TSW Journal - Feb-March 2011

THE SCHOOL OF WASHINGTONJourn alVolume I No. 4

A GWU Student Publication SchoolofWashington.org A Product of TSWCN

- Table of Contents Economics & FinanceBack to the 90s: The Possibility of a Social Media Bubble........................................................................ Biting the Forbidden Apple: Steve Jobs Aggressive Business Policy....................................................... Currency Wars: The United States and China........................................................................................... A Quick Look at High Frequency Trading................................................................................................. 4 5 6 6

Culture & ArtsA Dutch Master Visits the District............................................................................................................... Bands On the Rise in the District................................................................................................................. Correspondent Abroad: Roma and Berlusconis Culture......................................................................... Mens Spring Fashion in The District........................................................................................................... Washington Color & Light............................................................................................................................ Restaurant Review: Zaytinya.......................................................................................................................... 7 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 13 15 16 17 18 19 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 29 30 30 31 31

Science & Philosophy

An Argument Against the Exclusivity of Reason and Faith.................................................................... Whats Love Got to Do With It? .................................................................................................................. The Essence of Essentialism............................................................................................................................ The Tunisian Revolution................................................................................................................................. Algeria: Caught between Islamist and Nationalist Politics...................................................................... The Children of History.................................................................................................................................. Development, Both Success and Failure....................................................................................................... Humble Beginnings: A Portrait of Professor Steven Kelts....................................................................... A True Conservative Today Will Vote Democrat...................................................................................... Exciting Times In the Middle Easte..............................................................................................................

Politics

SportsHow Did Arsenal Manage to Beat Barcelona?............................................................................................ What the Ainge?!.............................................................................................................................................. Sports Predictions.............................................................................................................................................

Student Association Election CandidatesChris Clarke...................................................................................................................................................... Ted Costigan...................................................................................................................................................... Amanda Galonek.............................................................................................................................................. Elizabeth Kennedy............................................................................................................................................ Nick Koeniger.................................................................................................................................................... Cory Grever....................................................................................................................................................... Sam Sherman.....................................................................................................................................................

C atering to t he K e m pt, t he Unke m pt, a nd t he Urba ne

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The S cho ol of Wa shington Jo u rn a l

E co n o m i c s & Fi n a n ceBack to the 90s: The Possibility of a Social Media BubbleBy Sam Theodosopoulos In a memorable scene in the movie The Social Network, the actor Justin Timberlake, who portrays the Silicon Valley investor Sean Parker, leans over the table and tells the founders of Facebook in a conspiratorial tone: A million dollars isnt cool. You know whats cool? A billion dollars. If worry over a bubble can be enough to prevent it, then there are signs of hope in the portentous coverage of social media. Last month, Britains Daily Mail reported that high valuations for Facebook had set off a feeding frenzy, warning that cashrich investors could be inflating a multi-billion dollar social networking bubble. The Wall Street Journal described the market as increasingly frothy, with venture capitalists circling Silicon Valley start-ups. And most ominously, CNBCs Mad Money host and screamer, Jim Cramer, is telling viewers to leap in: He predicted a valuation revolution in social media. Business Insider noted, It feels like 1999 all over again. The exuberance has given rise to an elite club of start-ups all younger than seven years and all worth billions. Successive investments in Twitter have reportedly increased its value 33 percent, to $4 billion, while Zynga, creator of the popular Facebook game FarmVille, is worth more than $5 billion.4

million. The professional social Google was willing to pay $6 billon networking site LinkedIn, set for for Groupon, an online coupon an IPO, trades for about $3 billion. company that was valued at $1.35 Those companies are not even the billion only eight months ago. And ones pulling in really big numbers. Groupon was willing to reject the Shares in the company Zynga, maker bid on Friday evening, presumably of the popular game Farmville, are because it could sell for even more trading at sums so high they imply a valuation of $6.2 billion. At Twitter, money later. discussions with potential investors Less than a decade after the dot-com have come up with valuation estimates bust taught Wall Street and Silicon of $8 billion to $10 billion. And in Valley investors that what goes up December, Groupon turned down a does not keep going up forever, a $6 billion buyout offer from Google growing number of entrepreneurs instead raising $950 million from a and a few venture capitalists are variety of investors. It is expected beginning to wonder if investments to go public, with advisers saying it in technology start-ups are headed could be worth $15 billion. toward another big bust. Then there is Facebook. A Goldman Could it really be the dot-com bubble Sachs investment deal produced a all over againexcept this time total valuation of $50 billion. But centered on social-media companies? that astronomical valuation may Perhaps. But there are some glimmers actually be low: Facebook employees, of prudence in this frothy market, like Zynga employees, sometimes meaning maybe we dont need to sell their pieces of the pie to highnet-worth investors. That secondary worry about bubbles just yet. market at one point put the overall In the past year, investors have shown companys value at $60 billion. That tremendous interest in a tossed salad would make the company the 38th of companies, all social in some most valuable in the United States, way or another and all gaining users sandwiched right between Amazon. at a blistering pace. Some of those com and 3M. start-ups have received investments valuing them at billions, regardless of Add up all of those valuations, and current income. Some have discussed your head starts to hurt. These social going public. For others, limited media firms barely existed five years pools of employee stock are trading agoa time when most of their founders werent old enough to for obscene amounts. buy beer. Now, just six companies The investor excitement, or concern, operating in the space are worth about centers on several firms. They include $100 billion. No wonder people are the mobile check-in site FourSquare, babbling bubble. which grew 3,400 percent in 2010 and whose founder recently said the But there is evidence that we might company hit a valuation of $250 remain in a rational boom periodor,February - March 2011


at least, if there is a bubble, it wont be nearly as painful as the dot-com bust. For one, the boom remains focused, not broad. The intensive investor interest has centered on relatively few firms, all the dominant players in their fields. These companies have millions of users if not solid income streams or high profits. Nobody is offering to throw wads of cash at alsoransat least not yet.

Finally, although many of the valuations seem high, some watchers argue they are justifiedand at the However, the party is small, with Indeed, most of the companies very least, they are raising healthy only an exclusive coterie of venture- mentioned above have not announced levels of skepticism around the digital capital firms, investment banks, plans to go public yet. Many never water cooler. It is hard to compare high-net-worth types, and start-ups will. Rather, they are seeking funding valuations for various social media allowed in. Back during the dot- from investment professionals. That companies, given their different com bubble, kitchen-table investors means that if anyones losing money business models.

bought into practically any company that tacked an E on the beginning of its nameand then lost their shirts. That is not happening now. According to Renaissance Capital, in 2000, the peak of the tech bubble, 237 technology companies held IPOs. In the past 12 months, there have been 49. And many were foreign firms making an entre into the U.S. market, not start-ups seeking cash.

in the coming crash, it is Wall Street types seeking high returns. It is a real consolation: Such investors know they are taking on risk by investing in young start-ups, and if they lose money, it should have little impact on the broader economy.

Biting the Forbidden Apple: Steve Jobs Aggressive Business PolicyBy Joseph Cordi Last week, Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced Apples new in-app subscription plan and was quickly faced with intense criticism. Yet Apple is no stranger to controversy. Their newly revamped mobile-application policy met with intense criticism less than a year ago. Similarly, it is widely speculated that federal regulators will soon investigate these new changes regarding the subscriptions.

cannot be undercut. This insures, since the prices are the same, that users will purchase goods through Apple because it will be more easily accessible to consumers. Additionally, new rules state that Apple is entitled to 30% of earnings of purchases through its App-store. Not only is Apple setting the rules so their prices cannot be undersold in terms of digital subscriptions, but they are also taking a sizeable percentage of profits away from other firms! Steve Jobs claims, Our philosophy is simplewhen Apple brings a new subscriber to the app, Apple earns a 30 percent share. However, that is far too simplistic a perspective. Since purchasing digital subscriptions at Apple are guaranteed at the lowest prices and are the most easily accessible, consumers will obviously opt to purchase through Apple. The firm is not necessarily bringing in new subscribers; it is simply creating a short cut tap into regular consumers.

