Eli Levine

Holds a BA in International Relations, Political Science, and Sociology from Hobart College. Interested in complex adaptive systems and their implications for social, political, and economic life.

The Game Shifts in South China Sea Disputes

After a close call, two Filipino warships around Scarborough Shoal have withdrawn, citing inclement weather as the cause. China and the Philippines both claim the disputed shoal, known as Bajo

By Eli Levine

June 19, 2012

Syrian Situation Highlights Complex Geo-Political Landscape

Former UN Chief Kofi Annan declared that Syria was "on a tipping point", following a recent diplomatic mission to Damascus and a meeting with President Bashar al-Assad.

By Eli Levine

May 30, 2012

Greeks to Head to Polls After Government Coalition Talks Fail

Greek politicians have failed to come up with a compromise government after having elections on May 6th. The Greek people elected a mix of far right and far left political

By Eli Levine

May 17, 2012

Ahmadinejad Overall Loser in Iranian Parliamentary Elections

One of the key features of Iranian government and society, is that they actually produce something like a democracy following the 1979 overthrow of the dictatorial Shah. The Iranian Majlis

By Eli Levine

May 7, 2012

Are We Living Beyond Our Environmental Means?

NPR has recently done a story on what various countries around the world are doing to combat climate change. The results are, as expected, mixed. Countries like Australia and China

By Eli Levine

April 24, 2012

Egyptian Commission Blocks Ten Candidates for President

The Supreme Presidential Election Commission in Egypt has moved to block ten candidates for the upcoming presidential election. Among those excluded are Omar Suleiman, Mubarak's former spy chief,

By Eli Levine

April 15, 2012

The Political Allegory of Passover

All peoples, seem to go under periods of time where they're controlled and dominated by a repressive, ineffective and negatively acting regime. The Pharaoh in the Old Testament

By Eli Levine

April 15, 2012

Rising Tiger? Economic Questions Plague Chinese Timber Giant

Chinese timber giant, Sino-Forest Corp, has filed for bankruptcy protection on March 31st, 2012. The company has been under investigation for allegedly exaggerating its timber holdings in China, essentially

By Eli Levine

April 2, 2012

Flawed US Policy on UNESCO Funding & Palestinian Statehood

A feature on the popular Daily Show highlighting US cuts to UNESCO funding has brought the troublesome American stance toward Palestinian statehood back in the forefront of international discussion. The

By Eli Levine

March 21, 2012

Further Conflict Erupts on the Horn of Africa

Ethiopia launched an attack on Eritrean soil last week, claiming to target "terrorist camps". The action signals an increase in tension between the two neighboring East African countries,

By Eli Levine

March 19, 2012

A Question on Empire: Afghanistan and US Action Overseas

Following the massacre of 16 Afghan civilians at the hands of a US Staff Sergeant, there has been much debate and talk about whether to pull out of Afghanistan at

By Eli Levine

March 16, 2012

Belgium Burning: Another European Islamophobia Incident

An imam was killed in Belgium yesterday when his mosque was set on fire in the country's capital of Brussels, seen widely as the capital of the European

By Eli Levine

March 13, 2012