Global in the Granite State

For the past 77 years, since the founding of Pakistan at the partition of British held India, the United States and Pakistan have worked together to try and bring stability to this region of the world. As the fifth largest country in the world, as measured by population, and sitting at a geopolitical strategic crossroads, Pakistan remains an important partner on a wide range of issues of global, r...

On the heels of the latest aid package for Ukraine from the United States, the Global in the Granite State reached out to one of our exchange alumni, Member of Parliament Nataliya Pipa, from Ukraine to hear about what life is currently like in the country and what this latest round of support will mean for their ongoing fight against Russia. Providing key insights into how the people of Ukraine ha...

While much attention is paid to the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Russia, it is important to note that Russia continues to try and exert influence across the world. This is particularly true across the Middle East, where Russia has tried to center itself as the reliable partner for autocratic leaders throughout the region. Russia has a long history of engagement with Middle Eastern Leaders, but a...

Haiti is a country that has suffered through a long, hard history. From disasters, both natural and man-made, the people of Haiti continue to strive to create a bright future for themselves. However, today that goal seems further away than ever and many people would be hard pressed to see the light at the end of the tunnel. How did a land that was once the Pearl in the Crown of the French Empire e...

You may have heard the name before, when they burst onto the international scene in the wake of the Arab Spring, challenged the central government and eventually a Saudi led international response. However, with the civil war winding down in Yemen, the Houthis name recognition seemed on the decline. The war in Gaza has brought this group back to the forefront of the world's mind, as they began fir...

Over the past couple of years the idea of weaponizing migration has come to the forefront, particularly as the current case of Russia enabling migrants to access the Russia Finnish border and Belarus using travel agents to bring migrants to their border with Poland in 2021. However, this "hybrid warfare tactic", as several targeted states have termed it is not something new, it is instead a well w...

The United States of America's government faces a funding deadline of November 17th of this year to pass a full budget or a continuing resolution, or shut down non-essential operations. In what has seemingly become a yearly tradition, the two Parties cannot come together on a number of issues and have missed their self imposed deadline to fund the government once already. On top of this, the House...

Last month the city of Derna, Libya was destroyed by an intense hurricane that hit the city and surrounding mountains. Two dams, built in the 1970s and not maintained since 2002, burst overnight, sending a 23-foot high wall of water rushing through the city. Over 25% of the city's infrastructure got destroyed and thousands of people were swept out into the ocean or crushed under crumbling building...

Another month, another African coup led by the Presidential Guard, this time in Gabon. This month we talk with Jean Hakuzimana, a journalist and immigration advocate, who provides insights into why this coup occurred, the challenges that face Gabon, and what this means for the wider region. On August 30th, hours after the election results gave a large win to President Bongo for a third term, the P...

In this episode, we delve into the recent coup in Niger, analyzing its implications and underscoring its significance on the global stage. On July 26th, the Presidential Guard took a daring step by placing President Mohamed Bazoum under house arrest, sealing the borders, imposing airspace restrictions, and boldly proclaiming the seizure of power. The world was caught off guard by this unforeseen u...

In this month’s episode we explore the challenges surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the need for global cooperation to minimize potential negative outcomes. By speaking with Ben Porter of Prometheus Endeavor, a technology think-tank, the conversation provides a balanced viewpoint of the challenges and opportunities surrounding the development of AI, from the robot overlords of the Matri...

With over 719 million people across the world living below the international poverty line and the current data indicating the world will miss its target of eliminating poverty by 2030, we dive into the issues facing these efforts, what international organizations are missing, and why it is so important to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #1 as soon as possible. It is not by chance th...

Things have never been easy for the modern state of Israel over the past 75 years, including today where the government faces a wide variety of external and internal pressures. Over the past four years the government has struggled to build a lasting coalition, having five elections in that timeframe and watching countrywide protests erupt over their judicial reform bill in recent months. In additi...

Seemingly forever, the world has debated what to do about climate change. The arguments on both sides are well worn and movement towards incorporating more green technology into the energy system continues to gain momentum. However, as this transition begins, one issue to consider, which has not seen robust public discussion is the idea of bringing justice to the energy system. It is not a secret...

"Never again" has turned into "Again and Again", or "Never Happened". In the wake of the holocaust, the world committed to never forgetting the atrocities and never letting something like this happen again. 75 years later, the world continues to see new genocides begin and concerted efforts to deny that these atrocities ever even happened. As hate rises around the world, the conditions necessary f...

Not only do global experiences open your eyes to the world around you, they also help you better understand who you are and they let you explore who you want to be. Whether it is through study abroad, the Peace Corps, agri- or volun-tourism, or any extended trip abroad, you gain so much from engaging with the world, changing your life and the lives of those you interact with. Today we talk with Li...

If you want to start a heated debate, pretty much anywhere in the Western world today, just bring up the topic of immigration. While there are plenty of policy issues that drive partisanship today, few are as sticky as the immigration issue. From the arguments of protecting the border and rule of law, to the need to protect immigrant rights and the dynamism that comes with welcoming legal immigran...

Over the past two years the Chinese Communist Party has worked to keep the COIVD pandemic at bay through a series of policies requiring strict quarantines, sometimes of millions of people at the same time, that reduced the opportunity for community spread. Over the past couple of weeks, the Chinese public has come out into the streets to demand the end of the Dynamic Zero COVID polices, as they ha...

The Global in the Granite State brings you a extra special, bonus episode, through a collaboration with the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. In this episode, Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett and Tim Horgan join forces for a dynamic conversation about the complex and often problematic ways in which the world of sports intersects and interacts with human rights issues. They cover everything f...

Throughout our work, the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire tries to identify unique and amazing connections to the world from right here in the granite state. From nonprofits doing work across the globe, to stories of international connections fostered by our global exchange programs, it never ceases to amaze the many ways that granite staters are impacting the world. In this month's episode,...

As with many other wars and conflicts that grew out of the collapse of the Soviet Union, there is a much deeper history to what is going on between Azerbaijan and Armenia. You have to understand the historical context to understand why these two countries cannot get together and come to a lasting agreement over their border and what to do with Nagorno Karabakh. With a breaking of the ceasefire las...

The nature of work has consistently changed and morphed, through technological innovation and societal upheavals. Currently, the world sees both factors pushing new ways for people to work, as well as what employees value in their work lives. We speak with Kevin Cassidy, Director and Representative to the Bretton Woods and Multilateral Organizations at the International Labour Organization, about...

Over the past few month, Sri Lanka has undergone massive protests that have led to the dissolution of the Cabinet, the resignation of the Prime Minister, and the fleeing of the President. Protests were fueled by rising inflation, inaccessible basic goods, corruption, and a feeling that the government was more interested in serving itself than the people. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Neil DeV...

The war in Ukraine continues to rage, despite international efforts to end it. Russia has redefined their end goals, while Ukrainians continue to fight for their homes. NATO and its allies have continued to support the war effort, while punishing Russia through one of the largest sanctions regimes the world has seen. However, other countries continue to provide support to Russia, refusing to conde...

Over the years, the United States has worked with many different international partners. Some of these partnerships have grown out of a shared sense of values and understanding of the world. Other partnerships have been merely for a narrow set of strategic goals, while ignoring the challenges these partners have posed. Turkey, particularly in the past ten or so years, has challenged the US's abili...