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BRICS: Building the Future or Doomed to Crumble?

July 27, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

The BRICS nations, comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, are attempting to challenge the global hegemony of both the United States and Western World. The annual summit for BRICS will be taking place in Johannesburg, South Africa in late August with the notable exception of Russian President Vladimir Putin, which has created a significant rift in the organization. 

But what is BRICS and what does this organization aim to do? 

BRICS is a political and economic alliance between 5 member states to rival the dominance of the United States in the political and economic realms. Together the BRICS nations represent 32.7 trillion USD in GDP or roughly 31% of all global GDP, compared to the United States at 24% of global GDP. While these 5 nations do outweigh the US economically, the current SWIFT system of international monetary exchange places the US dollar as the chief international metric, something they are eager to change. 

On the docket for the summit in South Africa is the discussion around creating a common currency to effectively challenge the US domination of the world economy as well as expanding the organization. South African officials are eager to use the BRICS alliance to be a champion of the developing world with the potential for nations such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Cuba, Argentina, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo expressing interest in joining. By creating alliances with developing economies in Latin America and Africa as well as positioning themselves against the current US leadership they are hoping to gain favor with nations that are either unfriendly with the United States or those who are interested in joining other developing nations. An economic union of rising discontent would not just outweigh the economic power of the United States, but the entire G-7 economic powers put together. If BRICS was able to take the reins it could signify a radical change in political and economic direction from the US led western world to the developing economies of Asia, Africa and Latin America. New York, London, and Tokyo could find themselves no longer the world financial centers being replaced with Rio, Moscow, and Beijing. 

However, NATO and the European Union are not the only international organizations with internal issues. Tensions surrounding the current war in Ukraine has caused a rift between BRICS members. South Africa, like many African nations, has expressed a position of neutrality in the conflict, actively calling for the war’s end. Tensions also rise as the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, which places South Africa in a difficult spot. If President Putin were to arrive in South Africa, they would be bound by international law to arrest him. The rising African nation being caught between its international obligations and its economic partnership with Russia had led to the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, to head the Russian delegation to the BRICS summit instead of Putin.

Written by: Administrative Intern, Charles Larkin

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Striking a Balance: South Korea’s Path to Cooperation in the Face of U.S.-Sino Tensions

July 26, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

In recent times, South Korea has gained recognition as a global hub for entertainment, fashion, and technology. This piqued the interest of many global netizens who are eager to learn about the country’s culture with a desire to visit it. The widespread popularity of K-pop also helped expand South Korea’s soft power when conducting diplomacy. However, amidst these achievements, the nation is grappling with substantial pressure arising from one of the most significant geopolitical tensions of the 21st century—U.S.-Sino relations. 

As South Korea navigates its way in balancing relations between these two superpowers, it will encounter an increasing set of challenges preventing them from fully leveraging the benefits of each state. For South Korea to not be sandwiched by the two great powers, President Yoon must carefully outline Seoul’s national interests to determine a suitable path for South Korea, especially as the international arena is heading towards a polarized world. Nonetheless, South Korea is of importance to both the US and China due to factors including its strategic position in the Asia-Pacific region for trade, peace, security, and regional influence. Positioned at the center where authoritarianism meets democracy, Seoul is given the perfect opportunity to emerge as a key player in shaping global power dynamics between the East and the West.

Geographic Location as a Means to Preserve International Stability

South Korea’s impoverished yet dangerous neighbor forces Seoul to place peace and stability at the forefront of its agenda when evaluating US-Sino relations. North Korea’s unwavering commitment to upholding socialism and expanding its missile program is problematic to all states in the region. Even China, as one of North Korea’s only allies, has a hard time keeping North Korea in line; the regime did not hesitate to conduct a missile test during China’s 2017’s Belt and Road Initiative Forum, ignoring the diplomatic sensitivities of the occasion. Earlier this year, Pyongyang claimed to have developed “tactical” nuclear weapons capable of short-range attacks, thereby jeopardizing peace in the Asia-Pacific region. Moreover, the increasing threat from the North poses a significant risk to the economic stability of the region. The Asia-Pacific region tops the world as the fastest-growing economy, accounting for nearly half of all preferential trade agreements, while South Korea secures a position amongst the top ten largest economies. Despite differences in governance and opposing foreign policy agendas, Washington’s and Beijing’s shared commitments to upholding stability in the region emphasize the significance of both parties’ maintaining bilateral cooperation with Seoul.

