2014-2015 THE ALUMNI NEWSLETTER OF THE

Rufus Von KleinSmid Claude Buss Ross Berkes James Rosenau

Jay Savage Michael Fry Gerald Bender Thomas Biersteker

Celebrating SIR 90 Years

Robert Friedheim 1924-2014 Jonathan Aronson

Steven Lamy Laurie Brand John Odell Robert English FROM THE DIRECTOR

CONTENTS

SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

EDITORS: Table of Contents A Note from the Director Linda Cole, Christina M. Gray, by Robert English, Director of the USC Dornsife’s School of International Relations Scot Macdonald

ASSISTANT EDITOR: 2..... A Note from the Director Ninety Years of International Relations at USC of State. In the Summer of 2014, Mariya Korotko 3..... Students “Discover China” Program we also launched the new “Discov- NEWSLETTER DESIGN Last year in this space, I mused about why students pick er China” fellowships for Summer Pentagram international relations for a major and what I say to en- and Fall work-study trips to Hong 4..... Profile: Having the Courage to Know, Rebecca Braun courage them: the vital importance of global issues, the Kong and China. Copyright 2014 School of intellectual excitement of analyzing them, and the many • NewR SI Faculty and Research International Relations, Dornsife 6..... Learning from Alumni College of Letters Arts and professional options that follow. There’s no need to re- Recent SIR hires Joshua Aizen- Sciences, University of Southern prise that theme this year, because everybody gets it: IR man, Andrew Coe, and Carol California. All rights reserved. 7..... From Summer Abroad to Career-Launching Internship is USC’s top undergraduate major, with over 800 students. Atkinson will soon be joined by And in this, our 90th Anniversary year, our popularity and Profs. Jonathan Markowitz and The Alumni Newsletter is pub- 8..... Maymester: America’s Pacific Century lished by the School of Interna- programs only continue to grow. Pablo Barbera. And, at this writ- tional Relations, University of Instead, let me describe these sources of pride and sin- ing, we are searching for one more Southern California. This edition 9..... A Deeper Understanding: Students Learn about National Security gle out some highlights from our progress over the past new SIR faculty member--the is expected to reach over 4000 students, alumni and friends 12-18 months. Caught up in the constant demands of Erburu Chair in Ethics, Global- of the School of International 10.... Conferences and Classes our academic-administrative cycles, we don’t always step ization and Development. With Relations. back to view the big picture. When we do, we see how growing numbers of stellar faculty come increas- 11.... Learning by Doing: Glimpse from the Globe impressive that picture is and how rapidly SIR has pushed ing numbers of prizes, grants, and major research Robert English We encourage alumni to contribute news regarding into the top ranks of the nation’s schools of international projects. Just in the past three months, new books their educational and career 12..... Amy Freidheim Roundtable: Money Alone Can’t Buy Happiness relations: For example: have been published by Professors Carol Atkin- progress, published articles, • “Dornsife in DC” Washington Program Dorn- son, Laurie Brand, Brian Rathbun, Mary Sarotte, books and op-ed pieces, for 13..... New Faculty, New Locations sife College has now launched that which many future editions. and Jeffrey Fields. SIR alumni have long sought—an academic- So this is how we are celebrating our anniversary—by Please call, write, fax or email: 13..... SCIR Reaching New Heights year program that builds on our successful sum- raising our faculty, graduate and especially undergraduate Linda Cole, Associate Director mer DC courses toward the goal of a year-round, programs to new heights. Ninety years ago, the School School of International Rela- 14.... Director’s Speakers Series tions permanent base in the nation’s capital. “Dornsife was established under the leadership of Rufus von Klein- University of Southern California in DC” begins Spring 2015 with a core foreign- Smid. Now we mark this milestone not only by saluting Los Angeles, CA 90089-0043 15..... Fellowships and Awards policy focus. SIR alumnus Jeffrey Fields directs those students and faculty whose recent accomplishments phone | 213.740.2139 the program, and other SIR alumni such as Da- put SIR in the headlines, but also with a series of special fax | 213.742.0281 17..... SIR Inaugural Tickner Book Award and China Dreams email | [email protected] vid Livingston are teaching in it. And its exciting 90th-Anniversary events. web | dornsife.usc.edu/sir internship and career-building options are second One was this Fall’s awarding of the J. Ann Tickner 18..... Faculty Awards and Updates to none. Book Prize—a highly competitive new international prize SIR CONTACT INFORMATION Robert English • SCIR and Glimpse from the Globe In a very for best book in the spirit of SIR Emerita Prof. Ann Tick- Director 19.... Bookshelf short time, the Southern California International ner’s pioneering work in IR theory, whose first recipient [email protected] Review has soared into the elite ranks of the na- was Carleton University’s Fiona Robinson for The Ethics 21.... In Memoriam: Peter A. Berton; Andrew Manning tion’s top undergrad IR journals. Its student-ed- of Care. Other 90th Anniversary events include a special Linda Cole Associate Director itors are real professionals, and have made SCIR Spring-semester panel marking 25 years since the Cold [email protected] 23.... Class Notes the country’s first truly international student for- War’s end with former Ambassador to the USSR Jack eign-affairs journal with the publication of articles Matlock and Dornsife Dean’s Professor (and SIR faculty Christina M. Gray 24.... An Inside Look at Egypt’s Military submitted from around the world. Last year, some Assistant Director (Programs) member) Mary Sarotte. Later in the Spring we will also [email protected] of those editors launched Glimpse from the Globe, host leading IR scholar (and former SIR graduate student) 25.... Power Project: Akon Visits USC with ONE a foreign-affairs website that provides first-rate Prof. John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago for a Ashley Bonanno reporting and commentary by a staff of student- Distinguished Anniversary Lecture on “International Re- Internship Advisor 26.... On the Cutting Edge: Ukraine and Russia [email protected] correspondents at home and abroad—and that lations Theory and US Foreign Policy.” joins SIR students with contributors from such Please be alert for SIR as well as Dornsife College an- Katrina Miranda universities as Georgetown and Penn. nouncements on these and other 90th Anniversary events. Undergraduate Advisor • International Fellowships and Internships Ev- Please join us when you can, either in Los Angeles or [email protected] Cover shows School of International Relations Directors, top left to bottom right: ery year, SIR students take many USC’s top hon- Washington, DC, and please also consider supporting Annie Lam ors. They also earn prestigious Fulbright, FLAS, SIR—whether that be a financial gift, an internship op- Undergraduate Advisor Rufus Von KleinSmid 1924-1935; Claude Buss 1935-1949; Ross Berkes 1949-1976; James Rosenau 1976- Critical Languages, DAAD, and other interna- portunity, or simply a new idea. Above all, please join me [email protected] 1979; Jay Savage 1979-1981; Michael Fry 1981-1986; Gerald Bender 1986-1991; Thomas Biersteker 1991- tional fellowships. They study in Berlin, Brussels, in celebrating past and present faculty, staff, and especially Luda Spilewsky 1992; Robert Friedheim 1992-1995; Jonathan Aronson 1995-2001; Steven Lamy 2001-2006; Laurie Brand Valencia and Washington; they do research in students of SIR during this milestone 90th Anniversary Graduate and Undergraduate 2006-2009; John Odell 2009-2012; and Robert English 2012-. Rwanda, Havana and Singapore; and they intern year. You are our legacy, and we are hard at work burnish- Advisor in Paris, Mexico City, and at the U.S Department ing tomorrow’s legacy today. [email protected] Cover photos courtesy of University Archives and Dornsife Media.

1 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 2 Innovation: Profile: INSPIRATION: LEARNING FROM EXPERTS Students “Discover China” Program Having the Courage to Know by Christina Gray by Rebecca Braun

inequality and dispossession felt by northern Muslims far The School of International Relations at USC was founded in I’m not a journalist. I’m not sitting in on high-level meetings. from the economic and governmental centers. The Nigerian a spirit of educational innovation and path-breaking leadership. My Internet is not fast enough to allow me to do effective re- government has failed to deal with this crisis militarily. An Nine decades later, the tradition is alive and well, and the new search, so I’m not an expert on events in Central Africa. But I Economist article criticized Nigeria’s army for “losing a brutal Madam Hui Shek-Chun Discover China Scholarship program is do live in Cameroon, and I read late editions of The Economist, fight in the country’s north against Boko Haram…[and] fail- evidence of that. Time and newspaper articles sent by my wonderful Grandma, ing to stem oil thievery on a gargantuan scale in the south.” and that counts for something. What I’m saying is — DIS- The Nigerian government has also failed to tackle the The Summer 2014 Discover China scholars have submitted glow- CLAIMER — don’t take my word as gospel. Boko Haram issue on a general level, because how could the ing reports upon their return. Amira Perryman (IR, 2016) and Cameroon is surrounded by countries with problems: Ni- public support an organization that shuts down their schools, Roque Valiente (International Relations and Global Business, geria, Chad, Central African Republic (CAR), Congo, Ga- kills their neighbors, kidnaps their children, and threatens 2015) received funding through the program to intern in a Chi- bon and Equatorial Guinea. Five of these have State Depart- their daughters? The Nigerian government or at least gov- nese or Chinese-American business in China. Amira and Roque ment travel ernment forces are also culpable in the people’s suffering. In were placed in the USC Hong Kong office for the summer, where warnings, and Cameroon, the public blames the Cameroonian government they engaged with business, diplomatic, and academic networks I have heard for letting Boko Haram members stage attacks across the and supported the Trojan Family abroad. that Equato- border. To be fair, the border is porous. There have been at rial Guinea least two incidents of Westerners being kidnapped since I ar- “I was able to interact with USC alumni in Hong Kong and de- refused to let rived in September 2013. velop skills I know I will use in the future. The USC Hong Kong way it mobilizes alumni networks. Funded by the generous sup- several Peace Chad, Congo and Gabon have their own problems, but Office embodied the Trojan Spirit with its welcoming atmosphere port of SIR alumnus Christopher Leu, internship opportunities Corps volun- Peace Corps volunteers are not allowed to travel there be- and ability to create a challenging and dynamic workplace,” says mobilize the skills and knowledge of other SIR alumni as the pro- teers cross the cause of instability. Amira. gram builds. This kind of experience is invaluable. border into So what does all this mean for Cameroon, and for Peace their country. Corps volunteers? I feel safe, surrounded by Cameroonian One innovative aspect of this internship is that recipeints are not “I have never worked so hard in my life. My work ethic, discipline, Let’s take a neighbors and co-workers who care about me, but safety re- required to have any previous China experience or language skills, and critical thinking were put to the test daily. My time in Hong closer look at mains a question on all of our minds. providing a strong incentive to explore this vital world region and Kong was filled with a combination of unparalleled professional Photos courtesy of Rebecca Braun these neigh- Before my staging group arrived, the Extreme North re- a rich, immersive expericnce to seize new opportunities there. and personal growth,” Roque noted: “I could not have spent my bors. gion was temporarily closed. This was unfortunate because it summer better anywhere else.” The CAR, which borders Cameroon to the east, is host is the poorest region and the Peace Corps could accomplish to a war between Muslims (primarily in the northeast) and the most good there. It is also home to the most impressive Round two of the Discover China program came this past Decem- Christians. In a recent book review, The Economist compared nature park in the country, Waza, where you can see lions and ber. Students Shanelle Sua (International Relations and Global the country to Congo as a one of the world’s most ignored awesome wildlife. But that’s where kidnappings have hap- Business, 2016) and Ethan Levin (2016) participated in the Hong and obscure conflict-ridden countries. pened, so it’s a no-go area. Kong Trade Development Conference and then were able to visit Muslim rebels, called Séléka, toppled the CAR govern- several businesses in Hangzhou on the Chinese mainland, includ- ment last fall, then continued to perpetrate violence. The Continued on page 5 ing the biggest e-commerce company in China, Alibaba. violence continued even after their leader, Michel Djotodia, formally disbanded them in September 2013. In response, a Left: Ethan and Shanelle at the Hong Kong Forum; above: city lights Christian militia called anti-balaka (“anti-machete” in a local in Hong Kong; and below: Ethan in Hangzhou, China/ language) began exacting revenge—not only against Séléka members, but against Muslims in general. More than a fifth SIR History: Rufus von KleinSmid of the population has been displaced and many have crossed the border into Cameroon, especially into eastern Adamawa Rufus B. von KleinSmid was and the east. the first Director of SIR, then Nigeria recently became the largest economy in Africa, known as the Los Angeles overtaking South Africa by a significant leap and this might University of International be great for trade. However, it does not reflect the shoddy Relations, serving from 1924- infrastructure, incredible difficulty of starting or running a 35. He was also President “Working at the USC Hong Kong Office gave me a taste of what business, or the massive inequality that plagues the country. of USC (1921-47) and the it’s like to work in another country and an insight into the Chi- Despite oil wealth, most of the population lives in absolute University of Arizona (1914- nese culture I would not have seen otherwise,” said Amira. “It also poverty. 21). The familiar SIR building, helped me gain a more clear idea of what I want to do as a career Furthermore, the Nigerian government is plagued by Boko topped by a globe, is named in in the future.” Haram, a primarily Muslim organization opposed to Western his honor. intervention, especially in education and religion. I suspect Another exceptional aspect of the Discover China Program is the the existence of Boko Haram is a testament to the massive

