Global Politics & Economics – The Lilypad · DKU's Independent Student-led Publication

Sino-Foreign Model United Nations at DKU (Hope, Stress, and 20+ WeChat Groups)

Khadija Javed 2025-11-19 No Comments

Photo: Xinwen Hu From October 17-19, DKU held the inaugural Sino-Foreign Model United Nations conference in a partnership with New York University Shanghai, Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, and the University of Nottingham Ningbo. Co-sponsored by the DKU Library, this conference marked a milestone: it was the largest fully student-led conference DKU

Russia’s Incursion into NATO Territory

Roy Liu 2025-10-25 No Comments

NATO allies see the recent airspace violations as tests of Western resolve. Moscow denies any involvement and frames the accusations as Western provocations. While Operation Eastern Sentry reinforces deterrence across the eastern flank, the alliance remains cautious not to escalate the conflict further. The EU plans to impose new sanctions, signaling a collective pushback against Moscow’s aggression. The US’s response remains mixed as Trump’s dismissal of the breaches as “accidental” contrasts sharply with NATO’s warnings.

DKU students reflect on American presidential election

Michelle Tom 2025-04-17 No Comments

As a Sino-American joint venture between Duke University and China, the 2024 US elections were widely observed on DKU’s campus. As the new administration takes foot, the DKU community reflected on how the election has impacted them. Ky Boughton, a DKU junior, worked to smooth out the absentee voting process

Balancing Act Between the Two Koreas: Mongolia’s Handling of North Korean Refugees

Effy Bat-Erdene 2025-04-03 No Comments

Mongolia has become a popular destination for Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) – or North Korean – defectors seeking refuge since the mid-1990s. As a signatory to the UN Human Rights Convention, Mongolia is bound by international law to welcome these refugees regardless of their diplomatic relations with the

In Defense of the UNSC Veto Power

Boyuan Huang 2025-03-01 No Comments

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and escalated into a full-scale invasion in 2022, is one of the most consequential global security challenges the world has faced. The violence and instability have widespread ramifications, including a humanitarian crisis, global food market

Fish Do Not Fly! And They Can’t Swim Through Dams! – Industrialization and Its Toll on the Heart of Local Life Along the Mekong

Lam Phuong Mai 2024-11-20 No Comments

DKU students visited the confluence of the Pak Ing River and the Mekong River, a site emblematic of the pressures facing local fishing practices due to up and downstream dam constructions. The construction has affected fish populations and reduced the amount of sediment reaching downstream regions. Sediments are crucial for maintaining fertile agricultural land and healthy river ecosystems.

The Root Causes of the Kashmir Conflict

Ananya Narayan 2024-10-25 No Comments

Submitted by Sophia Paske The Kashmir conflict has been a source of tension in South Asia for nearly 80 years. Before British India was partitioned in 1947, Viceroy Lord Mountbatten encouraged states to join either India or Pakistan. However, issues arose when Pakistan’s claim over the Muslim-majority state of Jammu

American students organize absentee voter registration drive ahead of presidential election

Mary Mulualem 2024-09-29 No Comments

In DKU’s 11-year history, there has never been an organized effort to help American citizens living in China abroad vote. In the 2024 presidential election, this will no longer be the case. This election cycle, student-led efforts, and campus administrative offices have been instrumental in helping students cast their ballots

The One-Child Legacy: Tracing Identity Journeys of Chinese-American Transnational Adoptees Returning to China

Jas Santos 2024-09-24 No Comments

By Jas Santos and Yuqing Wang With special thanks to Kyaira Boughton UPDATE: China’s Foreign Ministry announced Thursday, September 5, 2024 that foreign adoptions of Chinese children will no longer be allowed. Adoptions in process are now canceled. According to China’s Children International, 160,00 Chinese children have been adopted abroad

Away from China, to Latin America: How Nearshoring to Latin America Can Cultivate Economic Sovereignty

Amanda Niza Gonzalez Mejia 2024-09-06 No Comments

U.S. nearshoring initiatives, driven by the need to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on Chinese manufacturing, are increasingly focusing on Latin America. While this transition primarily aims to mitigate U.S. risks associated with geopolitical tensions, it also offers an opportunity for Latin American nations to strategically strengthen their economic

Category: Global Politics & Economics