Trilateral Diplomacy Through Chips?

South Korea has established itself as a technological leader, with Samsung and SK Hynix dominating the global market. Just as Seoul relies on the global supply chain for exports, Washington and Beijing rely on South Korea for imports and access to knowledge and expertise to create more advanced chips. This makes South Korea an attractive long-term partner. Furthermore, with the world’s reliance on technology increasing, a consistent supply of high-quality and dependable semiconductor chips is crucial for protecting national security. 

Recognizing South Korea’s expertise, the United States appealed to strengthen economic relations with South Korea, safeguarding its national interests while mitigating potential risks associated with China’s influence. In 2021, both Seoul and Washington agreed to enhance cooperation in chip manufacturing, requiring Samsung and SK Hynix to invest over $30 billion in creating new plants in the US. However, Biden’s proposal would put limitations on Yoon from partnering with China, preventing Seoul from accessing its largest consumer market. 

Xi’s proposal to Yoon is not unimpressive when compared to Biden’s offer. China’s crucial role in the global distribution of rare minerals, essential for advanced technological equipment, adds to the appeal. Notably, China dominates the global production of rare minerals, such as nickel, copper, lithium, and cobalt, making it an appealing partner for South Korea as both parties seek to advance their semiconductor industry. Geographically, China’s proximity to the peninsula provides logistical advantages. Deepening bilateral relations with Beijing can potentially result in reduced production costs for Seoul while fostering economic growth through increased trade with China and its trade partners. However, a partnership with Beijing will increase China’s sphere of influence in the region, posing a threat to South Korea’s political and economic stability, as witnessed with THADD deployment and Shen Yun performance.

Road to Cooperation

In an era marked by escalating geopolitical tensions between the United States and China, South Korea finds itself at a critical crossroads. In order to avoid falling into a pattern of appeasement during the next couple of decades, South Korea should adopt a comprehensive strategy that leverages its advanced semiconductor industry and strengthens its regional partnerships. The importance of South Korea’s role in the global tech supply chain should not be underestimated. With leading semiconductor companies like Samsung and SK Hynix deeply involved in the manufacturing processes of major US firms like Microsoft and Apple, as well as Chinese entities like Baidu, South Korea’s potential extends beyond being confined to legislation such as the CHIPs Act or its economic relations with China. 

South Korea should also strengthen cooperation with regional actors, specifically Japan and Taiwan, to create an Asia Pacific trilateral partnership on shared interests. This newly formed alliance can create a new global tech supply chain that includes the United States and China. The cooperation will be led by South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, ensuring a balanced influence of all actors. The role of South Korea, along with Japan and Taiwan, will be to act as a mediator in the production and distribution of chips and semiconductors to both countries while creating policies to ensure that no actors in the production or consumption process will use chip information to sell national security information to any other players. If this can be achieved, it will promote greater stability in the region, foster dialogue between the United States and China, and maximize the benefits Seoul can receive from both countries.

Of course, the implementation of these proposals poses some challenges. First, while the start of a new relationship between South Korea and Japan seems promising, it is important to ensure that cooperation and the positive trajectory of the relationship are sustained over the long term. The durability of the partnership will be tested once Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon’s terms are over and will depend on how their successors continue to prioritize and foster the bilateral relationship. In addition, China has repeatedly asserted claims over Taiwan, making it difficult for South Korea to conduct formal diplomacy with the island. Nonetheless, it is crucial for South Korea to gradually build and expand cooperation with Japan and Taiwan, accounting for geopolitical dynamics and economic considerations. By taking greater investments in its semiconductor industry and its regional partnerships, South Korea will be taking the initiative to facilitate dialogue with the two great superpowers and ultimately become a major actor in de-escalating tension between the East and the West, creating a more cooperative space in international relations. 

Sandy Zheng is a MS candidate in Northeastern University’s Global Studies & International Relations program. 

