Pardee School Hosts Two ‘Beyond the Headlines’ Events in September

Beyond the Headlines: “America’s Election and Its Global Impact” panelists (left to right) Sanne Verschuren, Zachary Mondesire, Rachel Nolan, and Vesko Garčević, with moderator Dean Scott Taylor. Photo by Halle Amankwah-Akuffo

The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University hosted tw “Beyond the Headlines” events in September, addressing critical international issues and their global implications.

On September 12, the day after a debate between presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, the school held a panel discussion titled “America’s Election and Its Global Impact.” This timely hybrid event featured Pardee professors Zachary Mondesire, Sanne Verschuren, Vesko Garčević, and Rachel Nolan. The experts explored how the upcoming U.S. election between Trump and Harris could reshape global dynamics across various regions.

Pardee graduate student William Graves reflected on the event:

“Although there was an immense amount of ground to cover for such a short discussion, the panelists did a great job summarizing key points surrounding the prospective Trump and Harris administrations’ foreign policies. It was rather striking to learn about specific areas they come together on rather than differ (given we usually focus on differences rather than similarities), such as a general consensus on supporting Israel, the continued practice of some Trumpian policies by the Biden administration with regards to border security, American strategy in Africa, etc. Perhaps the most thought-provoking thing I learned, however, wasn’t about any particular policy itself, but rather how we might analyze American foreign policy with respect to changes in presidential administrations. Lastly, I admire how we were able to have this discussion without it becoming particularly polemic.”

Another student, Azima Aidarov (BA IR ’24), commented:

“I found the event to be extremely informative. One of the ideas that stood out to me the most was that the Biden and Trump administrations didn’t differ as much in their migration policies as may seem on the surface. I also appreciated learning about potential consequences of another Trump term on different parts of the world — Europe, Latin America and Africa. Kamala Harris has yet to make her foreign policy objectives clear, so there is still a lot of hope in regards to what decisions she will make. This event helped put major policy issues in perspective for me and confirmed the significance of this election on a global scale, especially in light of the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Hamas wars.”

The second event, held on September 17, focused on “What’s Next After Venezuela’s Election Fraud?” This panel featured Carlos Blanco, Research Affiliate at the Center for Latin American Studies, and Julio Henríquez, Lecturer at the International Human Rights Clinic, School of Law. Paul Hare, Interim Director of the Center for Latin American Studies, moderated the discussion.

The Venezuela panel examined the aftermath of the country’s contentious elections, discussing the increasing global protests and the nation’s uncertain future. Carlos Blanco highlighted recent victories for the opposition, including Maria Corina Machado’s 93% win in the primaries and Edmundo González’s 67% victory in the July 28 elections. He emphasized the growing international support for the democratic movement and the regime’s increasing isolation.

Julio Henríquez provided a sobering account of the regime’s repression tactics, detailing five groups targeted for detention: protest participants, random detainees to meet quotas, political leaders at all levels, human rights defenders, and individuals within the regime showing signs of dissent. He described the coordinated nature of these detentions and the challenges faced by those trying to provide legal representation to detainees.

The discussion also touched on the complex nature of the Venezuelan regime, described by one speaker as a “mix of partners in crime” involving international mafias, drug cartels, and foreign state actors. The panelists stressed the need for a multifaceted approach to bring about change, including sustained pressure from social movements, internal fractures within the regime, a functional political opposition, and coordinated international community action.

Both events highlight the Pardee School’s commitment to fostering informed discussions on pressing global issues. By bringing together experts and engaging students, these “Beyond the Headlines” sessions offer valuable perspectives on current events and their far-reaching impacts.