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Special Edition
Summer 2020
From the Editor
A Note to the Reader JARRETT DANG
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to you for taking
Editor-in-Chief
the time to read The Diplomatic Envoy 2020 Special Summer
CASEY HATCHIMONJI
Edition.
Managing Editor
Thank you for the opportunity to showcase months of hard
work from our staff and writing team. With the help of some of HARSHANA GHOORHOO
our most talented and dedicated staff writers, we have compiled International News Editor
six stories from around the world that we hope will provide a
unique perspective on some of the most pressing issues of today. JUDY KOREN
This edition takes a deep dive into important issues ranging Opinion Editor
from rising authoritarianism in Brazil to the disproportionate
impact of environmental degradation on ethnic minorities. LUISA CHAINFERBER
We have also dedicated five pages of this magazine as a special Senior Correspondent
section highlighting the Black community at Seton Hall in light MEGAN GAWRON
of recent calls for racial justice following the murder of George Associate Editor
Floyd.
On behalf of the Editorial Board, we hope you enjoy reading AKAYSHA PALMER
our 2020 Summer Edition. If you’d like to become a part of our Guest Editor
team, please scan the QR code on back cover of this magazine or
reach out to anybody on the Editorial Board. DANIELA MAQUERA
Hazard Zet Forward! Digital Editor
Jarrett Dang,
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
TIEN PHAN
Layout Editor
DR. COURTNEY SMITH
Faculty Adviser
CONTRIBUTORS
This publication is made possible through the generosity of Daniela Maquera
the Constance J. Milstein, Esq., Endowed Fund.
Julia Laizo Clapis
The views expressed in The Diplomatic Envoy are those of the Julia Nicolls
writers and are not intended
to represent the views of the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall Mark Gorman
University, or the CJM Fund. Mark Stachowski
For more information on sources, go to blogs.shu.edu/the- Natalie Sherman
diplomaticenvoy
table of contents The Intersectionality Between Environment Degrada- tion and Ethnic Inequalities ...................................... .2 COVID-19 Worsens Wounded Sino-American Relations ...... 5 Comparing How Nations Respond to Civil Unrest ......................... 8 Raising Awareness and Highlighting Injustice 11 Winds of Change: 28 Years of Post-Soviet Independence ....................... 16 U.S. Presidential Election: An Analysis of the Candi- dates’ Foreign Policies ..................... 20 The Cycle of Violent Leadership in Brazil .............. 23
The Intersectionality
Between Environment
Degradation and Ethnic
Inequalities
Julia Nicolls Staff Writer
2 Courtesy of Pinterest.
As numerous environmentally-fo- sius compatible as it trends toward the
cused statistics increasingly demon- goals of the Paris Climate Accords.
strate the damage inflicted on the At face value, little connection is
Earth, their effects are becoming drawn between Kenya’s climate change
more widely known. Whether it is the action and ethnic inequality. Yet, when
bleaching of coral reefs, the height- examining indigenous communities like
ened number of natural disasters like the Sengwer people, that is hardly the
Hurricane Maria and super typhoons case. As a group that has historically
in Southeast Asia, or wildfires displac- protected and cared for the Embobut
ing Koalas in Australia, these events Forest, the health of the forest and
not only affect the wellbeing of the the group are interlinked. In addition
Earth, but that of societies, communi- to understanding the patterns of the
ties, and individuals around the world. forest and having the skills to nurture
There is a line frequently drawn its growth, the Sengwer people also
between environmentalism, human possess historical and cultural claims
rights, and national security, with most to the lands predating the existence
assuming that they do not bleed into of Kenya as a state. The Embobut
one another. While climate change Forest is the largest indigenous forest
does not discriminate based on skin in East Africa and its existence is crit-
color, ethnic group, or economic ical to the biodiversity of the region.
class, the leaders responsible for fix- However, in the name of environ-
ing these challenges do. When the mental action, the Kenyan government
homeland of the indigenous Peruvians has forced evictions of this group to curb
burns, the world remains silent, yet as illegal deforestation. Irungu Houghton,
the match is lit in Silicon Valley, Cali- Amnesty International’s Kenya Execu-
fornia, it is put out without a blink. tive Director, said “The Sengwer peo-
There is a connection in the effects ple were never genuinely consulted nor
of environmental degradation and ra- was their free and informed consent
cial and ethnic inequalities across the ever obtained prior to their eviction. Indigenous people around the world often
bear the brunt of environmental degradation.
globe. For instance, take Kenya. The This is a flagrant violation of Kenyan Courtesy of Rapael Forestto (Mongabay).
country has no legislation protecting and international law.” As illegal logging
indigenous peoples and has not signed and deforestation persisted, the Ken-
onto the United Nations Declaration yan Forest Service eventually blamed
on the Rights of Indigenous People and persecuted the Sengwer Tribe
(UNDRIP). It was only in 2010 that for actions the government executed.
minorities and indigenous peoples These “green efforts” were funded
were included in the new constitution by the European Union and the Inter-
– despite this, the constitution passed national Monetary Fund until signifi-
without specific protections, as stat- cant outcry grew over the evictions, ac-
ed by The International Work Group cording to Minority Rights. This type of
on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA). top-down decision by the Kenyan gov-
At the same time, Kenya launched ernment is now discouraged, and the
its “National Climate Change Action United Nations rapporteur in the coun-
Plan” in 2017, developing a low carbon try has asked for evictions to stop. De-
plan for a more sustainable future. From spite this, actions that diminish indige-
the outside, Kenya, despite its geo- nous and environmental rights continue.
graphical disadvantages, has respond- A similar situation is present for in-
ed remarkably well. The Smithsonian digenous peoples in Peru. While Peru
Magazine cites “How Climate Change has ratified the UNDRIP, the country’s
is Fueling Innovation in Kenya.” Addi- 55 indigenous groups still face signifi-
tionally, according to Climate Change cant disadvantages beyond the reach of Climate change is accelerating environmental
decay.
Tracker, Kenya remains 2 degrees Cel- international law. In Peru the majority Courtesy of Pixabay.
