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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International and Global Affairs
Education as a Diplomatic Tool: Bridging U.S.-China Divides for a Collaborative Future
01.17.25
Read More“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.”
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Social and Urban Policy
Disrupting the Supreme Court Decision: How Universities Can Increase Diversity in a Post Affirmative Action Climate
01.16.25
Read More“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.”
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Democracy and Institutions
Precarious State of Bangladesh: Constructive Governance is Missing in Action
01.10.25
Read More“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.”
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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.
Interview with African Union Youth Envoy Chido Mpemba
05.29.24
On April 13, 2024, HKS Student Policy Review Senior Editor John McQuillan spoke with Chido Mpemba. The coversation focused on a range of topics related to young people in Africa.
Advancing Inclusive Eye Care Policies in Pakistan: An Interview with Sumrana Yasmin
05.27.24
Harvard Medical and Business School student Azeb Yirga interviews Sumrana Yasmin, Deputy Director of Eye Health for Sightsavers, about advancing inclusive eye care policies in Pakistan.
Why the Environmental Movement Needs Its 1619 Project: A Case for a Human-Centered Approach to Saving the Planet
05.8.24
Proposed government solutions to mitigating the effects of climate change have systematically excluded the people it effects the most. A solution that centers climate changes’ effect on people must better acknowledge the historical harm that has been done for real restoration to occur.
An Interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
05.8.24
On May 1st, HKS Student Policy Review Senior Editor Chacier Alexander sat down with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.
Interview with the former Indonesian Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan: Southeast Asia’s Future
05.8.24
On April 23, 2024, HKS Student Policy Review Senior Editor John McQuillan spoke with former Indonesian Minister of Trade Gita Wirjawan. The conversation focused on a range of topics related to the future of Indonesia and Southeast Asia.
Steering the AI Transition: The Case for More Employee Ownership
05.8.24
If you google “AI” in the news these days, it is hard to find a story that is not focused on existential risk of omnipotent AI fully erasing humanity. While I do not buy into the doomsayer’s worst-case scenarios, my experience as an AI advisor to business executives and policy makers tells me this time is different.
Interview with President of the Ebay Foundation Allie Ottoboni: Corporate Philanthropy
05.8.24
On March 21, 2024, HKS Student Policy Review Senior Editor John McQuillan spoke with Allie Ottoboni. The conversation focused on a range of topics related to corporate philanthropy.
Bankrolling Change in Massachusetts Schools: A Pathway to LGBTQ+ Inclusion
04.29.24
Blue states like Massachusetts are particularly well-positioned to lead the charge in applying innovative and intensive strategies to protect, support, and nurture queer and marginalized youth.
Can Collaboration Between Two Regions Rich in Fossil Fuels Lead to Development in the Renewable Energy Sector?
04.29.24
The economic diversification goals of the Arab Gulf, combined with the high potential for renewable energy development in Central Asia, have led two regions that have been closely associated with fossil fuel extraction to collaborate on the advancement of renewable energy production.
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Science, Technology and Data
How are dramatic developments in science and technology changing the public sphere? Can data be harnessed for the goal of good governance? What is the future of privacy?
An Interview with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
05.8.24
On May 1st, HKS Student Policy Review Senior Editor Chacier Alexander sat down with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to discuss the future of artificial intelligence.
Steering the AI Transition: The Case for More Employee Ownership
05.8.24
If you google “AI” in the news these days, it is hard to find a story that is not focused on existential risk of omnipotent AI fully erasing humanity. While I do not buy into the doomsayer’s worst-case scenarios, my experience as an AI advisor to business executives and policy makers tells me this time is different.
Blockchain Contracts: Too Smart To Be Regulated?
04.29.24
Any transaction on a blockchain requires the use of a contract that is itself encoded on a blockchain: a “smart contract.” Blockchain users unfortunately often discover that this so-called smart contract is not as smart as it seems.
Too Many Cooks in One Kitchen? The Question of US State Regulation over the Crypto Market
04.25.24
With the US Congress unable to pass crypto legislation, state regulators have been taking over the field. As a result, there are discrepancies and differences among US states, negatively impacting consumers and companies. Within a global crypto market, multiple states regulating in the absence of singular, Congressional action is hurting both consumers and businesses.
Interview with Daniel Dennett: AI, Free Will, and the Future of Humankind
04.20.24
HKS Student Policy Review Senior Editor Chacier Alexander held a joint interview with Symbiotic CEO Riccardo Di Molfetta and cognitive scientist Dr. Daniel Dennett on his perspectives on the philosophical implications of artificial intelligence, the challenge of aligning advanced AI systems with human values, and whether AI consciousness or free will would be functionally different from their biological counterparts.
Women and AI: Overcoming Potential Bias and Optimizing the Best of Both Worlds
04.15.24
Women and girls are essential to the efficiency of AI’s future. In order to optimize the full unique capabilities of AI, it is important that the full range and spectrum of women is represented at the different stages of AI development to deploy optimal AI solutions and efficiencies to address societal challenges and ultimately achieve social and economic progress.
The Cross-Border Interoperability of National Digital Payment Systems as a Gateway to Economic Development
04.9.24
Enhanced coordination and cooperation between governments, financial regulatory bodies, central banks, and other industry stakeholders is needed to implement the vision of integrating national digital payment systems.
Interview with Symbiotic CEO Riccardo Di Molfetta
03.13.24
At Symbiotic, Artificial Intelligence transcends mere automation. Under the guidance of Riccardo Di Molfetta, Symbiotic isn’t just a company—it’s a driving force propelling society toward a future where AI aligns with humanity’s highest values and principles.
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