Monday Briefing | October 14 - Journal of Political Inquiry

Photo credit: Nazeer Al-Khatib/Agence France-Presse / Getty Images

Stories to Follow

Turkey Invades Syria: If you’re not following the Turkish-led infiltration in northern Syria, here’s what you missed. On Sunday, Kurdish forces—formerly allied with the U.S.—announced a new deal with the Russian-backed government in Damascus, a known enemy of the United States. Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan authorized Turkish forces to move into Syria on October 9th to clear the region from members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Erdogan argues that the PKK is a militant group that is a bigger threat to the Middle East than ISIS. Although the Kurds in Syria have been an ally to the United States in its fight against terrorism, the White House announced that same day that U.S. troops would be removed from Syria. This has been much to the dismay of both Democrats and Republicans who argue that this is a bad move of President Trump on behalf of ally solidarity. This will be a story to keep your eye on in the coming days and weeks.

Ethiopian Prime Minister awarded Nobel Peace Prize: On October 11th, it was announced that this year’s Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his role in ending Ethiopia’s long-running war with Eritrea. Since he took his seat as Prime Minister in April 2018, he’s also been credited for the country’s massive social and political change. He’s released previously jailed journalists and has reversed the exile of opposing political parties, as well as other reforms in favor of democracy.

This Week in JPI

From our friends at NYU, the International Relations and Politics Association (IRPA) will be sponsoring a FREE tour at the United Nations on November 6th, starting at 1:30 PM. If you’re interesting in seeing the global politics stage in all of its glory, please sign up here before October 21st! The spots are first come, first serve.

Happening This Week

Night of 1,000 Jack O’ Lanterns, Downtown NYC.
Thursday October 17, 2019 – Sunday, October 27 2019

Ready to venture out of your 10 block radius for some fall fun? Starting on Thursday, October 17th, until the 27th, the Night of 1,000 Jack O’Lanterns returns to Downtown NYC. As its name suggests, more than 1,000 jack o’lanterns are carved and staged by local artists south of Chinatown. Last year, tickets sold out, so get them quick here!

In Your Free Time

For those Middle East Politics enthusiasts or those just interested in staying updated with what scholars are saying about current Middle East events, check out the podcast: Middle East Focus by the Middle East Institute. The Middle East Institute is a non-partisan, non-profit think tank based in Washington D.C. that focuses primarily on the education of the Middle East. You can check out their latest podcast on “Ending Civil Wars in the Middle East” here.

For something a little more light-hearted, Netflix’s The Politician is getting a lot of buzz and for good reason. Another TV show hit by American Horror Story’s creator Ryan Murphy, this show revolves around main character, Payton Hobart, and his quest to become student body president at Saint Sebastian High School. Hobart sees the role of student body president as a stepping stone to his future as president of the United States and is dedicated to win—no matter what it takes.

This week’s Monday Briefing was brought to you by Melanie Mercado.