How to execute a domestic agenda with the 111th Congress

by John Cowen

The role of Congress, as intended by the Constitution, is well defined and emphasized as first among the three equal branches. The reality of Congress, however, has changed significantly, especially over the past three decades, and the changes have led the branch away from its intended purposes of oversight and deliberation. This memo outlines the constitutional role of Congress, key changes in the institution since 1990, and recommendations to effectively maneuver a domestic agenda through today’s Congress.

by Lydia Humenycky

INTRODUCTION
China is one of today’s fastest-rising superpowers with economic growth projected to reach 6.4 trillion in 2025 and military spending increasing at double digit rates since 1990.I Nonetheless, China is a fragile state with many domestic and international challenges. These challenges threaten the stability of China in its quest to become the dominant Asian, if not the dominant world, power. While China’s leadership faces many international challenges to their peaceful rise, their greatest challenge lies in ensuring its domestic stability versus the stability of its foreign relations. However, both are vital to its future relations with the U.S.

by Alexis Bylander

ABSTRACT
Currently, 37 million people in the U.S. live below the official poverty line.1 They face several challenges but the most basic one often is ensuring that they have enough food to eat. Hunger contributes to a vicious cycle of poverty and although only a portion of people go hungry in the U.S., all Americans are impacted by the economic toll that hunger takes on the economy. The current state of hunger and poverty in America is pervasive and it is unlikely that any single program could address all of the complex issues poverty creates. However, there are several federal programs that provide people with basic necessities. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, plays a critical role in safeguarding Americans from hunger and is the most efficient way to provide hunger relief to millions of low-income Americans.

by Alison Grande, Jeanine Hall, Briana Murray, Nicole Merritt, Tramaine Brathwaite, Allison Frymoyer, Hsing-Yi Tsai, Saki Matsuda, Iris Lin

ABSTRACT
Recently, arts organizations have received more attention for their ability to revitalize their local economies and communities. Pittsburgh represents a city that is taking advantage of the benefits that a thriving arts community can provide. The following article is a summary of a feasibility study for a new organization, JAZZSPACE Pittsburgh, that would use Pittsburgh’s legacy of jazz as a conduit to unite the community. The feasibility study was conducted by a group of graduate students in the Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University, as part of a Master of Arts Management thesis project.

Terrorism, Security and Intelligence

by Amy Gergely

Abstract

Despite ideological claims that Islamists seek to dominate the world through their high fertility rates, this factor is insufficient to predict the potential for radicalization of large, young Muslim populations that can foment Islamist insurgencies and terrorist actions against Western targets. A better indicator of the potential of the population structures of Muslim populations to contribute to instability, antipathy toward the West, and the risk of terrorism is to view them in an economic context. High rates of unemployment and underemployment among the large numbers of young Muslim men in particular are an important contributing factor to the ability of terrorist leaders and warlords to recruit fighters to their causes. This paper examines the age structures and unemployment rates of countries with significant Muslim populations where terrorism activity was prevalent or from where terrorists were known to originate in 2007 – Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, Pakistan, and the Palestinian Territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank1 – to illustrate how the combination of young populations and lack of economic opportunities may be a better predictor of radicalization than age structure alone. While there are many other factors contributing to militant radicalization and the use of terrorist acts, an economic approach may help policymakers to better understand the importance of foreign economic aid and other non-military assistance to Muslim countries at risk of terrorism as a part of a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy.

Case Study: The Kashmir Conflict

by Shruti Vasudev

ABSTRACT
Kashmir has been at the centre stage of a six-decade-long conflict between India and Pakistan. In the last twenty years alone, over 45,000 lives have been lost in the Kashmir valley (Swami 175) (Ministry of Home Affairs 6). Many more died in the three wars that India and Pakistan have fought. Additionally, over 55,000 families have been forced out of their homes (Ministry of Home Affairs).
Changing economic realities have necessitated a shift in the way the two countries have traditionally looked at each other and have increased the focus of policy makers on peace initiatives. India understands that peace in the region is a prerequisite to maintaining high rates of economic growth it has witnessed in the last few years. Pakistan also recognizes that the India-Pakistan conflict has continued at the expense of its economic growth. Moreover, both nations now recognize their shared need for energy security.

This paper argues that economic cooperation between India and Pakistan can help to ensure the success of peace initiatives. This paper discusses the potential of the proposed Iran–Pakistan–India (IPI) Pipeline in initiating regional cooperation and incentivizing an end to the India-Pakistan conflict.
The paper is divided in three main sections: a background of the conflict and major stakeholders. the current status of the conflict, and the role of IPI pipeline in initiating regional economic cooperation and reducing tension between Indian and Pakistan.

I then briefly evaluate the threats that the IPI pipeline project faces. Finally, I propose the role that Pakistan government, Indian government and the international community can play to ensure that the project achieves its objectives.