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The Great Pharaoh of China and the Struggle to Let the Uyghur People Go

July 20, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Picture this: it’s 2:30 a.m.  You, your spouse, children, and newly adopted dog are sound asleep.  Out of nowhere, you’re awoken by the sound and the fury of banging at your door.  Doorbells don’t exist yet because it’s 1939.  You only speak Polish, and four men dressed in military fatigues brandishing SS insignia who only speak German scream at you, barge into your home and forcefully relocate you to what appears to be a prison.  You’re forced into a shower room with 100 other men, the tinge of a noxious smell hits your olfactory perception, and that is the last thing you ever feel.  What did you do wrong, you wonder in your last moments.  It turns out it was nothing more than the mezuzah on your door frame that gave you away.  Sound familiar?  This is what happened to over 6 million Jews during the Holocaust between 1939-45.

Close to a century later, a similar scenario is playing out in a largely unknown part of the world to a largely unknown group of people.  Who are the Uyghurs, you may wonder.  They are a minority Sunni Muslim group of Turkic origin totaling a global population of 11-12 million, primarily living in Xinjiang, China.  Xinjiang is the most Northwestern province of China known for its austere environment and, contemporarily, the location of modern-day debatable genocide.  But to understand what’s happening in Xinjiang, we must go back about 70 years.

After the defeat of the Kuomintang by Mao Zedong and the establishment of the Chinese Communist Party in 1949, the People’s Republic of China was established.  However, the “People” in the title can be a little misleading.  According to recent data, Statista shows that 89.43% of China is Han Chinese, with the remaining number being minority groups.  Moreover, World Population Review estimates the current Chinese population is 1.425 billion people.  This amounts to the Uyghur people accounting for only .772% of the Chinese population.  

This means that the “People” in the People’s Republic of China belong to the Han Chinese people, with all outsiders being seen as a nuisance, burden, and unnecessary, much like the Jews in Nazi Germany.  In the early 90s, with more and more Han Chinese settling in Xinjiang, a historically inhabited land by the Uyghurs, this naturally led to civil strife.  Elizabeth Economy, a senior fellow at Stanford, details how the situation reached a boiling point in the 21st century.  Beginning in the late 2000s, numerous terrorist attacks, mass killings, riots, and protests erupted in Xinjiang, resulting in the deaths of large numbers of Han Chinese.  In 2014, China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, the supreme despot of China, launched his “Strike Hard Campaign Against Violent Terrorism,” essentially turning Xinjiang into a police state ruled by a Gestapo-like group of what Mao would have labeled the Red Guards.  Under this anti-terrorism campaign, many traditional Muslim traditions, including praying, were outlawed.  Contemporaneously, the Xi regime began building large numbers of concentration camp-like facilities in Xinjiang and started imprisoning large numbers of minority Uyghurs.

China acknowledges the presence of these camps yet labels them “reeducation” camps aimed at reforming would-be terrorists into model Communists.  According to numerous sources ranging from scholars Lindsay Maizland, writer for the Council on Foreign Relations, IGOs and NGOs, to include major institutions such as the UN and Amnesty International, and prominent journalists, including Philip Wen and Olzhas Auyezov of Reuters, one thing is for sure: A genocide is brewing in Xinjiang, China.  According to all the previously mentioned sources, it is estimated that between 800,00 to 2,000,000 Uyghur people have been illegally imprisoned in the 385 detention facilities currently located in Xinjiang.  Within the confines of these detention facilities, it has been reported that brutalities such as torture, forced sterilization, forced labor, and forced indoctrination into Chinese Communist ideology are commonplace,.  The most challenging part, however, is proving it.  Like George Orwell’s 1984, Xinjiang is one of the most Big Brother-like, heavily policed regions in the world.  Xinjiang is also extremely austere, situated in a highly isolated and landlocked region of Asia largely inaccessible to the media.  Moreover, China has severe restrictions on freedom of the press and access to social media and the internet, making it nearly impossible for local people to report the truth.

What is occurring in Xinjiang today parallels almost perfectly with what occurred in 1932 in Germany, with the death of Von Hindenburg and the rise of The Third Reich and Adolf Hitler.  After the Great Depression, Adolf Hitler made great strides in recovering from the Depression through significant infrastructure projects (such as the Autobahn) and rebuilding the Wehrmacht (the German military).  This came at the cost of seeking a scapegoat onto which to project society’s woes, in the former case, the Jews.  Once Germany maintained its hegemonic status in continental Europe, it simply attempted to rid society of the scapegoat.  Today, with the rise of the People’s Republic of China like a Phoenix from the ashes and the supreme leadership of Xi Jinping as the ultimate leader of the Chinese Communist Party, China too has its scapegoat onto which to cast its Mein Kampf-like ideologies.  According to the Lowy Institute Asia Power Index, China ranks second in the world in comprehensive power and first globally in economic relationships and diplomatic influence.  In simpler terms, China, with its global political influence, economic strength, and military prowess, will sooner rather than later reach and even overtake the U.S.’s hegemony on the world stage.  Once this occurs, and China is given carte blanche to do anything that it feels.  Through simple historical precedent, the Uyghur people will become yet another statistic in the Guinness World Record Genocide Fact Book.