to give publishers their personal information when they subscribe, a further business caveat of Apples. The firm runs the risk of alienating publishers with this new policy! Publishers depend on knowing their consumers personal information so they know may allocate marketing resources effectively. Not knowing ones client bases information can pose a sizeable barrier on efficient marketing. However, I must say that as a consumer, I personally love this new policy. Today, personal information is typically given away far too liberally. It is refreshing to see Apple take a stand and say that they will no longer sell their customers personal information. Overall, I do not believe that Apples new terms dictating that items must be sold at their lowest price in their App-store and then taking a cut of earnings will be deemed legal. I think that federal regulators will decide that the new changes break anti-trust laws. It will be interesting to see how Apple handles the constant attacks from the media and the possible impending regulations in the coming weeks.5

The most controversial part of Apples new plan is, if a publisher chooses to sell a digital subscription separately outside of the app, that same subscription offer must be made available, at the same price or less, to customers who wish to subscribe from within the app. In essence, Apple is dictating the market price Now consumers will have an of goods and declaring that they option of whether or not they want2011 Conditum Anno Domini MMX


Currency Wars: The United States and ChinaBy Julian Gindi It seems like everything is made in China these days. Everywhere you look you see that signature gold sticker proclaiming, Made in China. While the worlds economy stumbles, Chinas economy is booming, slowly lurking up behind the USs, and may eventually claim the throne as largest economy in the world. It seems like there may be some trickery going on behind the scenes -- it turns out there is: China has been artificially manipulating its currency to boost the appeal of its exports overseas. Manipulating ones currency may seem difficult or even impossible, but in reality it is quite straight forward. Lets assume there is an economy with two nations, the US and China. The US has one firm that manufactures little plush hippos for GW students; the manufacturing plant is located in China. The entrepreneur sends US dollars over to China in exchange for the manufactured goods, in turn the US dollars are converted to Yuan in China. As more firms in the US rely on Chinese plants to manufacture the goods, the Yuan should appreciate in value, so says the rules of economics. China, however, views these rules as optional. In an effort to keep their

currency cheap, thus allowing their goods to be incredibly competitive in the world market, the Chinese print additional currency to keep supply and demand in equilibrium. This currency manipulation is having a large negative effect on the US economy and is preventing strong recessionary recoveries. During the recent recession, the US dollar fell in value compared to the rest of the worlds currency. This usually triggers new investment in the US currency and allows US exports to seem attractive to foreign customers -- this renewed demand is usually enough to pull a country out of its post recessionary period of slow growth. China is artificially subsidizing its factories which in turn is leading many U.S. firms to open up shop there, causing significant unemployment back home. Keeping the value of its currency artificially low also makes U.S. goods more expensive in China, which further raises unemployment here. While the U.S. economy is still hibernating, the Chinese recorded a net surplus of $450 billion dollars. This is getting ridiculous. As Paul Krugman stated, This is the most distortionary exchange rate policy any major nation has ever followed.

affect on the Chinese GDP. It could be early signs of a looming trade war, yet the United States, is doing nothing to address the issue. Twice a year, the Treasury Department issues a report identifying currency manipulating countries. While the report itself has no policy ramifications, it sends a clear message to the world about the trade integrity of other nations. So far, Treasury has been unwilling to take action and call the Chinese out on their blatant manipulation. In leu of Chinas large stake in the US economy, many people in government are scared of calling out the Chinese on their manipulation. What if calling their bluff followed with the dumping of all its dollar assets? The long term ramifications of such an action are debated hotly by international economists, but the consensus is that not much would happen -- it may actually have a positive effect on the economy. If the Chinese got rid of its U.S. assets the influx of dollars would cause its value to fall further, thus leading US exports to a competitive price internationally.

It is time for the U.S. to call Chinas bluff and label them as a currency manipulator. The Chinese are tricking policy makers into thinking they have them on a leash; in reality Two economists studied the there isnt much the Chinese could implications of China reversing its do to hurt our economy in the long currency policy and concluded that run. We must confront the waking the action would not have a significant dragon and we must do it swiftly. is it? How much volume does it account for? Is it fair? And, how should it be regulated (if at all), are just a few of the main questions nagging regulators, taxpayers, and capitalists.

A Quick Look at High Frequency Trading

characterized by quantitative computer models that process large amounts of information in order to make trades within one millionth By Jarren Smith of a second. These supercomputers, sometimes called black-boxes, Recently, a lot of attention and account for between 56 and 73 controversy has been directed toward Programmed by quants, high percent of equity trading volume in high frequency trading. What exactly frequency trading (HFT) is the U.S. depending on what source6 February - March 2011


one looks at. Now, whats wrong with this one may ask? Well, first of all, high frequency traders are able to (1) issue orders and almost simultaneously cancel them. This loophole, called a pinging tactic, allows high-speed traders the ability to discover the upper price other regular traders and investors are willing to pay. Another concern

people have with HFT is called (2) flash trading. Flash trading allows certain firms (for a small fee) the ability to see an incoming buy or sell order submitted to the exchange 30 milliseconds before the rest of the general market becomes aware of it (colloquially known as frontrunning). A third major concern is that these automated trading computers amplify the direction of

the market and could go haywire during a black swan or 6-sigma event. Does this mean that high frequency trading should be totally outlawed? No. But it does mean that regulators should address the first two issues brought up, because currently, the playing field is more uneven than usual.

Cu l t u re & Ar tsA Dutch Master Visits the DistrictBy Alicia Farina Saint Sebastian Tended by Irene by Dutch painter Hendrick ter Brugghen is an absolute mustsee. The masterpiece, which is visiting from Oberlin Colleges Allen Memorial Art Museum and is only on display until May 15, is one of only two ter Brugghen pieces displayed in the National Gallery of Art. Considered by many to be ter Brugghens finest history painting, Saint Sebastian Tended by Irene was named by Pierre Rosenberg, former curator and director of the Muse du Louvre, the number one piece of art unmatched by European collections. The painting depicts a biblical scene but is much more than that. It is a masterful blending of both the Dutch and Italian traditions, as well as a personal, direct view of human suffering. It is a testament to human compassion and unwillingness to fail. In order to understand the effectiveness of the painting, it is important to know the story which it is telling. Sebastian was a third century Christian missionary and Roman soldier who refused to renounce Christianity. Subsequently, he was tied to a tree and shot with arrows as punishment. Sebastian survived the execution miraculously and was nursed back to health by Irene and her maidservant. While the story itself evokes great emotion, the manner in which ter Brugghen represents Sebastians will to live and Irenes benevolence only heightens the intensity of the situation. Channeling the style of Caravaggio, an early 17th century Italian master, ter Brugghen fills the entire picture plane, using a contrast of light and dark pigments to create highly naturalistic human characters. The figure of Sebastian is pushed to the very edge of the space, stretching Alright, admit it. We all flipped out when we saw on 9:30 Clubs website that popular electro-funk duo Chromeo and Canadian dance from one corner of the canvas to the other, his body appearing tortured, discolored, and deformed. There is enormous tension in Sebastians bound arm, the life seeming to drain from it. Irene gently pulls at the lodged arrow in his chest, holding Sebastian in her arms, cradling and supporting him. There is a tender and patient look about her face as she exemplifies empathy and charity. Ter Brugghen harnesses the power of light by bathing Irenes face and Sebastians tortured body in it, almost to suggest the intervention of Gods hand. The powerful forms combined with rich colors to create an unforgettable combination of the Dutch and Italian traditions. It is no surprise that this painting is thought to have hung in a hospital during the black plague. Ter Brugghens work continues to exemplify the resilience of the human spirit and the power of kindness.

