seek out a friendly face in the crowd to ask for some information about the cause and goals of the protestors. Though the demographics and ideals vary, the energy and passion is always palpable in their often lengthy answers.

Most recently, I spoke with people putting on a concert outside the Ministry of Education’s central office. Cuts were being made to school music programs, so teachers and parents brought hundreds of student musicians from the city and beyond to play music for hours and hours in front of the building. The government was not listening, so they made themselves heard!

Politics, though, goes far beyond the news cycle, protests, and heated dinnertime conversations—it manifests itself in subtler ways. My favorite example of this is street art. New York City is filled with graffiti of tags or artistic murals in the subway, on buildings, and even on the rocks in Central Park. In contrast, Buenos Aires, a place that prides itself on its vibrant street art scene, has other styles to offer: political messaging and propaganda.

Mixed into beautiful works of street art are quotes by revolutionaries and references to

Photo courtesy of Chris Mazzacane

Photo courtesy of Chris Mazzacane

The author dancing the tango in Buenos Aires.

important events in Argentine history. Instead of artists’ names or symbols, there are countless walls filled with messages about the most recent presidential election, and even proposed and enacted government policies. Even if I wanted to, it would be absolutely impossible for me to avoid Argentina’s politics.

Argentina has many things—world class food, incredible culture, and breathtaking landscapes—but most importantly, it is filled with people who care about the future of their country. Though I have only been here a few short weeks, the people have reminded me that for a democracy to truly function and thrive, it must be led by an engaged electorate.

Contact Chris at christopher.mazzacane @student.shu.edu.

diplomacy news

April 2016 Page 11

Diplo School Launches SDG Scholarship Challenge Ajiya Doka Staff Writer

As the School of Diplomacy continues to teach and cultivate student leaders and global citizens of the present and the future, the Sustainable Development Goals passed in September of 2015 are the perfect framework in which youth can interact and create the world they want by 2030.

With this commitment, the Sustainable Development Challenge pushes high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors to examine the world around them and address the needs of their community, country, and planet. With 17 goals, there are many aspects of development that students can express creatively to address the world’s greatest problems. Ideas range from awareness campaigns to infrastructure building featuring a variety of target groups.

Ten finalists will be able to present their proposals to a panel of judges on Friday, April 22. With a grand total of $50,000 in cash prizes and

Photo courtesy of the World Resources Institute

The Sustainable Development Goals are a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. They seek to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom, according to the United Nation’s website.

scholarships to attend Seton Hall University, it is a great incentive to push young people to learn about the sustainable development goals and how individuals can help in meeting the targets.

With recognition from the university, it is the School of

Diplomacy’s hope that these students will be able to take their knowledge and educate others who are less informed about the goals and get young people active in the implementation process. With more than 1.8 billion young people in the world between the ages of 10

and 24, this is the generation that can change the world -- a 17-year-old high school senior now will be 32 years old in 2030. By then, these students will be able to see the fruits of their labor.

One of the judges is Professor Martin S. Edwards. As

the Director for the Center for United Nations and Global Governance Studies, his expertise on the sustainable development goals makes him the ideal judge for kids who could possibly be his future students.

“I’m deeply honored by the passion of the applicants and their determination to identify problems facing their communities. Most importantly, they are wrestling with how to address these challenges,” Edwards said.

This challenge, like the SDGs on a smaller scale, is the grandest coalition of students all over the country. Politicians, civil society leaders, business owners, and private citizens are all on a mission to become global citizens and create a better world.

In the School of Diplomacy, it is students, faculty, alumni, and friends who are seeking ways to become better informed and active in implementing the most ambitious United Nations agenda yet.

Contact Ajiya at ajiya.doka@student.shu.edu.

SHUNA Wins Big at Penn State for Second Year Tela Wittig Staff Writer

The School of Diplomacy celebrates as SHUNA, Seton Hall’s Model United Nations team, was awarded Outstanding Large Delegation at the Pennsylvania United Nations Conference (PUNC) for the second year in a row.

Seton Hall also brought home nine individual awards.

