North Korea agrees to China's request for nuclear disarmament talks

            With the strong push of Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has inched closer to the table for six-party talks on nuclear disarmament that also involve the United States, South Korea, Japan, and Russia. A North Korean envoy states that the country wishes to concentrate on economic development and thus is open to working towards more peaceful relations with other countries. Both parties wish to cooperate in promoting stability on the peninsula and to strengthen ties with each other.

            Because China is the one country with the most access to North Korea’s decision-makers, it is crucial that President Xi Jinping prioritize the success of the talks in ending Pyongyang’s nuclear proliferation. But such six-party talks have failed in the past: beginning in 2003, the talks were created in response to North Korea breaking the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. North Korea left these talks in 2009 when the United Nations Security Council resolved to impose heavier sanctions on the former for a nuclear test than in years past. Since then, Pyongyang has refused to acknowledge the world’s disapproval of its currently running nuclear weapons program. The country’s bitter threats of war against the United States these past few years never existed as true actions. Although the world breathes a sigh of relief in China’s stronger encouragement for nuclear disarmament in North Korea, will North Korea truly consider ceasing to develop nuclear weapons?

            Many citizens believe that North Korea will not return to an agreement like that of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty; more likely, North Korea will settle for no less than a certain, agreed-upon number of nuclear ballistic missiles. Again, this is only if the six-party talks really proceed and end in agreement between countries that, for years now, have developed hostile relations. At the very least, however, China’s move is a hope for mollified tension.

About Us: Rex Peel

Describe yourself.
I am a pragmatic and honest person who feels committed to making the United States of America an even better place than it already is. I am inspired by key figures in American history and I am intrigued by the US government. People often tell me that I have a varied set of interests. I enjoy keeping up with current events, as well as working on old cars and riding my motorcycle in my free time. I am drawn to post-World War II American culture and I aspire to work for the federal government upon my graduation from college.

How did you become interested in International Relations?
I have always been interested in what is happening around the world at any given time. However, what really boosted my curiosity and understanding of the complex matter of foreign affairs was Mr. Phillips' class on International Relations. Mr. Phillips devotes all of his time to his IR class and to our expansion of knowledge and it shows. Because of my experience in his class, I feel that I am better prepared to serve the American public when I am eventually part the United States government. As time goes on, I seem to become more interested in international politics and the coordination between groups from different parts of the world. The more I learn, my perspective broadens and my vision of what is happening around the globe and its effect on the United States becomes clearer.

Favorite topics/focuses relating to International Relations?
My favorite aspect of International Relations is that of national security and defense. It is the most dynamic in my view. The military role of the United States around the world is constantly changing, as is the the manner in which the government copes with foreign threats.

What you plan on majoring in, in the future?
I am going to be working on a mechanical engineering major at Virginia Tech over the next four years. Even if I may not pursue a career as an engineer, I have always been intrigued by machines and I believe the practical and logical approach to problems that I will acquire with an education in engineering can be applied to nearly every profession. I will minor in political science.

Character/public figure you hope to emulate?
There are many people whom I look up to, but the greatest of them all is undoubtedly George Washington. He was a farmer who was arguably the best general that this nation's military ever had. He was reluctant to serve as the first president of the United States, but because of his devotion to his country and respect for his peers who unanimously elected him for the job, he decided to make the sacrifice, putting off his own personal interests for the benefit of the nation.

Why did you join the Plenipotentiaries?
I joined the Plenipotentiaries because I was confident that it would be an excellent opportunity to not only discuss my own views on global matters, but also to learn from my colleagues and develop more educated opinions.

What do you hope to do after leaving Mills?
I hope that I will be successful in college and take advantage of all of the opportunities that Virginia Tech provides. Subsequently, I plan to serve the United States government in either one of the branches of the armed forces or a federal agency.

Globalization and the American Worker

These past few weeks have been long. I am finally wrapping up my high school career and moving on to bigger and better things. It has been a while since my last post, but now I'm back.

