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inside MENTAL HEALTH AND POVERTY pg 4 PPR CRITIQUES OF THE BDS MOVEMENT pg 14 INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR IAN LUSTICK pg 21 Penn Political Review Winter 2014 [Insert bias here] Volume XI Issue 2 PPR Penn Political Review table of contents letter from the editor National D!"# R!"$!#, 4 MENTAL HEALTH AND POVERTY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Middle East has been called the crossroads of the strong emotions involved with complex issues, we are just by Nadia Tareen Arynne Wexler world. Once believed to be the physical center of the earth, able to scratch the surface. MANAGING EDITOR this area of land is still the focal point for much of the Since this is my final issue as Editor-in-Chief of PPR, I Daniel Levinson 6 THE SUPREME COURT’S COMPLICATED world’s conflict. would like to leave you with two thoughts. The first is that EDITOR-AT-LARGE RELATIONSHIP WITH SOCIAL ISSUES It is no surprise that a region that is a mosaic of diverse politics is truly everywhere. We have shown you how politics Brian Goldman by Jordan Rosman cultures and multiple narratives has become an increasingly is in everything from sex to sports, and I hope you will LAYOUT AND ART EDITOR polarized subject. However, the media have disappointingly continue to be aware of its impact on your lives. The second David Spivak Global drawn simplistic caricatures of the complicated reality of is that I urge you to always question what you read and hear. ONLINE EDITOR 8 HOUSES OF CARDS: THE POLITICS OF WEST the Middle East today. News outlets with their own biases Whatever opinion you form and position you take, ensure Robert Levinson BANK SETTLEMENT generate stories with titles that are misleading, publish that it is researched honestly and thoroughly. We are the INTERVIEW EDITOR by Ezra Kurtz articles that omit important details, and sometimes even generation with unprecedented communication technology Anthony Cruz differ on quantitative data. In a time when our opinions are – words move so fast across our screens that they have lost BUSINESS MANAGER 10 LEADERSHIP IN THE CURRENT CRISIS: UNFUL- able to move so freely throughout the world, it still seems their value. We should challenge ourselves to place more Zac Krowitz that we are losing the ability to listen and maintain an open thought into our words and care how they might influence FILLED PROMISES AND INCONGRUOUS DEALS MARKETING MANAGER dialogue. world events. by Alexandra Friedman Tony Young This conflict is also active on our college campus. Student OPERATIONS MANAGER groups on opposite sides of an issue hang banners across Andrew Klimaszewki 12 DILMA’S REELECTION: CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION? from each other on Locust Walk; speakers with unpopular SENIOR EDITORS by Nicole Martinez positions are protested and shouted down in auditoriums; Christopher Hua | Robert Levinson and editorials in our school newspaper and on social media Arynne STAFF EDITORS 16 GOODBYE KARZAI: THE FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN bring the conflict directly to us. College campuses across Nicholas Buchta | Jordan Dannenberg | Gabe by Justin Kelly the country have become their own battlegrounds, most A#%&&! W!'(!# Delaney | Benjamin Fogel | Claire Greenberg particularly with respect to the legitimacy of Israel. As a PPR E$)*+#-)&-C,)!- Shams Haidari | Brian Liu | Carly Roman Feature non-partisan magazine, we always aim to publish articles STAFF WRITERS 14 CRITIQUES OF THE BDS MOVEMENT and interviews from a variety of viewpoints. With such Anthony Cruz | Jordan Rosman | Gregory Segal by Alon Krifcher Nadia Tareen STRATEGY COMMITTEE Charles Cato | Carly Gurick | Alexandra Guttman Interview Trudel Pare | Elizabeth Peng | Akshat Shekhar 18 GOVERNOR LINCOLN CHAFEE Matthew Solowey | Isabelle Spiridigliozzi | Sarah Governor of Rhode Island Winton LAYOUT AND ART STAFF 21 IAN LUSTICK Political Science Professor at the University of INTERVIEW STAFF Pennsylvania Jacob Gardenswartz | Claire Lisker | Luis Ferre Anuj Amin | Sam Ruddy | Jonathan Haskin 22 CLIFFORD MAY BUSINESS STAFF President of Foundation for Defense of Brian Liu | Harrison Newman | Samanthan Rahmin ONLINE EDITING STAFF Democracies Christopher Hua | Jordan Dannenberg | Tuyet-Van 26 PRESIDENT CARLOS MESA Huynh | Andrew Klimaszewski | Gregory Olberding President of Bolivia Nicole Peinado | Carly Roman | Jonathan Stahl Tony Young SOAPBOX BLOG HONORARY BOARD OF ADVISORS Amy Cass | Rutendo Chigora | Jenny Godman JOHN BRIDGELAND Eric Kaplan | Rafal Kraweic | Gregory Olberding FORMER DIRECTOR, WHITE HOUSE Brandon Slotkin DOMESTIC POLICY COUNCIL COVER ART JOSEPH A. CALIFANO, JR. Richard Lee FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE CONNIE MORELLA FORMER U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN (MD-08) NATIONAL NATIONAL n the wake of recent tragic events at Penn, the issues surrounding mental “Providing mental health support to Ihealth have become frequently discussed topics on campus. Ask any Penn student what factors contribute to mental people at every socioeconomic level is health problems, and they may mention genetic predisposition, the high pressures a critical step for movement closer to of a competitive academic atmosphere, or many another possible explanations. a world in which everyone has equal Now, ask them to identify the key issues that exacerbate poverty within the United opportunities.” States. Few people are likely to associate mental health with poverty, but evidence shows that common mental disorders are Although the evidence indicates that On a local level, community twice as frequent for the poor compared there is a link between mental health and STORY BY NADIA TAREEN to the wealthy. Socioeconomic status and socioeconomic status, this issue is typically sessions and job training for those who mental illness are in fact interlinked in a not top of mind when discussing potential already experience symptoms of mental devastating cycle. People living in poverty solutions to eradicate poverty. Increased illness. Expanding counseling programs in are at higher risk of developing mental awareness of this connection can show schools in low-income neighborhoods can health problems; those facing these issues policymakers the long-term value of mitigate symptoms before mental health investing in mental health care. The esteemed and are thus more likely to remain in medical journal, The Lancet, conducted a the job market. On a larger scale, the US poverty. Increasing investment in mental government and public health agencies health care is a critical but little understood tested how economic programs focused should recognize the need for more solution with the potential to uplift countless accessible treatment options. Currently, individuals out of poverty. conditions. Unconditional cash transfers 89.3 million Americans live in regions Illness, of course, does not discriminate that have been designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas as compared However, the realities of life in low-income praised micro-credit programs were even communities lead to a cycle that exacerbates who reside in primary care shortage areas. mental health issues for the poor. Exposure repayment increasing stress levels). In the to more violence and psychologically second part of the experiment, researchers another priority, given current insurance traumatic events in impoverished introduced interventions designed to restrictions on coverage for mental health communities leads to higher incidences of provide psychiatric support, which services. Research from the Kaiser Family depression, anxiety, and PTSD as compared included individual and group therapy, to wealthier areas. A study conducted community rehabilitation programs, and those not receiving mental health care here in Philadelphia found that rates of indicate high costs as the primary obstacle. depression and anxiety skyrocketed among resulted in improved economic outcomes in low-income children who had witnessed all studies. They even led to a positive cycle said, “Talent is universal, opportunity is not.” violence. Among seven-year-olds who had of individuals’ mental health symptoms Considering this, providing mental health heard gun shots, seen drug deals, or seen a lessening as economic status improved. support to people at every socioeconomic dead body outside, 61 percent worried some Increasing mental health care access for level is a critical step for movement closer or a lot of the time that they might get killed low-income communities should be a top to a world in which everyone has equal or die, and 19 percent expressed that they priority for national public health initiatives. opportunities. Mental health issues sometimes wished they were dead. are not easy to talk about and are often The challenges that the poor face later in about mental illness across the nation. In misunderstood, but this is a discussion we life further contribute to a higher incidence a 2007 study from the journal Psychiatric need to have if we ever want to achieve a of mental illness. Limited access to basic Services, 66 percent of respondents who comprehensive solution to poverty. necessities and stressful, unrewarding jobs were not receiving treatment for their mental contribute to the causal relationship between illnesses explained why they chose not to go Nadia Tareen hails from Bryn Mawr, PA and income level and emotional disturbance. In to the doctor: “I wanted to solve the problem is a senior in The Huntsman Program studying turn, because of lower productivity levels on my own.” Public media campaigns can International