3 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 4 CAREER ROUNDTABLES Learning from Scholars and Professionals by Ashley Bonanno and Christina Gray

As part of our various professional development pro- ed to learn more about entrepreneurial grams, SIR developed the Career Roundtable Series. approaches to greening global business. Throughout the school year alumni, professionals Students in the career roundtables and scholars meet our students and participate in in- benefit from the intimate, informal na- timate conversations. When determining the speak- ture of the discussions. With a maximum ers at the roundtable, we work to demonstrate the of 12 students per session, we have cre- variety of careers that people with IR degrees have. ated an unusual and valuable mentorship The purpose of the roundtable is to ensure students opportunity between students and IR understand that an IR degree does not limit them professionals. Students can ask questions to certain paths but instead opens many doors, with and get advice from those who were once each person’s path unique. in their shoes, and learn how IR helped This year, SIR alumMyles Lock (SIR BA, 2013), shape each of the speakers’ career trajec- an Innovation Associate at the UN Foundation, tories. spoke with students about his position and how he In addition to the regular career round- landed it. As a recent graduate, Myles was able to tables, we also host an annual career panel Since my Pre-Service Training (PST), there have been increasing rumors of Boko Haram’s presence in provide valuable insight about how to maintain net- with SIR alumni working in Washington. the north and in west Adamawa. There were temporary problems in the east and east Adamawa due to refu- works, seek mentors and take advantage of the plen- This year the alumni panel was composed gees arriving from CAR. Volunteers no longer travel north of Ngaoundere (the capital of Adamawa, where tiful career resources SIR offers. of Alan O’Donnell, Chris Gaspar and Above: Ashley Bonanno, one can find wonders like an ice cream parlor), except those posted north of the city. Amy Herrmann (SIR BA, 2012), an Advocacy Lauren Brodsky. The DC Panel provided students SIR Internship So all of us face a decision, especially those closest Associate at Human Rights Watch, also shared her the opportunity to ask questions about living and Coordinator to areas touched by Cameroon’s neighbors’ conflicts; career path with students. She outlined strategies working in Washington. Should we continue working, despite knowing that that helped her land a job in the human rights field. we may have to leave co-workers and neighbors A recent graduate, Amy was able to provide students and half-finished projects? Should we go home or meaningful advice on how to build a resume that should we move to areas farther from conflict? would resonate with human rights organizations. I am committed to my work as the peer educator Robert Smith, retired US State Department Ge- at a girl’s camp, teaching about HIV and sexually ographer, gave an interesting perspective on work- transmitted infection prevention, and encouraging ing for the government, as well as an independent volunteerism to empower Cameroonian youth. I consultant. While geography and international law keep working as if there are no problems, but I hate are not fields that many students consider, there is a not knowing what will happen. How can I mentally lot of work to be done on resource management and prepare for the unknown? As my dad pointed out, boundary disputes. This discussion opened the door that’s life: uncertainty. In the meantime, I wish re- to new possibilities for students. Tom Plate spoke to porting—and awareness—was better about African students about his career in international reporting, countries, both their conflicts and their successes. and Peggy Liu had a special session with Professor What can we do about that? We can become more Carol Wise and a group of SIR students who want- aware. The increasing awareness of Boko Haram marks some improvement, notably with the #BringBack- OurGirls movement joined by first lady Michelle SIR History: Ross Berkes Obama. But that is only one conflict among many, Above: UN Photo/ only one crime perpetrated by one group. Each “ter- Ross N. Berkes is widely The panel discussed their careers and what Evan Schneider. Amy rorist” organization, even Boko Haram, has legiti- acknowledge to have steps they took to transition into the DC work- Herrmann (SIR mate grievances and causes underlying their actions. raised SIR from regional force. They were able to demonstrate how differ- BA, 2012) (far left), If we study the causes, rather than blasting the in- Photos courtesy of Rebecca Braun to national prominence. ent SIR classes helped prepare them for profes- Executive Director of dividual tragedies in the Twitter-sphere, perhaps we In his years as Director sional life. Many of our students find this panel to HRW Kenneth Roth (to can prevent such future events. (1949-76) he built new be extremely helpful, because they are looking to her right) and Deputy If we know what is happening in the world, if we know that its impact reaches us across oceans in un- graduate programs and make the cross-country move to the heart of IR Executive Director of expected ways, only then can we instigate change, whether by donating time or money, by appealing to our pioneered new teach- careers in the United States. The alumni provide Operations for HRW government, or by any other means. But first, as Professor Steve Lamy would say, we must “have the courage ing methods. A media important advice to the students on how to find Chuck Lustig (right to know.” lounge and special class- employment, insights into working in DC, how end) at a formal meeting Fight on for peace! room are named in his SIR helped prepare them for their career, and how with the SG in the UN Rebecca Braun, SIR BA 2013, is a Peace Corps volunteer in Cameroon. After returning home at the end of 2015, honor. to be successful in DC. Secretariat she plans to pursue a MA in IR/security studies or work at an NGO or think tank in Washington, D.C. Find more of her thoughts on and experiences in Cameroon on her blog: Life Uncaged.

5 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 6 MAYMESTER: AMERICA’S PACIFIC CENTURY FROM SUMMER ABROAD Dialogues between the US and Asia, led by Professor Saori Katada TO CAREER-LAUNCHING INTERNSHIP by John Zamora by Li Luo Although I did not know much about the politics of Southeast I always dreamed of going to Europe – not to a diverse interna- and random encounters, I met some of my best friends, a Norwe- Asia before this course, I feel that I came out of it as somewhat of tional country like Britain, but a place with a more defined identity gian, Swede, Dane and Canadian, all studying in Prague. Long an expert. Along the way, I met with seasoned professionals, made that is why I chose the Czech Republic, a country still evolving weekends were filled with spontaneous travels to other European lasting friendships with students who study in a different culture, from an inward communist state into a prosperous modern society. capitals. and had an amazing international experience. The Czech Republic immediately stood out as a unique place to The highlight of my time in Prague was learning from others. I The structure of the course was integral to gaining a personal study abroad. After taking Professor Nina Rathbun’s Foreign Policy met a Yulia, a girl from a small city in west-central Ukraine called and intensive learning experience. In one month, we traveled to of Eastern Europe and the Balkans class in the fall, I was certain that Khmelnytskyy. For obvious reasons, Yulia, or Jules as I called her, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Malaysia, and Singapore, inter- spending a semester in Prague would be the ideal experience to decided to study in Prague rather than Kiev. Being an IR major, viewing more than 60 officials. Our task was to develop foreign enhance my coursework in IR and economics. Considering recent I had already read all about the Orange Revolution and written policy recommendations regarding the United States’ “rebalance” global events, I could not have made a better decision. about former state-owned enterprises. However, knowing a Ukrai- to Asia and I became immersed in the larger dialogue by being Upon arrival, I was engulfed with curiosity. Prague has an en- nian advanced my comprehension. She enlightened me about able to ask questions and discuss the issues with key influencers. chanting beauty. Snow-covered spires and old cobblestone streets how all Ukrainians also know Russian by default, how the vast Due to the wide range of experts we met, ranging from officials at mesmerized me. My dormitory was in the historic and stunning majority of Ukrainians the US Department of State to the former president of Singapore, neighborhood of Vysehrad, where there is a cemetery containing have multiple Russian my classmates and I began to understand the variety of perspec- many old Bohemian heroes. relatives and how de- tives surrounding the stability of Southeast Asia. As a class, we People forget that many spite this, Ukrainians discussed and debated the ways in which we see the United States of the definitive moments of still have a proud and increasing its presence in the region, all while exploring the vibrant western civilization occurred distinct national iden- city-state of Singapore, experiencing its culture and devouring its in central and eastern Europe tity. Through spending delicious food. -- the defeat of invading Ot- time with Yulia and her Our final 30+ page policy task report was composed of our anal- toman Muslims at Vienna, Ukrainian friends and ysis on the many issues we were exposed to, such as how to increase the tragedy of Fascism, and family, my passion for strategic trust with China, effectively engage existing multilateral the horrors of the Iron Cur- European politics was organizations and non-state actors, and make the overall “rebal- tain. One of the first things reinforced. ance” a long-term, sustainable effort. Each day, we were introduced on my bucket list was to visit I learned so much to new stakeholders in the larger US-Asia engagement dialogue. Albertov, the site of the Vel- from just interacting We could spend a morning hearing about the economic challenges vet Revolution. A plaque at with people of differ- facing the region from the APEC Secretariat, an afternoon learn- the site reads: “když ne my, ent nationalities. Most ing about the lack of global energy governance from a professor at Li Luo in Prague. kdy, když ne teď?! or “When people will never know Singapore Management University, and later that day hear about if not now? Who if not us?” – a that people speak Lux- current advances in human trafficking prevention from the Inter- SIR students in front of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malay- chilling reminder of the gravity of history. embourgish in Luxem- national Centre for Missing and Exploited Children. As a side- sia. The Towers beat the Sears Tower in the USA as the tallest building While the professors at the CIEE study center were excellent, bourg, or that Switzer- Image courtesy of RFE/RL* in the world in 1998, until Taipei 101 was built in 2004. the homogeneity of the students detracted from an immersive land has four national classroom experience. The vast majority of my classmates were languages: German, French, Italian and Romanash. effect, I also became invested in separate issues within Americans, with a few Germans. Therefore, I made an effort to Misfortune struck my travel plans twice. I had initially hoped international development and foreign policy, particu- meet native Czechs and other Europeans. Through various events to visit St. Petersburg and Kiev in the spring. However, after the larly surrounding the emergence of state and private events in the Crimea, I decided to not take any risk and wait until sector cooperation, and the emergence of paradiplo- the summer. Again, the MH17 tragedy occurred right when I had macy in solving social and environmental challenges. planned to visit Yulia in Lviv. This course has definitely been my favorite at USC. I had planned to go to Austria or France for intensive summer It was a great mix of on-site and in-person learning, SIR History: Jerry Bender language study. However, a field trip to Radio Free Europe/Radio supplemented with once-in-a-lifetime experiences liberty impressed me and led me to submit an application for a that I’ll never forget. The intensive and unique struc- Jerry Bender is a leading ex- summer internship. My experience with Excel and html landed ture of the course allowed students to become inevi- pert on Africa, particularly me a position in the Central Newsroom, where I was tasked with tably obsessed with the issues and discuss them even the politics of South Africa innovating new media items for the eastern European and Rus- after class. I wrote in my Maymester application that I and Angola. He is known for sian markets. My passion for EU-Russia relations inspired me to hoped “I would come out of the course not only with his extensive contacts in the produce news pieces in the form of interactive programs. new friends and an exciting international experience, region and active “personal but with a…professional summary and recommenda- diplomacy.” Bender was SIR *Li Lio’s inforgraphics are wonderful examples of what a prepared tion based on my experience in Singapore.” I can say Director from 1986-98, and SIR student can do to launch a career in IR. that this program exceeded my expectations and I plan the Jerry Bender Africa Award to take this report and these experiences with me as I was established in his honor. Maymester class at Singapore Management University pursue my career, and continue to pursue more research opportunities in the SIR.