3
of the indigenous groups located in the their water sources, increased disease on the Rights of Indigenous People,
Peruvian Amazon, where 75 percent of potential, and health concerns that the the status quo will be maintained.
this area is rich in oil and gas reserves, mining corporation has caused. These Most large-scale environmental ne-
according to IWGIA. Extraction tech- protests have lasted over ten years, gotiations have not resulted in the nec-
niques disrupt geological stability and having started in 2009 but with little to essary change required. Nevertheless,
territorial cohesion, resulting in in- no support from the Peruvian govern- years after the Montreal Protocol was
creased and uncontrolled oil spills. ment or neighboring states, according implemented, the recovered ozone
Yet a different issue faces the Shawi to the World Rainforest Movement. layer has slowed the effects of climate
people of the Amazon as erosion and The common thread between these change, according to National Geo-
food insecurity threaten the existence cases is how governments enable and graphic. Progress must be made to
of this community. The Amazon rain- perpetuate the threats to environmental continue the work of that treaty and
forest is one of the most biodiverse and human rights. Most governments others; however, it does not look prom-
regions in the world, meaning its suc- turn a blind eye to ethnic minorities and/ ising, as the United States withdrew
cess is not only critical to this group, or environmental concerns in favor of from the Paris Agreement in June 2017.
but also for global wellbeing. As tour- the immediate economic benefit. When The connection between envi-
ism and government-sponsored de- the opportunity suits, the government ronmental and humanitarian issues
velopment projects flourish, so do the is on the side of monetary benefit rath- may cause similar disruption among
problems that they cause. While these er than the indigenous peoples of their the public. For example, there was a
projects increase the short-term eco- country. Doing so hurts the global bio- public outcry as a turtle choked on a
nomic benefit of the state, they further diversity in the long run, especially con- plastic straw in 2019 and the begin-
malnutrition and food insecurity for the sidering that deforestation costs $4.5 ning of the Greta Thunberg move-
indigenous peoples in the Amazon. As trillion each year through the loss of ment, just like the movement for
the region becomes more globalized biodiversity. At what point will the long human rights after the release of the
with foreigners moving into the area, term become the inevitable short term? Kony 2012 video. The public is not
new roads are built and soda machines A future in which indigenous com- blinded by the immediate economic
added to local stores, putting pressure munities are further oppressed and gains that governments usually nar-
on indigenous groups to accommodate. these regenerative resources have rowly focuses on. Nevertheless, if the
The Indigenous Peoples would trav- been near depleted is likely if govern- public listens and acts for the sake of
el to the surrounding land and forest to ments do not change their methods. threatened indigenous communities,
hunt deer and collect crops before these Without large-scale change by state these threatened peoples could see a
developments were built, but are now governments through following inter- progressive response by governments.
left hungry as those crops are shipped national law recommended by the In-
out to meet the growing population’s ternational Panel on Climate Change Contact Julia at julia.nicolls@student.shu.
demands. This food insecurity only and the United Nations Declaration edu
worsens the deforestation and lack of
biodiversity within the area. For many
Shawi people, the only way to afford and
access food is through illegal logging.
Another aspect of degradation to
the portion of the Amazon histori-
cally attributed to the Shawi people is
mineral mining, specifically for gold
and silver. Much of the localized min-
ing efforts operated by the Peruvian
government are owned by the Canadi-
an firm Royal Road Minerals Limited.
With the power wielded by the Canadi-
an firm and the Peruvian government,
the economic odds are stacked against
the Shawi people. As a result, the Sha-
wi indigenous group, among others,
have protested the contamination of Indigenous people protest in Brazil. Courtesy of Karla Mendes (Mongabay).
4
COVID-19 Worsens Wounded Sino-American Relations Daniela Maquera Staff Writer Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania. 5
When he first took office in 2017, ing restrictive and punitive policies are war has been raging for two years, the
U.S. President Donald Trump feared that bound to fail. On the other hand, some stakes are now at a new high. Aside
the close-knit economic ties between scholars recall that historically peaceful from creating high unemployment
the United States and China would ulti- relations between states have faltered in levels, the pandemic has claimed over
mately disadvantage America’s economy. crises, which exacerbate global rivalries. 100,000 lives in the U.S. Furthermore,
Now, in 2020, the novel coronavirus has When Trump first introduced tariffs nationalist sentiment began surging
validated Trump’s theory and exacer- on Chinese goods in 2018, the atmo- in both countries as the pandemic
bated the U.S.’s antagonistic view of the sphere between the two countries was icy, unfolded. Yu Wanli, deputy director
Asian superpower. The pandemic and its the South China Morning Post reports. at the Lian An Academy think tank
ripple effect on the global economy re- Throughout trade negotiations, President in Beijing, claimed that compared to
vealed the high dependence of the U.S. Xi Jinping and President Trump refrained past events such as the Tiananmen
and its companies on Chinese production. from directly criticizing their counter- crackdown, there are no longer any
While a few experts like Robert Zoel- parts. However, once the pandemic hit, pro-China voices on the U.S. politi-
lick, the U.S. Trade Representative at the each side took off its diplomatic mask. In- cal spectrum. Public opinion has also
time China joined the World Trade Or- stead of prompting cooperation, the pan- shifted. A recent Pew Research poll
ganization, consider cooperative policies demic deteriorated the already chronically found that 66 percent of Americans
to be beneficial to U.S. interests, most bad relations between the U.S. and China. held an unfavorable view of Chi-
Trump administration advisors on China na, the highest percentage recorded
argue otherwise. Although Trump’s ini- since the annual survey began in 2005.
tial trade policies with China incited criti- State media and officials from both
cism and even opposition, the outbreak of sides helped foster antagonism and ri-
COVID-19 overshadowed such voices. Re- valry between the two powers. Even
cent developments further show that even diplomatic ties have suffered. As the
though U.S.-China relations were not the allegations of China’s failed initial
root cause of the slow initial response to response to COVID-19 prevailed in
the virus, Washington utilized the pandem- U.S. media, China sent diplomatic en-
ic to vindicate Trump’s trade policy and voys abroad to defend its image. The
move further with his nationalist agenda. increasingly combative tone of some
Before China announced its first Chinese diplomats fueled tensions
COVID-19 cases in December 2019, the and sparked worldwide criticism, the
Trump Administration was in the process New York Times reports. The wide-
of drafting its first-ever Economic Na- spread hostile rhetoric toward the
The U.S. accuses China of mismanagement in the COVID-19 crisis.
