Welcome to Around the World! This week we feature a look at smarter public diplomacy, an evaluation of human trafficking interventions, women's economic empowerment, and more.
 | Towards a Smarter Public Diplomacy As a key component of international relations, public diplomacy programs should strategically align with any nation's foreign policy objectives. Therefore, standards of measurement and quantification should be required. Read more about it here! |
 | Devoid of Research: An Evaluation of Human Trafficking Interventions In the wake of limited or non-existent research, anti-trafficking policies and interventions are being developed on the basis of “best practice” assumptions, which may be ineffective. Rigorous empirical research is strikingly absent from the anti-trafficking movement. Read about it here. |
 | "“Child marriage is not a disease, it is a social condition. We are talking about social engineering that will require many things in place to eradicate this; and I think it can be done within a generation.” Read about it here. |
 | Women’s Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship on the Rise Women entrepreneurs need to have: 1) access to education, training, and technology; 2) access to credit, capital, and markets; and 3) representation in decision making positions and governance structures. Read more about it here. |
 | Latin America’s Leading Ladies Latin America is no longer the machismo region it once was, yet machismo is still ever present. Despite women making huge advancements in the realm of politics, especially when electing presidents, some countries are ahead more than others. Read more about it here. |
Around the Web
G8 leaders cancel their involvement in the planned Sochi G8 Summit, choosing to convene without Russia in Brussels. In what The Guardian describes as "a clear and deliberate break from the post-Soviet status quo", this will be the first time since 1998 that the seven largest economies have convened without Russia. The United Kingdom's foreign secretary, William Hague, described the end of the G8 as a "huge blow", and Obama stated that "it will then be hard to revive that in the immediate future". The G7 leaders also "threatened sweeping sanctions in the event of any Russian military moves in the region." The leaders' statement continued: "Today, we reaffirm that Russia's actions will have significant consequences. This clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations."
In early February, Switzerland voted to introduce a quota system to cap immigration from European Union countries. What could be the cost of this isolating measure? Former 99er Nichola Forster and Ivo Nicholas Scherrer of foraus write on the implications of the vote.
This Week in History
1995: More than 5,500 people are sickened and 12 are killed when packages containing the poisonous gas sarin leaked on five Tokyo subway trains.
2003: President George W. Bush orders the start of the war on Iraq. “On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war.”
a global affairs media network
Around the World!
March 24, 2014
Welcome to Around the World! This week we feature a look at smarter public diplomacy, an evaluation of human trafficking interventions, women's economic empowerment, and more.
| Towards a Smarter Public Diplomacy As a key component of international relations, public diplomacy programs should strategically align with any nation's foreign policy objectives. Therefore, standards of measurement and quantification should be required. Read more about it here! |
| Devoid of Research: An Evaluation of Human Trafficking Interventions In the wake of limited or non-existent research, anti-trafficking policies and interventions are being developed on the basis of “best practice” assumptions, which may be ineffective. Rigorous empirical research is strikingly absent from the anti-trafficking movement. Read about it here. |
| "“Child marriage is not a disease, it is a social condition. We are talking about social engineering that will require many things in place to eradicate this; and I think it can be done within a generation.” Read about it here. |
| Women’s Economic Empowerment and Entrepreneurship on the Rise Women entrepreneurs need to have: 1) access to education, training, and technology; 2) access to credit, capital, and markets; and 3) representation in decision making positions and governance structures. Read more about it here. |
| Latin America’s Leading Ladies Latin America is no longer the machismo region it once was, yet machismo is still ever present. Despite women making huge advancements in the realm of politics, especially when electing presidents, some countries are ahead more than others. Read more about it here. |
Around the Web
G8 leaders cancel their involvement in the planned Sochi G8 Summit, choosing to convene without Russia in Brussels. In what The Guardian describes as "a clear and deliberate break from the post-Soviet status quo", this will be the first time since 1998 that the seven largest economies have convened without Russia. The United Kingdom's foreign secretary, William Hague, described the end of the G8 as a "huge blow", and Obama stated that "it will then be hard to revive that in the immediate future". The G7 leaders also "threatened sweeping sanctions in the event of any Russian military moves in the region." The leaders' statement continued: "Today, we reaffirm that Russia's actions will have significant consequences. This clear violation of international law is a serious challenge to the rule of law around the world and should be a concern for all nations."
In early February, Switzerland voted to introduce a quota system to cap immigration from European Union countries. What could be the cost of this isolating measure? Former 99er Nichola Forster and Ivo Nicholas Scherrer of foraus write on the implications of the vote.
This Week in History
1995: More than 5,500 people are sickened and 12 are killed when packages containing the poisonous gas sarin leaked on five Tokyo subway trains.
2003: President George W. Bush orders the start of the war on Iraq. “On my orders, coalition forces have begun striking selected targets of military importance to undermine Saddam Hussein’s ability to wage war.”
