Claire Scafidi Introduction  The trajectory of women’s rights in Afghanistan has fluctuated significantly in the past century.  In 1919, Afghan women gained the right to vote, and in 1921, the first girls' school opened. In 1950, the purdah system of gender segregation and veiling practices was  eliminated. However, following decades of civil war, interstate conflict, and insurgency, women’s rights have severely deteriorated in Afghanistan since 1950. From 1996 to 2001, the T

Emily Sawires Introduction It has  officially been a year since former Syrian President Bashar al Assad was overthrown, ushering the country into an era of reconstruction. After decades of tyranny and conflict, the current interim government is seeking to rebuild Syria and reestablish its place in the international community. The civil war resulted in a war-torn country, millions of displaced people, and the country’s political future hanging in the balance. While the end of

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

Katie Leslie Introduction  On February 24, 2022, Russian forces invaded  Ukraine under the command of President Vladimir Putin. His authoritarian rule and eye on annexation have motivated his uncompromising behavior toward the ongoing war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy remains committed to maintaining national sovereignty and territorial integrity despite the hardships of continuing to fight for more than three years. Ukraine’s allies, including multiple

Makayla Bangoura   Overview   In June of 2025, a 35-year-old Pakistani woman named Bano Bibi was shot  and killed. It is suspected that Bibi, a wife and mother to five children, was murdered in relation to allegations of infidelity. Authorities and international media have deemed Bibi’s murder an “honor killing,” a murder motivated by the dishonor she was alleged to have brought upon her family. After opening an investigation, police found video evidence of Bibi’s mother stat

Wells Benjamin Introduction  In the 17th century, Cardinal Richelieu, a French religious and political figure, held an extraordinary degree of influence over the affairs of the French Kingdom. His vision  of foreign and domestic policy was second only to that of Louis XIII, and throughout his tenure he often served as France’s preeminent statesman. During his political career, Cardinal Richelieu was accompanied by François Leclerc du Tremblay, a Capuchin friar who served as h

Edited by Mary Wahn, Grey Cohen, John Gooden, Ethan Joyce, Bianca Orfila-Molinet, Meera Srinivasan Asia and the Pacific Written by Jesse Vu Australia and Indonesia Agree on New Security Pact In a statement made  to the press on November 12th, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a new, mutual security pact between Australia and Indonesia to be signed this upcoming January. The statement followed Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's first visit to Australia.