tional Security Strategy, which aimed to Courtesy of Modern Diplomacy. Chinese government, however, has
eliminate economic security threats to the not been enough to defeat China. The
U.S. However, after assessing the pandem- While the long-term damage is yet Asian superpower’s latest respons-
ic’s unfolding, American officials followed to be seen, the immediate effects of es to the pandemic prove the out-
up on the strategy with increased urgency COVID-19 on Sino-American ties have break has boosted its global influence.
since they considered the country’s surviv- been clear since mid-March. Conspiracy According to CNBC, China is using
al at risk amidst the heath and economic theories about the virus’s origins led to the crisis to enhance its global image
crisis, Foreign Policy reported. From tech- finger-pointing. Chinese Foreign Ministry through “mask diplomacy”. By pro-
nology in critical infrastructure to supply spokesman Zhao Lijian publicly promoted viding medical supplies to countries
chains for life-saving medical equipment, an unfounded conspiracy theory that the hit hard by the pandemic, especially
the U.S. had to turn to its geopolitical rival. virus was brought to China by the U.S. mil- in regions of Africa, Eastern Europe,
Prior to the pandemic, the U.S. devised itary. According to the New York Times, and Latin America, China has been at-
a plan containing three strategies to hinder Xinhua, a Chinese news outlet, referred tempting to cement its presence in the
China’s economy while strengthening its to the outbreak as the “Trump pandem- world. On the other hand, U.S. global
own: a trade war, a technological block- ic” on Twitter in March. Trump respond- leadership remains nowhere to be seen.
ade, and ideological attacks. However, the ed by calling it the “Chinese virus.” The Without any signs of future co-
U.S. failed to deleverage China from its dispute escalated beyond words as Trump operation, the virus has strengthened
global power status, proven by the limited threatened to tear up the phase one trade the “America First” attitude among
impact of the trade war on China’s econ- deal and add new tariffs, CNN writes. U.S. officials. However, scholars on
omy. According to The Diplomat, now David Zweig, professor emeritus at the Sino-American relations and the
that COVID-19 has worn out resources on Hong Kong University of Science and global economy recommend other-
both sides, some experts argue that adopt- Technology, explains that while
Courtesy of Brian McGowan (Unsplash).
the trade wise, citing that a partnership is nec-
6
essary, especially due to the rising vi-
rus death toll and economic crash in
the U.S., Channel New Asia writes.
Reports of the handling of the vi-
rus are well documented, and despite
some scholars criticizing China’s dra-
conian measures, they recognize that
China ultimately controlled the out-
break and stopped its rising death toll,
according to the New York Times.
However, for the presidents of both
countries, increasing national support
is more important than scaling down
the tension. According to Bloomberg,
Xi and Trump are in a similar cru- Foreign Ministries of both Nations at the negotiation table. Courtesy of The Geopolitics.
sade to retain power; Trump contin- vividly remember the close instanc- discourages companies and govern-
ues with his hostile rhetoric against es of Mutually Assured Destruction ments from recreating the economic
China as the November presidential such as during the Cuban Missile Crisis. system. In a bid to force suppliers to
elections approach, while Xi prepares According to The Hindu, although relocate their factories, the Trump ad-
for a 2022 conclave that will serve as a the rising conflict between the U.S. ministration is using national security
leadership contest for China. Experts and China seems to resemble Cold arguments to levy tariffs on mainly Chi-
on U.S.-China relations explain that War-era U.S.-Soviet relations, there are nese goods. Many companies are start-
ties will remain stiff if Trump insists missing elements that prevent experts ing to leave China, moving production
on proving American superiority over from concluding on the inevitability both to other Asian countries such as
China to help his reelection campaign. of war, including proxy wars and a bi- Vietnam and back to the United States.
Worsened by measures ranging polar world order. Nirupama Menon Decoupling, however, is also expect-
from visa restrictions to cut trade ties, Rao, who served as India’s Foreign ed to create major losses that could lead
U.S.-China relations are boiling to the Secretary in both the U.S. and Chi- to companies initially resisting policies
extent that nuclear war has become na, explained that tension could pre- that hurt their share price. Shehzad H.
a hotly debated topic in Beijing and vail as long as the international system Qazi, the managing director of the Chi-
Washington. Experts from both coun- remains broken from the pandemic. na Beige Book, forecasted that a push
tries, however, call a major war “suicid- Additionally, the outbreak challenged to increase self-sufficiency in one coun-
al” and refer to it as a worst-case sce- the global economy and disrupted in- try could cut off export opportunities
nario. Gao Zhikai, a former Chinese ternational supply chains, demanding and hinder multilateral trade in the long
diplomat and interpreter for ex-Chi- a so-called “great decoupling”. Former run. Tearing down the economic ballast
nese leader Deng Xiaoping, explained U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Robert could bring about more daring chal-
that due to the dependency and inter- Zoellick described this as getting rid of lenges that could further hinder the U.S.
wovenness of the two countries, an the distinctive characteristics that dif- Contemporary scholars hope that the
armed conflict would not be contained ferentiate the relations between the U.S. failed triple strategy to counter China
in a conventional form for too long. and China. According to Foreign Poli- and the challenges brought by the pan-
Moreover, while there has been a ten- cy the struggle for the U.S. to function demic will persuade the Trump adminis-
dency to overestimate the advantages and produce on its own amidst the pan- tration to concentrate on the post-pan-
of being “tough” on China, experts fear demic reinforced the “American First” demic recovery and readjust its China
that downplaying the costs could lead protectionist agenda. While it remains policy. In order for Sino-American re-
to mutually destructive consequences. unclear how Washington will replace lations to improve, both must accept a
As of now, besides trade talks, the China as the second-largest U.S. credi- win-win scenario and fight against their
U.S. and China have not held formal tor, which holds more than $1 trillion in shared enemy: the coronavirus. The
talks on issues such as military rela- U.S. debt, the country is moving towards current international order no longer
tions or cybersecurity. Without direct initiatives that are less reliant on China. allows for absolute gains-global politics
contact and multifaceted ties, some Shutting the economy for the ini- and economics have evolved to func-
are beginning to allude to a “New tial months of 2020 due to COVID-19 tion better under mutual cooperation.
