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

What is the difference between sex and gender? How do prescribed gender roles and other social constructions of gender harm everyone? Can we even approach these issues through the standard “international affairs” lens that we normally use here at Matters of State? Join us as we sit down with our special friend and guest, Camry Haskins, to explore gender as... The post Exploring Global Gender appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Hello Cambodia! We noticed that the last few episodes had an increase in listeners in Cambodia, so we decided to shout out to you directly! In this episode, we briefly discuss the history of Cambodia into the present day, and ask our listeners there to tell us more about what’s going on in the country these days.... The post Hello Cambodia! appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Maybe you’ve at least heard of most countries around the world. But have you ever heard of Comoros? This small island nation east of Africa and north of Madagascar has had an outsized impact on international trade and the the history of its region. Today’s Comoros has a complex political system and a rich diversity... The post Spotlight: Comoros appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Who decides when it might be appropriate for a country to intervene in another conflict? Is there an international consensus on when it is acceptable to use force? Join us as we tackle these complex issues in today’s episode, “International Law and Use of Force.” For reference: CHAPTER VII: Action with Respect to Threats to... The post International Law and the Use of Force appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Up to one billion people live in slums around the world and the numbers are only expected to rise.[1. The number of people  living in slums varies widely from source to source, but the UN has reported up to one billion. There is greater consensus on the fact that the numbers are rapidly increasing. http://www.un.org/en/globalissues/briefingpapers/cities/vitalstats.shtml] In... The post Nairobi’s Slums and Urbanization Challenges appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

What do we get out of space?  What rules do countries use to ensure that everyone will “play fair” with the resources that might be out there? Will these rules truly ensure that countries will play fair in space, or will the same political dynamics that divide us here on Earth continue to plague us indefinitely out into... The post Asteroid Mining and the Outer Space Treaty appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Note: this episode was originally published in February 2016. Given today’s announcement that Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro will not allow the main opposition parties to run in next year’s presidential election, we’ve decided to republish this episode to provide context to Venezuela’s political and economic struggles. Venezuela recently elected a majority-opposition legislature. Will the new... The post Venezuela’s Shift from Chavismo appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Did you ever think that animals (and other lifeforms for that matter) could be trafficked like they were illegal drugs? In fact, some of the same people, networks, routes and tactics are involved in this massive illicit trade. Join us as we discuss the motivations, methods, and consequences of wildlife trafficking in this week’s episode. Digging... The post Wildlife Trafficking appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

How far do the limits of modern society reach? What is “modern society,” and who belongs to it? What happens when states, organizations, and other members of the “connected world” come into contact with groups that may have little intersection with it? Should these groups be actively protected, thoroughly researched, or simply left alone? Follow... The post Uncontacted Peoples appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

The media has a lot to say about Islamist terrorism, but what else motivates terrorism around the world? The post What Motivates Terrorism? appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Rwanda has been lauded as a development success and a role model for Sub-Saharan Africa, but critics suggest that this development has come at the expense of healthy democratic governance. Kagame’s Rwanda is an excellent case study for a broader question in international development: does democratic change lead to development, or does development lead to... The post Democracy and Development in Rwanda appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

This week, we  debut our Spotlight series. Unlike in our traditional round table discussions, the spotlight series will allow us to occasionally choose an interesting figure, location, or phenomenon to discuss. This episode’s figure is the world’s longest-reigning monarch alive: King Bhumibol Adulyadej. We start from his birth in the United States, move to his unexpected... The post Spotlight: Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Most of us are familiar with ISIL’s use of oil smuggling, but how do they do it? Who facilitates and who buys the oil? What other regions around the world are also seeing oil smuggling. Some of them are closer to home than you might have imagined. Join us as we invite our good friend Siree... The post Illicit Oil Networks, ISIL, and the World appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

The U.S. Department of Defense calls climate change a threat multiplier, but for some countries it is an imminent and existential threat. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are particularly at risk, facing the possibility of their nations literally go under in the next few decades. Join us as we discuss who’s to blame, the future for... The post Sinking States appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

More and more countries are fencing off their borders in an attempt to curb illegal immigration and smuggling. In this episode, we talk about how India has fenced off almost its entire border with Bangladesh – one of the longest borders in the world. Why does India feel that it needs a fence? How does... The post India’s Fence around Bangladesh appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

We’ve heard a lot about the drug wars in Mexico. We’ve even become familiar with the cartels that wage them- their names, territories and sagas given ample play in US media. But how much do we know about what drives the violence and keeps it aflame? In what ways are the cartels able to innovate... The post Mexico’s Drug Cartels appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

North Korea is often called “The Hermit Kingdom” because of its isolation from the rest of the world, but is it really completely isolated? How much interaction does North Korea have with outsiders, and who does it interact with? What forms does this interaction take, and what does it accomplish? Can we see clearly enough into... The post Engaging North Korea appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

4 million Syrians are now refugees, and the war has displaced half of the country’s population. Should states take in more of those who are fleeing war, or are they right to close their borders? What could the influx of refugees mean for the future of the EU and for the political climate of EU member states? And,... The post The World’s Syrian Refugee Crisis appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Greece has received an overwhelming glut of attention over the summer for its financial woes, but the brewing debt crisis in Puerto Rico seems to have been underhyped. What consequences might Puerto Rico’s financial predicament have for the US? How has Puerto Rico’s unique status as a US Territory contributed to its economic stability? Could... The post Puerto Rico’s Debt Crisis appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.

Thanks for joining us! We’ll be launching our first episode next week, so subscribe now. Matters of State is a new podcast by young professionals in DC that will focus on under-reported aspects of issues in international relations. We also encourage you to get in touch with us on facebook, tweet us your show ideas @mattersOstate, poke... The post Introduction appeared first on Matters of State - International Relations Podcast.