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North America

Where Are They Now?

October 23, 2026 World Affairs Council Blog, North America, Uncategorized

By Nathan Palomares

The World Affairs Council of Orange County’s internship program is the backbone of the organization and its mission. Students and young professionals alike have the opportunity to conduct impactful research and work in an environment focused on international affairs and global politics, all while having access to thrilling events and networking opportunities with experts and speakers. Interns who have completed their internship at WACOC have gone on to prestigious opportunities and traveled to places they could not have imagined before interning for the council.

Welcome to the October edition of Where Are They Now? Series, in which we interviewed two former interns of the World Affairs Council of Orange County to learn more about what they have accomplished since leaving the council and how our internship program has set them up for success!

Cindy Tse, Programs Intern, 2022-2023

Since leaving the council, Cindy Tse has gained valuable experience as a volunteer coordinator at AmeriCorps and in various legal roles. She is currently working at Gibson Dunn, a law firm based in L.A., coordinating and reviewing contracts for its individual clients. As of last June, Tse earned her paralegal certificate.

Speaking about her internship experience with the World Affairs Council, Tse recalls the amazing opportunities to meet people that prepared her for her professional career.

“I got to meet a lot of interesting people,” Tse said. “Having that internship experience and kind of learning how to work with people who are more experienced and are older than me has prepared me for my current work.”

Tse’s favorite memory during her time with the Council was a travel conference in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations. She was one of the interns selected to attend the young professionals event and recalls it being a great experience. Besides offering her experience, the internship program has been foundational to Tse’s career, catalyzing her focus on it and clarifying the future she envisions for herself.

“It made me feel a lot more realistic about my goals,” Tse said. “Attending those events and speaking with people who have worked in that field (International Relations) really helped me understand how I should create a trajectory to work in that industry.”

This exposure to industry insiders and seasoned professionals that the council’s internship program offers to its interns has made Tse realize just how many doors of opportunity have opened and the different paths she can take.

“You think about I.R. like, ‘wow, really glamorous, traveling, international lawyer championing human rights’, and yeah, there is that, but there’s also a lot of things in between,” Tse said. “But there’s so much more that goes into International Relations, and so meeting all these people who have worked in some aspect really showed me how big and how many options there are.”

Having experienced all that the council’s internship program can offer, Tse has advice for current and future interns.

“Really explore your options if you’re able to network and make those connections, and getting your face in front of them will help you open a lot of doors, and a lot of them have really good advice to share,” Tse said.

This includes keeping up to date and active on your LinkedIn, which Tse has recognized Jayne Herring, the President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Orange County, as a “LinkedIn warrior”. Cindy Tse learned a lot as an intern and gained a wealth of experience that has helped her achieve the goals she has reached and will continue to achieve, all thanks to the World Affairs Council.

“The World Affairs Council is a great organization,” Tse said. “They have really great guest speakers and get really informed opinions. Just being educated is so, so, so important, so please always try to absorb everything you can.”

Kelsea Clemente, Membership Intern/External Affairs Officer, 2017-2018

Kelsea Clemente is currently in her third year of law school at UCI Law and has a post-grad job lined up in real estate finance at an M100 firm in Orange County. Her journey into law was not something she seriously considered during her undergrad; however, the COVID-19 pandemic led her to reassess her career plans.

“I originally wanted to go into nonprofit work, so that’s how I found myself working at the World Affairs Council, and it gave me a good sense of what working in a nonprofit is like,” Clemente said.

Clemente started as a membership intern and then transitioned to an external affairs office, where she focused on community outreach, marketing, and targeted work. 

“Working in that role really gave me a lot of valuable substantive experience,” Clemente said. “I was really able to make it my own and take ownership, and it really pushed me out of my comfort zone.”

This idea of being pushed out of one’s comfort zone was a big takeaway from Clemente’s experience with the council that has helped shape her current career goals.

“In hindsight, it gave me so many valuable skills that I didn’t really see in the moment,” Clemente said. “It’s like just pushing me out of my comfort zone, being in a role that I’d never really been in before.”

This insight from Clemente highlights one of the goals of the World Affairs Council’s internship program: to offer interns opportunities to take on new challenges and responsibilities that teach them valuable career skills they can carry with them throughout their lives. For current and future interns at the council, Clemente offers advice echoed by other former interns.

“Being in this internship, you’re in a really unique position where you’re placed in these rooms with just really incredible and accomplished people, and just absorb and take in as much as you can,” Clemente said.

As our interview came to a close, Clemente offered a piece of advice to every intern who will walk through that door at the World Affairs Council.

“The advice that I would give is to just talk to people; you have to network, but not in a transactional way, but really just to learn and see what’s out there,” Clemente said.

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Where are they now?

August 28, 2026 World Affairs Council Blog, North America

By Nathan Palomares

The World Affairs Council of Orange County’s internship program is, in many ways, the backbone of the organization and its mission. Students and young professionals alike have the opportunity to conduct impactful research and work in an environment in international affairs and global politics, all the while having access to thrilling events and networking opportunities with experts and speakers.