7 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 8 A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING: CONFERENCES AND CLASSES: STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT NATIONAL SECURITY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AROUND THE WORLD “Diplomacy: Bridging Religious Divides” at the Summer Internships AND DISCOVER GREATER KNOWLEDGE OF THEMSELVES Wheatley International Affairs Conference in Utah by Leigh Jacobson by Jennifer Lee This year, thanks to SIR alumni contributions, SIR students have won awards that will fund travel outside of Los Angeles for summer intern- I first heard about IR 445 Department, Pentagon, CIA, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, The 2014 Western International Affairs Conference (WIAC) focused ships in the following positions: Problems Without Pass- and Congress. They meet with experts inside NGOs, think tanks, on faith-based diplomacy as a means of conflict resolution. I loved ports when I was a pro- and contractors. In so doing, the students not only learn specifics how WIAC centered on stimulating exchanges among students and • Teddy Rounds at 21212 (startup accelerator), Rio de Janeiro. spective student visiting about major security issues, policies, and programs, but they gain a roundtable leaders in an open environment. It was interesting to see • Isabella Soehn at the Dream Africa Care Foundation, Teshie- campus during Explore sense of the workplace and the people who work there.” how the topics fit into my studies at USC. One of my classes first in- Nungua Estates. USC. Nestled among the Our program “menu,” as Professor Glass is fond of describing troduced me to religion in the context of IR. WIAC complemented my • Nicholas Kosturos at the Brookings Institution’s Center for brochures heaped upon it, included visits to think tanks such as the Brookings Institute, studies by allowing me an opportunity to apply theoretical tools to 21st Century Security and Intelligence, Washington DC me that day was one that Wilson Center, Stimson Center, Center for Strategic and Interna- prepare a practical policy solution. Key points I learned in class about • Mathew Cheung at the Walt Disney Company, Buenos Aires, described a program that tional Studies, American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Founda- drones, international law and covert action were all discussed at the Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. allowed students to travel tion, and the Nuclear Threat Initiative, among many others. We conference. From being challenged to think through practical policy • Jason Tse at the United States Commercial Services, a to Washington DC, where attended panels at think tanks with titles such as “Democratizing options, to meeting peers interested in the same issues as I am, to branch of the International Trade Administration under the they surveyed the broad Korea” (where my classmates and I exchanged business cards with speaking with professionals and professors who are doing what I want Department of Commerce, Guangzhou, China. spectrum of learning about the South Korean ambassador to the US Ahn Ho-young), “US/ to do in the future, this experience has opened my eyes to the pleth- • Amanda Mitchell at the Inter-American Dialogue in weapons of mass destruc- Iran Relations,” and “India/Pakistan Nuclear Strategy. ” ora of ways that IR concepts can be applied and carried out through Washington DC. tion (WMD), the inter- Our visits also included private sector representatives. We heard states and NGOs. national non-proliferation from a USC alumni working in federal consulting at Deloitte and Problems Without Passports at SIR regime, and US policies spoke to executives at Booz Allen Hamilton, giving us a perspective “Navigating Demographic Flows: Populations, Pow- and programs dedicated on security employment outside the world of government work. er and Policy” at the 65th Annual West Point Stu- The Problems Without Passports program combines a course with Courtesy of Leigh Jacobson. to preventing the spread of We were also encouraged to go out and explore every nook and dent Conference on U.S. Affairs (SCUSA). a problem-based or inquiry learning research exercise in locations WMD. Students have the cranny of D.C. At Glass’s by Nick Kosturos around the world. chance to meet with experts involved in policy making in NGOs, urging, we visited muse- think tanks, consultants, lobbying firms, Executive Branch agen- ums, fairs and exhibits. We Attending SCUSA was one of the best experiences I have ever had in • Africa cies, and in the Congress. I was intrigued. I made a mental note to got free tickets to Vital college. I not only had the opportunity to express my thoughts and look into the program further upon arrival at USC. Voices Women’s Leader- listen to other opinions regarding Russian politics (an area of IR in Rebuilding Rwanda: Memory, Testimony and Living Together after It turned out that I hadn’t needed to write myself a reminder; ship Awards, which fea- which I have a strong interest), but I also had the special opportunity Genocide. Students in this class explore the complex task of post- almost every single person I met in the SIR made sure to advise tured speakers such as Hil- to spend time with the next generation of U.S. leaders. I hope to work genocide reconstruction and apply their experiences to develop solu- me to consider applying. From the plugs in various classes made ary Clinton and Diane von side-by-side with these talented men and women at some point in my tions to problems related to the task. Students travel to Rwanda to by former students eager to display their stacks of business cards, Furstenberg, and attended a public service career. research these issues, interview officials and experts, learn about re- to my advisor, who could not stop gushing about the incomparable performance of the National search techniques, and present their findings at the end of the course. Professor Wayne Glass, IR 445 was a constant topic of conversa- Symphony Orchestra at the “Human Security in the Digital Age” at the Naval tion. Kennedy Center. Academy Foreign Affairs Conference in Annapolis, Continued on page 11 Upon arrival in the program, I wasn’t disappointed. The legend- There is a reason this Maryland ary Professor Glass lived up to his reputation. As my classmates program is so highly recom- by Jason Finkelstein and I quickly discovered, Professor Glass has established quite mended, and I’ve learned the network in D.C, and he locked down meetings with former exactly why during my time Despite the star-studded panels and speaker line-ups, some of the colleagues and stu- in Washington. For 12 years, most rewarding moments came beyond those times. Through the SIR History: Robert Friedheim dents in a variety Professor Glass has run an roundtable discussions, we were able to participate and talk through of different profes- incredible program that tru- Courtesy of Robert English. some of toughest issues on our topics. My panel, led by a midshipman Robert L. Friedheim, a re- sional spheres. He ly exposes students to the in- (Naval Academy student), was titled “Russia, Individuals, and the Cy- nowned expert on oceanic said, “My favorite ner workings of Washington. ber Realm.” It was quickly apparent which delegates had backgrounds issues, directed SIR from part of the program We feel as if we have been allowed into the inner sanctum of our in international relations, and these were the ones who were able to 1992-95. He also directed is the fact that stu- nation’s capital. It is an unparalleled opportunity. make the most beneficial comments and insights. I felt more than USC’s “Sea Grant” program dents meet and In Glass’s opinion, the main benefit of the program is the new prepared to contribute beneficially to the conversation because of and the Institute of Marine discuss important vision that students create regarding their own professional futures. the classes in IR theory I’d taken coupled with subject matter courses and Coastal Studies. His topics of the day “I can literally see the evolution from ‘where am I’ when the course on Russia. The former naval attaché to Russia sat in our panel, and work helped lay the founda- with senior officials begins to ‘how do I get there’ upon its completion. It’s exciting to invited me to take a tour of the Pentagon when I’m next in D.C. Spend- tion for the UN Convention and advisors inside see the students come to a deeper understanding of who they are ing a week on the campus of the Naval Academy, something not many on the Law of the Sea (UN- their workplaces. and where they are going within the six short weeks of this course.” civilians are able to do, opened my eyes to the sacrifice that many of CLOS) and other interna- Typically, students I couldn’t agree more, and I highly recommend this experience our country’s young men and women make to serve. It was quite in- tional agreements. attend meetings to any and all future IR, Political Science or Public Policy students spiring to see what these individuals went through. I want to thank all inside the White at USC. It is an unparalleled opportunity, and I am grateful for the those in the School of International Relations and beyond who made House, the State chance to have been a part of something so special. my attendance possible. It was an experience I will not easily forget. Courtsy of Leigh Jacobson.

