Category: Global Politics & Economics

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

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

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Russia’s Incursion into NATO Territory

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.

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DKU students reflect on American presidential election

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

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In Defense of the UNSC Veto Power

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

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

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.

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The Root Causes of the Kashmir Conflict

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

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

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

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

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

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