Abbi Cormier and Alex Robson were awarded Best Delegates; Trevor West, Chris McNeil, and Michael Hunter were commended as Outstanding Delegates; and Geoffrey Thomulka, Daniel Garay, Brent Findon, and Noelle Sorich received honorable mentions. SHUNA took a large delegation to the conference this semester, selecting 18 individuals to compete.

PUNC, on the weekend of March 17-20, is a tough competition, attended by schools such as Cornell University and the Ohio State University. Conference delegates were tasked

with representing important actors ranging from generals on both sides of the Syrian civil war, members of the U.S. Democratic Party, mobsters of Chicago, and even journalists who report on the ground.

Delegates were challenged by the presentation of successive crises and scored on their ability to work with other delegates in order to solve them.

In addition to a rigorous schedule, comprising over 18 hours of formal debate over the course of four days, delegates had several opportunities to meet and network with their fellow delegates. The conference hosted two evening social events and a lunch in order to encourage delegates to mingle with representatives from other schools. This is a big part of why Model U.N. is so special — not only does it allow students to experience real world crises from the perspectives of those who are tasked with solving them, but they have the chance to solve these issues with other like-minded

students whom they will likely meet again in their future careers.

Freshman delegate Victoria Padilla echoed the sentiments of many of her teammates, saying, “PUNC was a wonderful learning experience and a great opportunity to work with new people sharing new ideas.”

SHUNA as a whole was very satisfied with the professionalism and knowledge of the conference staff, as well as the interesting topics that they selected for debate. SHUNA President Geoffrey Thomulka commented on his positive experience at PUNC, saying that he “[hopes] the leadership of the club, moving forward, will select PUNC as it is one of the most enjoyable conference we attend.”

Seton Hall’s performance at this conference was very reassuring as it enters into an important season. SHUNA members make up a large fraction of the staff for SHUMUN, the high school Model

Photo courtesy of Tela Wittig

SHUNA, Seton Hall’s Model U.N. team, at PUNC, hosted in College Park, PA.

U.N. conference hosted by the School of Diplomacy on April 16-17, so the team’s outstanding performance at PUNC speaks positively for the 17th annual SHUMUN. PUNC was SHUNA’s final conference this academic year, and the outlook for the team in the future is a bright one. Very few of the club’s increasingly active membership

are graduating this spring. The club has also seen a definite increase in the number of individual awards being won over the past few years. Seton Hall’s students are making a name for themselves in the Model U.N. community, and their performance at PUNC further emphasizes that trend.

Contact Tela at tela.wittig@student.shu.edu.

April 2016 Page 12

diplomacy news

Inaugural “All Conflict is Local” Conference a Success Felipe Bueno Staff Writer

The Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Seton Hall University held a two-day conference on April 4-5 called “All Conflict is Local: Personal Experience, Reflection, and Conflict Resolution.” This conference was a unique opportunity for students from zones of conflicts studying conflict and reconstruction to present their research to the School of Diplomacy faculty.

The conference was organized by Dr. Zheng Wang, director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, a specialist in global negotiation and conflict management, and an expert on the Asia-Pacific region.

Dr. Wang was inspired by the Global Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding course he is teaching this semester, and stressed to the students, “This is your conference.” He emphasized that it should be unique to them and not simply something that could be found on Wikipedia.

The first day of presentations began with opening remarks by Dean Andrea Bartoli, who praised Dr. Wang for the creativity of the conference.

“Conversation is dangerous,” stated Dean Bartoli, “but injustices must be discussed for the sake of the victims to conflict, and for the better-

ment of society.”

Four panelists presented their work on the localized conflicts occurring in all parts of Africa.

Dosso Kassimou, a Seton Hall alumnus, spoke on the ethnic and social tensions between groups in Newark and the importance of culture and historical sensitivity. As a community organizer in Newark, he shared his personal experiences of working with the ethnic groups in the city. On the motivation for any peace process Kassimou said, “Everyone wants to have a good life and sense of belonging, and it is this common want that will bring people together.”

Graduate student Phumla Ngqawa-Adesanya presented on embracing diversity for African integration, and on South Africa’s conflict with the continent of Africa. Sizakele Mdluli spoke on the domestic effects of the 2015 xenophobia attacks in Durban, South Africa.

