The US can avoid war with China by pursuing cooperation on climate, furthering communication, and easing sanctions. — A little more than three years ago, the Trump administration announced that it was applying tariffs to Chinese imports, officially kicking off the US-China trade war. Since then, Sino-American relations have become frosty, characterized by distrust and misinformation. If both countries continue down this path, a Cold War — or…

Even during a global pandemic, one of the most insidious forms of sexual harassment is still omnipresent. — During the COVID-19 pandemic, our conception of “safe spaces” has altered. Indoor spaces, except for our own homes, are to be avoided. We are asked to avoid large group activities, no matter whether they take place indoors or outdoors. Ironically, one of the safest things one can now do in…

The swift passage of a second stimulus package is essential to American economic recovery. — During a year in which millions of Americans face food insecurity, evictions, and periods without health insurance during a global pandemic, Congress and the White House have portrayed the passage of another stimulus package (after March’s CARES Act) as an incredibly contentious and impossible endeavor. …

More executions occurred during the last 3 months than over the last 57 years, the ACLU reports. — According to American federal death penalty statutes, it takes at least 314 people to kill one person. In addition to the prisoner, federal law requires several different groups of people to be present at an execution. 24 designated witnesses must be in attendance, along with 40 Bureau of Prisons (BOP)…

The rich are finding ways to accumulate a larger share of wealth even though the global middle class is growing. — The narrative we have been sold about capitalism — that wealth from the top trickles down to everyone — is verifiably untrue. We have four decades of data to dispute the idea. Simply put, capitalism can bring people out of poverty, particularly in large global markets, but cannot expand the…

And why isn’t believing others’ lived experiences enough? — When I was 12 years old, I was groped and kissed without my consent by a male classmate on a school bus. Other male classmates goaded him on. I told my male soccer coach, who was the only adult on the bus, about it after it happened, and he told…

Improve your language proficiency and study other cultures. — International relations (IR) is a tough field to get into. In fact, it is considered an “elitist” field by some, as most IR jobs are based in large, cosmopolitan cities. Organizations frequently recruit employees from universities with the world’s top international affairs programs, like Georgetown University and Johns Hopkins University.

We cannot judge others’ opinions based on their use of ambiguous political terminology. — A Facebook friend posted a meme on a black background. It said: “Liberals can’t be anti-racist.” The message puzzled me for a couple of reasons. First, because the word “liberal” is frequently used in different contexts. Some people believe it applies to everyone on the left side of the political…

The impetus is on citizens to ensure that elections are conducted fairly. — Over the past few months, I’ve noticed that some writers have stated that the US election system is the last fragment of American democracy. They are saying this as American elected leaders continue to sow doubts about the validity of the November election results. Some political theorists stand by these…