Interns who have completed their internship at WACOC have gone on to prestigious opportunities and traveled to places they could not have imagined before interning for the council.

Here is a spotlight on two spectacular former interns in WACOC’s new “Where Are They Now?” series, in which we interview them about what they have accomplished since leaving the council and how our internship program can lay the foundation for future professional development.

Maelee Blancaflor, 27

Maelee Blancaflor interned at the WACOC from 2018 to 2019 as a public affairs/communication intern. She is currently employed as an immigration paralegal at Fragomen, one of the largest immigration law firms in the nation. Her main focus is working with students and exchange visitors.

“It’s kind of what I’ve wanted to do from the get-go,” Blancaflor said. “I wanted to work in international exchange in some way or form.”

After her internship with the council, Blancaflor went to work with the World Trade Center in Northern California with their international visitor leadership program. She then used her accumulated experience to intern at the State Department in the federal government through the Virtual Student Federal Service Internship. She continued her work in research and cultural exchange until she decided to begin her master’s program in public diplomacy at the University of Southern California (USC), from which she graduated in 2025.

Blancaflor had many great memories and experiences during her time at WACOC, including an unforgettable event that hosted Gaddi Vasquez, a former U.S. ambassador to the UN Food Program and former director of the Peace Corps.

“That was my first time meeting someone of authority in that sense,” Blancaflor said. “It was very nerve-wracking talking to someone of that caliber, but it was an amazing experience.”

Blancaflor’s experiences at WAC-OC, such as this one, would help shape her life goals and equip her with the skills necessary to launch her career. She expressed that the internship program at WAC-OC gave her the flexibility to delve into other areas of work that may not have been officially part of her internship description. However, she was still granted the opportunity to try, and in the end, it helped her the most.

“Everyone was very nice, and it was a great first experience that definitely solidified the work I wanted to do in international affairs,” Blancflor said.

Some advice Blancflor offers to students and young professionals reflects her own time as a student frantically trying to secure an internship.

“Truthfully, it’s difficult out there,” Blancflor said. “However, you’re already doing the right thing by getting this internship experience now, but you can have a specific plan set for yourself, and always be open to having a plan B, plan C, plan D.”

For Blancflor, her time at the WAC-OC has prompted her to reflect on the pressures young professionals face in today’s job market.

“As a young professional, we put so much pressure on ourselves to get the dream internship or the dream job, like it needs to be a perfect ladder to reach whatever you want,” Blancflor said. “Truthfully, you’re still going to be doing that until you’re 40, so be satisfied with where you are and your trajectory, but not too worried about where you need to be at the moment.”

Ryan Takeji Adams, 23

Ryan Adams interned at the WAC-OC from 2024 to 2025 as an area operations and HR intern. He is currently working at the national World Affairs Council of America as a marketing and communications coordinator. Much of his work involves crafting national newsletters and strengthening support for and representation of the various councils across the country.

Ryan has recently moved to Washington, D.C., and is pursuing a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution at Georgetown University. The opportunity to move to D.C. has enabled him to intern with U.S. Representative Derek Tran and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Furthermore, Ryan served as a public affairs intern at Cornerstone Government Affairs and a communications intern at the Nuclear Threat Initiative.

Much of what Ryan has gone on to accomplish, he believes, can be attributed to the experience and skills he gained during his time at the WAC-OC.

“A huge thank you really goes out to Jayne (President and CEO of WAC-OC); she is such an inspiring person and so motivational,” Adams said. “I think seeing her leadership in the council motivated me to do well as an intern.”

For Ryan, the best part of the internship experience was the events that the council holds. 

“Gaining exposure to a lot of the events and being in that community and having access to some of our board members who are very accomplished individuals inspired me to pursue a career in international relations or global affairs,” Adams said. 

Adams goes on to explain that one of the main reasons for going into a master’s program at Georgetown was his experience with WAC-OC.

“I don’t think without that experience I’d be here in D.C. or pursuing a master’s,” Ryan said.

That experience interning at WACOC has given Ryan advice he wishes to share with students and young professionals entering our current job market.

“You know, it is a very competitive job market now more than ever,” Adams said. “My advice is always to start as early as you can, be willing to take some of those unpaid internships, and it is difficult, and I know not everyone can do it, but I think if you’re willing and able to make that sacrifice, it’ll push your career much further.”

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Upcoming Infrastructure Tour: OC Water District

August 21, 2026 World Affairs Council Blog, North America, Upcoming Events

By: Nathan Palomares

The World Affairs Council of Orange County is hosting another infrastructure tour at the Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System on Friday, Aug. 28, at 1 p.m. in Fountain Valley. WACOC members will be provided with an informative two-hour walking tour of the facility and learn more about national security infrastructure and our ecosystem with worsening climate change.

