Areg Asatryan In combating corruption, Singapore stands as a beacon of success, celebrated globally for its stringent measures and unwavering commitment to integrity. From its inception as a fledgling nation to its current status as a paragon of transparency, Singapore's journey offers invaluable lessons in governance. This article will delve into the specifics of Singapore's anti-corruption efforts and the tangible impact it has had on the nation's socio-economic landscape. In the early years of independence, Singapore grappled with corruption in the forms of bribery and misuse of pub ..read more

Jacob Houston The Kingdom of Kush, notably known as the Kushite Kingdom or simply The Kushites, was a kingdom in Northern Africa that had a significant impact on the course of human and natural history. The Kingdom was located in Nubia, a region encompassing the modern Northern reaches of Sudan. Kush was the continuation of the Kerma Culture, which rose in 2500 BCE, but the people of Kush had established contact with the Ancient Egyptians during the Early Dynastic Period that began in 3150 BCE.  Initially, relations between the Kush and the Egyptians were cordial, and immense trade was c ..read more

Ishaan Busireddy Insults are a common sight–or sound–in everyday life. From the playground to presidential debates, insults serve as the verbal epitome of frustration and spite. These often intentionally and unintentionally comedic jests appear to contrast with how we envision the past as an era with courtly etiquette. However, even within this fancy framework, scorching and hilarious jibes slip through the cracks and spice up history. Exchanged verbally and in a written form between political rivals and even wartime adversaries, these insults play a unique role in deciphering bygone eras’ pop ..read more

Sam Leslie “We are in an outside that carries inner worlds.”  –Peter Sloterdijk, Globes Sphere II This essay is part of the longer series “Around the World in 180 Days,” focused on centering human voices in scholarly work. My goal, in the words of Edward Said, is to be “the migrant or traveler” to the discipline that is history. Welcome to the second core article in the series. The earth buckled underneath the sea as plates clashed. As birds preened in tropical trees, a distant rumbling began. At that moment for the citizens of then colonial Antigua, a Caribbean colony, it seemed th ..read more

Sam Leslie “There are no historical facts; there is only evidence.”  – Roy Wake, “History as a Separate Discipline” This essay is part of a longer series “Around the World in 180 Days,” focused on centering human voices in scholarly work. My goal, in the words of Edward Said, is to be “the migrant or traveler” to the discipline that is history. Welcome to the first article in the series (other than the introduction essay).  Iron sharpens iron. The sudden and violent banging of rocks creates heat. On May 2, 1878 in the heart of Minneapolis, two dry milestones crunched against ea ..read more

Sam Leslie As the well-fitted caravel cut through the undulating currents, the flag of a square cross proudly waved atop the mast. Underneath the Order of Christ flag stood Vasco de Gama, an explorer celebrated for reaching India by sea, but in this story he is not there just yet. A young sailor with an unyielding pitch yelled, “Land, Land.” The anxious crew gathered and stared: to the east. Upon reaching this land, what is now South Africa, while the crew scattered, Vasco sat. He was “eager to know where [he] was.” However, waiting and looking around can be a troubling way of l ..read more

Sarah Fefer With a history filled with significant turning points and shifts, Hamas has evolved as a crucial participant in the complex web of Middle Eastern politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This article explores the origins, development, and notable turning points that have marked Hamas's path from its founding in 1987 to its current position. The Islamic Resistance Movement, or Hamas, was founded in the midst of the First Intifada, a Palestinian insurrection against Israeli occupation in the late 1980s. It was designed as a reaction to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation ..read more

Sam Leslie After a year of relative calm, on January 21, 1696 a fleet of canoes suddenly blockaded Little Komenda. One spectator declaimed, “Little Taggee is to fight Great Taggee.” Takyi Kuma (Little Taggee), the little brother of Taky Panin (Great Taggee), plotted his succession to the throne assisted by the Dutch, Adom, and Akani. Unfortunately for Kuma, Takyi Panin defeated him on March 20, 1696. However, Kuma’s campaign had support within the Eguafo, especially Little Komenda, “whom [Takyi Kuma] they all did hope would prove conqueror.” Simultaneously, the Fante, a neighboring tribe who ..read more

Sam Leslie In 1688, the French challenged Dutch dominance at Little Komenda by constructing a trading post. The Eguafo Kingdom gladly received French interest as it capitalized off of competing trade partners. In pursuit of complete dominance, the Dutch malevolently turned their hostilities against the Eguafo Kingdom. The Dutch partnered with the neighboring African Adom state to attack the Eguafo; however, in early 1688, the Eguafo used French gold to bribe the Adom towards a neutral position. This tactic displayed the power of mutually beneficial international exchanges, the power of cooper ..read more

Jacob Houston The military actions taken by the United States (US) on the country of Panama on December 20th, 1989, known as ‘Operation Just Cause’, against the Panamanian dictator General Manuel Noriega. Noriega was known as a brutal dictator, but his actions against the Panamanian people were increasingly overlooked by the US under the Reagan and Bush administration as Panama had an invaluable position in US foreign policy in the Central and Northern South American region. Noriega operated closely with the US on many occasions, specifically the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), which most ..read more