Around the World
France’s response to last Friday’s terror attacks has been swift, with numerous bombings of Islamic State targets in Syria and police raids in and around Paris. In the wake of the attacks, World Policy Journal sought out reactions from Paris-based writers. French journalist Sasha Mitchell argues that the isolation felt by French Muslims is providing a dangerous breeding ground for domestic extremism, while Nellie Peyton offers an American perspective, noting the subtle divide between U.S. and French policymakers over who should take the lead in confronting the Islamic State.
Peter Atwater, a financial analyst, then argues that acts of terrorism and paranoia are typically responses to perceptions of uncertainty. The Islamic State’s behavior can thereby be connected to falling oil revenues and ramped-up international involvement in Syria and Iraq.
Meanwhile, France’s national soccer team, whose stadium was targeted during Friday’s attacks in Paris, represents both the growing diversity of French society and the marginalization that many Muslim immigrants still experience. Fair Observer’s James Dorsey argues that Western governments must respond to Islamic State terrorism by addressing the rampant Islamophobia that continues to alienate migrant communities.
Finally, in this week’s episode of World Policy On Air, Damaso Reyes comments on Sweden backtracking on several of its commitments to aid Syrian refugees prior to last week’s tragic events in Paris. He articulates the growing pressures on EU member states to close their doors to refugees fleeing terror and tyranny.
Around the Institute
World Policy Institute will be partnering with The Economist on its Cuba Summit in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 3. The recent shift in U.S.-Cuban relations gives a further boost to Cuba’s integration with the global economy, opening a new frontier for international companies. With in-depth insight and analysis and a distinctly global perspective, the Cuba Summit will explore the most pressing issues facing potential investors in Cuba. Hear from Economist editors, senior leaders, and those most familiar with Cuba to learn how to navigate the short- and long-term risks and opportunities of doing business there. Save $400 on the standard rate when you register with our special code: WPI400. Sign up here.
Book Releases
Siddharth Dube has written a new book, No One Else: A Personal History of Outlawed Love and Sex. The launch is Friday, Nov. 20 in New Delhi. The memoir chronicles his own struggle as a gay man in India and his advocacy work at both the national and international levels. Excerpts can be read in The Caravan and Himal.
Kavitha Rajagopalan’s book The Testing and Learning Revolution: The Future of Assessment in Education was released on Nov. 5. The book discusses how assessment can become a more integrated tool in education, improving both teaching and learning rather than merely serving as a means to score and rank students and schools.
Fellow Updates
Alon Ben-Meir is hosting an on-the-record discussion with Ambassador Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, U.N. High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations. The event is at New York University on Tuesday, Nov. 24. Register here.
Patricia DeGennaro was interviewed for Brazilian magazine Istoé about the Islamic State and the Paris attacks.
Nina Khrushcheva gave a presentation titled “U.S. Policy on Putin’s Russia” at the Aspen Institute on Friday, Nov. 13.
James H. Nolt’s article “Crises and the Myth of the Money Supply” was published in the peer-reviewed journal Class, Race and Corporate Power.
Kavitha Rajagopalan appeared on MSNBC’s “Changing America” on Nov. 17 to discuss Islamophobia in the aftermath of the Nov. 13 terrorist attacks in Paris.
Programming Note: In observance of Thanksgiving, we will not have a newsletter next Friday. We will return to our regularly scheduled programming the following week.
*****
*****
Don’t forget to sign up for our weekly newsletters to find out the latest from the pages and website of World Policy Journal. Whether your interests are in emerging markets, the environment, urban informality, or just the most insightful perspectives on global events from across the world, World Policy has you covered. Subscribe today!