EDUCATION IN TIMES OF EMERGENCY
Meryl Streep listens attentively to DGA Director, Simon Reich
Wednesday, April 21, 2010- Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser of Qatar’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations hosted a book launch for Even Chaos: Education in Times of Emergency (Center for International Humanitarian Cooperation and Fordham University Press). Simon Reich, Director of the Division of Global Affairs at Rutgers Newark, was one of 18 panelists who were welcomed by over 65 guests.
“Even in Chaos,” by Dr. Kevin Cahill (Fordham University) emphasizes the need for education in refugee camps, as well as the importance of safety from militia attacks. Reich’s chapter, ‘Establishing Safe Learning Environments,’ addresses the need for the protection and education of African children living in refugee camps due to conflict.
Actress Meryl Streep and panel discussant emphasized that, “[y]oung lives can be saved by the order and safety of school, It lets children know: here you are safe. Here there’s understanding. Here there is care. Here there’s a future and here’s how you’re going to get there.”
Other contributors to the volume included, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, wife of the Qatari Emir and legendary poet Maya Angelou, who contributed a closing poem to the volume. The issue of continuing education in crises, such as in conflict and in natural disasters, has become a central issue for UNDP’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, UNESCO and within policy circles over last several years. This edited volume, the 8th of its kind, is an important resource for the international community to draw from with respect to employing greater advocacy and in effectively implementing best practices.
Sen. Hagel Addresses DGA Students and Faculty
DGA's Student Assoc. of Global Affairs with U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE)
Friday April 9, 2010- U.S. Senator Chuck Hagel (R-Nebraska) gave a talk at Rutgers-Newark campus entitled, “America: Our Next Chapter.” This title may sound familiar to you. That would be because it is part of the title of the Senator’s recently published book, America: Our Next Chapter- Tough Questions, Straight Answers. He has been popularly characterized as using a “common-sense approach” to the challenges facing America, as a “hero to liberals,” and as “bold” in his approach to foreign policy and combating terrorism.
Senator Hagel’s presentation was followed by a luncheon. In attendance from DGA, were M.S. and Ph.D. students, including representatives from DGA’s Student Association of Global Affairs (SAGA) and DGA core faculty.
Rutgers’ Eagleton Institute of Politics in New Brunswick hosted this exciting event. Senator Hagel is the current Clifford P. Case Professor of Public Affairs. This distinction given by Eagleton, honors the memory of New Jersey Senator Clifford P. Case, who served 34 years in the U.S. Congress representing New Jersey.
Christophe Bertossi on the Challenges of Citizenship and Multiculturalism in Europe
The Division of Global Affairs was pleased to invite Dr. Christophe Bertossi of the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri) to present some of his research findings at the final session of the Spring 2010 Colloquium Series. Dr. Bertossi’s presentation entitled “Mistaken Models? The Crisis of Migrants’ Integration in France, Britain, and the Netherlands Revisited” provided a useful framework for thinking about the panoply of social, economic, cultural, religious, and ultimately political issues that surround how new entrants are incorporated into—or shunned from—‘host’ societies. Employing a comparative perspective, he illustrated how certain models of integration have been shaped over time in these three countries, since their substantive emergence in the 1980s. And by extension, he posed the critical question of whether any of these approaches still hold value in the rapidly-evolving landscape of contemporary European affairs.
Scholarship in this area suggests three quite distinct periods of the conceptualization of integration in Europe. The mid-1980s saw the emergence of various models as typologies of national institutional/ cultural settings. By the mid-1990s, the discourse had shifted to a focus on the post-national challenges to the very notion of national identity, and since the beginning of the 2000s, the bulk of the emphasis has been placed on making sense of what is widely thought of as a ‘crisis’ of integration – the apparent failures of which have been manifested in recent events such as the murder of Theo van Gogh, the London bombings, the civil unrest/ rioting in France in 2005, etc. Nonetheless, these relatively brief scholarly epochs overlap with more nuanced characterizations that evolved in specific national contexts regarding the process of integrating migrants. With a strong tradition of Republicanism and with much attention paid to socio-cultural mechanisms of integration, France for example, has evolved from a model of non-discrimination, to laïcité (secularism/ religious neutrality), and eventually to the present assimilationist aim of civilizing migrants vis-à-vis national identity. Great Britain, which has tended to place greater reliance on socio-economic mechanisms, has progressed from addressing integration from the point of view of race relations to a discussion of ethnicity, and furthermore to today, where Britain has increasingly viewed the crisis of integration in a distinctly religious context (i.e., the perceived ‘threat’ of Islam). Finally, the Netherlands has moved away from prior attempts at integration and instead turned toward a model of assimilation, in which political dimensions such as minority representation have been central components.
