Drones, Deception, and Double-Tapping: the Obama Administration is Killing Innocents Abroad
For Waleed Shiraz, 22, life in northwest Pakistan was once uncomplicated. A former student of Political Science and foreign languages, Shiraz recalls days spent studying in the hujra, a traditional guest drawing room – he liked it there because it was “peaceful and quiet.” The oldest of three brothers, Shiraz hoped to pursue his Master’s […]
Looking Across the Pond: What Republicans Can Learn from British Political Parties
As Americans listened to Ohio filling in the victory column for Barack Obama on Tuesday November 6th, many conservatives in the United States knew that their time was up; America elected the President for a second-term. Disappointment and frustration pervaded the Romney camp – American conservatism hit a crisis. When President Obama was elected in […]
A New View of Serving the People: Social Enterprise & Politics
Every four years we, as privileged citizens of the United States, get to participate in the world’s most highly publicized election. This cycle it was an HBO-worthy fight set up to determine how to best ‘serve the people’ as we continue to rebound from one of the worst economic collapses in our country’s history. In the […]
Forecasting: 2016
Believe it or not, candidates have already started jockeying for the 2016 presidential race. Here is a quick look at which candidates have taken the early lead in the race for 2016. The Republicans: Paul Ryan The conservative heartthrob is almost certain to run in the 2016 campaign. He is now a household name and […]
Compulsory Voting in the United States?
In the 2012 presidential election, only 56.8% of the eligible voting population chose to cast a ballot. Despite an eight million eligible population increase, five millions less ballots were cast than four years ago. The numbers for non-presidential election years are even lower, with only 37.8% of the eligible population having participated in the 2010 […]
A Never Ending Tale? Partisan Politics in the US Congress
Congress is currently more partisan and polarized than any other time since the Reconstruction. Over the past three decades there has been an eruption of partisan politics that has increased the division between both parties in the House and the Senate. Sean Theriault, a political scientist at the University of Texas, developed polarization scores that […]
The Smearing of a Good Man
Politics, as we all know, is a dirty game. As Mitt Romney settles into his new role as the prospective Republican nominee and President Obama focuses on his re-election, both sides have begun trading barbs in what will likely be a bloodbath of an election. Every presidential election features some sort of negative campaigning. Challengers […]
Diverse Dialogues: Perspectives on Microfinance in Latin America
This past May, Northeastern’s Social Enterprise Institute (SEI) led its fifth Dialogue of Civilizations program to the Dominican Republic. As part of the College of Business Administration, SEI is a driving force behind many Northeastern initiatives to channel enterprise-based solutions toward advancing the developing world. Unlike a majority of other Dialogues, this month abroad […]
Unintended Consequences: Why France’s Impossible Expectations Will Shake Its Future
On Sunday, May 6th, François Hollande of the French Socialist Party defeated his opponent, Nicholas Sarkozy, with 51.6% of the popular vote. Tough economic times and recent “terrorist” attacks in Toulouse were the foremost discussions during the 2012 electoral campaign. François Hollande, the first Socialist president in the nearly two decades since François Mitterrand, benefited […]
Run For Your Life: Theories of International Politics and Zombies
Something is aloof in international affairs, or so thinks Tufts University Professor Daniel Drezner. Every day scholars and policy-makers meticulously hammer away at the ins and outs of pressing national security threats (Al-Qaeda, China, Iran, Wall Street, Occupy Wall Street). Drezner, however, believes that these political observers have wholly failed to recognize and address what […]