Cold War” between the U.S. and Chi- created the perfect “clean slate’’ for the
na. Experts fear the zero-sum men- U.S. to reshape its economy. Accord- Contact Daniela at daniela.maquera@
tality that once reigned in Washington ing to Politico, the high costs of pull- student.shu.edu
during the Cold War might be resurg- ing away when the economy is healthy
ing. The stakes of calling the conflict and the supply-chain machine working
a New Cold War are high, as many
7
Comparing How Nations Respond to Civil Unrest Mark Gorman Staff Writer 8 Courtesy of Clay Banks (Unsplash).
The death of George Floyd and the where protestors will go along specified
subsequent protests have sparked discus- routes and the Gendarmerie will be there
sions over everything related to the po- but will not intervene unless necessary.
lice. One prominent topic is how police The major exception to this relation-
respond to civil unrest, which comes amid ship in recent memory is the Yellow Vest
videos posted online showing police at- protests, wherein protestors and Gendar-
tacking protestors with little provocation. merie repeatedly clashed. Protests were
The United States is not the only na- started by people from rural areas who
tion that has to deal with civil unrest. could not afford the hike in fuel prices
Whether similar, like France and Britain, in November of 2018. Protestors were
or different, as with China, all countries joined by members of the lower and mid-
have their ways of ensuring that protests dle classes upset at the declining standard
do not get out of control. In some cases, of living. These protests turned violent
the role of the police is merely to ensure in December 2018, when the Arc de Tri-
that protests do not get out of hand while omphe and the Tomb of the Unknown
negotiations happen. In others, their role Soldier were defaced, shops looted, Yellow Vest protestors in Paris, France.
Courtesy of Pinterest.
is to put down civil unrest entirely. Some buildings vandalized, and police attacked.
of the cases presented provide poten- French authorities placed the blame
tial alternatives to police response in the for these actions largely on rioters from
U.S., while others serve as a warning. the ultra-left and ultra-right, reports
The UK has the most similar response NPR. A Harris Interactive poll conduct-
to civil unrest compared to the U.S. The ed at the time found that 72% of French
main difference with recent protests is people supported the protests even after
how the police have been used. For in- the violence, but that 85% of respon-
stance, Vice reports that the London dents were against the violence. This
Metropolitan Police was deployed amid was problematic for the Gendarmerie,
recent protests, leading to accusations of as they are not trained to de-escalate or
misconduct and unlawful behavior. There communicate with protesters. They re-
were also multiple videos showing that at- verted to tools and tactics seen in the
tempts to arrest people would rile up the U.S., such as tear gas, rubber bullets, and
crowd and often lead to more violence. repeatedly charging and attacking the
This is similar to what has been seen protestors when protest etiquette was
in the U.S. The more interesting cases broken. By 2019, tourists and passersby
to look at are Bristol and Manchester, increasingly became victims of collateral
where the police chose to take a hands- damage due to Gendarmerie tactics, the
off approach. Besides a statue being New Statesman notes. The Yellow Vest A BLM Protest in Manchester, UK.
Courtesy of Stacy Harrison (Manchester Ink Link).
toppled in Bristol, there were no reports protests are not the only example of the
of violence and nobody was arrested Gendarmerie resorting to these tactics,
despite the crowds being in the thou- but they are the biggest example to date.
sands to tens of thousands. Other European nations also have
Observing France, the biggest differ- more extensive restrictions and regula-
ence between it and the U.S., according to tions on police conduct. For instance,
Foreign Policy, is the Gendarmerie, the Foreign Policy points out how police in
French national police. They are a unique Germany do a much better job of com-
force that is neither military nor regular municating their actions to protesters.
street police. While the Gendarmerie is The Atlantic also points out that police
not a single organization, it is made up of in Germany and European nations are
specific divisions of other forces. They trained for much longer, with police in
are trained specifically for protests and Germany requiring 2 ½ to 4 years of
civil unrest, and as such have a record training focusing on de-escalation and
of being relatively competent at keeping limiting how police are allowed to en-
injuries and deaths to a minimum. This gage with others. Chokeholds that are
is reportedly due to protestors and po- commonly used by police in the U.S. Protestors in Hong Kong.
lice developing an implied relationship are banned in many European nations. Courtesy of The Heritage Foundation.
9China, on the other hand, gener- Congress on Latin America, between restrictions set in place by the govern-
ally has a very different approach to October of 2019 and March of 2020, ment which bans mass gatherings. The
protestors. Looking at how the coun- around 36 protesters have been killed new Anti-Terror law would replace a
try handles civil unrest, the most obvi- and tens of thousands wounded, as well 2007 statute that allowed detention for
ous example is Hong Kong. China, like as around 28,000 arrested. Hundreds up to 3 days but fined the police for each
many other authoritarian nations when of those detained were reportedly tor- day they wrongly detained a suspect.
it comes to policing unrest. According tured and/or sexually assaulted. The When looking at all these cases, each
to an additional article by The Atlantic, response to these demonstrations was country shares a common goal of con-
China has at least 500 protests a day, and brutal enough that the UN is seeking to trolling civic unrest. The differences,
how the police react to most of these prosecute military and police officials however, lay in how each goes about it.
protests is radically different than how responsible, according to The Guard- Some nations try to limit themselves to
they reacted to the Hong Kong protests. ian. The Carabineros, Chile’s national earn goodwill while also being present
The difference between those protests police force, has been largely responsi- to ensure that protests do not get out of
and Hong Kong’s is in the messaging. ble for these brutal acts. This is thanks control. Others are more blatant about
Most protests, riots, and demonstrations in part to Chile’s constitution, as well as their goals to put down civic unrest and
in China are about local issues, and the laws put in place by the government that tend to be put in the spotlight as a result.
