Kaiya Davis Introduction Since 2020, China has been gradually increasing  the number of military displays and strategic maneuvers that test the defenses of Taiwan and American commitments near the South China Sea. Backed by the United States, Taiwan capitalizes  on its semiconductor dominance as a counterpoint to increase economic relationships and push for its inclusion in international platforms, such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), in the face of these thr

Katie Leslie Introduction to Japanese Women’s Political History  Formal women’s rights and privileges in Japanese law emerged  only in recent history. In 1947, Japan changed  its constitution to include political rights for women, such as voting, running for Parliament, and attending universities. Later, in the 1970s, the Second Wave of Feminism brought  global awareness to women’s representation and participation. International organizations and conferences like the 1995 UN

Chloe Bradley Introduction In Germany, circa 1923, within a matter of months the price of bread skyrocketed from around 250 German marks in January to almost 200 billion marks by November. This process, known as hyperinflation, was a result of the Great Depression and World War I, which left the country financially and physically in shambles. Citizens were frustrated by the government's failed attempts to address inflation and began to lose faith in their representatives. The

Emily Sawires Introduction Sudan is  no stranger to conflict, with a history plagued by decades of coups, ethnic cleansing, and intrastate war. The current civil war has  produced a detrimental humanitarian crisis that involves pervasive famine, displacement, and sexual violence. While numerous peace talks have  taken place, all attempts to secure a lasting ceasefire have thus far failed. A critical force fueling the conflict is  sponsorship of the Sudanese warring factions b