EXAMS

Whew. What a week. Actually, I should say 16 weeks. My examinations are over, meaning my taught part of the MPhil program is complete. On Friday morning I went in for my final "invigilated exam" at the University of Cambridge. Ever.

A little background: University of Cambridge has a very different methodology from the American system that most readers here are used to. Instead of the semesters being divided up with mid-terms, finals, and papers, the course simply runs through until the end at which time there is one, final, comprehensive exam, for each course. Each exam is invigilated by an "invigilator" who shows up in his black cambridge robe, a testament to the fact that Cambridge is still knee-deep in tradition. And what do we do? Just write. Write on 2 topics over a course of three hours, an exception being international law, where we had to write in brief-style format on one topic in three hours.

So Monday was nearly upon me, and several of my housemates were saying "Oh, you are so lucky, I wish I could have my exams already" (as the IR exams are earlier than some of the others), and I wanted to react by doing this: (100% disclosure, copied from Tori's blog, because this brought me more of a laugh this week than anything else).

Monday came though, and the sun was shining. I never knew how much the sun affected me until this year. So I went on a morning run to clear my head, and then headed to my first exam on Middle East and North African Politics. I want to comment on my courses and post the questions for you all because I think that the topics are relevant for today, particularly in regards to formulating U.S. Foreign Policy and considering how the Middle East can and should be approached from a U.S., or even simply "Western", perspective. There is not necessarily a "right" or "wrong" answer, but they do provoke thought and although they were exam questions for me, I think they are questions that everyone interested in these subject areas should be asking.

1) Is the Middle East a regional system or are sub-regional relationships more important in explaining events since independence?

What I think: I know this question looks really broad and generic, but it is actually very valid, and relevant. The policies of the GCC, particularly Saudi Arabia, in contrast to say, Iran, really demonstrates the struggle for hegemonic power going on within the Middle East itself. Policies of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt are directly influenced by the Arab-Israeli Conflict, in particular since the aftermath of the 1967 war, while the Gulf's policy is much more focused on economic development and resources, namely, oil. This also explains the forms of government in the region and why they are the way they are (And also why ideas like pan-Arabism and pan-Islamism fail. The Middle East is, by no stretch of the imagination, one homogenous entity and should not be treated as such.)

2) Is the "Shi'a arc of extremism" a useful conceptual tool in analysing Iran's relations with Europe and the United States?

What I think: Answered simply, no. If we have learned anything from boxing Iran into the "Axis of Evil" and subsequently (though not necessarily directly related), their belligerent behavior, it is that we are too quick to box Iran into the "Extremist" camp. An Islamic Republic does not equate to an Extremist camp, and Iran's behavior is more likely a reflection of Iran vying for hegemony in the region rather than a reflection of a growing Shi'a alliance, bent towards extremism, in the Middle East. They want legitimacy and among other things, are searching for that through the development of nuclear power. This is not my endorsement of such behavior, but it is me saying that marginalizing Iran using broad generalizations is not useful in moving forward.

*An interesting argument that takes this further is from Time Magazine in December 2009, where Obama's Iran policy (linked to Afghanistan) could be paralleled to Nixon's China policy (linked to Vietnam, the Cold War and containment). Here is the Article.

Exam two came straight after, International Security on Tuesday morning. This is where I have to give credit to two phenomenal IR professors I had at the University of Utah, Adam Luedtke (my senior thesis advisor), and Steven Lobell. It was knowledge gained back in their courses that, at least partially, carried me through this exam as this course, in particular, lacked in structure and theory. Throughout the year, our seminars were like coffee shop conversations more than structured dialog on the security topics. That said, it was still useful to see a more constructivist, British approach, to IR.

1) 'A nation is a society responding as a unit. What is it that gives a society this national unity? The answer is common norms... The key, therefore, to the understanding of any nation and to the specification of those of its properties which will determine its international relations is to be found when the major common norms of its people are determined.' (FSC Northrop). How are such norms passed on from one generation to another, and what other factors decide a nation's security policy?