protestors are given free rein to pro- look to limit the legality of protesting. So, what can be learned from the look
test while negotiations happen as long The Philippines is another nation at these cases? The first is that the pres-
as they remain supportive of the Chi- that is becoming more draconian in its ence of police is not always necessary to
nese Communist Party (CCP) and do move to suppress civil unrest. Most re- keep the peace. In the recent case with
not try to spread the protests beyond cently, a bill known as the Anti-Terror the UK, protestors in Manchester and
the local level. Protests in Hong Kong, Bill was passed by Philippine Congress Bristol were largely peaceful and no ar-
however, are specifically anti-Beijing and sent to President Duterte to sign. rests were needed. Meanwhile, in Lon-
and pro-autonomy. The movement is a This bill intends to fight terrorism but don, the Metropolitan police were de-
larger threat than the disunited and lo- also contains provisions such as allow- ployed and there were clashes between
cal protests that happen elsewhere in ing detentions without warrants for up police and protestors. The second is
China, and which is why the response to 24 days. It also empowers a govern- that training is important. A combina-
by China is much more heavy-hand- ment anti-terrorism council to label tion of training to de-escalate and hav-
ed than with most other protests. people and organizations as suspected ing police units specifically trained for
Meanwhile, Chile’s reaction to pro- terrorists and subjects them to arrests protests can make a huge difference in
tests falls much more in line with what and surveillance, according to AP News. terms of injuries and deaths that can
many would expect from more author- This has been one of many examples result from police conduct. The Phil-
itarian states. Protests began across of new laws being passed with the ex- ippines and Chile serve as a warning if
the country in 2019 over rising metro plicit or implicit goal of suppressing dis- the police are given too much leeway.
fares. While protestors in the afore- sent, as well as one of the more blatant China’s model is harder to draw les-
mentioned countries have not had to legal attempts to suppress internationally sons from, as the point of protests on the
worry much about being killed, pro- recognized human rights. These actions part of Chinese citizens is to get the CCP
testors in Chile are not so fortunate. have been met with protest, but demon- to listen to their troubles; negotiations
According to the North American strators face arrest under the COVID-19 on the part of the CCP are often held to
quiet citizens and make as few changes as
possible. However, a key takeaway from
the Chinese example is that many of the
protestors demonstrated because the
party does not listen to their complaints
unless they protest. As such, working
to make all levels of government more
responsive to the people they govern
would serve to limit the number of pro-
tests and keep civil unrest to a minimum.
Contact Mark at mark.gorman@student.shu.
edu
Protestors on the streets of Chile. Courtesy of Dreamstime.
10RAISING AWARENESS AND
HIGHLIGHTING INJUSTICE
A Spotlight on the Black Community at Seton Hall
As the world continues to grapple with the worst pandemic in a
century, we are constantly reminded that uncertainty is the new norm.
Even in the face of COVID-19, millions took to the streets around
the world to protest the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, re-
minding us that injustice resides everywhere in our society. America
is experiencing a reckoning with current and historical systemic in-
justices against communities of color. As such, the Editorial Board
has dedicated a section of this magazine to serve as a platform and
to shine a spotlight on the Black community at Seton Hall University.
In these five pages, you will find voices from student leaders, organi-
zations on campus, and faculty leaders all making a difference in the
fight for racial equity. We hope that this will ultimately facilitate the
crucial conversation surrounding the realities of race and inequality in
our country to ensure a more just and fair society.
- Jarrett Dang (Editor-in-Chief) Courtesy of The Diplomatic Envoy.
Dear Black Man
Dear Black Man I am sorry you have been exploited glow that only you can have Dear Black Man
Truth is, my father is a black man for your I am not sorry that the world envies We ask God for guidance as we fight
And his father was a black man servitude your strength, for our
And his father was black man I am sorry that every day you have power and courage that has kept your rights in these terrible dark times
And his father was black man had to put up a race from because black man you are loved now
That was torn from a black man the fight extinction throughout the past and forever
day that the to show that you matter yesterday, I am not sorry that in your veins flow and even though they try, do not let
colonizers came and made him a slave today, and the blood of them take
A moment that his life would forever tonight your ancestors who escaped bondage your light
be changed I am sorry that you have been lynched without Because despite it all, We love you
Yet more than 400 years later we still and killed, looking back black man
feel his pain dying a sad death while your killers Hoping that you would be born into and I swear to do my best to show
and must chant #sayhisname in feel no guilt freedom that it is with
protests so that I am sorry that we were not there to with your basic human rights being you that I stand
the unjust death of a black man does protect you something you And to my beautiful black women
not go in because even if we were present the would never lack you matter too,
vain system had I am not sorry for the uprising to but right now in this very moment my
already failed to come as many black men,
Dear Black Man black men have died at the unjust use this message is for you.
Tears form in my eyes as I write that Dear Black Man of a badge
I am sorry I am not sorry that your skin radi- and a gun
for what this world has done to you ates a melanin - Akaysha Palmer
11A Discussion on Race and Inequality because of codes like that...We know that
these codes and laws were written to re-
with Rev. Dr. Forrest Pritchett ally see to it that even the freed Negros
– particularly men – would be caught up
Just over 60 years ago, four Black stu- Lewis. Rev. Pritchett calls this time his in the criminal justice system.”
dents sat at a whites-only lunch count- ‘crucible’ and credits it with forming who According to Rev. Pritchett, while the
er in Greensboro, North Carolina, and he is today. Civil Rights Movement and its modern
sparked a national sit-in campaign against counterpart differ in several ways, we are
racial discrimination. The event, which we largely still fighting over the same issues
now know as the Greensboro sit-in, was a that started hundreds of years ago. Rev.
pivotal moment in the life of Rev. Forrest Pritchett says of today’s protests, “They
Pritchett, Ph.D., a veteran professor and are simply the 21st-century rollout of
activist at Seton Hall, and where he first the civil rights struggle…people around
embarked on his lifelong commitment to the world were touched by the fact that
fighting racial injustice in America. In his that officer’s knee was Mr. Floyd’s neck
41 years at Seton Hall, Rev. Pritchett has for eight minutes and 46 seconds. Now
worked to raise awareness of racial issues I don’t care what your views may be like
and promote Black scholarship. on race relations, but I think that most
Rev. Pritchett grew up in a post-WWII people can see the immorality of that ac-
America mired in racial strife. He recalls Rev. Dr. Pritchett, Director of Special Projects and MLKSA. tion.”
numerous now-famous events while he Courtesy of Rev. Dr. Pritchett.
