Matters Of State - Under-reported Issues In World News & International Relations

In the second episode of our series on genocide, Again and Again, we discuss the Circassian and Bangladeshi genocides of the 19th and 20th centuries, where nearly 3.5 million people were collectively murdered. Despite the large numbers of people murdered, we question why these genocides are lost into obscurity. Though cultural proximity and impact to... The post Lesser-Known Genocides appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

The Ten Stages of Genocide is the first episode of our new series, Again and Again: A Series on Modern-Day Genocide. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Gregory Stanton, Chairman and Founding President of Genocide Watch and Professor at George Mason University, who provides an overview on the “Ten Stages of Genocide.” As Dr.... The post The Ten Stages of Genocide appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Daniel Pauly, an award-winning marine biologist at the University of British Colombia. Dr. Pauly speaks with us about his new book, Vanishing Fish: Shifting Baselines and the Future of Global Fisheries, which examines the world’s reserves of fish, commercial fisheries, and the various crises they both face.  PLEASE... The post Vanishing Fish appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

In 2017, the US Department of Health and Human Services declared a public health emergency, often referred to as the opioid crisis. This crisis, which addresses the significantly imbalanced ratio of prescription drugs to the patient population, often overshadows the illicit side of this public emergency. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, which straddles the licit... The post Fentanyl appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

In this episode, we speak with Andrew Davis of the Catalonia America Council about recent discussions and events surrounding the Catalonia’s relations with Spain. Mr. Davis provides background and context for the ongoing discussions regarding Catalonia’s status with Spain and its relationship with the Spanish government in Madrid. He also provides his thoughts on how... The post Catalonia: A Conversation with Andrew Davis appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Estonia is a small, high-tech country with democratic values and a capitalist economy. It is also seen as a pivotal player for NATO, especially in cyberspace. In this episode, we will detail Estonia’s background and history, examine its cyber relations with Russia, and discuss how it may impact NATO-Russian relations moving forward. Dig Deeper Take... The post Spotlight: Estonia appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

As humans have migrated around the world throughout the centuries, they often brought with them various animals and plants to help colonize this planet. Whether intending to establish sources for food in otherwise barren landscapes or unleashing unknown stowaway creatures, humans have unwittingly caused countless invasions by other foreign organisms. In this episode, we discuss... The post Invasive Species appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

In this episode, we speak with two recent graduate students from the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University here in Washington, DC,  Prerna Balasundaram and Christina Parker, about their ongoing research on cultural competency in maternal global healthcare. As part of their end-of-degree capstone project, Prerna and Christina are researching how... The post Global Maternal Healthcare: A Study in Cultural Competency appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Western Sahara is a non-self-governing territory on the northwest coast of Africa. Bordered by Morocco, Mauritania, and Algeria, the former Spanish colony has been under dispute since 1976. Ethnic tensions continue to erupt between the native Sahrawi population and Moroccan immigrants, and Morocco maintains a large security presence in the territory. In this episode, we... The post Spotlight: Western Sahara appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Virtual reality–commonly referred to as VR–is an emerging technology that will become increasingly more sophisticated and widespread in the 5G era. VR can improve education, revolutionize healthcare, and even bolster security services. At the same time, however, VR is also be used for malignant purposes. In this episode, we explore the origins of VR, discuss... The post The World of Virtual Reality appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

GPS is a critical part of our everyday lives and underpins much of the infrastructure surrounding us. But the GPS satellite system is just one of a growing list of so-called global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) that can provide space-based positioning, navigation, and timing. In this episode, we explore how GPS fits into the larger... The post Global navigation satellite systems appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest, covering 40% of South America and spanning eight countries and one territory across the continent. It is home to a broad array of languages and cultures that must find a way to ensure a peaceful coexistence. In this episode, we explore the international relations of the eight countries... The post International Relations of the Amazon appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Tom Catena, the current Chair of the Aurora Humanitarian Initiative, about his work at the Mother Mercy Hospital in the Nuba Mountain region of Sudan. The people of Sudan’s Nuba Mountains have long been marginalized by the government of Sudan under the regime of Omar Al-Bashir. Since the... The post The Heart of Nuba: A Conversation With Doctor Tom Catena appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

In this episode, we look into the history and current affairs of Lesotho, a country roughly size of Maryland that is landlocked in South Africa. Much of Lesotho’s history and culture has been shaped by its mountainous terrain, which historically served as a fortress from outside threats. Today,  the Lesotho highlands play an integral part... The post Spotlight: Lesotho appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

The Olympic Games have long been a symbol of sportsmanship and national pride. However, they can also be a target of terrorism. In this episode, we explore case studies of how organizations and nations have attempted to commit acts of terrorism in the context of Olympic Games. We will also examine how future Olympic hosts... The post Olympic Terrorism appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

In today’s episode, we put a spotlight on the island nation of Papua New Guinea. PNG, bordering Indonesia and Australia on the edge of the south Pacific ocean, is defined by its diversity. Incredibly rich in resources and cultures, Papua New Guinea faces unprecedented challenges that many other nations do not face. In this episode,... The post Spotlight: Papua New Guinea appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Professor Robinson joins us for a candid discussion about his book, ‘Why Nations Fail’. In it, he makes the case that the key differentiator between countries is “institutions.” Nations thrive when they develop “inclusive” political and economic institutions, and they fail when those institutions become “extractive” and concentrate power and opportunity in the hands of... The post Why Nations Fail appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Emergency warning systems are used by countries across the world to alert citizens about a variety of incidents, from natural disasters to military threats. Modern emergency warning systems are taking advantage of new technologies such as text messaging to ensure warnings reach the broadest possible audience. These systems, however, vary in their effectiveness and are... The post Emergency Warning Systems appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Ethiopia and Eritrea have been in near constant tension over the past several decades. In recent months, however, the two countries have ended their state of war and are working toward full normalization of relations. In this episode, we explore the history of conflict and tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea and then discuss the recent... The post Ethiopia and Eritrea’s Sudden Peace appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

The term “mail order brides” does not often invoke similar connotations to human trafficking, but bride trafficking is just that. Victims of this trade are forced to marry men they don’t know from foreign countries that are sometimes thousands of miles away from their homes and families. While it is worth noting that this industry... The post Bride Trafficking appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.