The views expressed in The HKS Student Policy Review are those of the author(s) and/or interviewees only, and do not represent the views of the Shorenstein Center, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, the editors of The HKS Student Policy Review, or any of its affiliates. An editorial board consisting of Harvard students independently edits and publishes all content.
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Social and Urban Policy
Building Wealth Early: Why America Needs Mandatory Financial Literacy Education
03.14.25
Read More“Equipping young people to manage money effectively ensures they can afford critical life milestones, like homeownership, family planning, and eliminating student debt, rather than struggling with financial insecurity for decades.”
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International and Global Affairs
Kazakhstan’s ‘Oreo’ Model: A Unique Path Between Giants
03.10.25
Read MoreIn the turbulent theater of global geopolitics, Kazakhstan – sandwiched between two major regional powers, Russia and China – occupies a unique yet precarious position.
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International and Global Affairs
Whistleblower Protections and International Law: Protecting the Right to Share Government Misconduct
03.8.25
Read More“Given the severe danger whistleblowers face in exposing their governments, it is surprising that the international community has not built more solid protections. Proposing frameworks for creating such a protection system using the treaties, bodies, and laws already on the books offers a feasible pathway that considers the current stalemate in geopolitics.”
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Suturing the Benefit Gap
03.10.25
“Imagine a world where low-income individuals walk into a community health clinic for a check-up and leave with the financial resources to build a healthier, more secure future for their families. That vision is now a reality.”
Democrats Need to Mobilize. Here’s Where They Should Start.
03.1.25
“Now is not the time to retreat to our bubbles, to put our heads in the sand, or to shout “I told you so.” It’s time to frame Trump’s actions in terms most meaningful to those we lost from the party. If we stay silent, this dystopia might be here to stay.”
U.S. National Security Policymakers Are Learning (Some Of) The Wrong Lessons from Ukraine
02.28.25
“Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there has been a wave of speculation in U.S and other media about the rise of new technologies in warfare. However, many policymakers are drawing the wrong conclusions: that due to the rise of robotics, drones, and artificial intelligence, warfare will be radically smaller. Instead, the evidence from Ukraine points to the fact that while technological change is occurring, mass remains an essential component of modern warfare and U.S. national security policy needs to adjust accordingly.”
The U.S. at a Crossroads: A View from a Japanese Student
02.13.25
Japan is closely watching the early days of the Donald Trump presidency.
Building Digital Public Infrastructure in Emerging Economies Is More A Question of Will than Resources
02.6.25
“Imagine a world where accessing healthcare, education, and financial services is as seamless as sending a message on your smartphone. Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is the backbone of this vision – a transformative framework of interoperable, scalable, and inclusive digital systems that empower governments and citizens alike, driving innovation, equity, and sustainable development on an unprecedented scale.”
With Trump’s Return to Power, Taiwanese President Lai Has a Clear Way Forward
02.2.25
“With President Trump in the Oval Office, Taiwan must justify continued American support by implementing large-scale and painstaking military reforms to show how seriously it takes its own defense,” writes Naveen Krishnan (HKS MPP 2026). “Large-scale reforms will align with Trump’s focus on allies becoming more self-reliant and deserving of US sacrifice.”
Education as a Diplomatic Tool: Bridging U.S.-China Divides for a Collaborative Future
01.17.25
“Unlike political agreements often marked by contention and short-term interests, education and research transcend borders, driven by collaboration and a shared pursuit of progress. By viewing education exchanges as strategic platforms for cultivating long-term relationships and mutual respect, the U.S. and China can foster cooperation and build deeper, more enduring bonds of trust.”
Disrupting the Supreme Court Decision: How Universities Can Increase Diversity in a Post Affirmative Action Climate
01.16.25
“The fallout from the U.S. Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban drastically decreased enrollment opportunities for Students of Color and changed the landscape of higher education… If top schools hope to promote inclusion and mitigate the effects of the affirmative action ban, they should widen the transfer pipeline by adjusting their recruitment efforts, admitting more students from two-year community colleges, as well as evaluating internal perceptions of transfer students.”
Precarious State of Bangladesh: Constructive Governance is Missing in Action
01.10.25
“What troubles me most, as a citizen of Bangladesh, is that the current socio-political situation is partly fueled by how the country is being governed at present. After the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, through a student-led mass movement that ended the Awami League’s 15 years of increasingly authoritarian rule, the situation in Bangladesh is characterized by mob justice.”
In Guantanamo, the Harris-Walz Ticket has the Opportunity to Promise Real Change
10.3.24
A potential Harris-Walz administration must make substantive commitments to address the harms of the War on Terror, beginning with human rights abuses committed in the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp.
America in the Age of Polarization: What does the 2024 Shake-Up Mean for America’s Divide?
08.4.24
This is the second article in the series “America in the Age of Polarization”, where Emil Bender Lassen drives 9,000 miles around the US to speak to journalists, researchers and voters on an election that threatens to further divide the country. He hopes to better understand the rising trend in polarization, how it impacts the role of journalists – and maybe even uncover ways the trend could be reversed.
America in the Age of Polarization: Dems Scramble and Journalists Reflect after a Chaotic Debate
07.15.24
This is the first article in the series “America in the Age of Polarization”, where Emil Bender Lassen (MPP ’25) drives 9,000 miles around the US to interview journalists, researchers and voters on the election that threatens to further divide this country. He hopes to better understand the rising trend in polarization, how it impacts the role of journalists – and maybe even uncover some ways this trend could be reversed.
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