For people wanting to be anti-racist
was growing up, including the lynch- Rev. Pritchett explains that systemic and contribute to the movement, Rev.
ing of Emmett Till, Rosa Park’s refusal racism can trace to the earliest begin- Pritchett outlines a few key steps. First,
to give up her seat in Montgomery, and nings of our country. He recounts how people need to acknowledge that racism
the beginnings of the sit-in movement in laws have been used to keep Black people exists and is present in our lives. Second,
segregated public spaces. These served down since the colonial period, saying, people need to learn how to become ef-
as a rallying call to a young Rev. Pritch- “There were thousands of laws written fective anti-racists by speaking out against
ett, who was a senior in high school in during the colonial period that said all racism wherever they find it. For example,
New Jersey about to head off to college. kinds of evil things, like if a white person Rev. Pritchett poses a hypothetical situa-
He recalls, “I would probably elect to go and a Negro were talking toward each tion where a friend tells a racist joke. He
to college in the South because of the other on a sidewalk; if the sidewalk was says, “If you don’t speak up, your silence
Movement…I’d been thinking about it all not large enough to accommodate two of is complicitous in that person becoming
summer and if I don’t go, it’s like saying them, the Negro is the one who must step more of a racist.” Third, people need to
I’m giving in to the fear and I’m going to into the road to allow the white person to learn how to stand up against racism. Rev.
let somebody else fight that battle.” Rev. pass. If a Negro spits on the ground, it’s Pritchett emphasizes that while it is heart-
Pritchett would end up at Delaware State against the law. If a Negro looks a white ening to see such a large number of peo-
University, where his lifetime of activism person in the eye, it’s against the law. ple come out against racism around the
began. In college, he participated in the During the colonial period, even if you world, we must continue the fight in our
sit-in movement, was thrown in jail, and were free, we know that 90 percent of the communities if we ever want to bring an
worked with civil rights icons like John Negro population had a criminal record end to centuries of injustice and inequity.
An Interview with Dr. Shawna Cooper-Gibson
Vice-President of Student Services
Tell me a bit about yourself and from the deans of all colleges and the ex- There have been more voices added to
your role at Seton Hall. ecutive committee of the Faculty Senate to the discussion, which we are happy about.
At Seton Hall I manage seventeen ar- include student input in all full-time fac- There has been a sense of awareness where
eas of responsibility. Some of these ar- ulty searches. Additionally, our Inclusion there wasn’t before, and a larger commu-
eas are the exact skill set I bring with me Speaker Series was launched in the 2018-19 nity of those who want to learn and con-
from my previous positions, and a few, academic year and continued through the tribute. It has pushed the agendas we had
like Public Safety and Security, are new Spring 2020 semester. In curriculum, a new already been working on, quite frankly, and
experiences for me. diversity core component is now required showed the necessity and timeliness of all
What is the administration doing of all students in the College of Arts and the initiatives we had already been work-
to promote racial equity? Sciences. ing on. It also forced us to go deeper, look
In the Spring of 2019, The Office Has the administration’s approach harder at where we can further the goals
of the Provost secured a commitment changed in light of recent events? we had set for ourselves.
12 All interviews were conducted by Jarrett Dang on behalf of the Editorial Board.versity and their input is vital. We have or do, but young women of color are
numerous student organizations, as well fully equipped to make a positive impact
as programming and events for students in their world now. Sometimes a fresh
to participate in at their level of involve- perspective or innovative idea is exactly
ment. In addition, we are seeking students what is needed. Have both the confi-
to serve as Inclusion Alliance Participants. dence, the willingness and the boldness
This program engages rising sophomore, to take your place in history. When the
juniors, and seniors to participate in DEI door is not quite open, build a new door
facilitation and peer-to-peer training for or climb in a window. We belong in the
first-year students in University-Life. rooms where the decisions are being
Dr. Cooper-Gibson,VP of Student Services. Students are encouraged to share their made, just as much as anyone else.
Courtesy of Dr. Gibson.
thoughts with the Diversity, Equity and
Has the University taken steps Inclusion Committee through me directly
to address the issues from the Con- or their student representatives.
cerned 44 protests in 2018/19? What advice would you have for
We took and still take their concerns young people of color?
very seriously. We want to shift the cul- I think there are three important things
ture of the university to be obviously in- to remember as a young person of color.
clusive and diverse, so the conversation First, think about what you see lacking on
changes from what can we do, to what campus in terms of diversity, equity and
else needs to be added. Diversity needs to inclusion and then figure out how you
show up as an essential and fundamental want to personally contribute to fill that
part of who we are as a university, and I void. Second, are you using your educa-
am committed to doing my part in seeing tion, your skillset and your passions to
that play out. not only positively change the campus but
How can students help with the also the community? Our impact needs In 2018-19, the Concerned 44, representing the 44 percent
University’s efforts to promote diver- to be felt locally and globally. We need to of racial and ethnic minorities at Seton Hall, carried out a
sustained effort of direct actions aimed at implementing
sity and inclusion? be thinking short term and long term, al- five demands to address institutional racism and inequality
Students should be an integral part ways. Lastly, and most importantly, know at SHU. This included a nine day occupation of President’s
of the diversity, equity, and inclusion ex- your worth. Be confident in your abil- Hall in October - November, 2018.
perience at Seton Hall. This is their uni- ities. There is always more we can learn Courtesy of Concerned 44.
Tell me a bit more about your orga-
nization and its mission.
Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship
In 1969, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Association
Scholarship Association was established
at Seton Hall University to increase mi- As an appointee within the Black ism within the health fields, education
nority enrollment through regular admis- Caucus, I was able to help aid the Black fields, etc.
sions. This was the result of the efforts Caucus in drafting a letter to the school What would you say is the most
of a dedicated and impassioned coalition addressing each concern we have with important thing that people trying
of students campaigning for the need for Seton Hall University as a whole when to be allies should know and do?
full financial assistance for minority stu- it came to systemic racism within the ed- I feel that allies should understand
dents in order to give them the opportu- ucation system, curriculum, etc. By do- that they should be vocal. Agreeing
nity to attend a college/university. This ing so, we have been able to work with with me behind closed doors does not
was the first substantial attempt to ensure administration to get these concerns ad- help me. As an ally, I do not believe
more diversity and appreciation for oth- dressed. I hope next generations will get there is such thing as getting burnt out
er cultures within Seton Hall’s campus. to enjoy the perks of our works now, in- or overwhelmed from supporting me.
