February 9, 2011

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Republican Majority Taking Stance on Cutting Foreign Aide

February 3, 2011 By Mukul Sharma Leave a Comment

The recent slew of political unrest throughout Middle Eastern countries like Yemen, Tunisia, Jordan and most notably Egypt, are great examples for understanding the unpredictable need of U.S.  foreign assistance. While aid from the US creates economic growth, increases public health initiatives and ensures global security, aid is also commonly used as a tool for ensuring US interests are protected abroad. The United States has provided aid to countries in the Middle East for years, largely in the hopes of ensuring peace and security. This effort … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Blog, Development, Featured Less Tagged With: , , , , ,

Riding the Tiger: Authoritarian Allies in the Middle East

January 31, 2011 By Kevin Hudnell Leave a Comment

As a U.S.-backed dictatorship in Tunisia collapses and another in Egypt teeters on the brink, it’s worth taking a look at our support for Nouri al-Maliki’s government in Iraq. Maliki, prime minister since late 2006, followed the formation of a new coalition government last month with a series of measures consolidating power directly under his control, drawing opposition accusations of being the latest strongman dictator of Iraq. Maliki has aggressively pushed direct appointees throughout the military, intelligence agencies, and courts, and … [Read more...]

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Recession of Democratic Performance, Not of Democracy Itself

January 31, 2011 By Sky Mangin Leave a Comment

I agree with the sobering assertion by many critics that the democratic recession is likely to worsen in the decade ahead, but not decades. Democracy is not fatally threatened as a norm. Nonetheless, on a fundamental level, democracy is not stagnant– it is democratic performance that is declining and based on some of my experiences, I will attempt to explain why. First off, we must come to a universal understanding that democracy is not a destination, but rather, it is a process. Many countries that are experiencing a decline in democratic … [Read more...]

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Onward from Ohio to Maine – Report from the Road to Zero Tour

November 19, 2010 By Patrick McDermott Leave a Comment

So after a long and rewarding time in Ohio, I bid adieu to the Columbus countryside and headed on my way up toBoston yesterday! After a brief stay with a friend of mine in the area, and some amazingly delicious made-to-order pizza for dinner, I then went to bed as I had an early morning. I awoke at 4:00am to catch a bus to head up to Lewiston, Maine where I had a day of canvassing  and promoting for our screening that night at Bates College ahead of me. Once I got to Lewiston, I met up with our student contact Umar on the campus, who made the day … [Read more...]

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QDDR draft released!

November 18, 2010 By Priyanka Joseph Leave a Comment

The Development, US MDG and Foreign Aid community has been waiting on Sec. Clinton's much touted Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review (QDDR) for months now, and got a taste of it yesterday when a draft was made available. Easily explore it online here courtesy the Washington Post document reader. The QDDR serves as a "scheduled review of development aid -- and how to integrate it with U.S. diplomatic efforts", in an effort to keep development projects relevant and "fresh" (WaPo, 2010) Policy and administration folk who are keen to see … [Read more...]

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Fear v. Sanity

November 4, 2010 By Krista Jodoin Leave a Comment

Normally I can’t stand being stuck in traffic. At around 10:30 am Saturday morning I was already an hour late for a pre-rally breakfast, and I was getting nowhere fast. But as my car inched down Constitution Ave., I couldn’t keep a smile off my face.  A steady stream of people coming from all directions was converging on the mall for the Stewart/Colbert Rally to Restore Sanity/Fear. I had silently hoped that the rally would have a great turn out and it looked like those hopes were about to be realized. Half an hour and ten blocks later, I ended … [Read more...]

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AIDemocracy Activism in Kansas Fall 2010 – RC Kristen Tebow

November 1, 2010 By Kristen Tebow Leave a Comment

This semester has been exceedingly progressive at Kansas State University with new advocates and activists coming out of the woodwork. In September, I collaborated with other local shelters and organizations to put on a very successful "Take Back the Night" event in Lawrence, KS. http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/abuse-victims-rally-awareness-in-lawrence October was a busy month! We supported a fellow organization on campus, Coalition, who put on a Rave to Save to raise money for Zindagi Trust, an organization working to aid refugees … [Read more...]

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Vote Now, Ask Questions Later

November 1, 2010 By Richard Lim Leave a Comment

By Richard Lim, Peace and Security Issue Analyst “An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic.” – Thomas Jefferson "The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." – Winston Churchill Every two years the American people are barraged ad nauseum with ads, fliers, mailers, phone calls, and bumper stickers reminding them to get out the vote. Vote because this election is the most important in history! Vote because your children depend on it! Indeed, voting … [Read more...]

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Burqa bans in Europe: A necessary action that promotes integration, or an attack on the freedom of expression?

October 12, 2010 By gps20 Leave a Comment

The governments of Belgium, France and Denmark have now forbid (or are in the process of forbidding) Muslim women to wear the burqa in the public sphere. Brendan O’Neill, journalist with Spiked Online, writes that these bans are alienating Europe from the ideas of the Age of Enlightenment, the very ideas that have laid the foundation for tolerance in Europe. France has presented this ban as a continuation of the ideas of the Enlightenment, in a way to protect its own values instead of the old fashioned religious ones, when in reality, this ban will … [Read more...]

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The power of students in the 21st century

October 9, 2010 By Gary Lubrat Leave a Comment

By Gary Lubrat Gary is one of AIDemocracy’s 2010-2011 Issue Analysts. Find out more about Gary below or take a look at the Student Issue Analysts. Students of the 21st century possess a great deal of technological power to influence future events of geopolitical relationships around the world. The explosion of Twitter, Facebook, and various blogging sites have allowed communication to reach a whole new level. Aggressive authoritarian institutions may seek to silence those using these media innovations, as evidenced by the blackout of Twitter … [Read more...]

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