The two main issues closely related to our nation’s infrastructure are the climate crisis and the rise of new, dangerous technologies utilized in cyberwarfare. 

Climate Change:

According to a UN report on the State of the Global Climate 2025, the Earth’s energy imbalance is at its highest level on record, with the past 11 years being the warmest ever. The heating of the Earth is causing ocean temperatures to rise and the ocean to become more acidic (UN, 2026).

In sum, our water supply is being threatened, with climate change being one of the key drivers of freshwater degradation in a world where only 0.5% of water is usable (NPR, 2026). This is putting pressure on water infrastructure, and something the infrastructure tour will touch on.

Cybersecurity:

In an increasingly dangerous world, with International Relations’ theory of realism making a comeback with the wars in Ukraine and Iran, national security is being threatened with new forms of cyberwarfare. Inevitably, critical water infrastructure is becoming a target (NPR, 2026).

More specifically, as the U.S. becomes entangled in Iran, the nation’s vital infrastructure, equipped with aging and more vulnerable technology, is sitting ducks for attacks.

These attackers can ransom or steal data, cause disruptions, and explode pipelines by fluctuating the water pressure. Furthermore, as the Trump administration slashed the federal cybersecurity workforce, many local water facilities have been left on their own on the front lines against hackers (NPR, 2026).

The World Affairs Council, Helping Navigate The Way:

Local critical infrastructure in Orange County is increasingly having to deal with the global climate crisis, cyberattacks from international actors, and, on top of that, provide constant services to the millions of people who call the OC home.

This is why the World Affairs Council of Orange County is hosting this tour to provide clarity and educate its members about facilities that are often overlooked. While much of what is shown in the news may seem disconnected from your local community, across oceans away, the WACOC recognizes the importance of global events to the functioning of our home and is one of the few organizations that can provide valuable perspectives on OC’s vital infrastructure.

With many of the council’s members being former public servants and professionals from all career paths, the organization is well-equipped to take the lead in community education.

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Orange County: The Ball is in Your Court

July 23, 2026 World Affairs Council Blog, North America

By Nathan Palomares

During the summer of 2026, the FIFA World Cup was hosted in North America by three countries: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The soccer tournament generated massive buzz in the U.S., with particular excitement among the Mexican community in Orange County, as the Mexican team reached the round of 16 before losing to England.

“It goes way back, ever since I was like really little”, Jesus Santos, a Mexican team fan, said when discussing the significance of the games. “Since I am an undocumented person, it means a lot to me. I want my country to thrive and go further than we would have before, which is why I think it’s a big reason for the noise here in the community of Santa Ana”.

KODAK Digital Still Camera
Photos of Mexico team fans’ celebrations in Downtown Santa Ana. Photos taken by Nathan Palomares.

By the time this article was published, Spain had been declared the winner of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

What the celebrations, watch parties at bars, and passionate sports debates signify is just how eager and excited Orange County is about international sporting events. Now, with the 2028 LA Summer Olympics just around the corner, is Orange County doing enough to position itself as an international sports hub?

Jayne Herring, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Orange County, has been espousing the sentiment that the county is not doing enough.

“While it is already a problem that Orange County leadership has waited this long to prepare, at least we should be harnessing this World Cup momentum,” Herring said. “There is beautiful citizen diplomacy happening across this country, with communities adopting fans from around the world, and yet outside of Santa Ana it was as if it wasn’t happening in our region. What a lost opportunity!”

Photo of Mexico team fans watching the Mexico-Ecuador game on the street. Photo taken by Nathan Palomares.

Herring is frustrated by the lack of recognition of long-term economic benefits that can be generated by international engagement and coordination on the county level. She argues that the lack of FIFA engagement in OC is a missed opportunity to attract foreign investors and sports delegates, which would generate financial benefits and boost the country’s cultural power for years or even decades to come.

These feelings expressed by Herring are similar to those of the Executive Director of the Orange County Sports Commission (OCSC). Anthony Brenneman expressed this in terms of improving Orange County’s ability to become an international sports hub. 

“Orange County is really its own identity, own brand, own market in a lot of different ways”, Brenneman said. “We have all the right tools, we have all the right ingredients out here; it’s just we have to figure out what cake we want to bake at the end of the day”.

The OCSC is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit founded in 2019 whose mission is to “enhance the economic, social, and cultural vitality of Orange County communities through sports”, as explained on their website. 

Their three pillars for their platform include economic, social, and cultural, which act as guiding visions to help bring in and plan major sporting events in Orange County, so sports and sports diplomacy can thrive in the county.

A common theme among critiques of the county’s ability to organize effective international sports engagements is decentralization. 

Brenneman explained that the U.S. is the only country in the world without a ministry of sport, culture, and tourism, which inevitably forces local jurisdictions to fill that gap.