These distinguished scholars would have stead of having to repeat the discussion Individuals like me wake up everyday
to prove themselves by maintaining a 3.0 we continue to have on these topics. with this skin color, gender, etc., so if
cumulative G.P.A. for their four years at What can we do to promote racial we can remain powerful in our image
Seton Hall University. equity both on and off campus? even with the disrespect that comes
As a member of the Black Caucus, I feel as if education is the most im- towards us, your allyship should be un-
what efforts have been made to ad- portant thing. Spreading education in wavering.
dress Seton Hall’s response to recent rooms that many marginalized individ-
- Dia Bolton
events? uals are still not allowed access in to,
even in 2020. Discussing systemic rac- President of MLKSA
13H.A.I.R. (Having Appreciation in Realness)
Tell me a bit more about about, care for and appreciate been an activist so seeing the to over 400 years ago.
your organization and its their natural hair. protests in the media have just What can we do to pro-
mission. How has your organiza- amplified the way I have felt mote racial equity?
H.A.I.R. (Having Appre- tion uplifted/empowered about the institutional racism I believe students can just
ciation in Realness), serves students of color? that we face in the United try to be educated on the in-
to create a natural hair com- Although we are a fairly States. I believe that although justices that students face
munity within the Seton Hall new organization I believe this has been an ongoing issue within the black community
University campus in which that we have provided rep- many people are becoming so that they’re more aware of
we would provide a safe space resentation on campus and more aware of the injustice their implicit bias. It’s import-
for people to come togeth- given students the ability to that is occurring and it gives ant to just constantly be aware
er and feel comfortable with be comfortable with all as- me more hope for the future of how you approach and
who they are. This would pro- pects of who they are. We as people are advocating for interact with different types
mote individual self-care and hope to continue to have dif- change. Seeing all of the pro- of people to avoid any mes-
overall wellness of individu- ferent events that uplift both testors around America of sages coming across wrong. I
als. With programs and fund- male and female students with different backgrounds and believe education is the first
raisers promoting diversity natural hair in the Seton Hall cultures protest really brought step and essential to getting
and inclusion, we would focus Community this fall as our tears to me eyes. We should involved in any movement.
on the empowerment of in- Spring semester was cut short all spread love not hate and
dividuals through the promo- on campus. when we say black lives matter
tion of natural hair care. Have recent events we do not mean that others
The mission of HAIR is changed your perspective don’t but just that we have to
to create a safe space within on the problems we face as constantly fight for our lives
the natural hair community, a nation? to matter as we have been op-
- Akaysha Palmer
where one can learn more Personally I have always pressed in society, dating back President of H.A.I.R.
Black Excellence
This is excellence. Why does this excellence make me I’m forced to question everyday they say
Black excellence. feel like a peasant? Will I become another lesson? So can we please take haste in our
This excellence is ever prevalent, Why am I being followed around To young boys in this country to hate for each other
always relevant this seven-eleven? comply and shut your mouth when And learn to appreciate our brothers
Pure effervescence, a glowing senti- Why am I being thrown into this talking to the police and sisters
ment figurative lion’s den? If you want to avoid any transgres- It’s the only way we’ll be great.
Of God’s gift from above, it’s heaven Why am I forced to constantly sions. This is excellence.
sent wonder when… No. And soon our queens and kings will
I could be a lawyer, judge, even At times I question the benefits of It’s time we start addressing this sing let freedom ring
President. this sentiment problem As hope brings light to every living
This is excellence. What about this can be benevolent? Or we’ll continue digressing as thing
An excellence that makes cops kill This cycle seems endless a people, when we need to start This is excellence.
just for the hell of it But can you can never end this progressing. Black excellence.
Creates for us a world of pestilence Black excellence. And no we can’t control our circum-
Turns my sleep into restlessness And that’s why I’ll continue to pen stance
Makes me wonder, is this heaven this, But we control what we create
sent? And send this, extend this message We control the food we put on our
And they say the present is a gift, if Of deep depression and of my plate
it’s a present then people We control how long we chose to wait - Justin Morris
Why do I feel like I’ve been to hell Who’ve been enslaved since their first A mind is a terrible thing to waste Student
and back again? impression.
14Ralph Bunche (1903-
1971): A Life Against All
Odds, A Model of Self
Determination
began to enjoy greater rights as citizens... manuals for the troops on how to behave
Despite these dramatic developments, in Africa and how to deal with different
many economic and demographic charac- perceptions of race in foreign countries.”
Dr. Ralph Bunche: a diplomacy hero. Courtesy of Wikipedia. teristics of African Americans at the end After World War II, Bunche was an ad-
of the nineteenth century were not that viser to the U.S. delegation for the 1945
Most Americans, beyond many schol-
different from what they had been in the "Charter Conference" of the United Na-
ars, have very little knowledge of how
mid-1800’s. Only about one-fifth of Af- tions. In his most notable achievement,
much the issue and paradigm of racial
rican American household heads owned Dr. Ralph Bunche became involved in
subjugation has been part of the Amer-
their own homes (less than half the per- the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1947 and re-
ican narrative from the beginning. Every
centage among whites). Outside of farm ceived the Noble Peace Prize in 1950 for
territorial decision, major policy, every
work, African American men and women that and additional peace treaties in the
“inch of progress,” and every aspect of
were greatly concentrated in unskilled la- region. He was the first African American
the discussion for freedom for an en-
bor and service jobs. Most black children and person of color to receive the award.
slaved labor force is influenced by an em-
had not attended school in the year be- Bunch was also awarded the "Medal of
phasis on the suppression of the Negro
fore the Census, and white children were Freedom" from President John F. Kenne-
people. Hitler thought America made a
much more likely to have attended.” dy in 1963.
big mistake by allowing the minorities,
Early twentieth century themes for Today his name is seldom mentioned,
that built the nation, to survive after the
African Americans were a “continuation but his legacy lives on wherever we see
emergence of the empire. The challenge
of nineteenth-century patterns” of dis- the emissaries of peace do their work.
of physical survival, in a genocidal atmo-
crimination and hatred, followed by the His words provide an enduring legacy
sphere, is real for the Negro in America,
themes of migration and urbanization for the international relations community
just as it was for the indigenous nations
toward the middle portion of that cen- and his people:
of North America.