Bands On the Rise in the DistrictBy Paula Mejia2011 Conditum Anno Domini MMX

electronica sensations Crystal Castles will be playing in DC these next few months, right? Looking beyond the big names, it turns out that there are more than a few up-and-coming7


bands, all a demonstration of fierce 8th and 9th, at the 9:30 Club. talent, that are flying under the radar and will be touring this spring. Cults. Ive been eagerly anticipating the slow rise of New York duo Cults, Heres our list of bands you dont who have mysteriously kept under the want to miss when they stop in DC: radar while their single Go Outside blew up last year. Think Beach HouseTennis. The precious, sun-drenched esque dreamy vocals meeting 50s surf project of Denver couple Alaina rock anthems. Over the summer, Moore and Patrick Riley, post-selling they toured with math rockers Maps their belongings and cruising the & Atlases, and now theyre back with Eastern seaboard on a sailboat. The dream pop sensation Asobi Seksu and minimalist, nostalgic beach rock, Sun Airway, on Friday, March 25th, beautifully layered with Moores 60s at Rock and Roll Hotel, for what pop-esque vocals, croons us back to should prove to be an amazing array late evening walks along the sand, the of talent. surf lapping softly against the shore. Theyll be headlining on Saturday, Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears. March 5th, at the Rock and Roll Funky basslines, jazz undertones Hotel, along with indie up-and- and blues vocals blend to form this comers La Sera & Holiday Shores. Austin, Texas bands lively, energetic sound. Their latest release, Tell Em Titus Andronicus. The New Jersey What Your Name Is!, was produced by punk sensations have been raising fellow Austinite Jim Eno of Spoon. eyebrows since their latest release, The You cant help but tap your foot to Monitor, garnered a nod from Rolling the jazzy piano and frenzy of melodic Stone as one of the best new bands of vocals. Theyll be at the Black Cat 2010. Their frenetic, raw performance with Those Darlins on Thursday, is not to be missed. Theyll be playing March 24th. alongside the famed Irish folk punk band The Pogues two nights, March Gold Panda. British electronic music

producer Derwin Pandas solo project has been causing a stir. Undertones of Indian and Japanese culture, blended with sampling and synthy beats, creates a sonic seizure of impressive electronica that should not be missed. Hell be at the Red Palace on Friday, April 1st, along with Dan Mantle. Crocodiles. I had never heard of Crocodiles until was fortunate enough to be able to interview the San Diego duo last semester. After that, I was hooked on this neoshoegaze revivalist band, one of many that seem to be sweeping the ambient music scene with the nostalgia of the early 90s and the energy of 2011. Think of the droning, dreamy vocals of My Bloody Valentine and the romantic drawl of guitars loaded with Deerhunter-esque effect pedals. James Ford of Simian Mobile Disco collaborated on their newest, Sleep Forever, an impressive array of genres spanning shoegaze, noise rock and pop. Dont miss them on Monday, April 25th, at Red Palace along with The Fresh & Onlys.

Correspondent Abroad: Roma and Berlusconis CultureBy Lily C. Colley The climate of Italian politics has changed greatly since the time of infamous Benito Mussolini. Yet, Italys current political vista is still dominated by a single controversial man: Silvo Berlusconi. Since I moved to Rome merely weeks ago I have already heard a plethora of contradicting views regarding this highly debated politician. Ironically,8

most of these opinions are not related directly to his policies. Rather, the attention surrounding this four-term Italian Prime Minister, first elected in 1994, is related to his overabundance of personal scandals.

whom he later divorced before marrying actress Veronica Lario, the two had three children together. In 2009 Lario filed for divorce causing a media uproar after she announced the Prime Minister was dallying with younger woman. This event Silvo Berlusconi was born in Milan marked the beginning of Berlusconis and began his life as a successful many subsequent personal scandals entrepreneur, initially in real estate especially regarding, younger woman before moving on to dominate and wild parties. By the time of and revolutionizing the Italian his second marriage Berlusocni had television industry. The 74-year-old become an contested public figure is estimated to be worth $9 billion exemplified by the fact that divisive according to Forbes Magazine. former Italian Prime Minister Bettino Berlusconi has been married twice Craxi, of the once Italian Socialist and has five subsequent children. His Party, was even his best man. first marriage was to Carla DallOglioFebruary - March 2011


Berlusconi founded the Forza Italia Political Party upon his entry into politics in 1993 and was first elected as Prime Minister in 1994. The party is defined by Liberal Conservatism and Christian Democracy but later merged into the The People of Freedom Party after years of lost dominance referred to by Berlusconi as the crossing of the desert. Berlusoni initially ran on a platform that emphasized freedom, the individual, family, enterprise, Italian tradition, Christian tradition and love for weaker people. The majority of Berlusconis contested reforms regard immigration law; a controversial topic in Italy due to the countrys large influx of Africans arriving especially through the peninsulas many ports. Yet, various personal scandals have overshadowed his political achievements and turned the Prime Minster into an international punch line. Berlusconis various business relations and legal issues have long been subject to inquiry and Berlusconi himself has even been connected to Mafia activates. He has been charged on at least 22 separate occasion with crimes ranging from bribery of judges, bribery of officials, false accounting, false testimony, embezzlement, tax

evasion, tax bribery, collusion, mafia collusion, corruption of senators and even drug trafficking. Of this laundry list of crimes Berlusconi has managed to be acquitted of the majority of the accusations. Only adding to the skepticism surrounding his apparent corrupt and untrustworthy nature. This skepticism is only amplified by the fact that Berlusconi himself controls many of the major media outlets in Italy. Berlusconis crude senses of humor, womanizing ways and un-Catholic morals have been the focus of media outlets all around the world. Beginning in 2009 when 18-yearold Noemi Letizia was interviewed and admitted to calling Berlusconi Papi and spending time together alone on many occasion; Berlusconi also promised to secure her career as either a politician or showgirl. Berlusconi denied ever having spent time alone with the young girl. Paparazzi photos, Letizias exboyfriends and even Letizias mother later falsified his claim. Berlusconis most recent scandal began in November of 2010 when underage Moroccan belly dancer and alleged prostitute, Karima El Mahroug aka Ruby Rubacuori, talked to Italian Prosecutors in Milan. The young girl population. After all, most people out on the streets are probably heading to a government office. It is terribly tempting for men to throw on a simple suit or pair of khakis and a button-down, without putting much thought into their stylistic decisions. Just because we are not all tromping around SOHO every day does not mean personal style loses its respectability here in the District. The subtle choices in detail that a young, professional man can make to spruce up his work and play outfits

claimed to have been given $10,000 to attend parties in Berlusconis private villa. Ruby described the parties as orgies where Berlusconi and 20 young woman would perform the African bunga bunga ritual naked. This scandal is currently still being played out and has caused unparalleled anger, especially among Italian woman. On December 14, 2010 Berlusconi narrowly escaped a Vote of Confidence, which would have lead to the collapse of his political coalition and lead to angry civilian demonstrations in Rome. Yet since then, Berlusconis control has further deteriorated especially when his primary ally, Mr. Fini, removed four of his cabinet members. Further perpetuating the crisis of confidence in Italian politics is the massive national debt, totaling 118% of GDP. It is said that Berlusconis narrow majority no longer gives him the political validity to rule and some predict he may even resign and call early elections. The New York Times concludes, The current political crisis is so complex as to confound even veteran political analysts, to say nothing of average Italians. Italians themselves are perplexed but above all fascinated by this contested politician. go a long way and DC retail is ready to provide plenty of options! Surely DC is not the fashion Mecca of New York City, but it is most certainly not a barren desert. Quaint Georgetown serves as home to a large portion of DCs fashion culture, with offerings for men ranging from timeless Italian suiting, to modern and chic street wear. Some of the more well-known stores include Ralph Lauren, Barneys COOP and Hugo Boss. Ralph9

Mens Spring Fashion in The DistrictBy Stephen Nason Every morning around nine, a sea of workers floods the streets of DC clad in an array of simple, conservative, and often drab business suits. It is easy to see why many people do not associate fashion with DC, for there is an overwhelming amount of homogenization among the working2011 Conditum Anno Domini MMX