In Orange County, that gap is notoriously hard to fill cooperatively due to local cities clashing, turning any potential county-level organizing into a hot mess. For instance, Brenneman explains that cities collect more sales tax than the county, so the county ends up pointing to the local cities and telling them they should pay for initiatives, such as international events.

This structure has incentivized a decentralized approach to county-level organizing, making it much harder to capture the benefits of coordinated sports engagement.

Map of Orange County. Image from Wikimedia Commons.

“Instead of creating a huge net to catch everything on the county level, we’ve created 34 different smaller nets (cities)”, Brenneman said. “It’s a lot harder to catch a fish in 34 different smaller nets than it is in one giant net that’s going to cover everything”.

Despite the frustration from decentralization, Brenneman and the OCSC see an opportunity on the horizon. LA 2028 Summer Olympics. 

The Summer Olympics in LA will spill over into Orange County, with volleyball planned to be hosted at the Honda Center in Anaheim and surfing near San Clemente at Trestle State Beach. Coupled with our proximity to LA, these games will involve OC in one form or another, whether the county is ready or not.

That is the hope for Brenneman and the OCSC, who wish to use LA28 as a springboard to finally address the county government’s lack of an organized approach to sports engagement and unify the local jurisdictions through sports, which he sees as a great unifier.

“If we’re able to use a big event like that to bring people together, to show them the power of sports and community, those results may show them this is why they need to be a part of this”, Brenneman said. “Is it going to solve everything? No, but it can lead to a door-opening opportunity”.

While money talk is what usually gets these types of conversations started amongst county officials, one element of sports diplomacy that is often overlooked is the human connection and goodwill.

“Sport is like a human identity in a lot of different ways,” Brenneman said. “It’s like a way to break bread with your brothers and sisters from next door, and bring people together”.

Amanda, a local political organizer in the county, believes sporting events can help generate pride in a community’s identity. “It creates a lot of excitement and pride in your culture”, Amanda said. “I think it really brings communities together, which is something that we really need currently”.

Her political work within the county, particularly among the Hispanic community, has shown her how a sporting event like FIFA can bring people together and spark conversations beyond sports that affect these communities in places like Santa Ana.

Brenneman shares similar sentiments regarding the cultural and human aspect of sports. 

“Maybe you bring in a new sport, new group of people, a new culture that might be traveling for an event that you’re hosting or a watch party that you’re watching”, Brenneman said. “We’re trying to elevate and bring to light why those three dimensions are important to our community overall”.

Photo of Mexico fans watching the game on the street. Photo taken by Nathan Palomares.

As Orange County looks ahead to the opportunities presented by the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, the challenge is no longer recognizing the region’s potential–it is deciding whether local leaders will work together to realize it.

The World Affairs Council of Orange County believes the expertise to make that happen already exists within the community. Its diverse membership includes professionals and former public servants with a drive for international connectedness. 

Which is why, by bringing decades of global experience, the Council wishes to connect these individuals with local governments, businesses, and community organizations to help strengthen its international engagement, foster citizen diplomacy, and position itself as a globally connected region.

“I know we are 34 cities that don’t like to work together, but the resources are available if we can figure this out,” Herring said. “Our membership alone speaks over 27 languages fluently, includes former U.S. State and Commerce Department officials, diplomats, United Nations employees, and humanitarian aid workers with experience around the globe, all right here in Orange County. A coordinated effort will be essential for embracing the next big opportunity!”  

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Mexico’s First Female President & the World’s 29th Female Head of Government

August 13, 2024 World Affairs Council Blog, Latin America, North America

According to Courthouse News, some of President Sheinbaum’s promises during her presidency include scholarships for basic education, better salaries for teachers, increases in minimum wage, harder crack-downs on crime including a five-pronged security plan, and a transition to renewable energy for the country.

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s symbolic rise to the highest position of power in Mexico demonstrates the progress of some countries towards gender equality in government, directly making strides to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5.5 Target that aims to “ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life” (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs). 

Although Mexico’s most recent election demonstrated a great feat towards global gender equality, many countries have yet to follow, including the United States, Spain, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands who have never had a female leader in the history of their existence. UN Women states, “women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” But with the historical trends of women coming into power, the UN reports that gender equality in the highest positions of power may not be reached for another 130 years.

Now that Mexico has shown a country’s capacity to embrace female leadership, how can other nations do the same?

Written by Special Projects Intern, Amanda Nguyen

Citations

Clancy, Laura. “Fewer than a Third of UN Member States Have Ever Had a Woman Leader.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 28 Mar. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/28/women-leaders-around-the-world/#:~:text=Women%20currently%20serve%20as%20the,a%20Pew%20Research%20Center%20analysis.

“Facts and Figures: Women’s Leadership and Political Participation.” UN Women – Headquarters, 7 Mar. 2023, www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-and-figures. 

“Goal 5 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs.” United Nations, United Nations, sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5#targets_and_indicators. Accessed 12 June 2024.