      Those who know me understand that I am a strong advocate of foreign aid and other forms of United States international affairs, or at least I hope that they do. I believe that this nation's superpower status deeply relies on its relationships with other nations, both industrialized and developing. Trade between the USA and its economic partners is imperative to maintain the global economy. In no way do I believe that the United States of America should isolate itself. But I have one concession to make.
     In the 1980s, American manufacturing firms began moving a great deal of their labor from their home to poor, developing nations in East Asia and South America. They claimed, accurately, that products manufactured by this cheaper labor would bring a higher profit margin and help United States corporations sell their products for a lower cost. The public understandably welcomed this change. After all, they would be paying less for just about everything they could buy.
     The true cost of this change, however, was considerably higher than people believed. It was also dangerously invisible. Companies saw their bottom lines remain stagnant while others were seeing huge increases since exploiting cheap labor in China, Bangladesh, and India. They inevitably panicked. They laid off workers and shut down factories that in some cases had been in operation for over a century (see Levi's). Working men and women were left out in the cold. Too many factory workers struggled to support their families. Their kids went hungry. The government was not untouched. Unemployed factory workers were not able to pay taxes. Instead, they needed to borrow from their countrymen to sustain themselves, putting them to shame. Schools were closed and essential services such as police and fire were cut back because of the newfound (and currently remaining) budget deficits.
     There has also been a more subtle detractor to outsourcing. American corporations such as Boeing and General Electric that spend a great deal of capital on research and development have moved much of their manufacturing to nations that have very little regard for intellectual property. The rate of reverse engineering of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner wings, GE's jet engine parts, and other high technology products is quite high, proving that outsourcing is not only detrimental to the United States, but is also a poor business decision.
     Factories and the workers that operated them have effectively made the United States an industrial and economic giant. Since the colonists first landed at Jamestown, the integrity of this great nation was built upon the promise of the American worker. Businesses that put money ahead of morality in conjunction with free trade are unraveling the fabric that has maintained the industrial power of the United States.
     In order to clarify my purpose, I will concede that I am relatively conservative. I believe in capitalism and the free market. I understand the importance of the private sector in the United States and appreciate its efficiency and dedication to performance. However, in my eyes, the American worker should always come first. In my eyes, the conservative state of mind revolves around the idea of the value of the individual. Betraying American workers by replacing them with the foreign working poor does not respect the value of the individual.
     The modern world is a global one, and I truly believe that this nation is committed to making the world a better place. In order for the United States to remain strong and capable of providing foreign aid, its people need to realize the true cost of outsourcing and understand the value of the American worker.

About Us: Justin Li

Describe yourself:
      I have been described as an analytical person with "chronic euphoria." My opinion is that world events are more interesting in the past tense and science is more exciting the future tense, and most of the research that I do for fun reflect that. Outside of studies, I'm an avid reader, gamer, and writer, quite possibly with an overactive imagination.


How did you become interested in International Relations?
      My dad introduced me to strategy games at a very young age, so I picked up on the basic ideas behind politics and history pretty quickly. For me, the motivations and effects behind history came easily, and International Relations was an extension of that, except that everything is in the present instead of the past. 
      Unlike what seems to be the norm, growing up as a Chinese-American child has been utterly unremarkable for me. I didn't have very many conflicts trying reconcile my heritage and my environment, despite, or maybe because, I spent most of my school years in an American school system with an Asian majority.
      I did, however, focus more intensely on Western history than I did on Asian history, probably because most historical strategy games are developed by western companies for western consumers. There may have also been the issue that there are relatively few books on Asian history written by culturally Asian authors in English.
      Who said games rot the brain?

Favorite topics/focuses, regarding International Relations?
      I don't have much of a mind for remembering recent events or names of prominent public figures, however, I do enjoy analyzing the potential motivations behind world events and extrapolating potential actions that could result. I believe that by using history as a starting point, any action committed by a political entity can be understood and analyzed for future actions.