In qualifying the real-world utility of these rather loose-knit models of integration however, Dr. Bertossi stressed some key points in his closing remarks. He discussed how they have failed their essential mission of fostering greater societal tranquility, and have even been partly responsible for exacerbating certain trends of disintegration and inter-group tensions. This has largely been due to the fact that the models have contradictory elements, they are path-dependant, they are generally defined only after the fact, they vary over time and are polysemic, and they—in and of themselves—remain fundamentally unable to keep pace with the shifting demands of integration in Western Europe and beyond. The perplexing challenges of this area of public policy will no doubt continue to persist well into the future.
Christophe Bertossi is a Senior Research Fellow and the director of the “Migrations, Identities, Citizenship” research program at the Institute for International Relations (Ifri) in Paris. He obtained his Ph.D. in Political Science in 2000 from the Institute of Political Studies in Aix-en-Provence (France). He has researched and lectured in political sociology at the University of Warwick, New York University, the American University in Paris, Sciences Po (Paris), and the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Toulouse. Previously, he was a Marie Curie Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations, University of Warwick (UK). He has been a visiting fellow at New York University and, in France, at the Institute for Advanced Research/Collegium in Lyon as well as at the Institute of Political Studies in Toulouse. He has coordinated several international collaborative research projects on citizenship and ethnicity, notably with Washington University in St. Louis (MO), the Amsterdam University, the American Sociological Association, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, and the Social Science Research Council in New York. His publications include: Les frontières de la citoyenneté en Europe: nationalité, résidence, appartenance, Paris, L’Harmattan, 2001; European Anti-Discrimination and the Politics of Citizenship: France and Britain, Basingstoke/New York, Palgrave, 2007 [ed.]; Les couleurs du drapeau: les militaries français issus de l’immigration, Paris, Robert Laffont, 2007 (with Catherine Withold de Wenden).
This release was written by Thomas Arndt, doctoral student and teaching assistant in the Division of Global Affairs.
Harvard Economist Dr. George J. Borjas Speaks at DGA
For the 4th installment of the Spring 2010 Colloquium series on (im)migration, the Division of Global Affairs was fortunate to welcome Dr. George J. Borjas of the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University who gave an intriguing presentation on the economic aspects of migration. As a leading economist working in the migration field, he spoke to a packed room attended by several of the professors from the department of economics at Rutgers-Newark about the evolution of U.S. immigration policy in historical perspective. Dr. Borjas explained that aside from the numerous complexities surrounding immigration debates, the issue is fundamentally rooted in the fact that there are far more applicants for entry into the U.S. than the country could conceivably admit. Thus, from the point of view of formulating a national policy, the regulation of inflows of new entrants boils down to two simple yet critical questions – “how many?” and “who?” In other words, what is the total amount of immigrants the country wishes to allow in any given period and what is the primary criterion for gaining legal entry? To demonstrate the change over time, four key eras of U.S. immigration policy were identified:
- (Up until 1875) There were no formal restrictions on immigration to the United States;
- (1875 to 1924) Congress enacted a wide range of exclusionary legislation specifically targeting various groups as undesirable for a multitude of reasons;
- (1924 to 1965) There was the institution of a national origins quota system whereby the number of migrants allowed in from any given country was kept proportional to their representation within the preexistent national composition of the U.S. population, greatly favoring nations that already had a large presence in America such as Germany and Great Britain;
- (From 1965 on) Judging the basis of national origin to be unfairly discriminatory, Congress shifted toward family preference through sponsorship of relatives wishing to reunite with family already living in the U.S., and this remains the system in operation today.
Over the course of these major periods of U.S. immigration policy, there have been increasing numbers of illegal immigrants arriving in the United States as well, especially in recent years. In Dr. Borjas’ estimation, this has been a net benefit to the U.S. economy, but he adds that the nature of the debate over immigration today is largely shaped by the fact that the wages of increasingly low-skilled immigrants have regressed quite considerably in relation to natives – currently standing at average earnings of at least 20% less than native-born Americans. Beyond some subsequent details on the nature of the new immigrant workforce and its concentration within urban areas, Dr. Borjas stressed in his concluding remarks that any measure of restrictive immigration policy is intrinsically discriminatory to certain people for one reason or another. There will always be winners and losers in this equation. And given the range of potential approaches to immigration controls, an economic analysis of contemporary immigration issues actually offers very little value in determining what constitutes ‘good’ or ‘fair’ policy. Overarching cultural, political, and other considerations—by Dr. Borjas’ own admission—should form the bulk of what goes into how the U.S. government and American society ultimately decide to treat the issue of immigration going forward.
