Syria Withdrawal, Europe’s Far Right, Oppenheimer Mania, and More
This week at Inkstick Media.
Hello, everyone.
Have you checked your bank account more often lately? Well, you’re not alone. Welcome to a new era of austerity. As Justin Villamil writes, developing countries across the world are getting set to tighten their purse strings, and that leaves many — especially workers — in an increasingly precarious position.
Meanwhile, the costly US occupation of parts of Syria has continued. But with ISIS defeated and tensions rising across the map of the Middle East, it’s high time for the Biden administration to pull its troops from that country, argues Alexander Langlois.
That’s not all we’ve got at Inkstick. And if you’re not already, please follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
“A US Withdrawal from Syria Is a Win for US Interests and Partners” by Alexander Langlois (March 11)
Contrary to popular opinion, the United States and its local partners can benefit from a US withdrawal from Syria. Both have strong incentives to support this policy as alternative options will produce worse outcomes down the road. Washington should consider a complete drawdown of troops in Syria to ensure its security interests in West Asia.
“Will Foreign Policy Matter in the 2024 Elections?” by Adults in a Room (March 11)
With the United States involved in major crises across the globe, the question of how the presidential candidates will approach foreign policy is important as the election cycle revs up. While foreign policy usually takes a backseat to the economy as the primary issue voters care about, Biden and Trump may find that their plans for US engagement abroad could ultimately move the needle.
“The Scientist Who Should Have Been Featured in ‘Oppenheimer’” by William D. Hartung (March 12)
While his opposition to the development of the hydrogen bomb and his advocacy for international control of atomic energy were admirable, J. Robert Oppenheimer was also the man who rebuffed the efforts of his colleagues to hold off on using the bomb against human targets until its destructive power could be driven home through a demonstration explosion.
“US Lawmakers Can Take Advantage of ‘Oppenheimer’ Hype” by Danny Hall (March 12)
‘Oppenheimer’ offers a wake-up call about the catastrophic danger we all live under every moment of every day due to the continued existence of nuclear weapons. We need policymakers in Congress to move away from the tendency to rely on nuclear weapons for security and toward a new security paradigm that is not dependent on weapons that can end human civilization.
“Welcome to the New Age of Austerity” by Justin Villamil (March 13)
Most developing nations are set to restrict spending this year, and workers the world over are up in arms. While austerity has long featured in economic policy across the developing world, it’s a particularly difficult moment for it to resurface.
“How the US Christian Right Funds Anti-Abortion Activities Abroad” by Katy Fallon (March 13)
US Christian Rights groups have a long history of bankrolling anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ activities around the world. But after the repeal of Roe v. Wade in 2022, some of those groups have ramped up their efforts to support anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ efforts in Europe and Africa.
“Deep Dive: Europe’s Hard-Right Turn” by Emily Tamkin (March 14)
What, exactly, is behind the rise of support for populist radical right parties in Europe over the past several years? That is the question Oren Danieli, Noam Gidron, Shinnosuke Kikuchi, and Ro’ee Levy set out to answer in their new paper, “Decomposing the Rise of the Populist Radical Right.”
“In Gaza, Palestinians Try to Celebrate Ramadan Amid Israeli War” by Mohammed Ali* (March 14)
After more than five months of Israel’s war on the besieged coastal enclave, more than 31,000 Palestinians have been killed. When the holy month of Ramadan began on Monday, it did so against the backdrop of the worst war Gaza has endured yet. Still, families have tried to gather and celebrate.
“Storytelling and Unmaking the Nuclear Death-World” by Jasmine Owens (March 15)
A productive approach to re-examining the age of nuclear weapons and the oppressive systems that uphold them requires going beyond Oppenheimer and learning, showcasing, and building on the stories of the people who have been directly harmed by our nuclear infrastructure. We don't even need to leave the Manhattan Project to start.
- From the desk of Patrick Strickland, managing editor of Inkstick Media.