Lauren is perfect for finding colorful and classical pocket squares, as well as ties to add hints of color to formalwear this spring. Small touches like pocket squares add a level of subtle sophistication and sharpness to any suit or blazer. This upcoming season, look for bright gingham checkered patterns, which are making a huge comeback in mens fashion. Lighten up your suiting as the temperature climbs with a slim-cut, virgin wool and linen suit from Hugo Boss in a muted, yet still playful, spring color. Barneys COOP is another fantastic location in Georgetown, with offerings for every occasion. With pieces from iconic brands like Prada, Thom Browne, Paul Smith, and Marc Jacobs, Barneys COOP is the place to splurge on unique, quality items that you can then pair with your more ordinary staples. Barneys is perfect

from up-and-coming brands to well known names like Cheap Monday and Alternative Apparel. A last hidden gem for mens apparel is J. Press in Dupont. You can never go There are also some less well-known wrong with J. Press, which epitomizes gems in the area including Lost Boys, classic, prep-inspired, high-quality Rue 14 and J. Press. Lost Boys has apparel and has a great selection of some of the newest and trendiest looks accessories to liven up your spring for spring, all housed in a modern, ensemble. chic, and friendly environment. Selling brands like Band of Outsiders, Great fashion finds are right at the James Perse and Rag and Bone, Lost tip of your fingers here in DC. Try Boys is perfect for finding great classic spots like Ralph Lauren for going-out items, like high-quality trustworthy style, but dont forget to T-shirts to go under a light cardigan explore some of the smaller boutiques for a casual and comfortable dinner- as well which sell truly distinct and date look. Lost Boys also offers an chic pieces that not everyone will array of personal styling services for have. Shop these hidden gems to any occasion. Another great stop stand a cut above the rest this spring for casual and nightwear options while strolling the streets of the is Rue 14, which sells a nice variety District on your way to work, class or of interesting designers, ranging a first date. for finding a great blazer, biker jacket or quirky accessory like a masculine bracelet or oversized watch to finish off your distinctive spring look. The end result is a feeling of peace in a scale so large that one really could fall into. Other large scale works include a vibrant striped painting by Gene Davis entitled Junkies Curtain (1967) that marries neons with deep greens, browns and blues. Hundreds of vertical stripes organize around a center of distinct blue and orange. The bright colors are reminiscent of pop art, however as a whole they suggest a comfortable 1960s flair associated with the style of the Beatles or clothing by the British designer Paul Smith. Somewhat against the themes of nonconformity that the exhibit suggests, the colors capture a distinct attitude within the confines of 1960s conservative style. Although most of the works are confined by the shapes of their canvasses, a few pieces break free. Sam Gillams Light Depth (1969)February - March 2011

Washington Color & Light

the 1950s and 1970s, artists such as Gene Davis, Kenneth Noland, and Sam Gillam created a community of abstract expressionist sentiment By Andrew Hor through their vibrant use of color. The name the Washington Color Its like looking into something very Painters stuck as most of the artists, deep. You could fall in, remarked notably Kenneth Noland, had Mad Mens Ken Cosgrove as he studied close ties to the Corcoran College the Mark Rothko mounted on his of Art and Design as well as other boss wall. He, along with a few of his Washington D.C. institutions. fellow coworkers, had broken into a corner office of the Sterling Cooper The exhibit itself serves as a celebration ad agency to catch a glimpse of the of free spirit, unbounded by tradition. painting at the center of office gossip. One step inside the gallery space While others could not believe the reveals a massing of large scale works hype over simple blocks of colored on oddly-shaped pieces of canvas. paints, Ken felt what the others Kenneth Nolands Brown Stretched (1966) is a diamond roughly twenty merely saw. four feet wide and seven feet tall, In a similar manner, Washington featuring four wide diagonal stripes. Color and Light at the Corcoran The left bottom features a deep black Gallery serves to capture the emotion while the right corner features a bright of a small circle of artists collectively red, with intermediately-colored known as the Washington Color stripes sandwiched in between, giving Painters. Active primarily through a sense of cohesion to two extremes.10


is a massive strip of raw canvas that hangs from the ceiling and covers the space of two walls. It twists and turns through loops of rope, giving off the impression of a net or organic matter. It is dipped into magma, a fast drying acrylic paint that was popularized in the late 1940s. Unlike regular paints, magma absorbs directly into the canvas, effectively making the

paint one with the medium. While attitude focused on breaking free from viewing Light Depth, one cannot help the physical and symbolic borders of feeling overwhelmed by the shadows the 1960s canvas. that the curves of fabric create a journey of depth and awe through the scale of color. For the Washington Color Painters, it is less about subject matter than it is about capturing a mood, a rebellious In regards to the meat and fish, Zaytinya is solid. From a tender short rib to the beef tartare filled generously with onion and spices, no dish goes wrong and the kitchen shows serious technical chops in its preparation of dishes outside of the cuisine, such as the lamb meatballs with fresh feta. While the dessert remains my only complaint, it is disappointing that such a fine meal always ends on a sour note. Poorly attempting signature dishes such as olive oil-flavored ice cream, the only redeeming quality from the dessert menu is the selection of sorbets. While the options can be a bit harsh, the apricot sorbet has a nice finish and bursts with flavor. As should be expected, the service is spot-on and the pricing is moderate to expensive. Located directly outside of Chinatown, Zaytinya is accessible by the Metro Center and Gallery Place rail stations. Zaytinya is an excellent foray into exotic flavor and savory dishes, but dont expect perfection. I hope to see this restaurant grow and I hope to see Chef Jos Andrs maximize the enormous potential held in this great eatery.

Restaurant Review: Zaytinya

of Med and Mid, I wasnt thrilled that the hummus was, well, just run of the mill hummus. The same can be said of the baba ghannouge, which By Zachary Gorelick was less than exciting. The labneh, a tart yogurt, was well worth the taste I give a lot of concern to the and stood out as a unique take on comments of my food buddy, my the traditional favorite. My choice of partner in crime in my adventures of spread, however, is not for the faint restaurant review. Shes discerning, of heart. The taramosalata, a spread quick to notice the crucial nuances of of yogurt and cured carp roe, holds a a dish and slow to criticize. But shes tangy pop of fishiness for those brave extremely picky. That is why I bring enough to order. Fair warning: it isnt for everybody. Proceed at own peril. her to Zaytinya. The fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean small plates is balanced in near-perfect harmony, with a wide selection of Mediterranean cheeses paired with a salty and seasoned bouquet of Middle Eastern starches. Of course there are the essentials for such a restaurant, such as the enormous list of dips, meats and pastries, but there are also some dishes that really glow and bring Zaytinya into the world of fine dining. Depending on appetite, a diner might be inclined to choose between two and four of the small tapas-style plates for the savory portion of their meal. Highlights from the appetizers would include the reasonably priced platters of dips and spreads. Obliged to try the hummus, I was mildly disappointed. It wasnt necessarily dissatisfying, but in a restaurant hinged on the union2011 Conditum Anno Domini MMX

In the way of other cures and aged dishes, the cured meats and delectable cheeses are something of which the kitchen can be proud. Where the spreads were nothing to write home about, the selection of cures is truly extraordinary. The pastirma, a Turkish slice of cured beef, is served with olive oil and is subtle, yet tasteful. Described by my food partner as gourmet beef jerky, the aged meat is surprisingly enjoyable. The cheeses are, by far, my favorite aspect of Zaytinya. From the moist kasar, a sharp rich cheese paired with juicy raisins, to the classic feta, the cheese is a special experience. My favorite? The tulumu sheeps cheese, incredibly aged, creamy and almost beaded with a grisly sharpness, holds a clean bitter aftertaste and is truly something to challenge the palate.

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S c i e n ce & Phi l osoph yAn Argument Against the Exclusivity of Reason and FaithBy Peter A. Horan Thinkers of the self- crowned Enlightenment, identified themselves as the bearers of reason in contrast to faith. They defined reason as the science of provable (meaning observable) principles. Reason contrasted with faith, the latter defined as the hope in a particular principle immediately unknowable (meaning a principal not empirically provable). They considered faith by this definition synonymous with superstition (and religion). According to this Enlightenment precedent, we throw around the terms reason and faith as if they existed in diametrical opposition. What an error! Reason and faith not only do not exist as contradictory, but must necessarily coexist as compliments. To begin with, one must have faith in reason to accept reason as valid. David Hume, one philosopher of the Enlightenment, made his name as a great modern skeptic. He argued that we are conditioned, without thought (or reason), to form associations with action and reaction. Namely, if we do something and find it desirable, we do it again. If we find it offensive, we do not do it again. This, he said, was no different from the dumbest animals: an instinctual reaction rather than a rational decision. The idea of causality, therefore, is a product of our animalistic habit of association, rather than any law of high rational linkage. Even the concept of self, he argued,12

constituted an illusion of solidity to our indiscriminating mind: the self is no more than a collection of discrete sensations, with no unchanging fundamental. There is no self! That implies, therefore, that all laws of science would be as much an illusion of unity as the self. Needless to say, Hume scared Europeans caught up in the frenzy of science conquers all, when the conqueror doesnt even exist. Instead of arguing that people are instinctually rational, he calls rationality itself into question. In fact, Hume makes an argument for faith. The question of absolute knowledge has tortured the greatest minds throughout history, from Plato to Descartes to Nietzsche. Humes argument lays in the fact that reason cannot be absolute. At some point we must take reason on instinct rather than reason. One experiences certain actions with reactions in the past. One reasons that those same actions will elicit the same reactions. That connection constitutes a reasonable conclusion. But as you sit and wait for the reaction to follow the action, you ask yourself, do I really know this reaction will follow? The answer is no. You observed in the past that reactions follow actions, and you predict continuity. You only know the truth of your position when the reaction transpires. Until then, until you observe the reaction, according to reason, you cannot know. Until you observe, you take reason on faith. As Friedrich Nietzsche put it in Beyond Good and Evil: The question is in the end whetherwe believe in the causality of the will: if we do and at bottom our faith in this is nothing less than our faith in causality itself.