Madry, Kylie, and Valentine Hilaire. “Mexico’s Sheinbaum Wins Landslide to Become Country’s First Woman President | Reuters.” Reuters, 3 June 2024, www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexicans-vote-election-seen-crowning-first-female-president-2024-06-02/. 

Martin, Roland. “Claudia Sheinbaum.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 9 June 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Claudia-Sheinbaum. Savinar, William. “What Can Mexico Expect from a Sheinbaum Presidency?” Courthouse News Service, 7 June 2024, www.courthousenews.com/what-can-mexico-expect-from-a-sheinbaum-presidency/#:~:text=Sheinbaum%20was%20responsible%20for%20updating,north%20and%20southeast%20of%20the.

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Global Impacts of U.S. AI Policy: Balancing Regulation, Competition, and Optimism

July 18, 2024 World Affairs Council Blog, China, North America

U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law hearing on artificial intelligence. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Regulation and Competition

Between COVID-19, global conflicts, democratic backsliding, and escalating U.S.-China tensions, the 2020s have not had an inspiring first half. Amidst this backdrop, rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have changed the long game for international relations. According to Nathaniel C. Fick, ambassador for cyberspace and digital policy at the State Department, tech is increasingly becoming “the whole game,” and will be a defining sector for U.S.-China competition. Given the risks associated with unfettered AI use and development, regulation is inevitable. However, U.S. AI policies and regulations should remain conscientious of the potential global impacts of domestic policies.

Currently, the U.S. and China are leaders in AI research and technology, with Silicon Valley alone hosting several major AI developers such as Anthropic, Google, Meta, and Open-AI. AI presents various concerns surrounding data privacy, job replacement, and disinformation. Consequently, significant discourse in the U.S. revolves around ways to regulate AI, and has resulted in an emerging patchwork of legislation at the state and federal levels. Despite this, global uses are often secondary in U.S. AI policy discourse, as discussion is often framed in the context of domestic impacts, cyber security, and U.S.-China tech competition. As other countries will largely be subscribing to U.S. or Chinese AI systems, the U.S. should pursue its tech policy through a global lens if it aims to assert leadership and set responsible global norms for this technology. China has already established a variety of AI regulatory policies from which the U.S. can learn from and refine with global applications in mind.

Despite being a top AI developer, the U.S. is comparatively less optimistic about the positive potential of AI than its global counterparts. In Google and Ipsos’ 2024 report “Our Life with AI,” there is a disconnect across surveys on AI outlooks, with the U.S. reporting the least optimism around AI of countries surveyed. In contrast, countries categorized as emerging had the most optimistic outlooks on AI’s potential. This disconnect in optimism could impact U.S. attempts to regulate AI. If domestic efforts are less receptive to AI’s positive potential and are not globally conscientious, then well meaning policies could inadvertently contribute to the global tech divide, and neglect AI’s positive uses towards development.

Optimism for Sustainable Development

A major source of global optimism surrounding AI is its potential to accelerate sustainable development. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are 17 goals to improve socio-economic and political issues adopted by all United Nations Member States (193 countries) in 2015 for achievement by 2030. Now, more than halfway to 2030, 84% of SDG targets have stagnated or seen progress regression, and only 16% are on track or have been met. This stagnation can be partially attributed to the socio-economic strains caused by COVID-19, however, current action is necessary if these goals are still to be met by the 2030 target. There is optimism surrounding AI’s potential to accelerate and recuperate progress across all 17 goals.

Based on the 2024 research brief “AI in Action,” by Google, AI can especially impact progress on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 4 (Quality Education), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). This is particularly motivating given that these goals currently face challenges ranging from “major” to “significant”. Currently, the largest category for AI’s potential use towards the SDGs is within healthcare (SDG 3), constituting 28% of SDG use cases. These uses span diagnosis, research, clinical, and preventative care, and can improve progress on SDG 3 by expanding medical knowledge and improving treatments. A similar optimism can be seen with AI’s potential for assisting SDG 4 towards quality education via access to affordable education and individualized instruction given access to the internet.

Perhaps most promising is the potential for AI to improve progress on climate action (SDG 13). According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, the three greatest concerns in the next ten years were environmentally related across experts surveyed in the civil society, international organization, academia, government, and private sectors. This is due to climate change’s ability to amplify threats to human security through forced displacement, food scarcity, and extreme weather. In this regard, there is significant potential for AI to assist with emission monitoring and preventative action before climate disruptions and displacement.

Globally Minded Policy

It is important that U.S. AI policy bears global application in mind to encourage AI’s positive uses for development. Participants of the September 18th 2023, United Nations’ 78th Session High Level Week expressed agreement that the development of AI has the potential to accelerate SDG progress, but could worsen the global tech divide if not responsibly and inclusively developed. One recommendation for improving AI’s global application includes promoting standards of reliable and representative datasets to avoid algorithmic bias. Algorithmic bias is already a concern surrounding AI in the U.S., however, promoting measures for cultural, linguistic, and perspective diversity in data sets will strengthen its potential for positive impact globally.