So, more than anything, I wish that I could have questioned this statement by Northrop. I do not agree that when a nation is responding as a unit, it is necessarily a reflection of the common norms of a society. This is a very, very, constructivist statement, and by providing that as an uncontested assertion to discuss in the exam, it proves how constructivist the thinking is here at Cambridge (whereas in America, there is still a strong Realist dominance in IR). That said, I do agree with the latter portion of this quotation that emphasizes the need to recognize another nation's norms (or culture, identity, politics) in determining foreign policy. Iraq and Afghanistan are the most recent examples where much more of this could, and should have been, taken into consideration, rather than merely looking at strategic advantages.

2) 'Most important amongst these principles and guidelines [for UN peacekeeping] are respect for the sovereignty of the State, non-interference in matters under the jurisdiction of a State and the requirement of consent of all concerned parties for such operations.' (Indian submission to the UN, 1993) Is effective peacekeeping possible under these constraints?

Well, thank you Dr. Weller from international law for providing the base to answer this question. What I believe, is that if UN Peacekeeping missions are not fundamentally set on the principle of territorial integrity (a founding principle of the UN Charter), then effectiveness will be inhibited. That said, there are a lot of factors that contribute to peacekeeping ineffectiveness, and until those are addressed, of course this will also serve as an additional constraint. (Get ready for more peackeeping posts, as my dissertation is going to tackle this issue at great depth).

After a couple of days of break, and some assistant from my legal experts across the pond on how to write a brief (aka dad and tori), I went into my Friday law exam ready to just be done. This exam provided some humor. Our course instructor also showed up in his gown (and can I say this is also the man who is the main lawyer for Kosovo, has a grandfather clock, espresso machine and china tea cups in his office and offers such a cup, and a cookie, to every student who sits in one of his 19th century leather chairs). Quite the character.

The case I chose to write on was regarding the legality of use of force, which, in international law, can only be legally justified by a question of self-defense (an armed attack), or a matter of collective security (via a UN Ch. VII resolution). It was basically a combination of the first and second Gulf Wars and since it was not explicitly a "real case", he changed the names.

So, we were dealing with "Imak's" invasion of "Kumwait" and "Kumait's" response aided by the "United Mates". I had to write a speech to the UN regarding the legality of maximum use of force, on behalf of Secretary of State "Hillary Minton." I was definitely not the only person laughing as I read through the question, and appreciated that in what was most definitely the most difficult exam of the week, that Dr. Weller could provide us with a little humor to ease up the tension and nerves.

And so it was, 9 hours of examinations, 16 weeks of course and seminars, and my course-work at Cambridge is complete. In celebration of the end, I invited all the students from the ward and a couple of housemates over for an "Afternoon Tea" celebration, which was really root-beer floats complemented by Heather's delicious homemade banana bread cupcakes. I needed something American in celebration of surviving the system, and root beer definitely fit the bill (and is also more baby-friendly than, say, a pint of guinness :) The brits loved them too..

David Brooks

Never thought I'd give him a solo shout-out on a blog, but here goes.

Shout out to David Brooks for this op-ed (and to the Norwegian olympic team as well!)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/opinion/02brooks.html?ref=todayspaper

March 2, 2010

OP-ED COLUMNIST

The Hard and the Soft

By DAVID BROOKS

The United States, a nation of 300 million, won nine gold medals this year in the Winter Olympics. Norway, a nation of 4.7 million, also won nine. This was no anomaly. Over the years, Norwegians have won more gold medals in Winter Games, and more Winter Olympics medals over all, than people from any other nation.

There must be many reasons for Norway’s excellence, but some of them are probably embedded in the story of Jan Baalsrud.

In 1943, Baalsrud was a young instrument maker who was asked to sneak back into Norway to help the anti-Nazi resistance.

His mission, described in the book “We Die Alone” by David Howarth, was betrayed. His boat was shelled by German troops. Baalsrud dove into the ice-covered waters and swam, with bullets flying around him, toward an island off the Norwegian coast. The rest of his party was killed on the spot, or captured and eventually executed, but Baalsrud made it to the beach and started climbing an icy mountain. He was chased by Nazis, and he killed one officer.