Resolving this conflict diplomatically is the equivalent of asking Adolf Hitler, Idi Amin, Pol Pot, or Jefferson Davis to stop being mean to your minority populations.  A hyper-extreme conservative state like China does not tolerate activists like Martin Luther King Jr or Gandhi.  Individuals like them have no voice or ability to petition a draconian communist government with a redress of grievances.  Additionally, nation-states with a dominant ethnic population and no significant obstacles preventing them from acting in an anti-social fashion toward minorities tend to engage in the universal art of ethnic cleansing.  Saddam did it with the Kurds, the Ottomans with the Armenians, and even the pioneers with Native Americans.

The most realistic option to stymie an impending genocide could be to use whatever IGO, NGO, and Western political influence are left to attempt to relocate the Uyghur people to an ethnically similar, sovereign territory to China’s Northwest.  Xinjiang lies on the border with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan (all three being former parts of the Soviet Union, Sunni Muslim, and of Turkic and Persian ethnic origin).  According to the CIA World Fact Book, 69.6% of Kazakhstan is ethnically Kazakhy (a Turkic ethnic group) and 70.2% Sunni Muslim.  Kyrgyzstan is 73.8% Kyrg (a Turkic ethnic group) and 90% Sunni Muslim.  And Tajikistan is 84.3% Tajik (a Persian ethnic group) and 95% Sunni Muslim.  The assisted relocation of the Uyghurs would produce what, in science, is called a symbiotic effect.  Symbiotic because it would mutually benefit both sides of the conflict.  China would benefit by ridding a clearly unwanted ethnic group from its territory and preventing the continuation of ethnic Han and Uyghur clashes in Xinjiang.  Conversely, the Uyghur people are saved from impending doom by relocating and inhabiting more friendly lands.  

If this (pragmatically realistic) plan were to come to fruition, it would be one of the largest assisted mass migrations in history.  Let us only hope that a 21st-century Muslim Moses exists that can help foster such an arduous undertaking and entreat China’s Pharaoh Ramses Jinping to let his people go.

Andrey Volfson is a MS candidate at Northeastern University in the Global Studies & International Relations program. 

References:

Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, May 30). Uyghur. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Uyghur

 China: CCP members by ethnic group 2021. Statista. (2022, July 1). https://www.statista.com/statistics/249994/number-of-chinese-communist-party-ethnic-minority-group-members-in-china/ 

China Population 2023. China population 2023 (live). (2023). https://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/china-population 

Economy, E. (2022). The world according to China. Polity. 

 Maizland, L. (2022, September 22). China’s repression of

Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights#:~:text=Most%20of%20the%20people%20who,sterilizations%2C%20among%20other%20rights%20abuses

Map – Australian strategic policy institute. The Xinjiang Data Project. (2021). https://xjdp.aspi.org.au/map/ 

BBC. (2022, May 24). Who are the Uyghurs and why is China being accused of genocide?. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037 

Maizland, L. (2022, September 22). China’s repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/china-xinjiang-uyghurs-muslims-repression-genocide-human-rights 

Wen, P., & Auyezov, O. (2018, November 27). Tracking China’s Muslim Gulag. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/muslims-camps-china/ 

Central Intelligence Agency. (2023, June 15). Kazakhstan. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan/#people-and-society 

Central Intelligence Agency. (2023b, June 20). Kyrgyzstan. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kyrgyzstan/#people-and-society 

Central Intelligence Agency. (2023c, June 20). Tajikistan. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/tajikistan/#people-and-society 

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The Earth Breaks its Record for the Highest Average Temperature – Four Days in a Row

July 17, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Amid Fourth of July celebrations and beach days all across the nation, the planet reached the hottest it has ever been, on average, for four consecutive days. July 6 was the warmest day on record, as the global average temperature reached 17.23°C, or 63.02°F, which was 1.02°C, or 1.8°F above the average for that day. Overall, the days from July 3-6 have now claimed the title of being the four hottest days on record, as each day became a fraction of a degree warmer than the previous.