George J. Borjas is the Robert W. Scrivner Professor of Economics and Social Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. He received his Ph.D. in economics from Columbia University. His teaching and research interests focus on the impact of government regulations on labor markets, with an emphasis on the economic impact of immigration. He is the author of Wage Policy in the Federal Bureaucracy; Friends or Strangers: The Impact of Immigrants on the U.S. Economy; Heavens Door: Immigration Policy and the American Economy; and the textbook Labor Economics. He also edited Immigration and the Work Force;Issues in the Economics of Immigration; and Poverty, International Migration and Asylum. Prior to coming to the Kennedy School, Borjas was a Professor of Economics at the University of California, San Diego. He has also been a consultant to various government agencies.
This release was written by Thomas Arndt with contributed content from Tanu Kohli. Thomas and Tanu are Doctoral Students in the Division of Global Affairs.
New Faculty Hire: Dr. Jun Xiang
We are proud to announce that new hire, Dr. Jun Xiang will join DGA’s core faculty this coming academic year. Dr. Xiang holds a PhD in Economics and is expected to receive his PhD in Political Science from the University of Rochester in May 2010. His dissertation examines the liberal and realist debate on economic interdependence and war; the issue of vote buying in the UN General Assembly; and the power–conflict relationship. Dr. Xiang’s Assistant Professor position will be joint between DGA and FASN’s Department of Economics.
DGA Summer Session
The DIVISION OF GLOBAL AFFAIRS is now offering summer session. This is an excellent opportunity to fulfill course requirements. Students are encouraged to review the offerings below.
TO REGISTER CLICK HERE
Summer Session 2010 Offerings
Session I – June 1 – July 8, 2010
Fundamental Economics – Taught by Carlos Seiglie (M and W 1-2:45pm)
This course presents the microeconomic and macroeconomic tools necessary for analyzing policy issues in a global context. It includes an introduction to international trade theories, exchange rate policies and monetary and fiscal policy in an open economy.
Evolution Global System – Taught by Pano Yannakogeorgos (M and W 6-10pm)
This course will give students knowledge of the evolution of the global political and economic system from Antiquity until the early 21st century. Particular emphasis is placed on how the historical evolution of the processes and consequences of globalization are affecting the contemporary world. Included in the course will be an introduction of the use of digital research databases so that students can gain the experience of using them in preparation for their term paper and to be able to use the research methods for other purposes later.
Incoming Students can get a head start on their course work by registering for ‘The Evolution of the Global System, a required course that students are strongly encouraged to take during their first semester of study at DGA.
International Law – Taught by Richard O’Meara (M and W 6-10pm)
This course begins with a general introduction to the principles and sources of international law and the differences between international and national law. We will look at the processes which exist to articulate, institutionalize and enforce rules and precepts. Finally, we will introduce students to selected substantive areas of international law including human rights, the law of war, the law of the sea and the law of the environment.
Session II – July 12 – August 18, 2010
Nationalism and National Identity – Taught by Robert Saunders
On Line Course (registration for up to 20 students)
This course explores the changing nature of nationalism and national identity in the era of globalization. After an exploration of the historical background and competing theories of nationalism, we will explore the interplay and difference between “New World” civic nationalism and “Old World” ethnonationalism, the impact of stateless nations and irredentism on the global system, the influence of language, religion, and immigration on “new” and post-national identities, the corporatization of national identity, and the impact of cyberspace on th21st century forms of nationalism.
ET21 Symposium: A Search for a Common Methodology to Address Emergent Threats
On March 18-19, 2010, the Global Security Program of the Rutgers Center for the Study of Emerging Threats in the 21st Century (ET21) held its first Symposium on Emergent Threats in the 21st Century: Searching for a Common Methodology. Practitioners including William Cheswick The “Father of the Firewall,” policy makers, and scholars in public health, terrorism, cybersecurity and natural disasters gave presentations and exchanged ideas about a common methodology to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergent threats.