9 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 10 EXPERIENCE: LEARNING BY DOING

• Asia (Maymester) That team effort contributes to a more informed USC, a more informed nation, and hopefully a more informed global community— that's something bigger than any single one of us could possibly imagine doing alone.” While Glimpse primarily publishes the work of America’s Pacific Century: Dialogue between the United States and Asia. The course will connect USC students undergraduate students, occasionally feature pieces by graduate students, university faculty and prominent IR thinkers will be included. with Singapore Management University (SMU) students through web-based communication and one-week vis- During this period of dramatic growth, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Glimpse’s website, which will provide greater flex- its to each other’s home country. The students will present their findings and produce a report on the East-Asian ibility and innovative capacity. In conjunction with the release of Glimpse’s website, we plan to execute an aggressive marketing campaign foreign policy trajectory of the next US administration. to attract new readers and forge relationships with other IR publications, think tanks and universities. We are also striving to further increase the variety and quality of Glimpse’s content. The recent advent of the “Policy Paper” category, which is geared towards provid- • Washington, DC ing US policymakers prescriptive recommendations to address pressing issues, is an example of our efforts to further developGlimpse ’s content stream. Security Studies: The students in Washington this summer are researching nuclear security and the prevention Armed with a diverse and talented team of contributors and staff, a new website and innovative developments in content, we at of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. During their time in the capital, they will explore critical Glimpse hope to redefine the online space for undergraduates interested in international affairs across the nation and world. national security issues with experts and officials who formulate, manage and implement relevant policies and programs. The course is taught by Professor Wayne Glass, a veteran of Washington, who held policy positions in the Pentagon, State Department, Congressional Budget Office and the U.S. Senate for 26 years before joining the USC faculty in 2002. Glimpse from the Globe With a global reach, SIR students break into online journalism by Nick Kosturos and Thomas D. Armstrong

Glimpse from the Globe, a unique online outlet for in- ternational affairs, is disrupting and redefining the landscape of student-run publications. Glimpse was conceived in 2012 by then USC stu- dents Taline Gettas and Samir Kumar, who identi- fied the opportunity to feature sophisticated and en- gaging analysis of international affairs written and managed by USC students. Kumar notes, “Glimpse is meant to be a hub: a foundational destination for a community of IR enthusiasts at USC, and an enter- taining and informative showcase of USC talent for Courtesy of Nick Kosturos. From right to left, Samir Kumar (Co-Founder), those outside the university.” Reid Lidow (former Editor), Nick Kosturos (current Editor), and Thomas What started as a small operation with semi-reg- Armstrong (current Editor). ular postings expanded into a substantial online pub- lication with bi-weekly content under the leadership dro M. Sassoon. Glimpse has evolved to include cor- in 2013 of USC students Reid Lidow and Alessan- respondents from around the globe, increasingly di- verse content, and a greatly magnified online presence. Thanks to a passionate staff and supportive SIR administration, Glimpse is AMY FRIEDHEIM ROUNDTABLE: SIR History: Steve Lamy growing to become the pre-eminent online source for undergraduate work on interna- MONEY ALONE CAN’T BUY HAPPINESS Steven Lamy, currently a tional affairs in the country. by Carol Wise Dornsife College Dean, Glimpse strives to break the boundaries is beloved by a genera- of traditional coverage and analysis. Its con- In October 2014, Professor Carol Graham gave the inaugural Amy Friedheim Professional Develop- tion of students. SIR Di- tent, which in form and function reflects the ment Roundtable. Her talk, “Beyond GNP: What the New Science of Well-Being Can Contribute to rector from 2001-2006, diversity of Glimpse’s staff, highlights the Economics and to Policy,” explained how the study of happiness, and well-being more generally, has gone he also directed USC’s pressing issues of our time, including global from the fringes to the mainstream in academics and policy debates. She discussed how new metrics have Center for Excellence in governance, cybersecurity and human rights. been included in official statistical data in countries as diverse as Great Britain, China, and the U.S.A. Teaching from 1994-96. To grow its content stream, Glimpse seeks to To measure well-being, scholars distinguish between two dimensions: one (hedonic well-being) is Lamy also pioneered such recruit talented individuals as it expands its based on peoples’ moods. The second (evaluative well-being) assesses individuals’ views of their lives as acclaimed programs as contributor base. a whole, including whether they have choice, purpose, and meaning. Data is based on self-reports in the “Problems Without When discussing his experience writing surveys. This allows scholars to answer questions that standard economics approaches have not been able Passports” (PWP) travel for Glimpse, Correspondent Nathaniel Haas to answer well, including what are the effects of arrangements that individuals are powerless to change, courses and the Teaching notes, “For Glimpse, it is not just about add- such as financial market swings, inequality, or poor governance, and how do we understand individual International Relations ing another bullet point to our resumes: it choices that are not driven by rational choice, but instead by addiction/self-control problems or strongly Program (TIRP). is about making something meaningful that imposed norms. people can read, think about and debate. Graham is the Leo Pasvolsky Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, College Park Professor at the Dr. Carol Graham University of Maryland, and a Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Labor. The Professional Roundtable Continued on page 12 is named in memory of Amy Friedheim and is supported by the generosity of the Friedheim Family. 11 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 12 NEW FACULTY, Director’s Speakers Series NEW LOCATIONS FOR SIR Thomas Plate, syndicated columnist and Distinguished chairs the Steering Committee of the Northern Research Joining USC Dornsife as Assistant Professor of ence on proliferation and other key national security Scholar of Asian and Pacific Studies at Loyola Marymount Forum, is a convener of the Calotte Academy, and a member the Practice of IR, Jeffrey Fields will direct a new issues, and has continued his academic research. This University, spoke on the ‘practical’ journalists’ view of IR of the Arctic Centre. program in Washington, D.C. beginning in Spring combination — and, of course, the fact that he is a as a discipline. He drew on his new book, In the Middle of Wolfgang Petritsch, President of the Austrian Marshall 2015. Trojan — make him ideal to direct this exciting new the Future, and a recent article written with SIR Professor Foundation and As a former senior adviser to the U.S. Department program in Washington.” and Director of the Korean Studies Institute, David Kang Joseph A. Schum- of Defense, Fields worked at the Defense Threat Re- During the spring semester in Washington, 15 to in the Journal of East Asian Studies. Plate is founder of the peter Fellow at duction Agency where he was an analyst specializing 20 USC students will take three IR courses for a to- Asia Pacific Media Center and Asia Pacific Arts, Director Harvard Univer- in thwarting unconventional weapon threats, such tal of 12 units. Participants will earn an additional and Founder of the Pacific Perspectives Media Center, and sity, spoke on “Eu- as bio-weapons. He was a political-military analyst four units for the semester by working part-time as an internationally syndicated columnist for newspapers such rope, Russia, and at the Pentagon, where he was the lead social scien- an intern in an area related to their studies. as The South China Morning Post, Straits Times, Japan Times, the Crimean Cri- tist responsible for long-term planning and analysis “As participants’ interests may range from security Korea Times, and The Jakarta Post. Plate was editor of the edi- sis” in April 2014. of international security threats, and for ensuring issues to human rights to economics, we are organiz- torial pages of the Los Angeles Times and an Los Angeles Times His talk provided that social science research was sound and rigorous. ing internships that will reflect that diversity while op-ed columnist. the SIR commu- Fields also brings experience from his time in the providing students with valuable learning and net- Robert Smith, Geographic Consultant and US Depart- nity with an oppor- U.S. State Department where he served in the Office working experience,” Fields said. Dr. Jeffrey Fields ment of State Geographer (retired), spoke on the modern- tunity to engage of Strategic Planning and Outreach. Fields looks forward to these next steps: “Now I day maritime threat of piracy. His talk was timely, since the with a senior prac- Fields earned his Ph.D. from SIR in 2007. He have the experience of being on the inside of gov- movie Captain Phillips (which is about the real maritime hi- titioner of IR on said, “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring my ernment to supplement and enhance my thinking, jacking of a freighter in 2009 off the coast of Somalia), was an important and experience in Washington to bear and use it to in- writing and teaching on these subjects.” just about to be released. As a U.S. government geographer swiftly changing Ambassador Wolfgang Petritsch (center) discussed spire students by making politics come to life.” For the full story, see Dornisife News: http:// (1975-2006) on maritime boundary and jurisdictional issues, issue. An Austrian Bosnia with EU Fellow Michael Reinprecht (left) Robert English, Associate Professor and Director dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/1769/politics-comes- Smith assisted in the development and implementation of diplomat formerly and SIR student Andrew Molina. of the SIR, said the department and new program to-life/ U.S. ocean policy. Smith consults on all aspects of ocean poli- stationed at UN are lucky to get Fields. “He has had broad experi- cies and planning. He also teaches geographical aspects of agencies in Geneva the Law of the Sea, and provides expert testimony in domes- and with the WTO and Conference on Disarmament, Petri- tic and international courts. tsch was involved in the Kosovo Peace Agreement talks. He Lassi Heininen, Professor at the University of Lapland has a doctorate from the University of Vienna in Southeast (Finland) spoke on “Arctic Paradoxes” in the context of cli- European History. SCIR: REACHING NEW HEIGHTS mate change and environmental politics. Dr. Heininen also Sanjeev Khagram, Parke Young Professor of Global Po- holds an appointment at the University of Oulu (Finland) litical Economy in the Diplomacy and World Affairs De- by Matt Prusak, SCIR Editor-in-Chief and lectures at Akueryi University (Iceland), Trent Universi- partment of Occidental College, spoke on “Creating and ty (Canada) and Petrozavodsk State University (Russia). He Coordinating the Global Initiative for Fiscal Transparency.” The Southern California International Review (SCIR) finished the year has published more than 150 articles and studies focusing Khagram was recognized as a Young Global Leader of the very strong, with the release party gaining front-page coverage in the on Arctic security, legal and environmental issues. Heininen World Economic Forum, wrote the UN Secretary General’s Daily Trojan. SCIR has begun a worldwide distribution of journals in Report on the Impacts of the Global Economic Crisis in line with its mission of being a truly global platform for undergraduate 2009, and was Dean of the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, research. Senior Advisory Policy/Strategy at the World Commission SCIR won the “Tommy Award” (an Oscar for student organizations) SIR History: Laurie Brand on Dams. He is an Associate Professor at the Harvard Ken- for best multimedia organization at USC, out of a field of more than nedy School of Government, Wyss Visiting Professor at 800 undergraduate organizations. Laurie A. Brand is one of the Harvard Business School, and Professor of Public Af- Thomas Armstrong, the new content manager ofGlimpse from the the world’s most eminent fairs and International Studies/Director of the Lindenberg Globe (the affiliated online magazine), and Matt Prusak both received experts on the politics of Center for International Development at the University of awards at the Undergraduate Writers Conference for IR research. Arm- the Middle East. She was Washington. strong received first place in Social Justice for his essay on Chinese af- SIR Director from 2006- Peggy Liu presented a cutting-edge discussion on “Chi- fairs and Prusak was awarded first place in the Global Ethics and the 09, and currently directs na-USA Green Energy Cooperation.” Liu is Chairperson of Professional Writing categories for research on North Korean business USC’s Center for Middle JUCCCE, a non-profit organization seeking to accelerate engagement. Three hundred students competed in the conference. East Studies. Professor the greening of China, and has been an energy adviser to the Brand is also past presi- Clinton Global Initiative and a member of the WEF New dent of the Middle East Energy Architecture Global Agenda Council. Liu is a Time Right: Matt Prusak celebrates the latest issue of SCIR Studies Association of Magazine Hero of the Environment, a Forbes “Women to North America. Watch in Asia,” a Global Times “Green Goddess,” and one of China Business News Weekly’s top 25 innovative business leaders.