In fact, looking at the summer season thus far, we’ve experienced the hottest June since pre-industrial times, as this June was 2.5°F warmer than the average global temperature of June in the late 1700s/early 1800s. This could explain why the wildfires in Canada, which drifted over into neighboring New York and the rest of the U.S. East Coast last month, burned at least 19,027,114 acres, marking the worst Canadian wildfire season on record. From Texas to Florida, temperatures are easily reaching over 110°F.

Outside of North America, June temperatures hit record highs in the Chinese capital of Beijing, as many other Chinese cities are currently experiencing heat over 100°F. Similarly, Spain, Iran, Vietnam, and India all reported extreme heat within the past month, with India even recording peaks in deaths due to such high temperatures.

With such events becoming more common due to global warming and climate change, it makes it much more difficult for all of us to stay within the goal of not exceeding 1.5°C, as brought forth in the Paris Climate Agreement. It is crucial to understand that though the global average temperature broke records last week, such records will continue to be broken again and again in the near future as unrestricted climate change and global warming worsens.

Further Reading:
June Has Hottest Start on Record | National News | U.S. News (usnews.com)
World hits record land, sea temperatures as climate change fuels 2023 extremes | Reuters
This week has had several days of the hottest temperatures on record : NPR
Earth saw hottest day yet, the fourth straight global record (axios.com)
Canadian wildfire smoke reaches Europe as Canada reports its worst fire season | CNN

Written by Special Projects Intern, Noor Razmdideh

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A Seat For a Seat: Understanding How Sweden’s Future NATO Membership Comes Down to the Turkish President.

July 10, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Sweden’s ascension into NATO is secured, claims NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg. The recent news emerging from the NATO conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, is positive for Sweden hoping to finally join the alliance after being blocked by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan since April. Sweden and Finland both had applied to join the North American and European military alliance at the same time, fearing Russia’s military expansion. Finland’s acceptance into the alliance occurred recently on April 4th 2023, while Sweden’s had been delayed. 

In order for a new nation to join NATO, all other current members must agree unanimously, meaning Turkey’s sole opposition to the Swedish joining the alliance functions as a veto. 

Turkey’s main claims against Sweden were that Sweden was supporting forces against the Turkish government by providing a free operating environment to Turkish dissidents that Turkey labels as terrorist organizations.

The list of organizations includes a religious movement that the Turkish government accused of trying to overthrow President Erdogan in 2016 and supporters of a Kurdish militant organization that continues to fight against the Turkish state. A recent Quran burning demonstration by an Iraqi Christian immigrant outside of a Mosque in Stockholm on June 27th added tension, as Turkey viewed the act as a sign of both Islamophobia and another reason that Sweden and Turkey cannot see eye-to-eye. 

Sweden had been recently taking action to appease the Turkish government, recently amending its constitution and hardening its counterterrorism laws. The Swedish government also extradited many of the individuals wanted by the Turkish government to gain favor. But this appears to not be sufficient for the Turkish government as they announced that in exchange for letting Sweden join NATO, the European Union should, “clear the way” for Turkey to Join the European Union (EU). 

Turkey’s application for the EU, which began in 2005, has been stalled due to the Union’s criticisms of both human rights violations and deficits in rule of law in Turkey. These concerns have resulted in the Union labeling the Turkish government currently unfit to join due to disproportionate repressive measures. Turkey has received sanctions from the European Union for its activities in the Mediterranean as recently as 2021. 

Turkey currently enjoys a very privileged diplomatic position and the latest condition could present huge economic opportunities for Turkey,  but it is still undecided how the EU will react to this change as many NATO members are also EU members. It is very possible that we may see a seat in the EU being traded for a seat in NATO. 

Written by Administrative Intern, Charles Larkin

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Shifting Allegiances: U.S. and Chinese Competition for Strategic Partnerships in the Middle East

June 27, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Tensions run high in the Middle East as a host of conflicts continue without end. Many Arab states are under the impression that the United States is making a strategic pivot in its foreign policy away from the Middle East and its partnerships with Arab and North African states. In the wake of a U.S. less committed to its partners and allies in the region, the Chinese government has taken up an interest in filling that void. According to the Arab Youth Survey in 2022, which surveys thousands of young people across North Africa, the Levant, and The Arabian Peninsula, 78% of respondents stated that they view China as a close ally, compared to only 63% stating that they view the United States as a close ally. This rise in popularity of the Chinese has emerged for a few key reasons.