What you plan on majoring in, in the future?
      Biology, or failing that, some other science. Not that I lack passion in International Relations, but I really am a shy and introverted person. I really don't think a future that requires such a high level of human interaction is for me. 

Character/public figure you hope to emulate?
      I have no idea. As far as public figures go, I was fairly determined to make my own way in the world. I still am.

Why did you join the Plenipotentiaries?
      Alexis sent an email one day about writing a blog. It hit me out of the blue but I jumped on because it's not every day that I get to write about something I'm passionate about.

What do you hope to do after leaving Mills?
      I hope to do what everyone else hopes to do, make enough money doing a job I love to live life. Odds are, because of my science focus, I won't be out of college for quite a few years, but after that, anything goes. I would like to travel, maybe revisit the places my parents took me as a child, but this time seeing the world through a more mature (and physically higher) perspective.

About Us: Alexis Dale-Huang

Decorations at an outdoor bakery in Meinong, Taiwan.

1. Describe yourself:

I would describe myself as a perpetually curious and nostalgic individual, with interests varying from the Chinese language, to eating foreign delicacies and studying contemporary American politics.  I also have slight obsessions with Coldplay and J. Crew.

2. How did you become interested in International Relations?

Coming from a biracial background, I genuinely think it is important to fully understand your own culture(s), but also the cultures of others around the globe.  I grew up in a household with what my friends like to call, “switched parents”: my Taiwanese father is considered “white-washed” due to his preppy style and inability to read and write Mandarin, while my Caucasian mother is currently a Chinese history professor, fluent in Mandarin, and knowledgeable of Chinese cuisine and customs.  After struggling to really understand the disparities between my two cultures, and eventually seeing them, I became interested in learning more about cultures other than my own by reading novels by writers such as Haruki Murakami, Khaled Hosseini, and Rohinton Mistry.  With these readings, I gradually developed a passion for history, foreign languages, and politics, and discovered International Relations with my mother’s guidance. 

I quote my English teacher as I state, “context determines meaning,” in this setting.

3. Favorite topics/focuses, regarding International Relations?

Although I often invest my free time reading up on Asian culture and the histories of nations in the Pacific Rim, I have recently discovered an interest in human rights in oppressed countries, and the cultural aspects that affect the politics of such societies. 

4. What you plan on majoring in, in the future?

I have declared a major in International Relations, and hope to either double major in Communications, or minor in Asian Studies.

5. Character/public figure you hope to emulate?

I’m afraid I can’t answer this; there are too many!

6. Why did you join the Plenipotentiaries?

My colleague, Marie Johnson, and I originally created this blog to allow ourselves to conduct more in-depth research on our topics of interest.  Yet, as the blog grew, I found that I was able to not only become more aware of what was going on in all parts of the world, but was also able to educate my fellow peers through my posts, and ultimately have a better experience in the process.

7. What do you hope to do after leaving Mills?

As I begin my studies at my selected four-year university next year, I hope to study either French or Arabic in college, while continuing my Mandarin, and plan on studying abroad several times with my university’s various programs.  While my main goal for the next four years is to continue exploring all of my interests in school and eventually find the career that fits with them. I also hope to return to my original hometown of Washington, D.C. 

