Spring Break
International issues drive discussion
John Ellis
Issue date: 4/15/08 Section: News
Global terrorism and American foreign policy were at issue Friday at Pi Sigma Alpha's speakers night, sponsored by the National Political Honors Society, where professors spoke candidly about international crises.
More than 40 people showed up, mostly students, to learn about world conflict and engage professors with questions. Primarily political science majors attended, though all SJSU students were welcome.
"It's good for all social science students," said Dain Fitzgerald, a junior political science major. "I think it's valuable for all people to know this stuff."
Four professors spoke at the event. Cobie Harris and Kathryn Wood, who teach international relations courses, and Jeffrey Danese, who teaches about religion, are from SJSU. Jane Curry, a political science professor, teaches at Santa Clara University. The event showcased a free dinner, a roughly 20-minute lecture by each professor and a Q-and-A format session with the students.
Among the topics discussed were globalization and the inconsistencies with United States policies (Curry), peace after the transition to democracy (Wood), religious extremism and the ways people are recruited (Danese), and African conflicts (Harris).
"Since 1991, more civilians have died than during all of the cold war," Curry said, explaining the changing face of global violence. "We're not happy with some abuses and take action, but we ignore others when it's in our interest … like China and Tibet."
Wood said, "In Spain, it took over 12 years after transitioning to democracy for violence and terrorism to stop.
"If this is the perfect case than we should expect that in Iraq."
Danese asked the audience, "How can religion create suicide bombers?
"Seventy percent of people join because of friends. Twenty percent join out of kinship."
He said that one of the problems that the West faces to stop this kind of violence is to engage them rather than obliterate them.
More than 40 people showed up, mostly students, to learn about world conflict and engage professors with questions. Primarily political science majors attended, though all SJSU students were welcome.
"It's good for all social science students," said Dain Fitzgerald, a junior political science major. "I think it's valuable for all people to know this stuff."
Four professors spoke at the event. Cobie Harris and Kathryn Wood, who teach international relations courses, and Jeffrey Danese, who teaches about religion, are from SJSU. Jane Curry, a political science professor, teaches at Santa Clara University. The event showcased a free dinner, a roughly 20-minute lecture by each professor and a Q-and-A format session with the students.
Among the topics discussed were globalization and the inconsistencies with United States policies (Curry), peace after the transition to democracy (Wood), religious extremism and the ways people are recruited (Danese), and African conflicts (Harris).
"Since 1991, more civilians have died than during all of the cold war," Curry said, explaining the changing face of global violence. "We're not happy with some abuses and take action, but we ignore others when it's in our interest … like China and Tibet."
Wood said, "In Spain, it took over 12 years after transitioning to democracy for violence and terrorism to stop.
"If this is the perfect case than we should expect that in Iraq."
Danese asked the audience, "How can religion create suicide bombers?
"Seventy percent of people join because of friends. Twenty percent join out of kinship."
He said that one of the problems that the West faces to stop this kind of violence is to engage them rather than obliterate them.
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