Letter from the Editor
Editors of CJIR
Brynn Parkinson, PO '20; Daphne Yang, PO '20; Justin Hsu, PO '20; Selina Ho, SC '21; Tiffany Charvet, CMC '22
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Over the course of my college years, I’ve worked in six different student publications in a variety of roles. I’ve been a copy editor, staff writer, contributing writer, designer, production editor, and, at CJIR, editor-in-chief. But my time working in these different roles continuously force me to rethink structure within organizations, especially in student publications. Even two years into the role, I am still wary of the title Editor-in-Chief. Too often, we imagine leadership as a vertical structure of power. We depict the path to leadership as climbing a singular ladder, up and away from the masses. I'm particularly fascinated by the common metaphor that compares a leader to an orchestra conductor, but I'm uncomfortable with the characterization of the conducter as the person who makes all the important decisions, waving their arms with command and authority. Perhaps there is some truth that this type of structure functions well in other environments but, in my experience, not in publications such as these. Publications such as magazines, newspapers, or academic journals like CJIR are products that recognize their own complexity of voices. Bylines, attributions, and mastheads speak to the mixture of voices that go into the production of the finished piece. Our names are not only attached to the product’s underpinnings; they’re bared to the surface. In this manner, these publications present a unique opportunity for democratic discussion and practice. In CJIR, we emphasize building solutions to ongoing problems around the world, encouraging our writers and readers to grapple with the problems facing democracy. The articles in this issue highlight the possibility for change. Amelia Hutchley’s article on the economic policies of Greece and Cyprus provides a recommendation to Italy's current financial crisis. Joseph Waldow reckons with a stagnant federal government by turning to cities and local communities in order to bridge an international divide. Hannah Kirley addresses the harm of US militarization around the world and proposes steps to reduce that damage. Anahita Farishta provides a recommendation for how we might continue environmental change in the face of a fallen Paris Agreement. Jacinta Chen pries open the history of ballet in China’s communist party and sets a groundwork for addressing the use of art as political tools. Becky Zhang analyzes discourse around democracy protests in Hong Kong as a method to understand the next steps. These writers tear open the issues in the world and pose new ideas for ways forward. Admittedly, none of our writers propose simple solutions. They are not convenient or efficient to enact. But democracy is not meant to be efficient. It is difficult and complex; there are no simple structures
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