The theist clings to his belief with the same staunch faith that an atheist clings to his disbelief. All believe. Not only must one inevitably put faith in reason, but one must put faith in existence itself. How do you know you are reading this article in America, on the earth, in the galaxy? How do you know you are? You know because your senses tell you? Do your senses not ever deceive you? They do, and you dont know. The only way to reasonably prove your existence in this universe is to simultaneously put yourself in a point outside and facing this universe that you may identify its existence in existence itself, and to further verify your existence within it. Of course this is impossible, but it is the only rational method of proving your existence. Since you do not prove your existence to yourself rationally, you take your reality on faith in your senses, and the limited reason of causality you are permitted. This conclusion means that faith constitutes our foundational experiential principle, which we exercise in conjunction, not in opposition, with reason. So do not persecute people who put faith in faith for their ignorance. Instead, reprimand the persecutor, the enlightened rationalist, the true ignoramus of the existential condition.

February - March 2011


Whats Love Got to Do With It?By Christian Geoghegan The nature of love has puzzled philosophers throughout history. Philosophers from Plato to Kierkegaard have tried to define the ontological nature of love, while the whole of philosophy is the love of wisdom. Specifically, though, two recent French thinkers have analyzed love in its core conflicting and paradoxical manner: Jacques Derrida and Jean-Paul Sartre.

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is attracted because the other is like this or like that. Inversely, love is disappointed and dies when one comes to realize the other person does not merit our love. The other person isnt like this or that. So at the death of love, it appears that one stops loving another not because of who they are, but because they are such and such So fidelity is threatened by the difference between the who and the what. This distinction Derrida makes is a true analysis of the distinction between the adoration of the Others self and the Others components, however it is not true in the case of love. The infatuation with the qualities of another person is usually the reason for the initial attraction. You admire the beauty of him, or the intelligence or her, all the while knowing nothing of the ensemble, or totality, of their other qualities. This supposed love of incomplete aspects of another person is, in fact, not.

powerful meaning, love is a deep, undying affection and care for another person, not Starbucks. If your affection for another person can vanish as quickly as it appeared, it is more likely that one is, for lack of better terms, in love with that other person. This in love with of another person is very common and often fleeting. Many a time a friend has informed me that he has found the perfect girl because she is x or y, or does a or b. This obsession then becomes turning the person of desire into an object where the admirer blinds themselves to all possible faults. While the other person may initially seem perfect, closer inspection reveals that they were nothing as originally promised; so is the process of being in love with another person. Now many people confuse this deep desire and being in love with as love, but these are the relationships that do not last. The word love may be brought up between the couple, but it is always forced, and never mutually shared.

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For Derrida, while it is impossible to speak about love in generalities, love is defined by the distinction between the difference between the who and the whatIs love the love of someone, or the love of something? The love of someone is to love someone for the absolute singularity of who they are, while the love of something about someone is the love of a particular quality. Love is not temporary. While the modern, colloquial use of the word Often, says Derrida, love starts may have ripped the true meaning with some type of seduction. One of the word and left it a shell of its

The Essence of EssentialismBy Raj N. Patel Determinism vs. free will is an old question left traditionally to the philosophers. A derivative question, more of a debate, has been engaged by almost every serious academic subject to ever be studied in sufficient depth. This debate can be termed broadly as essentialism vs. constructivism. Essentialism is generally the view that an entity exhibits certain

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characteristics or properties that are essential to the identity of that entity and are thus necessary properties to any specific being that can be characterized as such an entity. Thus, the entity has an essence that defines it and such an essence is not context dependent or idiosyncratic but is universal to every specific entity that comprises that particular group. For example, the essential properties of a human being may be defined as the central characteristics that are exhibited by any human beings that mark membership into the species of human being. Thus one could say that a certain level of consciousness

is an essential property of a human being and if a being does not have this level of consciousness, that particular being cannot be properly defined as a human being. Essentialist claims do not have to be broad because the entity being defined can be left up to the person making the claim. For example, consider the following essentialist claim: all Indian philosophers have an Indian heritage, a certain degree of hardness as well as sensitivity and sensuality, and are immensely intelligent; if you do not exhibit these characteristics, under the essentialist paradigm, you are not an Indian philosopher.13

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Essentialism is generally a dirty word in the world of politically correct academia. Due to a history, essentialism is generally related with patriarchy, colonialism, sexism, racism, or the imposition of Western (or other) values onto indigenous (or other) cultures. The general structure of the relationship between oppressive regimes and essentialism is that those in power make essentialist claims about a group of human beings. The criticism would be that there is an imposition of an external definition unto the subject undermining the autonomy and subjecthood of a particular group of people. However, for the essentialist, if these claims are correct, the person making the claims is simply expressing truths with the proposition; that is, she is not constructing or ascribing these properties onto the subject, but merely describing the subject as an already existing entity.

claim that not only is the concept of gender created by social beliefs but the actual so-called scientific fact of sexual difference is also a social construction. It is not difficult to see how strong social constructivism can run into a lot of problems.

Despite the bad reputation, essentialist claims have found themselves in contemporary liberal theories of justice developed by famous philosophers. For example, Martha Nussbaum defends an Aristotelian essentialism that posits that there are certain characteristics central to human life and a subjects personhood. She then goes on to build a theory of justice that argues that any decent political arrangement will organize itself in such a way that the general population can realize these basic capabilities or functionings. The essentialist claim here is that that to be a human being one must be able to engage in these activities that characterize human life (such as basic Essentialism is generally contrasted freedoms) and to be deprived of these with the anti-essentialist view of basic entitlements is synonymous to social constructivism. If something is being deprived of ones humanity. socially constructed, the determinant of its meaning is something within There is a link, which one can a social context as opposed to observe especially in contemporary something inherent an essence highly politically correct academic within itself. For weak social circles, between a vehement anticonstructivists, mental and linguistic essentialism and extreme relativism. representations of phenomena create Unfortunately, this general trend social constructs. For strong social of timidity can be frequently constructivists, mental and linguistic found in academically lax subjects representations of phenomena such as English and sociology and create social constructs, but further, consequently one finds this kind of the phenomena that these social thinking primarily amongst English constructs represent are also social and sociology students as well constructs. Thus the weak social (note that this is not an essentialist constructivist would claim that sex claim, but merely a generalization; differences may be a biological fact i.e. one does not need to possess but gender norms that people take the quality of timidity in order to to be a direct result of this difference qualify as an English or sociology are simply social beliefs. The strong major, it just happens to be that social constructivist, however, would English and sociology majors are,14

on the whole, academically timid). I recall an example of such timidity from my last English class taken at GW where we were reading an anthropologist who was arguing that multiculturalism breaks down within the United States because the state bans cultural practices such as female circumcision. My argument was that the state has every right to ban this barbaric practice given its links to patriarchal domination of women, the lack of voluntary choice of the person who is receiving the circumcision (it is typically performed on baby girls) and the general inhumanity of the practice itself (it is painful and can cause long term health problems): these considerations, I thought, should have outweighed any particular cultural significance the practice had within a particular community. These not-so-radical propositions of mine were met with a chorus of cries, youre just trying to impose Western values on indigenous cultures! How horrible: where these students thought they were being culturally sensitive or progressive, they were actually being ignorant and offensive by giving verbal expression to the barrage of excrement that resides in that otherwise desolate void between their ears. In reality there is no real essential tension between the positions of essentialism and constructivism unless one decides to adopt the extreme of either position (both, in my mind, untenable). For example, in the seventh book of Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche admits that although learning changes us, there is something deep down inside, something uneducable, a granite of spiritual fate which has predetermined answers to predetermined questions. He goes on to say that in the most importantFebruary - March 2011

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questions and problems, the das bin ich [that is me] shows itself: in other words, a true essence shows itself in the most difficult situations. From this perspective, we see a recognition

of the malleability of at least some part of human existence as well as a recognition of the essential character of at least some part of human beings. This seems to me to be an entirely

more realistic picture of our existence especially when compared to the more extremist positions of essentialism or constructivism.

