Brexit - Why it's important and what it means

Written By: Perrin Brown
Program Intern, World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Student, Georgia Washington University
Published: 7/18/2016

It seems Trump-like sentiments aren't unique to America.

Winston Churchill’s own contradictions on the United Kingdom’s relationship with Europe reflect the divisions felt by the kingdom’s subjects. Churchill spoke highly of a “United States of Europe,” and said that “if Britain must choose between Europe and the open sea, she must always choose the open sea.”

On June 23rd, the United Kingdom chose the open sea, embarking on a voyage that will be tempestuous and uncertain. Much attention has been given to the immediate effects: the pound’s decline, the market turmoil, the limbo in free-trade partnerships. More important, however, are two broad takeaways that say much about the state of Western politics:

• The populist, nationalist, isolationist trends of Old Europe are back and here to stay
• The sentiments that led to Brexit reflect a broader, darker trend in Western politics

The European Union, for all its flaws and dysfunction, enjoys one of the most strategic and sentimental victories in modern political history: after of a millennium of war, the EU has helped generate decades of prosperous peace in Europe. After the continent sleep-walked into World War I and collapsed into World War II, the EU fundamentally challenged the tendencies and tensions that had kept Europe at war for so long.

The EU integrated countries economically, maintained common, democratic political structures, and curbed the zero-sum nationalism responsible for so much previous violence. In this process, the EU created a single free-trade market, established central governance in Brussels, and drifted toward and away from an “ever closer union,” a goal stipulated in the 1957 Treaty of Rome.

Today, though, virtually every country in Europe, along with the United States, faces a rise in the political and economic sentiments the post-war movement fought to suppress. Authoritarianism, nationalism, populism, and isolationism are on the rise. In looking at the sentiments behind Brexit, one can easily substitute a comparison in the sentiments supporting Donald Trump in the U.S.:

• Deep mistrust in Brussels’ (Washington) ability to govern and deliver results
• Deep skepticism in the necessity of open markets and trade deals (TPP)
• A belief that foreign refugees (Mexican Immigrants) threaten the country economically and culturally
• Firm distrust in established political and economic elites
• A belief that retreating from the world stage is “taking your country back” (Making America Great Again!)

In the U.K., it didn’t matter that the vast majority of financial experts and leaders warned against Brexit. It didn’t matter that a bipartisan majority of elected members of parliament warned against Brexit. What mattered was a fundamental sentiment that international organizations were no longer necessary and that the political establishment was no longer in touch with the people.

The Guardian aptly noted that “Brexit is about more than the EU: it’s about class, inequality, and voters feeling excluded from politics.” The vote to leave the European Union was not merely a vote for increased independence and limited government. Brexit was a vote against globalization, establishment politics, and elitism.

The Washington Post put it more bluntly, saying that “the world’s losers are revolting.” In this context, Brexit put those who have benefitted from the new world order of globalization against those who have been left behind. Many of the leave voters had legitimate concerns against free-trade, open borders, and the smothering wrath of Brussels. While their grievances were understandable, they were lied to and deceived by hypocritical, fear-mongering politicians hoping to pursue their own nationalist agendas. The true crisis, then, is how easily these voters’ legitimate concerns were exploited to further nativist and isolationist ends.

The solution to curbing the rough edges of globalization is not to restrict free trade. That, as Barack Obama has said, is the last decade’s argument. The solution to Europe’s troubles is not to close borders and channel fear towards Muslim refugees, as Nigel Farage took such pleasure in doing.

Instead, leaders need to better take care of those who are naturally disenfranchised by the rough edges of globalization, and solve the collective refugee disaster by focusing on the roots of the problem. The U.S. presidential election features the same political divide, capitalized on by Donald Trump. His supporters have some legitimate concerns, but, once again, their chosen champion offers little beyond isolation and fear-mongering. Donald Trump’s trade and immigration policies would “make America recession-bound again,” according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Brexit reflects a dark inflection point in Western politics, showing that the true political divide is shifting away from liberal vs. conservative. As nationalism and populism take root, demagogic politicians will thrive. Hopefully, Brexit and Donald Trump will not lead Europe and the United States down the road of isolationism. As Thomas Friedman wrote, “then, like now, walls only make you poorer, dumber, and more insecure.” The U.K. has chosen the open sea, and it’s anyone’s guess what the rest of the West will decide. 

Training for Success

Written By: Alicia Griffiths

Program Intern, World Affairs Council of Atlanta

Student, Georgia Gwinnett College

Published: 5/19/2016

Three years ago, I entered Georgia Gwinnett College and joined Army ROTC. I immediately immersed myself in the military culture and built a second family with the other cadets in the program. Joining ROTC gave me a way to get involved in my community and learn a trade. I decided to make the Army a career in April, 2014 as I became dedicated to serving my nation.

