The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons By Katie Braman On September 8, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) kicked off its 81st session with the first plenary meeting at its headquarters in New York City. The UNGA is the main policy-making body of the United Nations, and contrary to the Security Council,... Continue Reading →
By Bella Butler On September 15th, 2026, Charles Booker, Democratic nominee vying for retiring Sen. Mitch McConnell’s seat, held a town hall and rally at the University of Kentucky’s Worsham Cinema hosted by UK College Democrats and the Fayette County Democratic Party. Concluding this event, Booker asked, “Do you believe Kentucky is worth fighting for?”... Continue Reading →
By Katie Braman Through the weekend of September 18-19, the fall 2026 Patterson School cohort participated in the International Strategic Crisis Negotiation Exercise (ISCNE) presented by the U.S. Army War College. The exercise provides a unique opportunity for students to participate in two days of fast-paced negotiation rounds guided by the privileged instructions provided to... Continue Reading →
By Katie Braman Each year, the Patterson School organizes a spring break trip to a hub of diplomacy, trade, or commerce, where students can engage in the day-to-day of what they are studying. This Spring, the 2026 Patterson cohort had the opportunity to spend a few days exploring some of what Atlanta, Georgia, has to... Continue Reading →
Eneas De Troya, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons By Jack Kolesar Venezuela is currently in a prolonged state of profound uncertainty amid a series of events and crises over the past several years. Over a decade of economic collapse, hyperinflation, and chronic shortages have left its people struggling to meet basic needs. Currently,... Continue Reading →
By Sam Dantzler This year's Patterson Crisis Simulation was truly one to remember, especially against the backdrop of recent events. Centered on the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict, the simulation included delegations from Russia, Ukraine, the United States, Turkey, the European Union, and China. As the Head of Delegation from team Ukraine, the challenges our team faced... Continue Reading →
By Abby Bedard The Israel-Hamas ceasefire hangs by a thread amid accusations that both sides have violated the agreed upon terms. Earlier last week, Hamas announced their intent to delay the hostage release scheduled for Saturday, claiming that Israel failed to deliver necessary aid, such as tents and heavy machinery and continues to carry out... Continue Reading →
Sam Dantzler Following Election Day 2024 in the United States, China has braced for the impact of Trump 2.0. In the months between November 5th and Inauguration Day, Beijing’s leadership has been evaluating the outcome of Trump’s election and its implications on broader Chinese grand strategy. Trump’s first term was defined by aggressive diplomatic posturing... Continue Reading →
By John W. Parks As war in Ukraine continues to damage Russia’s credibility and economic security, other Eurasian producers have been forced to utilize alternative avenues of trade. In response, China, along with Turkey, the European Union, and Central Asian states have dedicated increasingly more resources to the development and expansion of a bypass route.... Continue Reading →