13 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 14 INNOVATION: NEW PROGRAMS, NEW WORK, NEW PEOPLE FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Reid Lidow yet underrepresented in study abroad Foreign Language and Germany and Denmark to study the treatment and status of mi- programs in exchange for their com- Area Studies Fellowships norities in border regions in Europe and around the world. The Gates Cambridge program was established in 2000 with a gift mitment to seek work in the federal (FLAS): Marisa Tsai, Pleres from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cam- government. Choi USC AWARDS bridge. The award grants a full scholarship for graduate studies at Kayla Foster (right) is a sophomore the University of Cambridge. Reid Lidow was one of 40 U.S. students with a double major in East Asian Lan- FLAS Fellowships are provided by Global Scholar Prizes: Tatumn Walters, selected from a pool of 800 US applicants for the scholarship. He will guages and Cultures and IR, and a mi- a U.S. Department of Education Nora Snyder pursue a Master of Philosophy in Development studies in Cambridge nor in Nonprofits, Philanthropy and Title VI grant for intensive language this fall. Volunteerism. She will be studying for study of Mandarin Chinese, Japa- The Global Scholars program is intended to recognize and cel- Lidow is a double one year at Sophia University in To- nese or Korean. The purpose of the ebrate USC undergraduate students who have excelled aca- major in IR and Politi- kyo, Japan, while on the Boren Schol- program is to enrich the nation’s demically while becoming world-citizens. Each year, an exem- cal Science. At USC, he arship. She plans to join the Model UN pool of area and international spe- plary group of ten Global Scholar designees is selected to receive developed an interest club on campus where she will have Pleres Choi cialists. Applicants are expected to $10,000 toward their graduate studies. in Burma’s political the opportunity to discuss international affairs with her peers. While use their training to teach, serve emergence and con- abroad, Kayla will focus on improving her Japanese while working to- in government or international agencies, or engage in other work Dornsife Scholars: Reid Lidow (IR and Political ducted independent wards her senior capstone project on Japanese military policy. After that advances American understanding of other countries. Science), Danika Newlee (IR and Psychology) research in Burma graduation, Kayla plans to attend graduate school and study US-Ja- on three occasions. pan security affairs. Chosen based on their achievements in areas of scholarship, lead- At Cambridge, it is Benjamin Miles (right) is pur- Fulbright Scholars: Samir Kumar (Sri Lanka), ership in the community, global experiences, and civic engage- Reid’s goal to help suing a double major in East Asian Samantha Freitag ment and service. Each receives $10,000 for graduate studies. Below: Reid Lidow in Burma. transform the talk Languages and Cultures and IR. of Burma’s shift to He is a Los Angeles native and a Fulbright is the flagship international educational exchange pro- TIRP Service Awards: Reid Lidow, Angel Njenga a democratic federalist system from rhetoric into reality while also transfer student from Santa Mon- gram sponsored by the U.S. government, designed to increase researching ways in which Burma can lift itself out of poverty. Reid ica College who studied a year in mutual understanding between Americans and the peoples of SIR AWARDS hopes to elevate Burma research by establishing a journal featur- Japan under a prestigious Tanaka other countries. Fulbright scholars are chosen for their academic ing in-depth coverage of the country, which has historically been Foundation Scholarship. He also merit and leadership. SIR HONORS: Jessica Blakely, Alexander Blow, underserved in academic literature. Reid’s natural leadership ability spent four months in South Korea Justin Bogda, Reid Lidow, Margaret Oles, Cath- and empathy are evident in his co-curricular activities. He facilitates participating in a cultural intern- Humanity in Action Fellow: Mushfiqur Chowdhury erine Partain educational sessions in local high schools as a participant in USC’s ship. Benjamin plans to use the Teaching International Relations Program (TIRP) and is the content Boren Scholarship to broaden his Humanity in Action Fellows are selected for their high academic SIR Honors are awards to a select group of students who research manager for an IR undergraduate journal. Reid is a certified airplane understanding of East Asia. His standing, active participation in human rights issues and out- and write a special, in-depth thesis. pilot, and as part of his philanthropic Young Eagles Association, he goal is to work in the Department of State as an Information Resource standing recommendations. The Fellowship brings together inter- enjoys taking underprivileged children on discovery flights. Officer. Next year, he will live with a host family and study at Peking national groups of college students and recent graduates to ex- The SIR Exceptional Student Award: Nora Snyder University in China. plore different national histories of discrimination and resistance and Carl Patrick Hudson Boren Scholarships: Kayla Foster (Japan/military to injustice, and contemporary issues affecting minority groups. policy), Benjamin Miles (China) Critical Language Scholars: Thomas Posse Scholar Chowdhury is a junior studying IR and Middle The Exceptional Student Award recognizes exceptional academ- Armstrong (China), Leowil Villanueva East Studies. As one of 40 fellows, he will attend a workshop at ic achievement throughout a student’s college years. The award Boren Scholarships provide up to $20,000 to U.S. undergraduate stu- (Korea) the Council on Foreign Relations and the US Holocaust Museum goes to the IR senior with the highest cumulative GPA earned in all dents to study in areas of the world that are critical to U.S. interests in Washington, DC, and conclude his fellowship at a Humanity College work (not just IR courses). The Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program in Action International Conference in the border region between is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State to David Andrus Award: Nesma Tawil expand the number of Americans studying and SIR History: John Odell mastering critical foreign languages, including Dr. David Andrus taught a variety of courses, and directed the SIR John S. Odell is an expert on Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bangla, Chinese, Hindi, Indo- Peace and Conflict Studies program, until his death in 2004. Dave trade negotiations and gover- nesian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Punjabi, Rus- will always be remembered for his desire to help young people ex- nance of the global economy. sian, Turkish, and Urdu. plore their interests and find a “good life.” The David Andrus Award SIR Director from 2009-12, CLS recipient Thomas Armstrong (right) won honors his memory by recognizing a student whose time among he also formerly directed the first place in Social Justice for his essay on us best embodied the values he lived by, especially personal ef- Center for International Stud- Chinese affairs at the Undergraduate Writ- forts to promote justice and peace in the world. ies and was longtime editor ers Conference, and was the content man- of leading IR journal Interna- ager of Glimpse from the Globe, SCIR’s new Discover China: Amira Perryman and Roque Va- tional Organization. Odell is online current affairs blog. liente currently senior fellow at the CLS recipient Leowil Villanueva (right) Center for International Gov- is a triple major in IR, Global Business, East The Madam Hui Shek-Chun Discover China scholarships are for ernance Innovation. Asian Languages and Cultures, and Spanish. summer internships in China, and are unique in that no prior China He is interested in practicing immigration or experience, nor East-Asian specialization or language, is required. corporate law. Continued on page 17 Mushfiqur Chowdhury 15 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 16 INNOVATION: NEW PEOPLE FELLOWSHIPS AND AWARDS FACULTY AWARDS AND UPDATES The goal of the award is to provide students the opportunity to work in a Chinese business. It also seeks to assist students who have not previously specialized in China or East Asia to discover firsthand the country and region most critical to world politics in the 21st century. Shannon Gibson won a In- Director’s Award: Justin Bogda, Matthew Prusak ternational Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) Curriculum Fel- In certain years the SIR Director presents a special Director’s Award to recognize a graduating IR student who has lowship to develop a new course. distinguished themselves through major service to the IR and USC communities, as well as academically. Matt, as editor-in-chief of SCIR led the journal to win the “Tommy Award” (an Oscar for student organizations) for best Douglas Becker won a multimedia organization at USC. The journal was selected from more than 800 undergraduate organizations at USC Panhellenic Professor Ap- USC. Justin was instrumental in the organization of a day-long event at USC with SIR and the Australian Consul- preciation Award. ate, which brought USC President Nikkias, as well as the US and Australian Ambassadors to campus. Through his involvement with the Political Student Assembly, he brought his IR interests to the larger USC student body. John Odell is Senior Fellow Saori Katada led the inau- at the Centre for International gural Dornsife Maymester trip of Governance Innovation (a lead- USC students to Singapore with ing think tank based in Waterloo, the dean of the School of Social Canada), and is leading a project Science at Singapore Manage- SIR Inaugural Tickner Book Prize Award on the ‘Political Obstacles to ment University. International Agreements on At the annual Friends of USC reception during the Climate Change”. International Studies Association (ISA) annual conference in Toronto, Canada, SIR announced the first Tickner Prize Wayne Sandholtz spon- recipient: Fiona Robinson. sored a Southern California In- Dr. Robinson is a Professor of Political Science at Carlton ternational Law Scholars work- University in Ottawa, Canada, and is the author of The Ethics shop this year. of Care: A Feminist Approach to Human Security (2011) and Globalizing Care: Ethics, Feminist Theory and International Carol Wise hosted a work- Relations (1999). She is co-editor of Feminist Ethics and shop on “NAFTA at Twenty” Social Politics: Towards a New Global Political Economy of which analyzed the benefits of Care. She gave the inaugural Tickner Book Prize Lecture to Dan Lynch just finished a new regional integration for Mexico, a standing-room only crowd in the University Club at USC book, China’s Futures published but also the challenges in terms in October. Steve Lamy won the USC by Stanford University Press. He of the stiff competition that all The J. Ann Tickner Book Prize honors outstanding work Mellon Undergraduate Mentor- is researching China and security three NAFTA partners now face in the tradition of Tickner’s pioneering scholarship. This ing Award: This award honors in terms of Southeast Asia and with regard to China. biennial award was established by the SIR. individual faculty for helping to the maritime disputes there. Ann Tickner, left, and Fiona Robinson, right. build a supportive academic en- vironment through mentoring. Maura Godinez was award- ed a Career Commendation Medal from the Central Intel- ligence Agency for exceptional “CHINA DREAM”: achievement. Ron Osborn won a Fulbright Environmental Policy and Global Interdependence Award for research, and also a by Justin Bogda two-year Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship to teach in Welles- Mary Sarotte was keynote In April 2014, SIR hosted Peggy Liu, co-founder and chairperson of the non-profit Joint U.S.-China ley College’s Peace and Conflict speaker for the Society for HIsto- Collaboration on Clean Energy ( JUCCCE), with the Environmental Student Assembly. Liu’s lecture Studies program. rians of American Foreign Rela- highlighted the importance of civil society in changing perceptions on climate change and clean energy, Jacques Hymans won the tions. This year’s plenary session especially during China’s great urbanization period. JUCCCE spreads the idea of the “China Dream,” striving prestigious Grawemeyer Award Jessica Peet attended a con- was on “The Fall of the Wall: A to merge cultural values of health and environmental protection with progressive energy policy in China. for Ideas Improving World Order, ference on Global Health at UC 25th Anniversary Reassessment.” In conversation with Liu, students discussed similarities between the U.S. and China in the challenges and from the University of Louisville Davis this year and was on an strategies of implementing effective green energy policies. Liu highlighted the significant interdependence for his book, Achieving Nuclear interdisciplinary panel at USC on Joshua Aizenman orga- of the two countries: national policies on offsetting carbon emissions in the U.S. influences Chinese policy Ambitions: Scientists, Politicians human trafficking. nized a conference for the Jour- and vice versa, for example. A key take-away was that for a more sustainable future to be achieved, actions and Proliferation (Cambridge nal of International Money and between governments and civil society must be taken now to ensure both countries move into the renewable University Press). Finance with the Center for In- energy future. ternational Studies.