Aboubacar Diaby, a crowd favorite for his vivid and energetic delivery, spoke on the ethnic and religious conflict in the Central African Republic, saying, “Conflict is part of the human being, but to move forward one must understand the causes of a conflict, and if we don’t fix those fundamental issues, the problem will simply resurface.”

Following the presenta-

Photo courtesy of The School of Diplomacy

Graduate presenters at the All Conflict is Local conference, held in the Chancellor’s Suite of the University Center.

tions, various professors gave their feedback, including Professors Assefaw Bariagaber, an expert on conflict in Africa and a founding faculty member of the School of Diplomacy, Andrea Bartoli, and Philipp Fluri, this semester’s Sergio Vieira de Mello Visiting Chair.

The second day was much less regionalized, with five groups presenting on conflicts from all over the world. Tabish Forugh, a Fulbright scholar, spoke on Afghanistan, from where he hails. Sister Bosco Ebere Amakwe discussed the religious crisis in Nigeria. Nadjedah Jean Simon spoke about

her personal experiences with the conflict in Haiti. Professors Borislava Manojlovic and Sara Moller were invited on stage afterwards to comment on the presentations.

The last two presentations were group panels on Cyprus and the Basque peace process.

The Cyprus group included students who participated in the study abroad trip during spring break, and they discussed missing persons and abandoned areas. The members of the Basque Research Team discussed the localized effects of the conflict, a comparative analysis with the Co-

lombian terrorist group FARC, and how the Basque region will deal with the Syrian refugee crisis.

Following the presentations, closing words were delivered by Senior Associate Dean Courtney Smith and Dr. Wang, both of whom expressed interest to make the conference an annual event for the benefit of the students.

The conference was relocated from its original location to the Chancellor’s Suite in the University Center due to increased demand.

Contact Felipe at felipe.bueno@student.shu.edu.

Dean Bartoli to Give Lecture on Peace at Local Church Daniel Garay Web Editor

Dr. Andrea Bartoli, the Dean of the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, will speak at the First Presbyterian and Trinity Church in South Orange, NJ on April 24. His lecture, entitled “Efforts in Advancing Peace in a Very Troubled World,” will be the second featured in the Yamba/Manley Lecture Series.

The series was started last year in honor of local community leaders, Dr. A. Zachary Yamba and Robert Manley.

Dr. Yamba is President-Emeritus of Essex County College, while Robert Manley is the

founder and president of the Center for Globally Responsible Political Thought and a former professor of political science at Seton Hall University, according to a press release by the Church.

Dean Bartoli, as many on campus are familiar with, is an expert in conflict resolution serving more than two decades in peacemaking missions in Africa, Asia, Central America, and the Balkans. In addition to serving as Dean of the School of Diplomacy, he has been the Permanent Representative of the Community of Sant’Egidio to the United Nations since 1992.

“When I look at the world, I look at a world that is not ex-

Photo courtesy of Seton Hall University

Andrea Bartoli assumed Dean of the Diplomacy School in 2013.

actly at peace,” Dr. Bartoli said according to the press release.

“I’m used to seeing the world as bloody and difficult and violent as it is. But I cannot stop reading that as a desire of us as human family to actually live in

peace, to actually find peace, to find a way in which peace can emerge.”

According to congregation members familiar with the event, Dr. Bartoli was invited to the event as well. “We felt that when it comes to issues of peace, it all starts at local level. We are always examining matters of peace as a whole since we are a world-minded congregation,” Maria Ricardo, a member of the church, explained. “We are always trying to address matters across the world.”

The First Presbyterian and Trinity Church, led by Rev. Valencia Norman, has been supportive of programs that reflect the diversity and mission

of the community. They have also been involved in refugee programs such as the Darfur Rehabilitation Project in Newark and First Friends of New Jersey and New York. These actions in addition to the lecture series is part of making Church more than a Sunday duty, and make it a more open and fulfilling experience.

Dr. Bartoli’s lecture will take place on April 24, from 3:00PM to 5:00PM at the church. First Presbyterian and Trinity Church is located on 111 Irvington Ave. in South Orange. Refreshments will be served. All are welcomed to attend.

Contact Daniel at daniel.garay@student.shu.edu.