He was hunted by about 50 Germans and left a trail in the deep snow. He’d lost one boot and sock, and he was bleeding from where his big toe had been shot off. He scrambled across the island and swam successively across the icy sound to two other islands. On the second, he lay dying of cold and exhaustion on the beach.

Two girls found and led him to their home. And this is the core of the story. During the next months, dozens of Norwegians helped Baalsrud get across to Sweden. Flouting any sense of rational cost-benefit analysis, families and whole villages risked their lives to help one gravely ill man, who happened to drop into their midst.

Baalsrud was clothed and fed and rowed to another island. He showed up at other houses and was taken in. He began walking across the mountain ranges on that island in the general direction of the mainland, hikes of 24, 13 and 28 hours without break.

A 72-year-old man rowed him the final 10 miles to the mainland, past German positions, and gave him skis. Up in the mountains, he skied through severe winter storms. One night, he started an avalanche. He fell at least 300 feet, smashed his skis and suffered a severe concussion. His body was buried in snow, but his head was sticking out. He lost sense of time and self-possession. He was blind, the snow having scorched the retinas of his eyes.

He wandered aimlessly for four days, plagued by hallucinations. At one point he thought he had found a trail, but he was only following his own footsteps in a small circle.

Finally, he stumbled upon a cottage. A man named Marius Gronvold took him in. He treated Baalsrud’s frostbite and hid him in a remote shed across a lake to recover.

He was alone for a week (a storm made it impossible for anyone to reach him). Gangrene invaded his legs. He stabbed them to drain the pus and blood. His eyesight recovered, but the pain was excruciating and he was starving.

Baalsrud could no longer walk, so Gronvold and friends built a sled. They carried the sled and him up a 3,000-foot mountain in the middle of a winter storm and across a frozen plateau to where another party was supposed to meet them. The other men weren’t there, and Gronvold was compelled to leave Baalsrud in a hole in the ice under a boulder.

The other party missed the rendezvous because of a blizzard, and by the time they got there, days later, the tracks were covered and they could find no sign of him. A week later, Gronvold went up to retrieve Baalsrud’s body and was astonished to find him barely alive. Baalsrud spent the next 20 days in a sleeping bag immobilized in the snow, sporadically supplied by Gronvold and others.

Over the next weeks, groups of men tried to drag him to Sweden but were driven back, and they had to shelter him again in holes in the ice. Baalsrud cut off his remaining toes with a penknife to save his feet. Tired of risking more Norwegian lives, he also attempted suicide.

Finally, he was awoken by the sound of snorting reindeer. A group of Laps had arrived, and under German fire, they dragged him to Sweden.

This astonishing story could only take place in a country where people are skilled on skis and in winter conditions. But there also is an interesting form of social capital on display. It’s a mixture of softness and hardness. Baalsrud was kept alive thanks to a serial outpouring of love and nurturing. At the same time, he and his rescuers displayed an unbelievable level of hardheaded toughness and resilience. That’s a cultural cocktail bound to produce achievement in many spheres.

No less than the trees and the stars

A good friend here in Cambridge sent this to me this evening. Although his intention in sending it was merely to follow up on a previous literary conversation, it was the most fitting piece of prose poetry I could receive to put things into perspective amid all the stress of these past few days, and the days to come.

In his words "cliched, yes, familiar, yes, but said in an elegant way i think. its like a collection of things that you already know you should do to be happy, but here its all in one place..."

It was too good to keep to myself, so I am sharing it:

Max Ehrmann's Desiderata (1952)

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.

Canyonlands Completion in the News!

Very excited that the issue is getting some publicity....!

http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2010/02/will-long-desired-completion-canyonlands-national-park-ever-arrive5394

International Relations in Practice

Silence on this end is mostly a reflection of the fact that my examination period commences in one week. The system is very different here than in the United States. We have been in courses and seminars since October with no examinations or papers until now. The first week of March I will take three exams which will be my one and only shot at passing the taught segment of my program. Needless to say, there is a lot of pressure.

That does not, however, preclude any of us IR people from also enjoying ourselves in the process (as has been the theme throughout). As a welcome break from the intensive weeks of studying, Emily and I decided to host some of our IR colleagues at our house for a nice evening meal. We cooked vegetarian-friendly curry pie which was complemented by salads and an apple-rhubarb crumble for dessert, courtesy of Helen.