17 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 18 SIR BOOKSHELF: continued

variables to the study of causal Publishers, 2014) of negotiation. If diplomacy is This collection examines mechanisms that link them. The military has long been asso- an independent effect on the contending theories of state Nicholas Weller and Jeb Barnes ciated with hard power, yet it is conduct of world politics, it has behavior focused on legitimacy, propose that a solution lies engaged in public diplomacy as to add value, and we have to be collective action, and threat in ‘pathway analysis’: the use it represents the U.S. abroad and able to show what that value is. construction before scrutinizing of case studies to explore the facilitates the diffusion of ideas. In Diplomacy’s Value, Brian C. specific American, Russian, Lat- causal links between related Rathbun sets forth a compre- in American and Middle Eastern Book Shelf variables. This book focuses on hensive theory of diplomacy, cases. It finds the answers in a International Affairs shows how the West. The Wall—infamous how the small-N component based on his understanding that “complex, contingent decision to build mutually beneficial con- symbol of divided Cold War Eu- of multi-method research can political leaders have distinct calculus” as states gauge how nections between the worlds of rope—seemed to be falling. But meaningfully contribute and diplomatic styles—coercive their policies will impact trade, ideas and action, analysis and the opening of the gates that add value to the study of causal bargaining, reasoned dialogue, regional standing, and other vi- policy. Drawing on contributions night was not planned by the mechanisms. and pragmatic statecraft. tal interests. from top international scholars East German ruling regime— Drawing on work in the psy- with policy experience in the nor was it the result of a bargain offensive, its targets bilateral or chology of negotiation, Rathbun United States, Europe, Asia, between either Ronald Reagan systemic, and its instruments explains how diplomatic styles Canada, and Latin America, or George H.W. Bush and Soviet financial or monetary. An open are a function of the psychologi- as well as senior policymak- leader Mikhail Gorbachev. question for the future is wheth- cal attributes of leaders and the ers throughout the Americas, It was an accident. er the leaders of major emerg- party coalitions they represent. Lowenthal and Bertucci make ing powers will continue to co- The combination of these styles the case that scholars can both Military Soft Power examines operate with the United States, creates a certain spirit of ne- Official Stories. strengthen their research and methodology in feminist IR and one such aspect of U.S. pub- Western Europe, and Japan in gotiation that facilitates or ob- Politics and National contribute to improved policies the continuing challenge from lic diplomacy: how the United global financial governance - or structs agreement. Rathbun ap- Narratives in Egypt and while protecting academia from traditional IR scholars that femi- States extends its influence or whether some of them will move plies the argument to relations Algeria. the risks of active participation nists don’t perform legitimate “soft power” worldwide through toward more direct challenges among France, Germany, and Laurie A. Brand in the policy process. scientific research. Tickner in- military educational exchange to the existing system’s govern- Great Britain during the 1920s (Stanford University troduces and contextualizes programs hosted by the United ing principles or its power hier- as well as Palestinian-Israeli ne- Press, 2014) her previous writings with new Death Before the Fall. States’ elite military schools, its archy. gotiations since the 1990s. His Until the recent uprisings in the essays that trace her intellec- Biblical Literalism and war and staff colleges. The pres- analysis, based on an intensive Middle East and North Africa, tual development as a feminist the Problem of Animal ence of international officers at Diplomacy’s Value analysis of primary documents, the resilience of authoritarian scholar. The chapters consider Suffering. U.S. military schools is sub- Creating Security in shows how different diplomatic regimes seemed a fundamental the introduction of women and Ronald E. Osborn stantial, yet very little is known 1920s Europe and the styles can successfully resolve feature of regional politics. While gender into the conversation Foreword by John H. about the long-term impacts of Contemporary Middle apparently intractable dilemmas economic, political, and internal about IR, as well as feminist Walton. (InterVarsity these exchanges. East and equally, how they can thwart security policies are most often In The Collapse, prize-win- methodological interventions Press, 2014) This unique survey provides Brian C. Rathbun agreements that were seemingly considered in discussions of re- ning historian Sarotte reveals and conversations with the IR Did animals have predatory na- timely insights into the impor- (Cornell University within reach. gime maintenance, Brand intro- how a perfect storm of decisions mainstream. tures before the fall? Did God tant political impacts of military Press, 2014) duces a new factor, that of na- made by daring underground punish innocent animals with exchange programs and how State Behavior and the tional narratives. Portrayals of a revolutionaries, disgruntled Sta- a curse because of human sin? military institutions and their Nuclear Nonprolifera- country’s founding, identity, and si officers, and dictatorial party Is it possible for theistic evolu- personnel influence interna- tion Regime. bases of unity can be a power- Clearly written and thought- bosses sparked an unexpected tion to be compatible with the tional politics beyond simply Edited by Jeffrey R. ful strategy in sustaining a ruling fully organized, this innovative series of events culminating in Bible, even though animal death being used as an instrument of Fields (University of elite. Brand argues that such of- book provides analytic insights the chaotic fall of the Wall. With before the fall would contradict coercion. Georgia Press, 2015) ficial stories, which are used to and practical wisdom for those a novelist’s eye for character the teaching that death began Why do states sometimes ig- reinforce the right to rule, justify who want to understand how and detail, she brings to vivid after the first sin? The Financial nore, oppose, or undermine the policies, or combat opponents, to build more effective con- life a story that sweeps across In this eloquent and provoc- Statecraft of Emerging nuclear nonproliferation regime deserve careful exploration if we nections between the worlds of Budapest, Prague, Dresden, ative “open letter” to evangeli- Powers. Shield and even as they formally support it? are to understand the full range thought and action. and Leipzig and up to the armed cals, Osborn wrestles with these Sword in Asia and of tools available to respond to checkpoints in Berlin. pointed questions and with the Latin America. crises that threaten a leader- The Collapse: The problem of biblical literalism Edited by Leslie Elliott ship’s hold on power. Accidental Opening of A Feminist Voyage and animal suffering within an Armijo and Saori N. the Berlin Wall. through International Finding Pathways: evolutionary understanding of Katada. (Palgrave Mac- What is the value of diplomacy? Scholars, Policymakers, Mary E. Sarotte (Basic Relations. Mixed-Method Re- the world. millan, 2014 ) How does it affect the course of and International Books, 2014) Ann Tickner (Oxford search for Studying Financial statecraft’ goes be- foreign affairs independent of Affairs. University Press, 2014) Causal Mechanisms. Military Soft Power. yond sanctions against rogue the distribution of power and Edited by Abraham F. On the night of November 9, A Feminist Voyage through In- Nicholas Weller and Public Diplomacy states. National governments foreign policy interests? Theo- Lowenthal and Mariano 1989, massive crowds surged ternational Relations provides a Jeb Barnes (Cambridge through Military manipulate money, credit, and ries of international relations E. Bertucci (Johns Hop- toward the Berlin Wall, drawn by compendium of Tickner’s work University Press, 2014) Educational exchange rate resources to too often implicitly reduce the kins University Press, an announcement that caught as a feminist IR scholar, from Social scientists have identi- Exchanges. achieve a range of foreign pol- dynamics and outcomes of di- 2014) the world by surprise: East Ger- the late 1980s through today. fied a need to move beyond the Carol Atkinson (Row- icy goals. The aims of financial plomacy to structural factors Scholars, Policymakers, and mans could now move freely to The book addresses the issue of analysis of correlation among man and Littlefield statecraft may be defensive or rather than the subtle qualities Continued on page 20

19 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 20 A LIFETIME OF RESEARCH: Peter A. Berton, 91 In Memoriam and will be remembered as one of the most remarkable col- leagues in SIR’s and USC’s storied history.” By Pamela J. Johnson Born in 1921 in Bialystok, Poland, into a Russian- speaking family, Berton arrived in Harbin, China, in 1928. Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Relations Peter A. Ber- There, he studied at the local Talmud-Torah and various ton, who in the early 1960s established the Asia Pacific area studies program other schools, before finding his métier as an accomplished at USC Dornsife, has died. He was 91. violinist. Combining an amazing memory with polyglot Berton developed the Asian studies program and continued his involve- skills, he went on to study at Waseda University during ment for the next nearly six decades, until shortly before dying peacefully at World War II, and to assist in the American occupation his Beverly Hills, Calif., home on March 28. In 2004, he had been diagnosed of Japan. After the war, he became a successful architect, with leukemia. before moving to the U.S. to earn his Ph.D. at Columbia A week before his death, Berton was completing his last book, about the University, New York. He arrived at USC in 1961. Japanese Communist Party. He was the author, co-author or editor of more “My father grew up from humble beginnings,” said Da- than 100 publications in six languages, printed in the United States, Japan, vid Berton, who earned his B.A. in political science from Korea, India, Australia, Israel, Germany and Russia. USC Dornsife in 1979. “English was not his first language. “There is something awe-inspiring about somebody who refuses to die It is truly amazing what he has accomplished. His work until his book is finished,” said Berton’s son, Jonathan, paraphrasing a leading ethic and character are likened to Tom Brokaw’s ‘The figure in the field of Japanese studies who had read a draft of this latest book. Greatest Generation.’ Personally, I will always remember The younger Berton said some may not know his father became legally him as a giving father and a fabulous grandfather.” blind with macular degeneration about 10 years ago. Sam Atherton, who earned his bachelor’s in interna- “But that didn’t stop him from continuing to lecture, go to concerts and tional relations from USC Dornsife in 1985, was Berton’s get where he wanted to go,” said Jonathan, who earned his B.A. in psychology former student. Atherton was assisting Berton in writing from USC Dornsife in 1984. “I believe my father was so much more than a his most recent book. giant in his academic achievements, as great as they have been. His determi- “Peter was a giant among giants,” Atherton said. “He nation, love of music, resilience and zest for life and his family, were nothing was a great friend and mentor for 33 years. He is irreplace- short of heroic.” able. The world of academia has just lost a great mind — Berton’s area of expertise included the great powers rivalry in northeast Asia; Japanese, Chinese and Soviet/Russian foreign policy; the Einstein of Asian studies.” and the Japanese Communist Party. The creator of USC’s first course on Japan, Berton counted among his students a former prime Berton and Atherton were working on the finishing minister of South Korea, United States Foreign Service officers, Army and Air Force officers, and other foreign dignitaries in Japan and touches of Berton’s book on the Japanese Communist Par- other countries. ty until about a week ago. Berton asked Atherton to see the In 2010, the emperor of Japan honored Berton with the Lifetime Friend of Japan Order of the Rising Sun during a ceremony at the book through to publication. residence of the consul general of Japan in Los Angeles. “Sam, take it home,” he told Atherton. “Dr. Berton is the godfather of Japanese studies,” Junichi Ihara, Los Angeles’ consul general of Japan, said during the ceremony. Berton is also survived by his daughters-in-law Sandra Ihara lauded Berton for his many books and articles on Japanese politics and foreign policy, Japanese international negotiation style, and Ronda, and three grandchildren, Michael, Danielle and Japanese socio-cultural and psychological characteristics, and the territorial dispute between Japan and Russia. Marshall. He praised Berton for launching the annual lecture series on Japanese art in 1988 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in memory of his late wife and mother of their two sons, Michele, who had a deep appreciation of Japanese culture and was a museum docent. The lectures, which share with the public the beauty of Japanese arts, have succeeded for nearly 27 years. With the medal depicting rays emanating from the sun suspended from a red and white ribbon draped around his neck, Berton ad- USC Alumnus and Professor: Andrew Manning, 42 dressed the audience in Japanese and English during the ceremony. The first person he thanked was his father. We are saddened to report the untimely passing in late December of “My father in 1926 had the vision and wisdom to leave Poland and seek an economic opportunity in China. His three brothers, their SIR Professor Andrew Manning. Andrew earned both his BA and wives, his sister, their children, my maternal grandfather, my favorite 10-year-old cousin,” he paused fighting back tears. “Everyone on my PhD in SIR, and had been teaching courses on peace and conflict father’s side was murdered by the Nazis. So, if my father hadn’t left Poland, I wouldn’t be here today.” Many recalled Berton’s caring nature and exceptional mentoring abilities. resolution, terrorism and democracy, and various other foreign-policy Steven Lamy, professor of international relations and vice dean for academic programs at USC Dornsife, said that upon his arrival in topics since 2002. His dissertation analyzed emotions in foreign 1982, among the first to reach out to him was Berton. policy decision-making, and political psychology was a core focus that “As someone who was fluent in four languages and had expertise in China, Japan and Russia, Peter encouraged me to further develop he brought to his teaching. my language skills so I could become a better scholar of European affairs,” Lamy said. “At that time, there was no formal faculty mentor- Those who knew Andrew also knew of his special interest in ing program, but Peter was always there willing to answer any questions.” Irish history and the Northern Ireland peace process—and that he’d Robert English, associate professor of international relations and director of the USC School of International Relations (SIR), called recently been designing a new course on “Famine and Genocide in Berton a phenomenal scholar. “During a career at the School of International Relations spanning nearly six decades, he touched so many of our students and faculty International Relations.” Andrew earlier directed the SIR Peace and with his intelligence, integrity and dedication to the highest standards of academic inquiry,” English said of Berton, who retired in 1991. Conflict Studies Program, and was also founding adviser to Trojans “The appellation ‘a scholar and a gentleman’ was invented for someone like him. More than inspirational, Peter was simply a treasure United for Peace and Conflict Resolution. A caring teacher and conscientious adviser, Andrew had a devoted following among SIR students. 21 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 22 SIR NEWS An Inside Look

