The Business End of Palestinian Despair
The Times of Israel – In a featured blog post, past Fellow Neri Zilber discusses the grim economic realities of the most recent wave of violence between Israel in Palestine. Many attacks are perpetrated by young Palestinians who defy categorization; they come from a variety of economic, social, and political backgrounds without a unifying leader or affiliation. In
The Fall Of Intrade And The Business Of Betting On Real Life
Buzzfeed News – In a new longform piece, past Fellow Andrew Rice examines the rise and fall of Intrade, a website dedicated to predicting (and betting on) real-life events, including politics, before it was shut down by the government. As Rice explains, the website was continually troubled, stymied by government regulations on gambling and struggling financially,
U.S.-Russia Deal on a Partial Truce in Syria Raises More Doubt Than Optimism
The New York Times – Past Fellow Andrew Tabler is quoted Mark Landler’s latest piece on the recent agreement for a partial truce in Syria. Tabler, whose ICWA Fellowship took place in Syria and Lebanon and who is currently an Syria expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy said about the agreement; “Washington’s stated
Putin’s Patriotism Playbook
Foreign Affairs – In his latest piece on Russian politics, author and past ICWA Fellow Gregory Feifer examines Vladimir Putin’s push for nationalism and Russia’s search for a unifying identity. Understanding this concept is essential to the West because, as Feifer explains, “assessing the Kremlin’s potential for cooperation requires understanding not only the Russian president’s
Pramila Jayapal, State Senator and Nationally Known Immigrant-rights Advocate, Announces Congressional Run
The Seattle Times – Past ICWA Fellow Pramila Jayapal has announced her candidacy to succeed retiring 14-term U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott. Jayapal is currently a Washington State Senator and has been a respected activist and voice in Washington politics for years. After her ICWA Fellowship in India, Jayapal founded Hate Free Zone, an immigrant-rights advocacy group now called
Five Things You Should Know About Willy Foote
The Boston Globe – Willy Foote’s ICWA Fellowship inspired him to leave his job as a financial analyst to start Root Capital, a nonprofit social investment fund working in Latin American and Africa. This year Root Capital expects to have lent more than $1 billion to small buisnessses in the developing world. Foote and Cambridge-based Root Capital were featured in this
How Are You Enjoying the de Blasio Revolution?
New York Magazine – Past Fellow Andrew Rice’s latest article examines the accomplishments of and opinions on New York’s mayor two years into his term. The piece, which is New York Magazine’s cover story this week, addresses de Blasio’s dismally low approval rating, despite the fact that the city is doing well quantifiably – with a
The Global Face of Student Protest
The New York Times – The recent surge in student protests, like those that have recently taken place at Yale and Princeton, is not a uniquely American phenomenon. In a new piece, past Fellow Eve Fairbanks writes about the student protest movement globally, with particular focus on South Africa. Fairbanks describes how dissatisfied South African college students
Looming Crisis: What the United States Must Do to Address the Plight of Migrants from Central America
Summary America’s migrant crisis is far from over. Faced with an influx of tens of thousands of women and children from Central America who overwhelmed US border and immigration agencies in 2014, the United States made several significant policy changes aimed at stemming the flow of people. Although they appear to have eased the immediate
The National Front Has Been Successful Because It Tackles Issues Others Avoid
The National Post – In their latest op-ed ICWA Trustee Julie Barlow and Past Fellow Jean-Benoît Nadeau explain the growing support for National Front, a right-wing alternative to France’s two mainstream parties, the Socialists and Les Républicains. They posit that the National Front is gaining support because of its willingness to address issues like immigration, nationalism, and race, which are political taboos