Going though Army ROTC has challenged me more than I could have imagined and provided me with experiences most people do not get. I have undergone two cycles of summer training and conduct weekly training that has continuously pushed me to my limits. I have proved to myself that I can carry a ruck sack half my weight up a mountain and back down despite my bleeding feet. I can live in the woods with a poncho as my shelter and sticks as my bed and be happy about it. Moreover, I have gotten the opportunity to ride in a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter, shoot 249 and 240B assault rifles and be trained in infantry tactics.

Aside from the training experiences, I have gained a great deal of wisdom and knowledge about leadership and management. I have learned that one of the most important things about being successful is knowing how to interact with others and maintaining a positive attitude. My commander, CPT VanBuren, has taught me what it takes to be a real leader and not fall into toxic behavior. It is important to take care of your soldiers first, because if you take care of them, they will take care of you. He believes “You have to make your soldiers not just die for you but want to die for you. That is how I believe my soldiers were.” Another important aspect of leadership is having motivation. If you are not motivated to do something, neither will your subordinates.

My experience at Georgia Gwinnett College has contributed to my success and advancement in international relations. I am a Political Science major and Honors Program member. Taking this major and being in the Honors Program allowed me to learn about Homeland Security and International Terrorism, international Organizations such as the United Nations, International Law, and Comparative Politics. The recognition I have received from building relations with the Honors Program Director and other Faculty/Staff at GGC has put me in the position of representing the school at various political and educational events. These include three GOP dinners and the Student Conference on U.S. Affairs at West Point Military Academy. I have also learned how to make an impact in my own community by volunteering at the Children’s Shelter, conducting road clean-ups and serving as judges at JROTC events.

Winning an internship at the World Affairs Council of Atlanta has furthered my understanding of the global community and prepared me even more for my future career. I have had the opportunity to interview a global executive and learn the importance of education on international affairs. Participating in the programs exposes me to a network of people and raises my awareness of other cultures. Obtaining this internship also resulted in me being asked to deliver a speech at the Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society for International Studies, where I spoke about my study abroad, travel experience and WACATL internship.

I am now five weeks away from commissioning as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. I am to be stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, where there is a high possibility for me to be deployed to Kuwait upon arrival. I cannot be more excited and happy about starting the next phase of my life and furthering my career. If it were not for Georgia Gwinnett College, Army ROTC, and the World Affairs Council of Atlanta, I would not be where I am today.

Adventures on the Streets of Shanghai

Written By: Miringu Kiarie
Program Intern, World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Student, University of West Georgia
Published: 4/5/2016

Prior to this year I didn’t quite know what to expect of China. I didn’t want to go into the country with a ready-made rubric of experiences to be contrasted and checked off, I wanted to arrive in China with an open mind and a lot of curiosity. Of course, the study abroad classes I took this semester gave me interesting insights into the condition of China’s population and economy. I found out that China had the 2nd largest economy in the world behind the United States. I learned that the Communist State is home to 1.3 billion people. I also come across numerous reports that pollution was one of the biggest challenges China faced. By the time we were set to leave I had formed some ideas of what China would be like. I can sum them as follows: heavily populated, modern, and aesthetically pleasing.

As the plane descended into Beijing I was able to make out the dull, yellow haze of smog trapped within a city by surrounding mountains. Through the smog I could just make out some of the architectural patterns of the buildings and natural aesthetic of the surrounding landscape, it was at that point that I realized the renowned beauty and infamous pollution of China weren't just present but subtly striking. I’ve been in some poor air environments before but nothing like the sort in Beijing. Still, I didn’t mind it, I was more concerned for the long term health of the city’s residents. It was striking to see face masks litter the crowd throughout the day, it put the air quality of most American cities into perspective. That being said, even in the smog the splendor of China’s architectural feats were a sight to behold.

I had the opportunity to visit India a few months earlier and my first observation was that the streets were overflowing with vehicles. India appeared to be overpopulated and since China has even more people than India I was expecting a similar experience. However, I found both Beijing and Shanghai to be fairly spacious. When we arrived at the airport in Beijing it seemed as if we were the only ones there; the streets were similarly sparse at night. In both cities daytime traffic was often slow and backed up but oddly comparable to rush hour traffic on 285 in Atlanta.

I expected both cities to be heavily industrialized and skyscrapers to fill their horizon. This turned out to be true for the most part, more so for Shanghai than Beijing. The scope and depth of those cities was absolutely astounding. Starting from the center, it could take us 2 hours to travel to the outskirts of either city. This was especially impressive in Shanghai as most of the city was constructed in the last 25 years.