peers here, and I have the The- a national distribution of over Dornsife News. http://dornsife. International Service’s U.S. For- CLASS matic Option writing program 3,000, the Journal offers under- usc.edu/news/stories/1632/ eign Policy Program. He teaches at Egypt’s Military and your honors thesis seminar graduates the chance to share shaping-foreign-policy/ undergraduate and graduate to thank for that. their research and findings in courses on U.S. foreign policy, by Andrew Good NOTES topics like economics, politics, Alexis Jones (MA, 2006) is the Middle East, and interna- students as they deepen their knowledge of the region.” Alyssa Min (BA, 2013) Alyssa’s history, and area studies with empowering a generation of tional negotiations. His research Visiting scholar Robert Springborg examines the A central figure in his lecture was Field Marshal Abdel Fattah el- SIR Senior Honors Thesis was other scholars and students young women through her focuses on foreign policy deci- consolidation of power during a talk organized by Sisi, the former head of Egypt’s army and current presidential candi- published, along with all the throughout the country. nonprofit and book, I AM THAT sion-making, the influence of Laurie Brand of international relations’ Middle East date, who is widely expected to win. 2013 honors students’ work. GIRL. A thought leader for 21st think tanks in U.S. foreign policy, Studies program. Springborg’s assessment of el-Sisi’s ascent to power described She writes: I was even more century Women’s movement and the role of political elites a cutthroat politician: El-Sisi first sided with former President Mo- surprised that we get an actual and an expert on Generation Y, in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Dr. A recent lecture organized by international relation’s Laurie Brand hamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood to replace Mohamed book (available on Amazon!) to Alexis attended a recent speak- Ziv has a background in policy, analyzed the complex relationship between Egypt’s civilian and Hussein Tantawi, former head of the armed forces. El-Sisi later led show for our work. I’ve been in- ing engagement at a Texas high having worked at the U.S. De- military leadership, and how United States officials are dealing with a coup against Morsi, arresting numerous members of the Muslim vited to a conference sponsored school, during which she spoke partment of State, on Capitol Egypt’s government. Brotherhood. by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to girls about self-esteem, bul- Hill, and for leading non-profit Several years on since Egypt’s 2011 revolution, the country is in “He believes there’s no need for counter-balancing institutions of and Ewha Womans University lying, leadership, activism and organizations that promote many ways less democratic than it was beforehand, argued an expert democracy,” Springborg said, noting that for the first time in Egypt’s to present my research on May social entrepreneurism. Jones’ American involvement in Israeli- on the country’s military at the Ronald Tutor Campus Center. history, a single figure is expected to control the presidency, ministry 21-24 in Seoul. Lastly, my DAAD book I Am That Girl (Evolve Pub- Palestinian peacemaking. Robert Springborg, a visiting professor in the Department of War of defense and ministry of the interior. Giovanni Conte (BA, 2013) Graduate Fellowship (which has lishing) came out February 4. Studies at King’s College, London, delivered a lecture on the compli- Springborg’s lecture was an exploration of history, sociology and works for Apple in Milan, Italy. been a wonderful experience It provides a how-to guide for Mohammed M. Hafez (MA, cated relationship between Egypt’s civilian and military leadership, foreign relations, depicting a society that has spent much of the last thus far) concludes at the end transforming self-doubt into 1996) earned his Ph.D. from the and the limited options facing United States officials dealing with its century under military rule. of July. self-love and inspire that in oth- London School of Economics government. Students and faculty members heard how the military has em- ers.” For more information see and Political Science in 2000. He Springborg, a recently retired professor of national security affairs powered itself to try civilians for perceived threats. The Egyptian Heidi Hardt (BA, 2005) On July Mahmood Sariolghalam (PhD, Susan Bell’s story in Dornsife is now an Associate Professor in at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif., gave a detailed military is the largest in Africa, with 190 soldiers and officers for every 1, I will be joining the UC Irvine 1987), a PhD from USC and a News. http://dornsife.usc.edu/ the Department of National Se- context on April 22 to a story that has captured world attention. Many 10,000 inhabitants; add in barracked police forces and it’s as high as Political Science Department specialist in Middle East politics, news/stories/1640/girl-power/ curity Affairs at the Naval Post- of the anecdotes and statistics he shared underlined the difficulty of 415 per 10,000 people. as an Assistant Professor. From is currently a Professor of Inter- graduate School in Monterey, promoting democracy in a nation that has been run as a police state “There are zero civilian employees in the military, if you don’t Jan-June 2015, I will be pursuing national Relations in the School Christine Hameline (BA, 2008) CA. Previously, he served as a for generations. count making the tea and coffee,” Springborg said. a Fulbright fellowship in the po- of Economics and Political Sci- currently serves as Chairman of counterterrorism consultant to The talk was organized by Laurie Brand, Robert Grandford Wright Most of those military employees receive infamously poor treat- Sean Kagan (BA, 2013) is now sition as Fulbright EUI Schuman ence at Shahid Beheshti Univer- the Board at Malibu Chamber the U.S. government and Visiting Professor and professor of international relations in the Middle East ment — even those who handle technical equipment. The army’s serving as the Vice Consul, ICT Chair in Florence, Italy. sity in Tehran, Iran – where he of Commerce while working as Assistant Professor of Political Studies program at USC Dornsife. Brand, who is also an expert in sheer size justifies its large officer corps, which enjoys significant- lar (Information Communications has played an important role in a Managing Associate RE/MAX Science at the University of Mis- Egyptian politics and history, said the talk was part of the program’s gesse and preferential treatment, Springborg said. Technology) role at the Boston Tamera Crites Shanker (BA, shaping the theoretical founda- ELITE in Malibu. Her portrait was souri, Kansas City. A specialist in mission to promote interaction between USC students and top The talk painted a disheartening picture of U.S. relations with British Consulate. 1984), earned her J.D. from tions of the new outward-look- recently painted for The Face Islamic movements and political scholars in the field. Egypt’s political evolution is considered a critical Egypt, noting that the American government is fiercely committed to Georgetown University in 1994. ing orientation in today’s Iran. of Malibu, an ongoing series by violence, he has appeared on area for students to understand, given recent developments. preserving transit flights over the country and worries about growing Zara Lukens (BA, 2011) this She is now Managing Partner of During the recent 2014 World portrait artist Johanna Spinks NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, NPR, “The role of the military in particular has been decisive since the terrorist operations. summer I’ll be working at the The Shanker Law Firm in Phoe- Economic Forum annual meet- to record the unique personali- C-SPAN, and other national and January 25 Revolution, and professor Springborg is unparalleled, The U.S. response to the consolidation of power has been “hoping ACLU’s Capital Punishment Proj- nix, Arizona. She was appointed ing in Davos, Professor Sariol- ties and newsmakers who shape international media outlets. certainly among American academics, in his familiarity with and in- everyone forgets all this nastiness,” Springborg said. “To have a com- ect in Durham, NC. I’m planning an Associate Justice for the ghalam said the major challenge the modern Malibu community. sights regarding the Egyptian military,” Brand said. “It was my hope pletely dominant military in control is a bad idea — we need civilian to do criminal justice work, pub- White Mountain Apache Court Iran faces in its foreign policy is During an interview, Hameline Brandon Marc Higa (BA/MA, that his analysis would inform, inspire and perhaps challenge our institutions or we’re courting disaster.” lic defense, when I graduate, but of Appeals; and was re-elected its relations with Saudi Arabia. discusses how her interdisci- 2004) I wanted to share a small I’d like to get into appellate and as the Chairperson of the Ari- The two countries have little plinary background has made tidbit for the alumni updates. I law reform work in the long run. zona Friends of Foster Children connection today, and as long all the difference. Double ma- just accepted the U.S.-Japan Being at Harvard, surrounded Foundation which helps meet as compromise does not exist joring in International Relations Council nomination for the 2014 by people who all think they the needs of children and youth between them, he believes that and Art history, both subjects Emerging Leaders Program. As Congratulations, Luda! went to the best undergradu- in foster care. little progress can be expected help her to relate to diverse part of this program, I will be ate institutions has really made in the Middle East in terms of groups of people and build networking with fellow Japan me appreciate the quality of the Matt Prusak (BA, 2015) and major issues in Iraq, Syria and lifetime relationships essential specialists from business, gov- Ludmilla Spilwesky (Luda) was recognized by Dornsife education I received at USC. I re- Marina Tolchinsky (BA, 2013), Lebanon; Palestine; Persian Gulf to the success of her business. ernment, non-profit and other Dean Steve A. Kay recently for 50 years of service at ally think the amazing faculty in got their work published in the security; and improvements in For more information see Laura sectors. URL - http://www. USC. Luda has advised many generations of graduate the IR department prepared me spring 2014 (Vol.16) Sigma Iota the Iranian nuclear negotiations. Paisley’s story in Dornsife News. usjapancouncil.org/programs/ and undergraduate students at SIR. to do whatever I wanted profes- Rho Journal of International “The sooner we engage Saudi http://dornsife.usc.edu/news/ program/emerging-leaders I’d “She is a living legend,” said SIR Director Robert sionally, and I don’t think I could Relations. The Sigma Iota Rho Arabia, the sooner many of stories/1778/face-of-interdisci- like to encourage other SIR English. “Renowned for her generosity, Luda is also have received a better educa- (SIR) Journal of International these issues will be resolved.” plinary-success/ graduates to apply for future a walking encyclopedia on SIR alumni and so a vital tion anywhere else. It has been Relations is one of the nation’s – Concluded Professor Sari- cohorts and would be happy to resource, as well.” striking to see how my writing premier undergraduate journals olghalam. For more informa- Guy Ziv (MA, 1996) is an assis- help them with the application skills compare to those of my of international studies. With tion see Laura Paisley’s story in tant professor in the School of process.