The Tunisian RevolutionBy Madison Noble A democratic society is the key to a successful nation for, according to Indian philosopher Amartya Sen, democracy has an intrinsic importance of human freedoms and political participation. Democracy guarantees that governments are held accountable and also aids in the formation of universal values, and promotes the general welfare of the people. Sen argues that political freedom is a basic human freedom for it prevents a sense of deprivation and isolation. Furthermore, democracy provides a forum through which the people can voice their opinions, ensuring that the government listens to the people and acts in their best interests. Lastly, Sen believes that this open forum of ideas allows citizens to learn from one another and to form societys values and ideals. A free and open market of ideas is the key to a successful democratic society. Claude Adrien Helvetius, an eighteenth century French philosopher said, To limit the press is to insult a nation, for without freedom of speech and of the press, a government is apt to abuse its powers, remaining unchecked by the people. Social media sites on the internet allow average citizens to share their thoughts in an open forum, free from the censorship of an oppressive regime, allowing for a chance for change.2011 Conditum Anno Domini MMX

blocked, allowing Tunisian citizens Through a series of street revolts, and news sources, such as Al Jazeera, which have become to be known as to post information about the the Jasmine Revolution, Tunisians revolution. were able to oust their authoritarian president Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali In the aftermath of the revolution, after 23 years of rule, forcing him to an interim government, aptly flee the country on January 14, 2011. named the unity government, has Popular dissent can find its source been set up until September when in high unemployment rates, food popular elections can take place to inflation, government corruption, elect a new government. Some of and a lack of freedom of speech the first actions taken by the unity and other political freedoms. New government showed that it meant social media websites, like Facebook to promote political freedoms. The and Twitter, played a key role in unity government lifted the ban on keeping the momentum of the revolt political parties deemed unsavory by going and bringing the voices of the Ben Ali and the interim president, Tunisian youth to the outside world. Fouad Mebazaa, has decided to ratify The importance of the internet and international human rights treaties social media sites is paramount to such as the International Covenant spread and organize the revolts. on Civil and Political Rights, banning Facebook groups were used to rally the death penalty. In accordance with support within Tunisia, the greater the wishes of the Tunisian people, the Middle East, and the outside world. unity government has promised to Twitter was used to send messages free the media allowing a free market as to where to meet, at what time, of ideas to exist and flourish. Moving and what to do in the event of police forward, it is necessary for the interim brutality. All of this information government to listen to the people being shared back and forth made it and for the people to continue to let a peoples revolution, because there their voices be heard. A successful was no distinct leader. In the case of democracy is contingent upon public Tunisia, it was the people fighting for discourse and the aggregation of ideas what they believe in and taking back to promote the welfare of society. their government and rights. Ben Alis government preached about having a free media but in fact it was highly regulated and censored. The inability to self-express leads a people to seek change and to act outside of traditional governmental avenues. It is important to note that social networking sites are free from censorship, unless completely15


Pol i ti c sAlgeria: Caught between Islamist and Nationalist PoliticsSubmitted by IAS Often neglected as first time an Islamist movement reached a critical mass, the history of Algeria is a turbulent one that involves colonialism, independence, revolution and civil war. The Algerian state saw much violence and a spike in pan-Islamism in the era sandwiched between independence and the civil war. This powerful and trying period of Algerian nationalism from the late 70s to late 80s was lined up with a popular opponent known as Islamism. From its inception, a variety of policies and ideologies utilized by the Islamists to galvanize a previously socialist, uneducated, and religious society are tactics being used by other Islamists around the world today. Algeria provides a window and a lesson in history for one of the worlds major confrontations of the isms - nationalism and Islamism. Immediately preceding WWII, the French refused Algeria their independence and instigated a series of armed struggles that involved torture with all pro-independence and opposition groups. Chief amongst them was the National Liberation Front (FLN in French acronyms) which was of a military background and of a socialist/nationalist ideology. After 1962 and the beginning of the French withdrawal and capitulations, the FLN made it obvious that they were the anti-colonialist mouthpiece of the world and of the NAM.16

Their policies however made them dependant on oil and experienced high economic mismanagement while entering the modern era. This led to the states dependency on France (the former colonial parent) and the IMF for loans and aid. During their tenure in power the FLN instigated anti-colonialist policies, especially under president Boumedienne. Their utilization of oil for social pacification had worked briefly but would take a turn for the worst when the price of oil dropped in the 80s. Using subsidies to pacify the people would work no longer when groups of young sons and daughters attended University for the first time and were exposed to the differences between rural and city life. The lagging of the economy and racial tensions of Eastern (Arab) Algeria and Western (Berber) Algeria also laid the foreground for mass protests and revolt against the increasingly militaristic FLN. Signs of consumerism were attacked by these newly educated but jobless students looking for a place in a society that would impose a glass ceiling on people if they didnt speak French.

1982 saw the first official turning of Muslim and Islamist groups against the ruling FLN. The group was led by Mustafa Bouyali, an Islamist preacher who was a big fan of Seyyed Qutb. He founded the MIA which would spur on Islamists to fight against other Algerians in the civil war in the early 90s. An example of a group founded by his followers was the FIS. While Bouyali was killed in 87, his legacy of mixing Islam and politics in Algeria remained an important tool for the resistance to the FLN. Moreover, it allowed Algerians to become part of a global Islamist network by their declaration of a Jihad. They became ideological brothers with the Saudifinanced Mujahedeen in Afghanistan and had one common enemy with the Afghans, which were the Soviets.

But the fighting was not only limited to the cities, students began fighting against each other on campuses as French speakers fought Arabic speakers and Marxists fought Islamists. The rhetorical identification of the FLN with the French Colonialists by the MIA and Bouyali is an important concept This revolt laid the foreground for utilized by many Pan-Islamists and a broadly based political movement Jihadists who identify fellow citizens and Islamism became the linguistic as part of an occupying power if they and political medium that would dont align with them. overturn socialism. At the beginning of this conflict it is important to The state tried to fight back by understand that all the groups like the putting pro-regime Amirs and Imams Association of Muslim Ulemas which in Islamic schools to find an Islamic drew inspiration from the original legitimization of the state; however Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood used this continued to fail in the minds of Islamism as a rhetorical tool because the Islamists in the streets who now it perfectly counteracted the rhetoric viewed these religious teachers as that the state used, which at the time corrupt. Moreover the state could not was socialism and later nationalism. galvanize the Islamic Intelligencia or middle class devout Muslims whoFebruary - March 2011


consisted of teachers and students. They instead chose to go to labor based areas and preached against the state. The state simply couldnt keep up with the grassroots Islamist bottom-up approach.

society with Islamist rhetoric and anti-state propaganda. The regime noted this and began to repress the party. This repression and character war of the leaders of the FIS by the state had worked because it caused a fracture in their social hierarchy and With all this fighting underway, construct. Leading to a split between the end of the 80s saw Muslims the Urban Poor and the Middle discrediting other Muslims on both Class, Algerian Islamism fought the the political and religious stage. The state with these 2 different social and Civil War was to begin with the economic classes. creation of the FIS in 1989, meeting the demands of the people in an During a period of one year this party Islamist rhetorical manner. The FIS folded on itself with two competing was a banner of Islamist movements leaders (Benhadj and Madani) who which had erupted during the 80s had competing foreign and domestic and housed former FLN member policies. Their voices would be who wanted to merely Islamicize muffled via their arrest which created the regime and some MIA members the civil war after 1991. which wanted more resistance and armed struggle. This was a strong While the official civil war is outside political group that the state had to the scope of this essay question, the deal with when they won in the first success as of recent (2002) wherein free elections since independence. the state curbed and removed the Islamic Salvation Army and the The initial success of this movement Armed Islamist Group. The decade was the utilization of the youth, the of the 1990s saw a coup and the poor, and the intermediary Islamic failure of the alliance of classes to Intelligencia which connected the take political power, regardless of classes as well as rural and urban the cancelling of elections when an