Young Arabs remain skeptical of the United States’ dedication and support for Israel, which many Arab nations see as both an existential threat to peace in the region and many labeling the Israeli state their number one enemy. Where U.S. relationships between Arab states are dwindling, Israel remains one of the United States’ closest allies. Chinese recent accomplishments look promising and young Arabs are more open to working with the Chinese especially after the Chinese government brokered an end to hostilities between two major regional powers: Saudi Arabia and Iran, in 2023. The Chinese entrance into diplomatic affairs in the Middle East stood in contrast to the previous economic involvement that China had in the region and looks promising. The Chinese are also not stepping down their efforts, attempting to reach another agreement between long standing rivals Israel and Palestine. Economically, the previous Chinese economic assistance has been helpful in the past for Arab states creating a strong working relationship between Beijing and Riyadh that has fostered trust and respect. Finally, another reason for the rise in popularity of Beijing is the declining acceptance of Russia as an ally. The survey showed that Russia has fallen significantly among Arab countries when asked to list allied nations most likely due to the war in Ukraine and it will likely be a while before states feel comfortable listing Moscow as a friend again.

The Middle East has just opened into an even greater arena between the United States and China. Can the U.S. regain its support among Arab states as the great negotiator or will the peace between Tehran and Riyadh allow for greater Chinese involvement into the Middle East? Either way, the hegemony of the United States is being threatened as states are beginning to look for other leaders among the international community.

Written by Administrative Intern, Charles Larkin

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The Tiktok Ban: Navigating the Controversy Surrounding Government Action in the Digital World

June 14, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

It’s all fun and games until your favorite app gets banned. TikTok is a Chinese-owned social media app for creating and sharing a wide variety of short videos. TikTok has become a central debate in American policy in the last couple of weeks due to its alleged imposing security and privacy risks. The discussion of artificial intelligence, chatbots, and the increasing reliability of wireless connection is consuming, and perhaps threatening human interaction as we know it.

Back in March 2023, the White House supported and backed a Senate bill that would give the authority to the Biden administration to ban social media apps, mainly Tiktok, for state and publicly-owned devices. The main concern is the user data security breaches of American users. However, Montana has made nationwide news taking this bill to the next level. It is the first state, and so far the only, that completely bans and prohibits the use and downloading of Tiktok. This was signed by State Governor Greg Gianforte to take effect on January 1, 2024.

TikTok has become a platform that globally connects people, communities, and businesses. The app has become a significant source of income for individual influencers that benefit companies. The platform allows for the creative expression and advertisement of products and services that
drive purchasing decisions, revenue streams, and traffic. This ban will financially damage individual entrepreneurs, supply chains, and businesses and overall negatively impact the economy.

Beyond the damaging financial impact, the defenders of TikTok believe the allegation to be unconstitutional. The ban restricts the legal speech of the people in Montana, by infringing on the right of expression that the app made possible. Further arguments also state that it is simply impossible to ban an app in one state as companies such as Apple and Google do not function by state but rather nationwide. It is not feasible for these companies to control the download of an app within the borders of a state.
The feasibility of the implementation of the ban is also highly questioned. It goes beyond the app itself to infringements on basic American rights, control, surveillance, and privacy. Ironically, the future of the ban may reflect a paradoxical catch-22. Many questions remain from civil society, advocacy groups, and government officials on the future impact of the digital world in society.

Written by Community Outreach Intern, Kiana Flak

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The Paradox of Poverty and Wealth in Africa

May 15, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

The exploitation of the continent of Africa’s wealth and resources is not unprecedented. The modern exploitation of its resources is a cycle of history reflecting the “Scramble for Africa” in the 1880s. The scramble represents the helpless African countries from the division and exploitation of lead-in global powers such as Russia, China, and the United States.  In the 21st century, the race to occupy, gain, and maintain allies in Africa is a fight for commercial, diplomatic, and geopolitical power in the continent. 