23 SCHOOL OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS ALUMNI NEWSLETTER 2014-2015 24 SIR NEWS POWER PROJECT: AKON VISITS USC WITH ONE nationwide #PowerProject campaign this summer. #PowerProject includes an online letter-writing feature that allows people to send letters to Congress, urging senators to support a bill currently in the House that, if passed, would bring first-time energy access to more AKON VISITS USC WITH ONE than 50 million people in sub-Saharan Africa at no cost to U.S. taxpayers. by Laura Paisley Lamy said the project matched his course curriculum. “As one of the analytical frameworks we use in IR, I tell students that they need to learn how to play chess in order to be an effective Recording artist and activist Akon visits USC with advocacy in International Relations” class (IR 210) with the help of more than 200 students. international relations person,” Lamy said. “You have to play on four chessboards simultaneously: economic, political/military, cultural organization ONE to launch the #PowerProject Campaign Lab, USC Dornsife alumnus Mike Drachkovitch, manager of marketing and external and social/global civil society. That’s what this class teaches them how do to.” which will use student-generated digital media campaigns to relations at ONE, spoke to students. At the end of the presentations, Lamy thanked Akon and the ONE team for choosing his class to launch the campaign. fight energy poverty in Africa. “We believe that your generation is poised to make a difference and create At USC we say “Fight On,” but in this class we change it to “Fight On For Something That Matters,” he said. change, and that’s why we’ve targeted you and are starting in this classroom,” said How would you cook dinner without electricity? Or get your homework done after Drachkovitch, who earned his bachelor’s degree in international relations in 2010 sunset without turning on the lights? And on a more crucial level, what if your lo- and fondly remembers his first class with Lamy during his freshman year. cal hospital had no refrigeration for medicine or power for life-saving equipment? Student teams presented their social media campaign ideas to a panel includ- On the Cutting Edge: Ukraine and Russia Most Americans take our electrified society for granted. But for R&B and hip- ing Akon, ONE’s U.S. Director of Government Relations Jay Heimbach and Campus A strong reminder of the timeliness and importance of studying international relations comes in the crises hop recording artist, songwriter and record producer Akon, who was born in the Challenge Coordinator Meredith Horowski. Following each presentation, the panel that confront American policymakers with seemingly ever-greater frequency. And strong testimony to the United States but raised in Senegal in West Africa, a lack of energy was a way of life. offered feedback. prominence of SIR faculty comes in the frequency with which they are called upon by government, the The five-time Grammy Award nominee did his homework at night by the light “I’m particularly excited to work with young, creative, innovative college stu- media, and various public or international organizations to explain, interpret, and advise on the causes and of a kerosene lamp. It was a hazardous and highly flammable option, but the only dents,” Akon said. “I am excited to usher in a new kind of Internet superstar — mil- consequences of these crises. The past few years have seen SIR faculty offer their expertise on various global one available in his rural village. lennials who want to make a global impact.” issues in many prominent venues: Prof. Gerry Munck as an adviser to the Open Government Partnership “Imagine giving birth or having an operation in a dark hospital with only a flash- Student campaign ideas featured everything from video to celebrity partici- on elections and democracy in Latin America; Prof. Laurie Brand as an interpreter of the Arab Spring and light and no other equipment,” he said. “Need a vaccine? Forget it, there are no pation, campaign T-shirts and online letter-writing tools. Many emphasized the larger Middle East; Prof. Joshua Aizenman as an adviser to the National Bureau of Economic Research on refrigerators to keep them cold. Pretty much everything you and I take for granted element of mystery as a means of arousing interest and driving action via social international trade and finance; Prof. Pamela Starr in Congressional testimony on U.S.-Mexico relations; and cannot function without power — schools, hospitals, factories, farms and busi- media. Prof. Dan Lynch in analysis and commentary on Chinese foreign policy. nesses.” Kaitlyn Hittelman, a sophomore international relations (IR, Global Business) Late last year, as the Ukrainian crisis burst into the headlines, the turn came Akon’s personal experiences highlight a critical issue facing developing nations major, worked on a campaign focusing on relatability. Her team asks users to docu- of SIR Director Prof. Robert English. A specialist on Russia, the former USSR, today: energy poverty. In sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 600 million individuals — 7 ment via social media their own “energy-filled moments” to highlight little things and Central Europe, English has in recent months fielded scores of media inqui- out of 10 — lack access to even the most basic electricity. Energy poverty hampers that first-world citizens might take for granted — something as simple and joyful as ries and spoken at over a dozen university and public events to help explain the modern hospital services, job opportunities and the ability to get a quality educa- using a smartphone to view a photograph of a brand-new nephew. Acknowledging crisis to interested audiences. The former range from local radio (KPCC, KCRW, tion. Most would agree that reliable energy access is crucial for development and your own privilege helps you to care about the circumstances of others and drives KNBC) and television (Fox News LA, the Tavis Smiley Show—PBS) to national poverty reduction. action, she said. and international networks (CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera). The latter, beyond various Akon’s commitment to this issue yielded his “Akon Lighting Africa” initiative, “This project really brought the issue of energy poverty to my attention and USC panels (The Annenberg School and Center for International Studies, the aimed at bringing power to one million African homes by the end of 2014. got me excited to have a hands-on opportunity to think creatively about ways that Slavic Department, the Center for Public Diplomacy) also include the Hammer On April 23, Akon and representatives from ONE — an international advocacy our generation can be involved,” Hittelman said. “In this class we’ve learned a lot Museum Forum, the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, the Skirball Cultural organization co-founded by musician Bono that fights extreme poverty and pre- about the effects of globalization and how one of the biggest transporters of infor- Center, and UCLA’s Center for European and Eurasian Studies. In December, ventable disease in Africa — launched the #PowerProject Campaign Lab at USC. mation now is social media and the Internet. English delivered the President’s Lecture at the University of Montana on the The lab is an incubator for crowd-sourced digital media campaign ideas that will “If we can use these tools to benefit an entire continent, that’s something re- subject of “Ukraine, Russia, and the West.” ultimately be used to raise awareness and drive action as part of ONE’s official ally powerful.” English has argued that the West was caught unawares by the crisis because it energy poverty campaign. Jay Kolina, a junior IR major, and his group worked on a campaign with a three- saw Ukrainian events in overly simplistic terms—as essentially a matter of democ- The campaign was launched during Professor of International Relations and fold approach to “educate, inspire and involve.” They utilized straightforward mes- racy-promoting regime change and rapid Ukrainian integration with the West. Vice Dean for Academic Programs Steven Lamy’s “Introductory Theory and Analysis saging, sharing facts that led directly to action items such as users signing pre- Dr. English on the Tavis Smiley Show Photo courtesy Doing so blinded it to strong internal opposition to such a sudden turn on the part generated letters to Congress. of the Tavis Smiley Show. of Ukraine’s millions-strong Russian minority, and the consequent polarization of Keeping in mind its targeted youth demographic, his group’s campaign was Ukraine between equally nationalistic but strongly opposed pro- and anti-Russian clever and slightly edgy, with a goal to generate curiosity. One slogan: “Turn off factions. Western policy was also unwisely dismissive of Russia’s security interests—chiefly, fear of Ukraine the Lights, Turn on the Action.” To increase involvement, especially among social joining the NATO military alliance and ousting Russia from its centuries-old naval presence in Crimea. media users’ closest inner circles and friends, the campaign integrated a call for This, combined with the new Ukrainian government’s initial anti-Russian steps (such as a law demoting the posting selfies as a vehicle for sharing the campaign’s educational messaging. status of the Russian language) fueled fears in Eastern Ukraine and facilitated Russian President Vladimir “Brilliant. I loved it,” panelist Horowski told students after their presentation. Putin’s use of cynical tactics resembling those of onetime Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic in the for- “I think edgy resonates really well with millennials and the college demographic, mer Yugoslavia: fanning ethnic minorities’ fears with intense propaganda, supporting the most extreme local so I think you guys hit the nail on the head.” elements, and arming them to support an incipient separatist movement. Kolina appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with Akon and One for this English laments the brinksmanship on both the Russian and Western sides that has eschewed compro- project. mise in pursuit of a complete victory. This has only prolonged the crisis unnecessarily, cost upward of 5,000 “Social media is an incredible tool for driving change and awareness in many lives, and done enormous damage to the local economy. “The economic sanctions now in place will hurt demographics and Akon recognizes that,” Kolina said. “I also think that Akon is Russia, but they hurt Russia’s European trade partners as well and could even tip the struggling, high-unem- a good judge of creativity and marketability. He was invested in each and every ployment economies of the EU back into recession,” says English. “Ultimately, however, the biggest losers group’s presentation.” will be those we most want to help—the Ukrainian people. Ukraine desperately needs peace and internal ONE and Akon will select the top three proposals and help further develop reform, but conflict only brings economic disruption, squanders foreign aid, and further entrenches corrup- those ideas. The winning proposal will become the digital centerpiece of ONE’s tion.” English frequently cites the wisdom of acclaimed Cold-War strategist George Kennan, who said that containment of Russia must be tempered with understanding of Moscow’s security fears, and cautioned that Continued on page 26 continued NATO expansion eastward “would ultimately cause that which it seeks to prevent.”

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