News
![In the ISDC office. From left to right: Neil Ferguson–Director of Peacebuilding; Tilman Brück–Founder and Director; Sophie Zschäbitz–Head of Administration; Sarah Brakebill-Hacke–Research Intern; Ghassan Baliki–Director of Welfare; Theodora Benesch–Peacebuilding Junior Researcher, Jonathan Garcia Fuentes–Doctoral Researcher ZeroHungerLab; Wolfgang Stojetz–Director of Behavior.](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/sarah_1.jpg?h=9ff38888&itok=m-hMzkY_)
During the summer at the International Security and Development Center (ISDC), Sarah Brakebill-Hacke (Master's in International Policy '24) delved deeper into examining the relationship between food insecurity and civil conflicts and connected with renowned leaders in the food security domain from around the globe.
![Amichai Magen, Marshall Burke, Didi Kuo, Larry Diamond, and Michael McFaul onstage for a panel discussion at Stanford's 2023 Reunion and Homecoming](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/reunion_2023_panel_hero.png?h=c4d9845d&itok=GtD71Ezo)
At Reunion Homecoming, FSI Scholars Offer Five Policy Recommendations for the Biden Administration
FSI scholars offer their thoughts on what can be done to address political polarization in the United States, tensions between Taiwan and China, climate change, the war in Ukraine, and the Israel-Hamas war.
![Daniel Chen](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/16x9_dscf0416_copy.jpg?h=4acf91c7&itok=Rnt30Pfz)
Improving courts’ efficiency is paramount to citizens' confidence in legal institutions and proceedings, explains Daniel Chen, Director of Research at the French National Center for Scientific Research and Professor at the Toulouse School of Economics.
The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has bipartisan support from nearly half the Senate and the enthusiastic backing of President Joe Biden, but opponents fear the bill would cause more harm than good for children and the internet.
![Flanked by Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (L) and President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (R), U.S. President Joe Biden points towards the camera.](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/hero/biden_bolkiah_widodo_gettyimages-1240628876.png?h=8abcec71&itok=XcD8tAmH)
President Joko Widodo and his team arrive in Washington at an uncertain time in U.S.-Indonesia relations.
Students, alumni, and professors reflected on the role of American democracy in the global arena at the International Luncheon panel on Democracy Day.
Thousands turned out for the student-run, campuswide event, which has grown significantly since launching in 2021.
![Kumi Naidoo joins the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies as the 2023-24 Payne Distinguished Lecturer](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/kumi_naidoo_payne_lecturer_hero.png?h=c4d9845d&itok=mfBT4gg3)
Naidoo brings a multi-disciplinary perspective from his experiences as a leader at Greenpeace International, Amnesty International, and other causes to the students and scholars at FSI and beyond.
![An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the “Golden Dragons” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 192 launches off the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Jan. 23, 2022.](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/uss_carl_vinson_pacific_fleet_flickr.jpg?h=783eb3ee&itok=EpwWGJLt)
With contributions from military, government, and academic experts, a new volume explores what changes will be necessary in the U.S. military budget to keep the nation secure in a new geopolitical environment. A chapter by Center Fellow Oriana Skylar Mastro focuses on how to update military spending to enhance U.S. capability to deter Chinese ambitions in Taiwan and beyond.
CDDRL postdoctoral fellow’s findings show that institutional safeguards meant to guarantee the representation of parties formed by former rebel groups may actually weaken such parties’ grassroots support.
![US-China Salon Podcast Graphic](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/us-china_salon_podcast.jpeg?h=a15243ab&itok=TRsD0mpQ)
In this podcast Scott Rozelle Rozelle provides invaluable perspective on key topics impacting rural communities. It explores recent education reforms in China, including efforts to strengthen rural schooling and early childhood learning. And also delves into pressing employment challenges as many rural workers lack the skills to transition from manufacturing jobs to the service sector. Professor Rozelle emphasizes the urgency of implementing job retraining programs and safety nets.
![Hamzah Daud sitting next to Chairman Jerome Powell of the Federal Reserve](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/img_0973.jpg?h=1e66e246&itok=j13rFUaq)
During the summer at the Federal Reserve, Hamzah Daud (Master's in International Policy '24) furthered his understanding of the interplay between technology and central banking, contributing to cutting edge researches that evaluate the application of emerging technologies in the everyday financial system.
Dorien Emmers, former SCCEI Postdoc, and Scott Rozelle, SCCEI Co-Director, wrote a piece featured in China Daily and The China Story highlighting the challenges of inequality and a possible path towards common prosperity.
![Larry Diamond speaks during CDDRL's research seminar](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/dscf0370_edited.jpg?h=d9b15396&itok=r4dwWqGM)
Is the world still in a democratic recession? Larry Diamond — the Mosbacher Senior Fellow in Global Democracy at FSI — believes it is.
A new research initiative seeks proposals from researchers studying trust and safety in the majority world. Applications due January 30, 2024
![Panelists at the event "1973 Yom Kippur War: Lessons Learned"](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-11/lessons_of_yom_kippur_war_all_panelists.jpeg?h=71976bb4&itok=ibYESGO3)
Scholars of Israel and the Middle East discussed the strategic takeaways of the 1973 Yom Kippur War and their relevance to the region’s current security crisis.
![The flag of Israel flies against a sunlit sky](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-04/israel_flag_unsplash_hero.png?h=c4d9845d&itok=fw3JHy6W)
For me, a Jewish response to Oct. 7 can be captured in three words: rise, recover, reimagine.
The prize awarded by the American Economic Association is in memory of Elaine Bennett, who made significant contributions in economic theory and experimental economics and encouraged the work of young women in all areas of economics.
![Kiran Gopal Vaska, CK Cheruvettolil, and Siyan Yi at the panel discussion on digitial health initiatives](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-10/digital_health_technologies.jpg?h=2eec984c&itok=guczhdnj)
Shorenstein APARC continued its APEC seminar series with the second installment, Asia-Pacific Digital Health Innovation: Technology, Trust, and the Role of APEC, a panel discussion that focused on how India’s digital health strategy has evolved and its lessons for other countries creating their own.
![2023 Fisher Family Summer Fellows in front of fountain](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-10/6c1c0cde-c1db-40ac-b7f6-9553ab60cf8e.jpeg?h=c673cd1c&itok=Bv_F9Eju)
The program will run from Sunday, July 21, through Friday, August 9, 2024. Applications are due by 5:00 pm PST on Sunday, January 14, 2024.
CDDRL postdoctoral fellow challenges the conventional wisdom that deterioration in the rule of law generates decline in economic vitality.
In a TEDxStanford talk, Alice Siu discusses how applying and spreading deliberative democracy can better engage us all in our shared public problems.
Ahead of the 2023 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) convening in San Francisco, APARC kicked off its fall seminar series, Exploring APEC’s Role in Facilitating Regional Cooperation, with a panel discussion that examined APEC’s role and continued relevance in a rapidly-evolving Asia-Pacific region.
![U.S. Seaman Xi Chan stands lookout on the flight deck as the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) transits the Taiwan Strait during routine underway operations.](https://fsi9-prod.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/styles/360x244/public/2023-10/2020-04-23_seaman_xi_chan_stands_lookout_on_the_flight_deck_as_uss_barry_ddg_52_transits_the_taiwan_strait.jpg?h=ada05aa9&itok=D5Y49zwT)
For a half-century, America has avoided war with China over Taiwan largely through a delicate balance of deterrence and reassurance.