One thing that stood out to me while in China was the passion and drive students have for education. Our group had the opportunity to visit Shanghai University of International Business and Economics and talk with some of the students. Every student I talked to showed a deep desire for getting the best education they possible could. Some of the students I talked to took twenty classes a day. In addition their enthusiasm and the number of classes they took was the respect and gratitude they showed their teachers and facility.

Of all the business related visits we had the opportunity to take I would have to say that my favorite was our trip to Elee Logistics. It had neither the esteem of the U.S. embassy nor the rhythm of the Mercedes production floor but what it lacked in prestige and clockwork it made up for in insightful experience. The CEO’s talk on the dynamics and operations of his logistics company was a fascinating look at the role logistics plays in the transportation sector of China’s economy. 

As an economics major, the inner workings of China’s economy are of particular interest to me. As it turns out transportation may very well be the foundation upon which China builds its road to prosperity. The CEO mentioned the strides China has made in transportation infrastructure since his business began in 2001. China currently has 49,000 miles of expressways and 2.6 million miles of roads, double the amount they had in 2002. They are also investing heavily in their trains, planes and shipping lines. In 2007 China didn’t have a high speed railway, today it has the world’s fastest and largest network.

My Experience: Leading America: Foreign Policy Challenges and the 2016 Election

Written By: Stephen Tubman
Program Intern, World Affairs Council of Atlanta
Student, Georgia State University
Published: 1/5/2016

This year I had the pleasure and opportunity of attending the 2015 World Affairs Council of Atlanta National Conference. Among traveling through the notable Metro and making night trips through D.C. government buildings, monuments, and campuses, the WACA National Conference had so much more to offer. Hearing multiple perspectives and ideas from officials, members, and interns that operate or express interest in international issues and solutions was an exceptional experience, one that I definitely won’t forget. In this, I will share my thoughts and experiences in traveling and attending the WACA Conference in pertinent global issues are so much more than international, and issues that affect the Atlanta community.

The Trip
Reaching the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, I made my way to the D.C. Metro and onward to the Conference on Embassy Row. On my trip through the Metro, I made a couple of striking similarities and differences between Atlanta and D.C. One difference is that Hartsfield-Jackson is indeed a very busy airport, a characteristic that one hardly notices when it is the only airport they have known. Among the similarities, the very steep Dupont Circle station escalator strikes a resemblance to a, too, very steep escalator, MARTA’s Peachtree Center, in which I pass on my day-to-day commute. I arrived the Conference at Fairfax Hotel at Embassy Row, and I made it for the Evening Reception to meet other Council representatives and scholarship recipients. After which, I realized there was a diverse representation of interns from various disciplines, international affairs to business to education; and from countries and backgrounds, Ghana to Saudi Arabia. It was truly an “intern-national” experience. 

Conference Day 1

The Opening Dinner began with the Keynote speaker, Anne C. Richard. The Assistant Secretary of State Population, Refugees, and Migration spoke on the current refugee crisis in Syria to Europe and, importantly, the Obama administration's plan to bring about 10,000 Syrian refugees to the United States. Ms. Richard went on to explain the numerous NGOs and states roles, such as Germany, Greece, Italy and France, in the refugee crisis, and how active assistance has played a large role in the efficient handling of the large and increasing influx of migrants. Ms. Richard did not stop there. She also mentioned issues of immigration from Central American countries and Mexico. Explaining the concerns and implications of increasing migration for either refugees or migrants, and the state, Ms. Richard emphasizes that refugees and immigrants are, in almost all cases, fleeing for safety or a better life; a reason to which people should be more sympathetic to this issue.

Conference Day 2 

The Conference continued sessions of largely represented issues ranging from geopolitical issues, economic development, and environmental issues. As mentioned in the Ambassador Luncheon Keynote speaker, Robert Zoellick, Chairman of Goldman Sachs’ International Advisors, among other speakers, no issue in the world is wholly or fully independent of neighboring countries to countries overseas. For example in the Syria in Crisis session, in addition to the refugee crisis, ISIS in Syria has had global impact on the national security in countries such as the U.S. and, even more recently Lebanon, Beirut, and France. Moreover, ideas such as economic cooperation and development are concepts that deeply intertwine countries’ prosperity and economic success. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), which is a proposed free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States and seeks to promote multifaceted economic growth, illustrates this. Last but not least, environmental issues were expanded upon in the Artic: Challenges and Opportunities session. This session came in the increasing relevance and urgency of addressing concerns of climate change and the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. Reaffirmed by many of the panelists, there are many innovations and technologies that can be acquired and learned by from countries and, even the U.S. with the state of Alaska, where people have created technologies using sustainable energies, such as solar, to withstand and to adapt to extreme climate.

