The Compass

The George Washington University’s

Undergraduate International Affairs Blog

Sankar Harikrishnan Sankar Harikrishnan

A Crisis of Legitimacy: Why Efforts to Reduce Chinese Industrial Subsidies are Doomed to Fail

Chinese government subsidies to the country’s industry have been among the most aggravating and contentious points in the US-China relationship over the past 15 years. To deal with the issue of China's unfair trade practices, the US has tried several approaches, including tariffing Chinese goods and creating legal hurdles to investment. By examining recent developments in the US-China trade relationship and China's internal political and economic pressures, this article attempts to explain why such US efforts are unlikely to see much success.

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Tanish Bijur Tanish Bijur

The Emperor Has No Clothes On: Trump 2.0

The Op-Ed compares Trump 2.0 to the Danish fairytale 'The Emperor's New Clothes' by examining the impact of President Trump's conduct concerning the war in Gaza and his meetings with heads of state so far.

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Julian Sherrod Julian Sherrod

Ishiba Diplomacy and What it Means for the US Latticework in the Indo-Pacific

While Ishiba's diplomatic outlook has been different than the views of his predecessors, this could be used to the advantage of the US. Ishiba has been more pro-Chinese than his predecessors and seems willing to work together with China on common issues. With US leadership in question throughout the world, and a possible Japan-US fallout looming over tariffs, now is the time to see what impact Ishiba's diplomatic strategy would have on the US' latticework strategy to unite the Indo-Pacific through a multitude of agreements between nations and whether it is possible to incorporate Ishiba's diplomacy into the US' strategy.

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Ayush Patel Ayush Patel

History of United States’ Relation to Greenland

This article looks at the history of US interest in Greenland, focusing on the changing motives behind its strategic importance over time. Recent comments from the Trump Administration have brought a spotlight to the historic trends of involvement with Greenland, shifting as a result of geopolitical, economic, and military priorities. From resource-driven interest to strategic involvement, this paper looks at the fluctuation of interest through administrations and foreign policy doctrines. Greenland has remained an important point of interest in the region.

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Julian Sherrod Julian Sherrod

US Steel and 7-Eleven: Examples of Protectionism with Diverging Goals

While protectionism has been prominent for the past couple of decades in the realm of international affairs, nations have different ways of applying it. In the instances of 7-Eleven and US Steel, these two companies have been subjected to protectionist policies from foreign companies that wish to take them over, but these processes have diverged greatly. The takeover of 7-Eleven has been a standard process which provides security and reassurance to both sides, while the takeover of US Steel has been fraught with tension and challenges that have brought strain to the Japan-US relationship.

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Tanish Bijur Tanish Bijur

The Ghosts of Bromance Past & Present and the Feuds Yet to Come: US-India Relations Under Trump 1.0 & 2.0

The bromance between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi has been well documented through their compliments and the rallies they throw for each other. During Mr. Trump's first term, despite the clash over trade and tariffs, the two leaders signed security deals and Mr. Trump helped Mr. Modi out with consistent non-interference in Indian affairs. Now, President Trump returns to the White House with an unapologetically “America First” agenda. India’s role in the Quad has certainly caught his attention but so has its engagement with BRICS and its trade deficit with the US. Today, US-India relations are more uncertain than ever before.

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