Egypt's new election law. A boycott? Damn.

What's that? you said your favorite part about democracy was gerrymandering? Well, then you will love this. This video and article give a good and brief explanation of Egypt's new election laws and how the elections are going to take place. While some of the old patronage networks remain in place, this may be the best move for the country. Would a quick jab erasing all power structures be too destabilizing? What worries me most about the law is not the continuation of patronage structures, but that the Muslim Brotherhood is threatening boycott without change. An election with the Brotherhood is no election. I only hope the date isn't pushed back further to resolve this issue.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2011/09/2011928234830274426.html

Role of the IAEA

It's often debated whether the IAEA can prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, but can the agency prevent the next Fukushima disaster? Konstantin Kakaes with the New America Foundation says "No," after attending the IAEA's general conference in Vienna this month.

Is there inherent conflict in the IAEA's stated purposes of preventing nuclear weapons proliferation but increasing access to (and safety of) nuclear technology?

Does the IAEA lack requisite power to maintain a balance between these goals when nation-states join mainly to access the technology, driven by self-interest that would also be served if the agency remains weak in its regulatory or enforcement abilities?

Access Kakaes's piece, featured on Foreign Policy: http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/09/28/atomic_dogs?page=0,0

Alabama Immigration Laws In Contention

Alabama is facing heavy criticism for its extremely strict illegal immigration laws. The fast-growing illegal immigration population in the state has continued to provoke the state's Republican party to take action and with their recent gain of control of the Legislature, they have shown ample support for the restrictions. Most alarming to opponents of the law, are the provisions stipulating public school students' requirement to verify their citizenship status. Other restrictions like this have basically made it illegal to be an unverified immigrant in the state of Alabama, and the Justice Department has raised concern that the state is infringing on federal immigrant laws. Interestingly, while opponents urge Alabama to block many of these provisions, many states with growing illegal immigrant populations have already amended equally strict laws out of their immigration policies.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/28/alabama-immigration-law-ruling_n_985529.html

Obama Actions in Libya Within Executive War Powers?

When President Obama took military action in support of the liberation of the Libyan people was he within or outside of his Executive War Powers, granted by the Constitution and the War Powers Resolution? Did President Obama require Congressional support prior to his engagement of U.S. military forces in Libya? This article presents the White House's stance as well as the continuing ambiguities of what exactly war and war powers are:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/us/politics/16powers.html?pagewanted=all

Does the War Powers Resolution even apply? Is this type of conflict what the legislature intended in drafting said resolution? How does the interpretation of the War Powers Resolution affect the United State's ability to act to prevent genocides and massive atrocities like Darfur and Rwanda? Was the President justified in his actions?

National Security Law, and Congressional interpretation of it, affects our daily lives and the lives of those around the world. Currently, GOP Congressional members have brought suit against President Obama for violation of the War Powers Act. See the following article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/15/kucinich-obama-war-powers-act-libya_n_877396.html

Palestinian Recognition Before the UN

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/world/middleeast/palestinians-see-united-nations-appeal-as-best-option-available.html?ref=world

This article talks about the Palestinian Authority’s appeal for membership to the UN, by approaching the Security Council, as opposed to the General Assembly, where a veto would be possible. What political implications does this have for the US and its relationship with Israel? What position could this put the US in, and how would potential Palestinian membership to the UN affect the dynamics of the institution?

Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa: the new European Creditors?

The BRICS are proposing, through IMF funds or bond purchases, to help stop the growing European financial crisis. While this helps their own immediate economic investments on the continent, this may also signal a rise in greater BRICS strength within the IMF. Does a stronger BRICS voice in the international financial regime signal a change in financial policy? or merely new actors, but same policy? Does this action cement a global shift in power?
http://english.aljazeera.net/business/news/2011/09/201192052145668735.html

India identification project

India strives to create a nationwide database of citizen identification to ensure access to benefits (welfare, healthcare) free from government corruption. There are concerns that this project is not practically feasible, as well as concerns regarding the government's potential abuse of such information (althouh criticism for the latter is rather muted at this time). But, in addition to its stated goals, this project could revolutionize the Indian concept of identity. For the first time in their lives, many Indian citizens would not only receive a permanent record of their existence, but would also be identified as individuals independent from a particular caste or village.

View the article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/02/world/asia/02india.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=india%20database&st=cse

View an interactive feature with citizen feedback here: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/29/world/asia/IDENTIFICATION.html?scp=4&sq=india%20database&st=cse

Is a more unified EU necessary? politically possible?

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/17/business/global/merkel-arrives-in-paris-to-begin-economic-talks-with-sarkozy.html
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,780630,00.html
http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,786421,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/business/global/meetings-on-european-debt-crisis-end-in-debate-but-little-progress.html?_r=1&src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fbusiness%2Fglobal%2Findex.jsonp

These articles are a great discussion of the very recent attempts by German and French leaders to create a more economically unified EU to tackle future member insolvency. Although, this does not seem politically possible. Do these articles only show that the global financial industry wins again?