Developing effective regulations will also involve learning from the pitfalls of past technology policies. With the rise of social media, as detailed in David Kay’s book “Speech Police,” digital privacy and safety concerns by governments drove regulations that placed pressure on private companies to self-regulate their user’s content, resulting in a concentration of censorship power in some private companies. With AI, it is important that emerging policies do not end at company self-regulation, but maintain governmental review for accountability. Furthermore, given the U.S.’ global AI leadership and competition with China, U.S. AI policies should regularly include global considerations into regulation to ensure that legislation does not limit positive potential and that the U.S. remains a competitive global provider for beneficial AI uses.

Conclusion

Globally-minded U.S. policies on AI could provide advantages for the U.S. in its tech competition with China by appealing to global markets and making AI’s positive applications globally more attainable. AI has the potential to advance progress on stagnating SDGs, and U.S. policymakers should maintain global perspectives in developing regulations to help facilitate these applications. This should include policy emphasis on representatively diverse datasets and accountability measures at the company and government levels. While this decade has had a tense start, globally conscious U.S. leadership in AI could help secure a more prosperous turn of the decade.

Written by Research & Development Intern, Eli Sepulveda

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Mexico’s First Female President & the World’s 29th Female Head of Government

June 17, 2024 World Affairs Council Blog, Latin America, North America

From Reuters, “‘for the first time in the 200 years of the republic I will become the first woman president of Mexico,’ Sheinbaum told supporters to loud cheers of ‘president, president.’”

Since 1960, 77 women have held the most powerful positions of executive power in 59 countries; 28 of those women served as the official Head of State or Head of Government for their country (UN Women). On June 3, Mexico made history by becoming the 60th UN Member State to elect a female as the head of government, making President Claudia Sheinbaum the first female president of Mexico and 29th woman to hold the head of government seat in world history. Not only did Sheinbaum win the presidency in a landslide with about 60% of the vote, but Reuters stated that this is “set to be the highest vote percentage in Mexico’s democratic history.”

Who is Claudia Sheinbaum?

Claudia Sheinbaum was born in Mexico City on June 24, 1962. She is the daughter of biologist and professor, Annie Pardo Cemo, and chemical engineer, Carlos Sheinbaum. She earned her Ph.D. in energy engineering from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (National Autonomous University of Mexico).

As a climate scientist and physicist, Sheinbaum worked in environmental policy serving as the Minister of the Environment for Mexico City. She also contributed to assessment reports for the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, one of which helped the IPCC win the Nobel Peace Prize. 

During her time as mayor of Mexico City, her administration focused on waste management reform and began a reforestation program. She also took it upon herself to change the city’s subway system in order to invest in the modernization of currently-dilapidated infrastructure.

Now as president, Sheinbaum has called for the transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy. Although President Sheinbaum is known for having similar ideological views as her predecessor, Former President López Obrador, she holds different views in regards to climate change and job creation. She remains true to many leftist ideals, believing that citizens have basic rights to healthcare, education, shelter, and jobs (Britannica).

Public Reactions

When being interviewed by a reporter from Reuters, Edelmira Montiel, a Sheinbaum supporter from Tlaxcala said, “I never imagined that one day I would vote for a woman. […] Before we couldn’t even vote, and when you could, it was to vote for the person your husband told you to vote for. Thank God that has changed and I get to live it.”

From Reuters, U.S. President Joe Biden responded to President Sheinbaum’s win stating, “I congratulate Claudia Sheinbaum on her historic election as the first woman President of Mexico. I look forward to working closely with President-elect Sheinbaum in the spirit of partnership and friendship that reflects the enduring bonds between our two countries.”

With recognition and praise from South America, “I am very happy with Sheinbaum’s victory—a progressive woman presiding over Mexico, a victory for democracy—and also for my great friend Lopez Obrador, who led an extraordinary government,” Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva said. “I plan to travel to Mexico this year to strengthen our trade relationships. We are the two largest economies in Latin America and could have a greater business flow.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted on X, “Congratulations to @Claudiashein on her convincing victory in Mexico’s presidential elections. I look forward to fruitful cooperation and the further strengthening of Ukrainian-Mexican relations. We are also confident that Mexico can play a significant role in global efforts to bring about just and lasting peace in Ukraine, as well as to restore the full force of the UN Charter globally.”

For the Future

According to Courthouse News, some of President Sheinbaum’s promises during her presidency include scholarships for basic education, better salaries for teachers, increases in minimum wage, harder crack-downs on crime including a five-pronged security plan, and a transition to renewable energy for the country.

President Claudia Sheinbaum’s symbolic rise to the highest position of power in Mexico demonstrates the progress of some countries towards gender equality in government, directly making strides to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 5.5 Target that aims to “ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life” (UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs). 