The question becomes then, if Africa is filled with wealth why does widespread poverty persist? African states are assets due to abundant rich natural resources, yet the continent remains abject to widespread poverty. The ownership of deposits of oil and precious minerals such as diamonds, gold, and tantalum (like in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Nigeria) is under the control of private companies. International mining companies have licenses to cultivate their treasures, generating revenues for only private elitists. This continues to fuel a cycle of corruption and exclusion. 

The growing influence of Russia and China reflects the increasing value of Africa for its resources. The Belt and Road Initiative in 2019 is Beijing’s infrastructure and investment initiative that currently is increasing tension with the European Union, and its ally the United States. Italy is the only G7 country to join as a partner to revitalize its economy but now is preparing to withdraw. Italy’s position in the plan would prove itself as a trustworthy ally to the United States and European Union but on the other hand provoke and escalate problems with China. China’s plan to expand its global influence is causing more tensions in Africa and the potential for diplomatic fallouts. 

A proposed solution is the diversification of African economies rather than solely the exportation of raw materials. However, international trade networks rely heavily on the existing supply of raw materials. The strategic initiative aims at stimulating growth and interregional connectivity and is a mere reflection of African nations’ historical patterns of invasion and exploitation. The reality is Africa is only seen for its geopolitical gain and economic incentive rather than as a continent desperately in need of development. 

Written by Community Outreach Intern, Kiana Flak

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Vive La Révolution: Making Sense of the French Pension Reform Protests

April 25, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

For three months now, millions of French citizens have been taking part in the largest mass demonstrations seen in the country since the Crisis of ‘68. In France’s largest cities, rioters are shouting “increase salaries, not the retirement age” and “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” surrounded by torched government buildings and looted stores. The focus of these protests? A controversial pension reform act, including, among other things, legislation that would increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. The Macron government, one of the most unpopular in France in living memory, argues that the reforms are necessary to keep France’s struggling pension system afloat, though the French citizenry, grappling with one of the most pressing cost of living crises in living memory feel that with this reform, another piece of their economic liberty is being taken away. 

Most controversially, the Macron government decided to enact Article 49.3 to allow the reform to go into effect without the need of a vote by the National Assembly. Effectively, pushing through the reform without a democratically elected vote, and without the consent of the French people. To the French, this blatant disregard for France’s democratic institutions emphasizes the unpopularity of the current government, and has invalidated the French government as a representation of the French people. The wave of discontent shown across the nation, culminating in labor demonstrations like the publicized Parisian city maintenance workers strikes and acts of violence like the torching of the city hall in Bordeaux, emphasize the discontent already pervasive within France even before this series of unpopular reforms. 

Interpreted socially, we can see how these reforms emphasize the growing rift between the Macron government and working/middle class French. Those who have increasingly felt the pinch of first the COVID-19 pandemic, second, the resulting cost of living crisis, and now the social unrest of these pension reforms are increasingly feeling that the current government sways too much in favor of the rich. Additionally, the police crackdown on protests in numerous French cities has not only escalated the violence, but also called into question the brutality of the French police force. The wide push back to this set of reforms constitutes one of the most substantial mass demonstrations in France since the May ‘68 Crisis. As we examine them from a wider perspective, they form part of a larger wave of unrest around the world in reaction to the economic crisis left after the COVID-19 pandemic. This wave of unrest calls into question the sustainability of growth as many nations in the Global North not only recover from the pandemic, but also mature economically and demographically. Surely, more mass demonstrations like these shall follow in the coming years.

Written by Research & Development Intern, Andrew Martin

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Clashes between Sudanese Military Factions

April 18, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog

Beginning around Friday, April 14, fighting between two rival military factions erupted in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. Humanitarian workers and diplomats have been caught in the crossfire as the Sudanese army battles against the paramilitary group, the Rapid Support Forces, in the streets of the city. Previously, the two factions had cooperation “based on undermining civilian aspirations for democratic rule and rejecting accountability for past crimes, including genocide in Darfur” (Johnson, NPR). They were also responsible for the military coup in 2019. This ended as there were attempts to integrate the RSF into the formal military, and the death toll has climbed up to 180 people so far as airstrikes plague the region.

U.S. involvement may increase after a diplomatic envoy was fired on on Monday, April 17. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, issued an official warning to both sides that threats to American citizens in the conflict would not be tolerated. The conflict continues to develop quickly and attempts at mediation by the international community and surrounding countries have been unfruitful thus far. 

Written by: Program Management Intern, Cindy Tse

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