The emergence of new epidemics and the militarization of cyberspace, have raised the awareness of government decision makers and the private sector about the risk such threats pose to vital systems and infrastructures upon which our societies and economies depend. “The impact of the economic crisis has strained coping strategies,” said Eva Busza, Principal of the Executive Office of the Secretary General at the United Nations.
Dr. Leslie Kennedy is the Director of ET21’s Global Security Program. Dr. Pano Yannakogeorgos, Senior Program Coordinator of ET21, was the Symposium Organizer. DGA students Caitlin Scuderi (PhD) and Reela Khalifa (MS) along with Estee Marchi, Nerea Marteache, Danielle Rusnak, Yasemin Gaziarifoglu from the School of Criminal Justice wrote policy briefs on an array of topics and presented their findings on day two.
For more information on the symposium please visit, http://www.et21symposium.org
Media Coverage:
David Matthau at 101.5 interviewed Dr. Leslie Kennedy and Dr. Panayotis Yannakogeorgos for he morning news program.
Joseph Caprioglione at WBGO interviewed Dr. Neil Rowe, Professor of Computer Science at the Naval Post graduate Institute in Monterrray California (see transcript below).
WBGO Transcript
When it comes to concerns about national security, the possibility for acts of terrorism and natural disasters may be more prominent, but the risk of a large-scale cyber attack can be equally dangerous. WBGO’s Joseph Capriglione has more.
The danger of a large-scale cyber attack grows each day. Experts warn foreign governments, organized crime and petty criminals are trying to infiltrate the country’s computers on a regular basis.
Specialists from several different fields came together for a conference at Rutgers to compare notes on how security can be improved.
Neil Rowe, professor of computer science at the Naval Postgraduate School in California, warns an extensive cyber attack could be devastating.
Rowe2CyberSecurity031910
“Well there could be a massive attack that stops all of our power plants for instance so we wouldn’t have power for weeks on end in major cities and things like that and there’ll be a lot of serious problems. So that’s what we’re worried about, things like that, and it’s within the realm of technological feasibility right now for countries to do that.”
Panelists agree the US government is making progress on the cyber security front, but that individuals must also take steps to ensure that personal computers are kept up to date as well.
In Newark, I’m Joseph Capriglione. WBGO News.
Eva Busza of Ban Ki Moon’s Office Addresses ET21′s Symposium
ET21’s Symposium on Emergent Threats in the 21st Century: Searching for a Common Methodology
The keynote address for day one was given by Ms. Eva Busza, Principal Officer, Strategic Planning Unit, Executive Office of the UN Secretary General. Ms. Busza did not only provide an overview of the symposium but left the audience with some things to consider beyond days one and two.
Emerging threats in public health, cybersecurity, terrorism, climate change and natural disasters are complex. Ms. Busza believes they are the defining challenges of our generation. These threats do not know boundaries, have no definite solution and can only be addressed by multiple stakeholders. Do these common qualities provide a basis for a common methodology? Probably. Before becoming too optimistic, here is something to think about. Natural disasters are typically related to known phenomena such as avalanches, earthquakes, drought, hurricanes, floods, landslides, monsoons, and tornadoes. While there are known forms of terrorism, there are also acts that may not be anticipated due to the vast array of possibilities.
Searching for a common methodology may have real meaning. It can be effective in improving coordination in crises. There is a lot to gain from adopting methods used in different fields for sharing information, protecting information, implementing decision support networks, utilizing mass communication technology, disseminating early warning system information and event-based information. In order for any methodology to work, information management systems that are designed to support decentralized coordination are required, in addition to ensuring that recorded data are accurate.
Ms. Busza was hopeful that the panelists would inform the United Nations’ approach to these issues.
Update on DGA’s Move
DGA will move to Engelhard Hall over the summer when there is less campus traffic. Check back with us for updates on DGA’s move.
Kevin Kolben to Give Talk at EU Hearing
The European Union’s Committee on International Trade invited Professor Kevin Kolben to give a talk at the opening of a hearing on Tuesday, February 23, 2010. In an effort to develop its trade and social standards policy, the EU’s hearing will address Corporate Social Responsibility and International Trade.
In addition to teaching students in the Division of Global Affairs, Kevin Kolben is Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management and Marketing Sciences in the Rutgers School of Business. Koblen is a lawyer who is a recognized expert on transnational labor regulation and the governance of labor in international supply chains.