Islamist victory is eminent. All in all, Algeria was one of the first countries to deal with political Islam in such a violent and prolonged manner. The inability of the Islamists to take power contrasts the story of their revolution in places like Iran. However, tactics utilized by the state to gain Islamic credibility is not something new; it is a telling sign of the pressure of autocratic regimes like Egypt which require a blessing from al-Azhar every now and then. Conclusively, Algeria has seen much bloodshed and riots from this experiment. Their battle with political Islam launched the country into a Civil War wherein Algerians fought one another for their identity first and their politics second. If there is any official lesson from political Islam, especially its outpouring in Algeria is that it is often able to galvanize the masses that are fiscally frustrated and unsure about their identity. Algeria has merely by slipping by, pacifying Islamism where it arises now, but Islamism is still on the rise, and it has to get worse unfortunately, before it gets better. in 1960 is an example of a victory of the younger generation. People in our very shoes coordinated, phonebanked, and canvassed, many of who could not vote since the voting age was not yet lowered to 18. Still, the fruits of their labor were tangible in pushing the champion of civil rights into office and later finally getting Blacks the right to vote. The statistics of voter turnout and participation amongst the youth were something America had never seen that is, until us.

The Children of HistoryBy Eytan Stern Weber Being caught in the center of the American political scene can often leave us jaded and overstimulated, even to the point of disenchantment and apathy. We live in an era when presidential campaign seasons begin two elections prior, and political speculation is a hobby, pastime, and profession. Admittedly, this is overwhelming for most, for whom the best option seems to be simply checking out or not paying attention. While this is sometimes necessary to2011 Conditum Anno Domini MMX

avoid being drowned in the deluge of ticker tape, it is imperative we not lose sight of our politics and the inherent power they give us as the younger generation.

Most Americans can only influence politics through the right to vote. Being who we are, where we are, we have much more. We have campuses, student organizations, social networks, promises of the future, and our whole lives ahead of us. As the youth, we have the upper hand. However, as we all know, merely possessing power does nothing The 2008 election of Barack Obama without drive, purpose, and action. was also hailed as an election of The election of President Kennedy the young. College-age kids being17


against any policies or politicians. I am, however, pleading for action. We cannot let the pundits and news feeds blind us to the truth of our political power through a metaphorical flash The point I wish to make is that bang of information and stories of anything done by President Obama Lindsay Lohans rehab progress. We can be undone in the next presidential have the capacity to inspire, influence, election, e.g. healthcare reform, and change. We are educated, we are withdrawing troops from Iraq, strong, and we are going to be here for However, what would the history repealing DADT. As much now as in a long time. Our political identities books say about the 1960 election if the 60s, many people direly wish to are truly inconsequential. What is Kennedys efforts in establishing the see this happen, while others would truly important is that we realize our full potential as the millennium Peace Corps, kick-starting the Space see doing so as a regression. Race, and negotiating with Cuba children: writers of history. had been undone? Would it still be I am in no way advocating for or statistically more liberal, it is no surprise that ideological umbrellas like Yes We Can and Hope rallied 66% of voters under the age of 30 to the Democratic candidate. Both in 1960 and 2008, the junior members of society sent a message to America that they were present, involved, and not a force to be taken lightly. considered a victory in any sense of the word, or a political aberration of young political activity having no end effect?

Development, Both Success and FailureSubmitted by IAS Note: This is an editorial and in no way a direct presentation of facts. The author realizes that this is heavily guided by opinion, but the arguments are well-informed by facts, statistics, development theories, experiences in the development system, and individuals with experience in the field. If you are in the International Affairs field, looking for a job, for instance, you will note that there are certain sub-fields within International Affairs. Diplomacy is a popular one. International financial markets and trading fall under another sub-field. Yet another field is International Development. Operating in that sub-field myself, I have significant exposure to the concept of development, but even individuals in development may balk at the question of what is development. In a class on Development Anthropology, one of the first questions we encountered was what development is. Different people have different ideas on18

development, but to oversimplify and extraordinarily complicated matter, development is a process of turning societies and countries into societies and countries that are wealthier or in some way better off. With my UNDP perspective, I wholeheartedly stand behind the United Nations denotation of development as human development, which connotes the concept of developing people to make them happier, healthier, and better in the sense of having more opportunities in an equal, just, productive society that preserves nature alongside culture. Still, all of this is merely to lay the groundwork for my central question: has development succeeded or failed? While development is an ongoing process and thus we could not possibly definitively answer this question, people do ask this question. Diplomats in the United Nations, politicians around the world, and professionals in the development field all want to know is development being productive, a question that betrays the very perspective from which these actors in development come. With this question in mind, it becomes clear why we need to

have some rough sketch of what development is above, for how can one assess the success or failure of something that cannot be defined? This conclusion is one that is emerging in the development community that might shed some light on the question of success or failure. The first question that might follow the assessment of developments success or failure would be has it achieved the goals, and what are the goals? Having defined development as a somewhat ambiguous pursuit of transforming societies into wealthier, healthier, happier versions of their current selves, we might look to compare countries in which there have been interventions and compare these with the same countries before the interventions. Taking this traditional view, the question is unanswerably ambiguous. Haiti, for instance, remains in shambles despite heavy intervention. Various countries have actually shown so little progress that they caused an international call for aid effectiveness measures. On the other hand, countries have grown with interventions, including notably in Latin America. One interesting case toFebruary - March 2011


take is the current Republic of South Africa. Fresh off hosting the World Cup, South Africa is becoming a leader in providing assistance to other developing countries, particularly through IBSA (an association of India, Brazil, and South Africa) and the IBSA Trust Fund, which funds development projects in developing countries. Especially with the proper temperament of understanding the wholesale leaps in development would not only be impossible but injurious to countries, who, as the Political Decay thesis would argue, would only suffer from such rapid development, it becomes apparent that nominal independence in 1910, full independence in the 1990s with the end of apartheid, and now an integrated government overseeing a healthy society and economy that is growing and improving steadily form an impressive timeline. With international help, the government has become a solid institution, and as it stands currently, the government contributes one million USD annually to the IBSA Trust Fund for assistance to other developing countries. In light of a fuller picture, the World Cup seems like a minor achievement for such a country. A few hundred miles north of South Africa, there is a small place by the

name of Luapula province. As Emma Crewe and Elizabeth Harrison note in their book Whose Development?, the international community, led by the FAO, initiated a project of raising fish in small ponds. The fish agriculture did not significantly yield results in a development report, and the influence was not overly extensive. On paper, this was certainly a failure in light of the money spent. However, this does not mean suddenly one should doubt that development interventions accomplish goals. Introducing fish agriculture to a landlocked country in Sub-Saharan Africa may not seem like the best plan to everyone. Naturally, some would think to ask if the people would even eat fish, and more importantly, did the locals know how to properly cook fish? As these thoughts enter the picture, it suddenly becomes clearer that the question is not about whether or not development interventions fail, as many would suggest; moreover, it is important to ask whether or not development asks the right questions.

