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BACKGROUND Since its creation in 1789, the State Department has been crafting U.S. foreign policy and advising the President of the United States on foreign affairs. Diplomacy, the art of making negotiations that benefit both the diplomat's home country and the one in...

BACKGROUND Although the general public often uses the terms "refugee" and "migrant" interchangeably, it is important to understand the key distinctions that separate these two groups. For the purpose of this discussion, we will be utilizing the United Nations'...

BACKGROUND Cyber conflict and attacks are new and progressive technological threats that put information, networks and programs at risk to individuals and organizations looking to extract or interfere with information. Consequently, cyber security has developed to...

BACKGROUND Populism Definition: "At its root, populism is a belief in the power of regular people, and in their right to have control over their government rather than a small group of political insiders or a wealthy elite." The rise of populism tends not to be a...

2019 SWAC Fall Kick-Off September 12 | Amegy Bank Tower Come get a sneak peek of upcoming events, meet other SWAC members, learn about new initiatives and bridging cultural understanding from Vijay Goradia, founder of Vinmar International, and an Aramco...

BACKGROUND The U.S China trade war has been ongoing since early July of 2018, when Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Chinese products and China responded. So far the U.S has imposed tariffs on $250 billion worth of Chinese products. China has imposed tariffs on $110...

BACKGROUND The Trump administration has been taking a more proactive and hardline approach to nuclear negotiations during his term, rarely compromising and actively pushing the United States' agenda forward. In order to understand the importance of the developed...

BACKGROUND On July 14, 2015, Iran agreed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a historic nuclear accord, with six major world powers - U.S., Russia, U.K., China, Germany, and France - that would substantially reduce Iran's known nuclear abilities. These...

Objectives Students will: Work cooperatively to synthesize information from news sources Analyze the issues and controversies surrounding Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election Consider how a foreign government can influence a country’s...

Objectives Students will: Understand the constitutional basis and history of the State of the Union Address. Explore significant moments in twentieth century State of the Union Addresses and identify important historic themes. Collaborate with classmates to identify...

“What is Next for North Korea After the Singapore Summit?” Opening up the economy might prove risky for the North Korean regime After weeks of uncertainty about the planned US-North Korea summit, U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a...

BACKGROUND North Korea, a highly secretive communist state, is ruled by one of the world’s longest- running dynastic dictatorships. The Korean Peninsula was temporarily divided along the 38th parallel by the United States and Soviet Union after Korea was liberated...

1. NATO is seen favorably in many member countries, but almost half of Americans say it does too little Representatives from the 29 countries that form the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will gather for a summit this month in Brussels. The meeting takes...

Lesson Handout 1. Sustainable Development Environmental problems are considered a significant issue by the international community. Due to various factors such as population growth, urbanization, industrialization, and poverty, many countries are facing problems such...

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) BACKGROUND The nations of Europe struggled to rebuild their economies and ensure their securities after WWII, and Secretary of State George Marshall proposed a program of large-scale economic aid to Europe. The European...

China-Japan ties at ‘historic turning point’ after Shinzo Abe’s visit, but can the goodwill hold? Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s latest China visit marked a major effort to reset the tumultuous relations between the two Asian giants amid a backdrop of historical...

BACKGROUND Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Japan were severed in the war that followed Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor.1 After its devastating defeat in World War II, Japan adopted a U.S.-drafted peace constitution in 1946, but the rise of Communism caused...

HISTORY AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT The State Department known originally as the Department of Foreign Affairs, was approved by Congress and President George Washington in July 1789. In that same year its name was changed to the Department of State...