Although Mexico’s most recent election demonstrated a great feat towards global gender equality, many countries have yet to follow, including the United States, Spain, Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the Netherlands who have never had a female leader in the history of their existence. UN Women states, “women’s equal participation and leadership in political and public life are essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.” But with the historical trends of women coming into power, the UN reports that gender equality in the highest positions of power may not be reached for another 130 years.

Now that Mexico has shown a country’s capacity to embrace female leadership, how can other nations do the same?

Written by Special Projects Intern, Amanda Nguyen

Citations

Clancy, Laura. “Fewer than a Third of UN Member States Have Ever Had a Woman Leader.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 28 Mar. 2023, www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/03/28/women-leaders-around-the-world/#:~:text=Women%20currently%20serve%20as%20the,a%20Pew%20Research%20Center%20analysis.

“Facts and Figures: Women’s Leadership and Political Participation.” UN Women – Headquarters, 7 Mar. 2023, www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/leadership-and-political-participation/facts-and-figures. 

“Goal 5 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs.” United Nations, United Nations, sdgs.un.org/goals/goal5#targets_and_indicators. Accessed 12 June 2024.

Madry, Kylie, and Valentine Hilaire. “Mexico’s Sheinbaum Wins Landslide to Become Country’s First Woman President | Reuters.” Reuters, 3 June 2024, www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexicans-vote-election-seen-crowning-first-female-president-2024-06-02/. 

Martin, Roland. “Claudia Sheinbaum.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 9 June 2024, www.britannica.com/biography/Claudia-Sheinbaum. 

Savinar, William. “What Can Mexico Expect from a Sheinbaum Presidency?” Courthouse News Service, 7 June 2024, www.courthousenews.com/what-can-mexico-expect-from-a-sheinbaum-presidency/#:~:text=Sheinbaum%20was%20responsible%20for%20updating,north%20and%20southeast%20of%20the. 

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Why Haiti’s City Center Is at War: Gang Violence and Political Turmoil

March 12, 2024 World Affairs Council Blog, Latin America, North America

Haiti, a nation surrounded by political instability and social unrest for decades, is once again surrounded by chaos as armed gangs take control of its streets. Current events have highlighted the minacious state of affairs in the Caribbean, with an uprising in violence targeting key government institutions and prisons, leaving the country of Haiti with political instability and socio economic hardships.

On Saturday night, March 3, armed gangs revealed a simultaneous attack on two of Haiti’s largest prisons, including the National Penitentiary and the Croix-des-Bouquets Civil Prison causing over 1,000 inmates to escape. The violence left nine individuals dead including four police officers. This event showcased despair and shock throughout the country, highlighting the government’s struggle to keep Haiti under control. 

Haiti was declared a state of emergency as a nighttime curfew was placed in an attempt to alleviate the crisis. Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been undergoing immense pressure to resign, sought support from the United Nations Security Council to provide international security support and stabilization. Unfortunately, the disputes Haiti have been facing stretch far beyond just security concerns and measures.

The depth of Haiti’s political predicament stems from its ongoing governmental conflicts, including the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021 and the subsequent power vacuum. As the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections become delayed, the condition of Haiti’s political future remains unclear.

The ongoing violence is a result of gangs who continue to expose the government’s weaknesses, futher expanding their influence over Haitian society. Jimmy Chérizier, a previous elite police officer also called “Barbecue”, currently runs the notorious gang G-9 and has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks. Barbeque strives to urge Haitians to take action against the government. “We are asking the population to rise up,” he said. These gangs have effectively displayed their wrath and control over many neighborhoods of the capital, as gangs were reported to have up to 80% control of Port-au-Prince. They have been coordinating more attacks that include targeting the Central Bank. As a result, the Haitian police force is heavily outnumbered and overwhelmed.  

Recently, G9 and G-Pep, another Haitian gang led by Gabriel Jean-Pierre, attacked critical infrastructure, including Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port-au-Prince. The airport was closed during the attack and no operating planes or passengers were present, but caused foreign governments to issue travel advisories. The Biden administration expressed concerns over the security situation, and has abstained from committing troops to aid the situation. Instead, the administration has decided to provide help through financial and logistical support.

As Haiti attempts to diminish reoccurring violence, the path to stabilize and recover the country remains a challenge. The government’s ability to restore law and order in handling the root causes of the situation will be pivotal in reassuring the country’s future. At present, national turmoil continuously reigns over the Haitian people as they hope for a brighter future of peace, prosperity, and security.  

After the 72-hour state of emergency and nighttime curfew were imposed in response to the surging violence, Haiti implemented new steps to obtain stability and control of Port- Au-Prince. The Haitian government ordered police officers to apprehend all offenders that escaped prison, prioritizing efforts to improve law enforcement and relieve gang violence. Prime Minister Ariel Henry recognizes that implementing long-term development strategies and tactical security measures, countering recent events, serve as important measures to ensure Haiti’s safety in the future. 