One of 4 Pies

Our dinner together was a true reflection of the diversity found within the international relations program here, and manifested to me that so much of what I have learned here has not been from the courses, as interesting as they have been, but from the unique perspectives of my fellow course-mates who come from all walks of life and the conversations that we have.

One really neat thing about our course in particular is that nearly half the course is compiled of current or former military personnel both from the United States and Great Britain. At our dinner we had a former U.S. Marine (he has served two tours in Iraq and in Afghanistan-- definitely a perspective that too many people are not exposed to), a current U.S. Marine, and a soon-to-be U.S. Army Ranger (So we were literally and figuratively "cooking for any army" (of 15)). These young men (there is no female military representation in our particular program), really represent the important balance that needs to be struck between the real world and the academy and I really admire their willingness to strive toward excellence in areas which can, at points, become quite divergent. I also love that, despite the vast array of differing opinions among an inherently political bunch, we all can enjoy each other's company and have an incredibly good time together.

Finally, Emily invited me to be one of two guests at college "Guest Night" at Queens'. What this really meant was I got to enjoy a formal hall meal in the Old Dining Hall without having to wear my gown. What a treat indeed!

So, with good company and good food to keep me going, it is now time to go back to the books!

Guest Night With Emily

Peacekeeping Website Launched!

Dear Friends,

As many of you know last summer I spent working with the United Nations Foundation's Better World Campaign. The primary objective of Better World Campaign is to improve relations between the United States and the United Nations, particularly in the form of lobbying Congress to pay back United States debt to the United Nations.

In addition, however, BWC also works to promote United Nations work, and in particular bring to the attention of Americans the benefits and importance of UN work. As part of that, I spent my summer primarily focused on creating a website concerning UN Peacekeeping Missions, created in a way to appeal to the American public.

Most of the substance I worked on were the Mission Info pages (including Haiti, Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Sudan, Kosovo).

Yesterday, the website was finally launched and I wanted to share it with you all as it provides a great resource for basic peacekeeping operations information.

Click here for the website

Afternoon Tea

This past week I learned something new. Well, a few things, but no, this post is not going to be on Syria (though that will be coming sooner rather than later, beware!)

I had 3 bananas in the fridge that were turning pretty brown. Chloe and I came home, she looked in the fridge, and said "Let's make banana bread." I sort of looked at her for a second, my look telling all... 1)I have no idea how to make banana bread 2)even if I did, I doubt we have the ingredients necessary.

Ignoring my silent, yet desperate plea, she said "Let's make it right now."

She marched upstairs to drop off all her things and we reconvened in the kitchen 5 minutes later. (Now to most of you this seems like a silly little story since.. duh.. everybody knows how to make banana bread.)

For me, and my lack of domestic skills (I can second Katie's post on this one), this was a HUGE step. We just mixed a little flour, sugar, butter, egg and vanilla and added the bananas. Oh, and baking soda. Best part: we don't have measuring cups here, so it was really off the cuff.

The finished product was a delicious banana bread that we subsequently split with a delicious cup of lemon and ginger tea. It certainly turned out to be a most delightful experience because I learned to make bread and, better yet, it came right in time for Afternoon Tea.

P.S.

Well, who knew there was a postscript to this story? There is! Today I woke up determined to use the dried cranberries I had left over from Thanksgiving (it is true). So, I decided to make cranberry orange bread! Basically the same gig as banana bread, but I pushed my boundaries this time by adding oats instead of so much flour, using agave syrup instead of so much sugar (and the sugar I did use I chose to use unrefined cane..), and the rest of the sweet was definitely made up for in the orange juice and zest. I think as a result, the cranberry bread was equally delicious and even errs on the side of.. dare I say... healthy? Or at least its not... UNhealthy. In moderation of course.

So, if any of you have a desire to stop in and have a cup of afternoon tea with me, I can nearly guarantee that a good dose of homemade, fresh out of the oven, cranberry/banana/(what's next) bread will be served up alongside that good cup of [herbal] tea.