Conference Day 3 

The Conference concluded with a session on China, a think tank and a closing Luncheon Keynote done by R. James Woolsey Jr., appointed Chancellor of the Institute of World Politics and former Director of Central Intelligence. The final session, The China Factor, among many other previously addressed issues: China’s devastating pollution, human rights abuses and educational concerns, clarified to some extent the role of the U.S. as a world power, in the context of its relationship with China. China, as the panel explained, is a responsible stakeholder in the world and, as a result of the complexity of U.S.-China relationship; the relations between the two countries are consequential.  In addition to this session, the Think Tank at Peterson Institute for International Economics and the concluding keynote, in which Mr. Woolsey Jr. gave a speech on his concerns of the Iran Nuclear Deal, left me leaving the conference, not only thinking about the current and inevitable concerns of U.S. foreign policy, but ways that individuals, such as myself, my peers and members can contribute to possible solutions in the near future. How? By further educating communities through a continuous effort to communicate and serve as a convener for understanding international topics through, not only through Council programming but day-to-day conversation and civic engagement.

Cuban Pictures: Great Help in Reducing Soviet Nostalgia

Written By: Bakhtilie Fazylova
MPA, Georgia State University
Fulbright Student, Ukraine
Published: 6/16/2015

The recent news on Cuba reminded me of my childhood spent in then-Soviet Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country thousands of miles away from the Caribbean. At that time Uzbekistan, being part of the Soviet Union, had food shortages which I experienced as the absence of chocolate, cheese, and sausage in addition to some everyday necessities such as toothpaste. I still vividly remember going to a small store around the corner, with an enameled container and a 20-kopeek coin in my hand, somewhere between six and seven in the morning, in order to get a gallon of milk. Until the early 90s, all local stores in my neighborhood were state-run: loaves of brown bread and similar-looking pickle jars were lined up in straight rows to conceal the fact that there was little to sell. Despite all shortage, however, we could buy Cuban sugar, a seemingly odd item, considering the distance between two countries.


Not only the Cuban sugar, but all those rare pictures of Cuban non-tourist areas remind me of the Soviet Union. Just like in Cuba, the streets of my hometown were more walked than driven, and the photos of those times depict old “Moskvich” cars parked at shabby buildings all brightly lit by the hot sun. My parents had their wedding photo in front of a monument to Soviet guerrillas, a city landmark where every newly-wed couple would go on their wedding day. Symbols of those days - statues, portraits, badges, and banners of Lenin - depicted his face staring at us thoughtfully from every corner. Even my first memory of the kindergarten was of a large room that, apart from toys and folding beds, had a Lenin’s corner – a huge portrait placed on a bookshelf and decorated with flowers and red banners.

Similar to Cuba whose economy suffered after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Uzbekistan underwent an economic crisis when cotton, its main exported crop, was found to be hardly competent in the world market. Trying to become economically independent, the Uzbek government took a number of initiatives to develop small business and create new economic relations. It took some time to build new factories, grow new crops and develop distribution chains. Naturally, there was no Cuban sugar anymore, and for one year sugar was rationed and we had to buy it with “coupons” - paper stamps - that allowed each person to buy one pound of sugar per month. When political considerations had been eliminated from the equation, the local production made more sense than imports from the other side of the globe.

The economic interdependency created bizarre trade patterns in the Soviet world. At a time when we were eating Cuban sugar in Uzbekistan, the cotton that the Uzbek collective farms produced was transported to the Russian city Ivanovo. Being called the “capital” of Russian textile industry, Ivanovo made textiles and clothes which then were sold to the rest of Soviet republics, including that of Uzbekistan. Cheap fuel prices and a network of railroads allowed the Soviet Union to enjoy low transportation costs. They also made it possible to cement ties of friendship both among “brotherly republics” and outside of them. The long-term damage of such dependency to an individual nation was overlooked.

Now that the Soviet Union does not exist, we can observe its former republics and partners struggling at different stages of economic and political independence. Ordinary people in Uzbekistan and Cuba, the two countries that don’t look like they have anything in common, encounter some similar challenges, including nostalgia for “good old days”. Looking at recent news and pictures from Cuba, I personally feel happy to be outside of that system and I am probably among people who prefer not to return to those places even in my imagination.

Disclaimer: This is not an official Department of State website or blog, and the views and information presented are my own and do not represent the Fulbright Program of the U.S. Department of State.