Soft Power

      Soft Power, according to Joseph S. Nye, is a country's ability to attract others to its point of view. In other words, it is a "pull" factor in getting others to work toward a country's goals. In terms of a metaphor, it is a carrot dangled in front of a pig. Hard Power, on the other hand, is a country's ability to force others to serve its goals. Going back to the pig metaphor, this would be the stick that threatens to hit the pig should it disobey.
      Soft Power would be like the United States to get another country, say Great Britain to join in an economic agreement because that would be beneficial to both countries. Hard Power would be like the United States getting a trade agreement out of Japan because a squadron of armored gunships appeared in Tokyo harbor and it would be incredibly unwise to refuse at that moment.
      According to Nye, Soft Power comes from having an attractive culture, upstanding political values, and moral foreign policies. In his article in Foreign Policy magazine, he notes that America's substantial Soft Power comes from its culture. It makes sense to seek economic partnerships with American business because of its economy power all across the globe. At the same time, American politics stay true to American morals and its foreign policy is ostensibly aimed towards improving living conditions. (That improving living conditions coincide with advancing American interests is probably why one can both love and hate American policy overseas at the same time.) Additionally, the diffusion of American culture throughout the world makes Americans seem less scary, in contrast to our often-skewed perceptions of other countries.
      On the other hand, Nye talks about China and Russia's heavy-handed attempts to use Soft Power, which are portrayed as misguided and misunderstood. Both countries strike me as reminiscent of the to-be-colonized peoples of the European Imperial Age trying to buy firearms but not adopt the industry and discipline necessary to fight back effectively.
      China invests in Africa to combat poverty and builds schools in Manila, but continues to crack down on human rights. Russia's Putin talks about the need to use Soft Power but uses his military on Georgia. Already, they've shot themselves in the criteria that call for upstanding political values and foreign policies. The only thing that remains is having an attractive culture, of which China has some, and Russia has little. Russia, incidentally, also has few allies, while China has strong trade relations because of its manufacturing base.
     In the absence of substantial Chinese cultural diffusion, it has to keep its Soft Power policies afloat by being a massively powerful economy, which it does with aplomb. There is a phrase I heard once that would sum up China's Soft Power cornerstone for the time being: "If God made everything, He would live somewhere in China."
      If China and Russia want to have things their way by doing the political equivalent of asking nicely, they'll have to prove themselves to be "nice" countries first.

So... I Bought a Llama

   Yes, I actually bought a llama.

   While going through my family’s daily dose of L.L. Bean, J. Crew and Pottery Barn catalogs during last year’s holiday season, I found a smaller catalog, with a sheep on the cover that immediately caught my attention.  Upon seeing the Heifer International logo on the bottom of the cover, I began to recall the church announcements I often heard around the holiday season, regarding Heifer International and how you can literally buy a cow for somebody in another country for only a small sum of money.  Curious, I flipped through the catalog to see what the options were, and finally saw a llama – a gift surprisingly fun and affordable, with its price of $150.

   Based in Little Rock, Arkansas, Heifer International is a global nonprofit organization that works to eradicate hunger and poverty worldwide.  As a way to meet the needs of families and individuals in over the forty countries impacted so far, Heifer International offers a wide variety of donation options, ranging from sending a girl to school, to starting a business, to buying goats.  In operation since 1944, Heifer International has helped over 18 million families around the globe restart their lives, and build a sense of hope within each of the communities affected.

While I still have yet to watch the movie,
I have heard it is just as intellectually fulfilling
and eye-opening as the book.

   As I was reading Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn’s novel, Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, at the time, I was inspired by the novel’s stories of the attempts women made to recreate lives for themselves in their oppressed circumstances.  Thus, I decided to take advantage of the opportunity Heifer International offered, and began to save up for my llama as my paychecks began to come in.

   I will admit that I was skeptical of Heifer International, at first, and felt uneasy as I began to save up my money.  Yet, after doing my research, I was able to find Heifer International mentioned in not only the foreign aid packets I received in my International Relations class, but also in smaller online newspapers, and the New York Times, with an article written by Kristof, himself!  With this reassurance, I gradually saved up all of my money, and finally made my purchase last December, in hopes that the recipient family would receive their llama before the New Year.

   While I sometimes wonder how the recipient family's llama is doing, wherever it is in the world, it still feels incredible to know that I was able to invest my money in something worthwhile.  Thus, if you’re ever feeling generous, or are just curious about Heifer International and its donation options, I highly recommend looking on Heifer International’s website.  Who knows, maybe you will want to buy something, too!

     Heifer International also allows you to make donations under somebody else’s name.  I know several people that have bought each other various animals for each other’s birthdays and holiday gifts, and they have all been very happy with their purchases.