Whereas, based on a purely technical reading, the Sykes-Picot was just one of many wartime agreements that did not survive the immediate post-war period, it remained very much alive as a metaphor for something much wider — namely Western interference or “meddling” in regional affairs. Continue Reading
I commend Lisa Falkenberg for bringing to light the measured way in which Rice University students debated the administration’s request for feedback on a new Texas law that allows concealed handguns on campus. She adequately portrays the role student association president… Continue Reading
When new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau responded to a question about the makeup of his cabinet by saying “It’s 2015,” I rejoiced. Trudeau purposely chose 15 men and 15 women to his newly appointed governing body, including several minorities… Continue Reading
The first three priorities outlined in the strategy recently established by President Barack Obama’s Office of National Drug Control Policy — prevention, treatment and criminal justice system reforms — may seem like a progressive breakthrough in our nation’s lengthy drug war. In fact, since 1971, each of these three strategies has factored into presidential drug policy with varying degrees of emphasis and alternating tactics for accomplishing each one. In contrast, the fourth strategy set by today’s ONDCP — to lift the stigma associated with those suffering from substance use disorders — is unprecedented. Continue Reading
It is increasingly clear that focusing solely on women’s educational attainment in the Middle East may not be the most effective strategy for achieving women’s economic empowerment in the region. On Feb. 25, the Women and Human Rights in the Middle East Program, CARE and the City of Houston Office of International Communities are hosting a panel discussion to highlight the crucial role of women in promoting economic development and innovation worldwide, with a special focus on the Middle East. Continue Reading
On Thursday evening, Oct. 25, Baker Institute founding director Edward P. Djerejian spoke at Faneuil Hall in Boston for the third annual K. George and Carolann S. Najarian, M.D. Lecture on Human Rights. Djerejian’s address, titled “An American Ambassador’s Reflections on U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East and Caucasus,” discussed his experiences as a practitioner of U.S. foreign policy and the ongoing challenges for Armenia and the Caucasus. Download a transcript of his remarks after the jump. Continue Reading