tury. More formalized patterns of racial “To make his way, the Negro must
Ralph Bunche grew up in an Ameri-
violence were institutionalized by the Ku have firm resolve, persistence, tenacity.
ca where life and the odds of succeed-
Klux Klan, or KKK, an American white He must gear himself to hard work all the
ing were stacked tremendously against
supremacist hate group who targeted way. He can never let up. He can never
anyone of African American descent. No
African Americans, Jews, immigrants, have too much preparation and training.
non-African American would voluntarily
leftists, homosexuals, and Catholics with He must be a strong competitor. He must
want to walk in the shoes of a Negro for
terrorism and death. adhere staunchly to the basic principle
a day. Many Whites thought they had a
Against this historical wall blockade that anything less than full equality is not
moral responsibility to always “put Ne-
of racism, Bunche was determined to be- enough. If he compromises on that prin-
groes in their place”. The laws of the land
come an “envoy of peace.” He emerged ciple his soul is dead.”
and the attitudes of the those favoring ra-
as an early scholar of colonialism and re- “There should be no room for bigotry
cial domination, from the 19th century,
searched the subject in the field in Togo, in the house of democracy.”
followed African Americans into the 20th
French Cameroon, South Africa, Uganda “In a world where democracy is grave-
century.
and Kenya. In his 1936 A World View of ly besieged, the United States must con-
What was life like for Negroes in the
Race, he drew a striking parallel between sider seriously the implication of its own
early twentieth century? According to
colonialism in the world at large and ra- failure to extend the democratic process
Thomas N. Maloney, University of Utah,
cial discrimination in the United States. in full to some thirteen million of its cit-
writing for the Economic History Associ-
He was the founding director of the izens whose present status tends to make
ation, “African Americans in the Twenti-
Political Science Department at Howard a mockery of the Constitution.” ― Ralph
eth Century, “The nineteenth century was
University in Washington. He served in
a time of radical transformation in the
the OSS during the war and had a major
political and legal status of African Amer-
influence on the treatment of racial prob- - Rev. Dr. Forrest Pritchett
icans. Blacks were freed from slavery and
lems in the US army, as well as writing
15Winds of Change: 28 Years of
Post-Soviet Independence
16 Natalie Sherman Staff WriterThe 1990s were a time of radical tion,” reports Eurasianet. He may no lon-
change in Russia that saw a failed coup, a ger be President, but he has by no means
brutal war, and economic despair. In the relinquished control.
greater former Soviet sphere, however, Nazarbayev’s successor, the career
change has been much slower. Many of politician Jomart Tokayev, has eased
these states stayed under the same So- laws criminalizing protesting and slan-
viet-era leadership for decades after its der. During Nazarbayev’s tenure, it was
collapse. As of 2020, many Central Asian illegal to speak against the president and
and Eastern European states are still led protests were illegal unless approved by
by demagogues and united by the com- a difficult-to-obtain permit. Tokayev has
mon threads of conflict, cronyism, and decriminalized slander and changed the
dubious elections. law to grant greater freedom of speech,
The three states of Kazakhstan, Belar- but the changes are not as drastic as many Jomart Tokayev, successor of Nursultan Nazarba-
yev. Courtesy of WikimediaCommons.
us, and Ukraine are in various stages of expected from Tokayev.
change. While Nursultan Nazarbayev of In contrast to the relatively minuscule
Kazakhstan has done his best to ensure changes in Kazakhstan, political tensions
as little changes in his country as possible, in Belarus have reached a critical point,
Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus is cur- driven by President Aleksandr Lukashen-
rently attempting to hold onto his power ko’s political clashes with Russian Presi-
and hinder change within the country but dent Vladimir Putin and his unparalleled
is facing massive backlash and resistance mismanagement of the COVID-19 pan-
from his people. Meanwhile, Ukraine demic. Lukashenko has been the leader
has gone through political upheaval and of Belarus for over 25 years, but his po-
come out on the other side, but now faces litical dominance is being challenged both
the challenge of rooting out corruption internally and externally.
and maintaining stability in the face of Belarus has the highest rate of
external threats. COVID-19 infections per capita in Eu-
Dubious election results and dema- rope. Belarus has a population of nine
gogues are a constant across much of million and, according to Radio Free
Central Asia. The resignation of Ka- Europe, over 65,000 cases. Despite these
zakhstan’s former President Nursultan alarming statistics, Lukashenko has spent
Nazarbayev in 2019, who was reelected much of this year publicly dismissing the
President Aleksandr Lukashenko of Belarus.
with 97 percent of the vote in the 2015 virus as “psychosis” and saying that it Courtesy of WikimediaCommons.
presidential election, was unprecedented could be prevented with, “a tractor ride,
for the region, according to Reuters. vodka, or a visit to a sauna.” He has not
Nazarbayev was the political leader of closed Belarus’ borders or imposed any
Kazakhstan for thirty years, having tran- social distancing regulations.
sitioned from Party Boss of the Kazakh This rhetoric has drawn heavy crit-
SSR to the President of an independent icism in Belarus, where the idea of an
Kazakhstan. Such a long political ten- invisible enemy is not new. Yaraslav Ra-
ure is normal in Central Asia. Many of manchuk, a former Belarussian presiden-
Nazarbayev’s contemporaries, including tial candidate, told Radio Free Europe,
Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan, have died “Quite rightly, many are comparing the
in power. situation today with the situation in 1986,
Nazarbayev’s resignation allowed him when Chernobyl exploded, when we real-
to name his successor and avoid political ly don’t know now how many were sick,
uncertainty if he were to die unexpected- how many died, what the real situation in
ly. This was a forward-thinking decision, the country is.”
especially in light of Nazarbayev’s recent The crisis also comes on the heels of
COVID-19 diagnosis – he retains much rising political tension between Belarus
of his political power, including remain- and Russia. Aleksandr Lukashenko and
ing the leader of his political party, Nur Vladimir Putin have what Al Jazeera de- President Volodymyr Zelensky of
Ukraine at his inauguration.
Otan, and his title as “father of the na- scribes as a “love-hate relationship.” They Courtesy of WikimediaCommons.
17You can also read