Certainly, the countries of the world are not going to all meet the Millennium Development Goals by the target I have not failed 1,000 times. I have years, most of which are 2015. If you successfully discovered 1,000 ways to are reading this and do not know not make a light bulb. what the Millennium Development Goals are, please look them up after was a product of a small town, he was that was totally different than what somehow different than the rest of his anyone talked about. People back high school classmates. home didnt want new experiences, they wanted stability. There was something missing from my life that I couldnt put into words However, after he left Chelmsford, back then, Kelts says in retrospect. Massachusetts, Kelts found There was something that I wanted Cambridges social stratum hard to to see about the world. I wanted to penetrate. Much like fellow Harvardbe around people who were different alum Mark Zuckerberg, Kelts was than the people I was around. I filled with youthful ambition yet wanted to see places that were other plagued with social awkwardness. than. I wanted to have a career Surrounded by an array of brilliant19

finishing this article. However, few professionals in the international community think now or thought at the turn of the millennium that we would reach those Goals. But instead of despairing how we will fail to reach these unspecific, generalized statistical targets, we should take a step back to realize that literacy has increased around the world, often by immense proportions. That is success. Latin America has become incredibly resilient to economic shocks. Countries that once were taking financial aid in hordes are now emerging as donors themselves. Additionally, the lessons development professionals and local officials have learned along the way, including how to monitor and evaluate institutions and progress, how to accumulate and share knowledge, and how to facilitate growth and improvement in society, working with people to make their lives better, should not be simply ignored. When asked about how many times it took Thomas Edison to finally find a material appropriate as a filament, it is reported that he replied:

Humble Beginnings: A Portrait of Professor Steven KeltsBy Buster Brown After graduating high school, Steven Kelts pierced his ear and grew his hair out. He was both nervous and excited to begin his first year of college at Harvard. The green-eyed young man had something to prove: Though he2011 Conditum Anno Domini MMX


minds, he developed a morose feeling been in the past, Kelts laughs. Like of inadequacy. a butterfly describing itself as just a caterpillar. It was a class of 1600, and I was pretty sure I was the sixteen hundred In his twenties, Kelts was often and first smartest student there: I reclusive. If he went out to the movies felt stupid. I felt unprepared. I felt once a month, he says he considered socially awkward around virtually it a good deal of socializing. Instead, everybody, says Kelts. he spent most of his time poring over political theory books, from John Now approaching forty, Professor Lockes Second Treatise to Marcus Steven Kelts is an accomplished Ciceros De Re Publica. professor of Political Science at George Washington University who Twenty years later, Kelts candidly specializes in political thought. He admits that he now enjoys reading announced last month that he will political philosophy texts to such an be the founding director of a new extent that he sometimes cries. MA Program in Legal Institutions and Theory. Now he is no longer When Im understanding Lockes described as demure, but rather Second Treatise of Government charismatically debonair. His hair is in the way people who read it in always combed, his shoes pristinely his time understood it, Ill tell you polished, and his suits tailored to his the truth, I start to cry, Kelts says exact measurements. unabashedly. From our perspective, what students dont always know Whether in lecture or casual about us [professors] is that we can conversation, his diction is precise get a pure joy out of the research that and his discourse is profound. When is beyond anything that most people, occasionally his speech is marred by I think, ever experience. error, he frequently pauses, looks up at his students, smiles and corrects Though it wasnt until the middle of himself. his college career that Kelts realized he wanted to be a professor of Because Catherine MacKinnon political theory, he has always had a picked a particular category of obscene latent fascination with the concept of porn out of the many, numerous that equality. In high school, unlike most could be banned, Kelts pauses while of his friends, he listened to what he giving a lecture on whether or not calls socially-conscious hardcore rap. some pornography could be defined For Kelts, this music was a form of as civil rights violations against education. women. Wait, many and numerous mean the same thing dont they? Kelts says he was confused when he heard Public Enemy rap, /First Although he no longer resembles it, nothings worse than a mothers pain/ Kelts still regularly tells his students Of a son slain in Bensonhurst/ Cant he is an ber-nerd. wait for the state to decide the fate/ So this jam I dedicate/Places with The reason that I say things like racist faces/ Just an example of one of that is because Im trying to self- many cases in their song Welcome to reflectively break out of what I have the Terrordome.20

I said to myself, I dont even know what that is. Whats Bensonhurst? Kelts says he thought as a teenager. So I looked it up, and it was about something in the white community in my community we had never talked about, an instance of white brutality. And I found instances like this that I had never heard of in lots of rap songs. Kelts entered college wanting to be a diplomat. Though he was taking political science classes, he wasnt introduced to political theory until his second year at Harvard. Reading through the courses offered that year, a friend told him that famed political theorist John Rawls was teaching a course. Overcome by the realization that a thinker as venerated as he was not only alive but also teaching at his university, Kelts excitedly enrolled in the class. I fell head over heels in love with political philosophy in that course, says Kelts looking back fondly at the class. It was around this time that Kelts realized his ambition was to become a professor and political theorist. This, he began to realize, would be how he proved that he was different than the people he left behind in Chelmsford. Still a timid youth, he decided to take three years off after graduating to consider whether or not he had the fortitude to be an academic. He moved down to North Carolina with his college sweetheart and found a job as an office assistant to Keith Brodie, the President Emeritus at Duke University. Over these three years, he did research at Duke and did dumb kid things with his girlfriend who would soon becomeFebruary - March 2011


his first wife.

Soon after their marriage, the couple moved from North Carolina to Palo Kelts reminisces that though he had Alto, California, where Kelts spent frequently seen her around campus, five years studying to earn his Ph.D. he didnt officially meet her until his in Political Science from Stanford. second year of college. Shortly after Kelts came to GWU All the freshmen ate meals together, in 2003, he found that there was and there was this girl who was often one thing in particular that needed in the cafeteria at the same time I was. And she had the biggest smile. And she sometimes wore this Mickey Mouse shirt that I thought was just so cute. And I was terrified of her, says Kelts in a noticeably softer tone and with a big smile on his face. One day she got up to get seconds, and I walked up to her at the milk dispenser. I couldnt think of a word to say, so I said, Hey the milk sure is white today, huh? She laughed and walked away. Kelts says he never got another chance to talk to her that year. Fate intervened his sophomore year though, and they both happened to be placed in the same dormitory just two doors down for each other. Though it still took Kelts four months to introduce himself, they began dating immediately after. And three years after graduating, they became husband and wife.

the benefits of world travel. Another time, he moderated a debate on the US Constitution. Most recently Kelts says they discussed the political biases of Schoolhouse Rock. Though Kelts is happy fostering student learning outside of the classroom, he isnt thrilled about what its done for his dating life. Kelts, who has been a bachelor for the past few years, has found that women are reluctant to visit to his dormitory home. The general differentiation Ive found is that if the woman [that Im dating] is over thirty, she wont come anywhere near it. The women that Ive dated who are twenty-seven or twenty-eight think its mildly nice that I do this, and so they might come over for dinner or something. But largely it means that I live my social life outside of the place where I live, says Kelts.

However, his sacrifice didnt go unnoticed: For his efforts changing: He thought that students teaching students outside of the didnt spend enough time discussing classroom among other things, Kelts what they were taught in class outside won the Bender Award in 2008, the of the classroom. So he moved into the highest GWU award for non-tenured International House, a GWU dorm, faculty member. to try and foster students education outside of the classroom. One time It puts a lot of pressure on me in the he cooked dinner for a group of classroom to live up to the notion of students and talked to them about being a good teacher, says Kelts on21

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winning the award. Professor Kelts does have a distinct method of teaching inside the classroom: He sometimes swears as a kind of comic relief for what can otherwise be very tedious subject matter and often candidly tells personal anecdotes while in the middle of lectures. I think theres a delicate balance between relating to students in the culture that they live in and keeping an appropriate reserve as a faculty member. My language is not always pristine. I talk, sometimes, like a sailor. In fact, some sailors would blush if they heard me, says Kelts. I throw the examples in, though, in the hope that if I really do have a good

point Ill be more effective in shaking Professor Kelts hopes to one day students out of their complacency. publish his own original material in the same way Rawls did with A Kelts also sometimes uses gimmicks Theory of Justice. But for now, he still to illustrate theoretical points. enjoys not knowing whats next. For example, every first day of his Freedom and Equality course, he I realized that all the fun is in the stands in front of the class and tears quest to have a stable life when youre surrounded by flux. So Ive given up apart a fifty-dollar bill. on the hope of any sort of stability, I wanted students to start to think and now I sort of enjoy the struggle, about the different ways that we have says Kelts. In my thirties Ive been of conceiving property, remarks trying to find the balance between Kelts. Some people said: It doesnt being an ber-nerd and living as matter that the fifty dollar bill is exciting a life as I can. But, you know, yours, you still cant tear it up like it still means Im a nerd let loose in that! Other people said: When you the city I still dont know what the own something, you own it with a hell Im doing. force of will and can do whatever you want with it.

A True Conservative Today Will Vote DemocratBy Christopher Leveroni Change

Documents

TSW Journal - Feb-March 2011