Photo credit:

Haitians urgently collect their belongings in preparation to flee their homes on March 3, escaping the rising violence in the capital Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo Credit: Ralph Tedy Erol/Reuters

Written by Research and Development Intern, Arianna Hutcheson

References: 

https://apnews.com/article/haiti-violence-prison-break-curfew-6341d1cda5f02f6c66d351ad2d206e7b

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/mar/04/haiti-mass-jailbreak-violence-port-au-prince-gangs

https://apnews.com/article/haiti-violence-prison-break-curfew-105ca137aa337b9e6681cf87add9a5c1

https://apnews.com/article/haiti-violence-gangs-prison-attack-kenya-police-1033aba8041637f9934f87a3be883df8

https://apnews.com/article/haiti-prison-break-2788f145b0d26efc2aa199e923724e0f

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LTG H.R. McMaster (Ret.): Qualified for Duty

November 7, 2023 World Affairs Council Blog, North America

Who is LTG H.R. McMaster (Ret.)?

Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster (R.) (Herbert Raymond) was born in Philadelphia on July 24, 1962. Upon graduation from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the US Army for thirty-four years. McMaster obtained a Ph.D. in military history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later became an assistant professor of history at the US Military Academy. He is known for his roles in the Gulf War, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

What is LTG H.R. McMaster (Ret.) qualified for and why? 

On February 20, 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump nominated McMaster for National Security Advisor following the resignation of Michael T. Flynn on February 13. When he was nominated, McMaster was to remain in active duty while serving as the National Security Advisor. Some people might have had their doubts about H.R. McMaster becoming National Security Advisor but his experience has shown that he is more than qualified. McMaster has served overseas as an advisor to the most senior commanders in the Middle East, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In Time’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world released in April 2014, McMasters was described to be “the architect of the future of the U.S. Army.” 

Throughout his years in the army, General McMaster maintained that despite his forward-thinking approach, his understanding of military history remained a huge influence on how he made future decisions. During the Gulf War in 1991, McMaster was a captain commanding Eagle Troop of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment at the Battle of 73 Easting. Although his troop was significantly outnumbered, they encountered the enemy by surprise as McMaster’s lead tank crested a dip in the terrain, the nine tanks of his troop destroyed 28 Iraqi Republican Guard tanks without loss in 23 minutes. He has brought his knowledge to battle and has emerged victorious in countless situations. H.R. McMaster has also had a series of staff positions at U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM), including planning and operations roles in Iraq. 

In July 2014, McMaster became Lieutenant General and pinned on his third star when he began his duties as Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and Director of TRADOC’s Army Capabilities Integration Center. A few years later, H.R. McMaster retired as Lieutenant General in June 2018 following his resignation as National Security Advisor. Today, McMaster is the host of Battlegrounds: International Perspectives on

Crucial Challenges and Opportunities and is a regular on a video series called Goodfellows. He is also a Distinguished University Fellow at Arizona State University.

Written by: Events Intern, Anahi Aguirre

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“How Asia is Reacting to a Less Dependable United States & More Assertive China” with Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Daniel Russel

August 16, 2019 World Affairs Council Asia, China, Home, North America, Past Speakers/Events, Slide, Upcoming Events

*Luncheon Event*

“How Asia Is Reacting to A Less Dependable United States & More Assertive China”

with

Former Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs 

Daniel Russel

 

REGISTER HERE

 

The Trans-Pacific Partnership might be over, but the continual maneuvering of the United States and China towards the rest of East Asia continues.  As the US-China rivalry causes concern in Asia, the response from other countries in the region has created a new dynamic as they adapt to a less dependable America and a stronger, more assertive China.

Daniel Russel served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2013-2017 and as a major figure in the Obama Administration’s “pivot to Asia.”  He will be joining us to provide insights on:

 

*The changing relationship of America and China

*The reaction of other countries in the Asia-Pacific Region and how they are adapting to the dynamics between the two super powers

*How major economic powers such as Japan, South Korea and Taiwan view the long-term impact of the changes

* Prospects for the negotiations with North Korea over denuclearization

 

Daniel Russel served as Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2013-2017. Prior to his appointment as Assistant Secretary, Mr. Russel was Special Assistant to the President and National Security Senior Staff Director for Asian Affairs. While working at the White House, he was a major figure in the Obama Administration’s “pivot towards Asia” strategy.  He also represented the Administration in negotiating with North Korea.

Date: Wednesday, June 5th

Time: 11:30am Reception/ Registration & 12pm Lunch/ Lecture

Location: Prego Mediterranean 2409 Park Ave. Tustin, CA 92782

 

Prices:

Members : $35

Premium Member Guests: $35

General Member Guests: $50

Non-Members: $50

Students: $20

Bundle of 10 Tickets : $350

 

Email us at: orangecounty@worldaffairscouncil.org or

Call us at: (949) 253-5751 for more information

 

Thank you to our Promotional Sponsors!

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