It is our pleasure to announce the brilliant collection of scholarly work that makes up the Yale Journal of International Affairs Spring 2025 issue.

Alexander Sarti argues that the CHIPS Act alone will not secure U.S. semiconductor leadership. Despite major investments, reliance on foreign supply remains high. He calls for bold innovation and new manufacturing models to overcome labor, cost, and talent barriers in order to achieve real technological independence and long-term competitiveness.

Moon Hwan Lee reveals how North Korea exploits rare earth mineral trade and financial loopholes to evade sanctions. Highlighting cases like DHID, he calls for stronger enforcement through financial crime frameworks, traceability tools, and trade controls to protect global security and reinforce the effectiveness of international sanctions regimes.

Haiti’s collapse demands international action, Martin Rodriguez argues, as he proposes a UN-backed conservatorship to restore stability, citing past models like Timor-Leste and Cambodia. He believes that only external administration can rebuild institutions and enable Haiti’s long-term path to self-governance.

Eleonora Lucia Cammarano examines the geopolitical and energy implications of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso's withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The piece highlights how these countries' alignment with Russia, including exclusive uranium mining agreements, could jeopardize Europe's nuclear energy supply and destabilize regional security.

Sumesh Shiwakoty explores how Trump’s presidency affected the U.S. dollar’s global reserve status, particularly how Trump’s trade policies, political rhetoric, and skepticism toward international institutions weakened confidence in the dollar.

In this piece, Viola Fur shows that Uzbekistan must enact targeted reforms to escape the middle-income trap. It calls for stronger support for small businesses, modernized education aligned with labor market needs, and investment in clean energy—key steps to boost productivity and secure sustainable, inclusive growth by 2030.

Cara Fallon's article discusses the detrimental effects of recent U.S. cuts to global health funding, particularly impacting maternal and child health programs in Africa. She highlights successful initiatives, like Niger's reduction in maternal mortality, and argues that such funding is crucial for both humanitarian and national security objectives.

This article argues that the CBP-One application violates international law and human rights principles, specifically non-refoulement. The author suggests that the United States, as a global leader, must prevent such violations to protect asylum in the States and set the precedent for other countries.

This photo essay highlights the cultural beauty and contradictions of Syria against the backdrop of its civil war and ongoing political turmoil. The photos tell a story of how ruins lie in the fractured bonds of community.

Claire Spangler investigates the catalyst for the large-scale mobilization of pro-union Catalans in 2017. She analyzes social media trends, particularly on Twitter, to assess the intersection between resource mobilization and threat framing.

This article explores whether China engaged in information warfare in the 2024 Taiwan presidential elections. It suggests methods deployed by China, the key demographics impacted, and the larger implications of information warfare on elections around the world.

This piece explains how one nation’s clash with a social media giant reveals the complex balance between digital rights and democratic governance. The author concludes that democratic nations must develop coordinated international frameworks protecting national sovereignty and digital rights, with host countries like the United States taking the lead responsibility.

This piece argues that the ICC's impartiality and effectiveness, largely due to its failure to investigate alleged war crimes in Iraq in 2003 and the ongoing status of investigations in Afghanistan, has come into question. The authors challenge the ICC navigate great power dynamics in a more effective manner to preserve its credibility.

Salar Ghahramani argues that while the United States does not currently have a sovereign wealth fund, it would be a great economic tool and a formidable foreign policy instrument. The fund could act as a catalyst for growth, peace, and stronger alliances.

The article explores Theodore Roosevelt's naval diplomacy, highlighting two key examples: the preemptive strike in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War and the peaceful yet powerful Great White Fleet voyage. Both of these incidents demonstrate how strategic military preparedness and assertive yet patient diplomacy can prevent conflicts.

While the U.K. and France’s ability to shape world affairs has diminished, India’s is only growing. In terms of security, the economy, and diplomacy, the effect is so pronounced that it seems like the “Big Five” classification of most powerful nations in the world has already become the “Big Four” for all practical purposes.

We are happy to present the Fall 2024 issue of the Yale Journal of International Affairs and maintain our vision to lead as a premier graduate student-run policy literature collection.

Celebrating 20 years of Yale Journal of International Affairs, we are thrilled to present our latest collection of essays on global affairs.

Evan Stubbs examines the deepening relationship between Israel and Taiwan, highlighting their shared struggles with geopolitical isolation and existential threats, which have fostered significant military, economic, and cultural cooperation.