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CATEGORY: ECONOMY (17 MIN)
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of NAFTA: the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement. The debate between free trade and tariffs, long a center of American political strife, gained renewed energy in the past decade with the advent of President Trump’s more-protectionist policies. And as a part of that debate, many thinkers now look back on NAFTA to see whether its promises of prosperity were fulfilled.
Helen Andrews answers that question with a resounding no. Writing in The American Conservative, Andrews reviews the then-contemporary critics of NAFTA and argues that their position has been proven correct. She places NAFTA in its historical context as part of a worldwide movement towards globalism, a movement that has had dangerous effects on America.
Andrews notes that at the time of NAFTA’s adoption, outsiders would have seen it as clearly bipartisan. President Clinton and many free-trade Republicans worked together on selling the agreement, and the American populace was vastly in favor of it. But Andrews says their predictions of success have proven false.
She points to America’s disappearing trade surplus and the increase of illegal immigration as the largest indicators of failure. But Andrews also believes NAFTA failed other countries. It liberalized Mexico and hurt Mexicans’ physical health, as well as crippling its wages too, according to Andrews.
Read her entire article right here.
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Weekly Poll
RESULTS: 2/15/24
Last week, we asked: Should elites advise young people against alternative familial structures (having children out of wedlock, intentional single parenthood, polyamorous relationships, etc.)? Here are the results:
[A] Yes - 79.7%
[B] No - 17.7%
[C] Unsure - 2.5%
Do you think the North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negatively impacted some American workers and industries?
[A] Yes, and the trade deal wasn't worth the negative impact
[B] Yes, but the trade deal was mostly good for America
[C] No
[D] Unsure
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CATEGORY: INTERNATIONAL (25 MIN)
For many years, when Americans heard about El Salvador, they likely thought of very bad things. Gang warfare, unsafe lives, and a general state of chaos marked the public perception, and with good reason—its murder rate was extremely high. But in the past few years, a wondrous change has come to El Salvador. Its murder rate has now fallen below Canada’s.
For Compact, Geoff Shullenberger describes the man who brought about this change: President Nayib Bukele. Bukele has become one of the more polarizing figures of our time, but Shullenberger notes that this certainly isn’t true in his own country. Bukele has had sky-high approval ratings throughout his tenure.
The controversy surrounding Bukele largely comes from the decisions he made to stop gang violence in his country. Shullenberger writes on Bukele’s temporary suspension of some constitutional rights to arrest thousands of gang members, his construction of a vast new prison, and the accusations that his party has negotiated with gangs and abused prisoners.
But Shullenberger also discusses the effects of these actions. Parks which had become hotspots of violence now house studying students, and streets which vendors had fled from now bustle with noise again. To many Salvadorans, the price of certain “unsavory elements” to Bukele’s regime is worth it.
Do you agree? Read Shullenberger’s piece here to learn more.
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CATEGORY: PODCAST EPISODE
In this thought-provoking episode of Conservative Conversations, Johnny Burtka explores the key themes and insights from his book, Gateway to Statesmanship: Selections from Xenophon to Churchill, providing a gateway to a deeper understanding of statesmanship. Delve into the principles and perspectives that shape effective leadership and governance.
Following the lecture, we transition to a dynamic panel discussion featuring Johnny Burtka, Elbridge Colby, and Dan McCarthy. These distinguished voices engage in a nuanced dialogue, offering diverse viewpoints on statesmanship, its relevance in contemporary politics, and the broader implications for our nation.
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CATEGORY: PODCAST EPISODE
On this episode of the American Compass podcast, Oren Cass is joined by John A. Burtka IV, president and CEO of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and author of the new book of old wisdom on governing, Gateway to Statesmanship: Selections from Xenophon to Churchill. They discuss how to cultivate and educate a better elite, what the “mirrors for princes” tradition has to teach today’s leaders, and, of course, aristo-populism.
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Gateway to Statesmanship Book Launch with Johnny Burtka
February 22nd, 2024
Join us for an enlightening evening at the Linda L. Bean Center as we celebrate the launch of the much-anticipated book, Gateway to Statesmanship: Selections from Xenophon to Churchill. This event starts at 6:00 PM with a welcoming reception, offering a chance to mingle, enjoy refreshments, and prepare for an evening of intellectual discussion.
As the reception winds down, we transition into a compelling panel discussion featuring Enrique Pallares and Joseph Prud’homme, renowned for their deep insights into political and philosophical thought. This discussion will delve into the book’s exploration of statesmanship, not just as a political art but as a comprehensive study of human thought and action.
Join us in Wilmington, DE >>>
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Conservative Book of the Year Award Ceremony and Reception
March 15th, 2024
The Intercollegiate Studies Institute proudly announces Chris Rufo as the winner of the 2024 Conservative Book of the Year Award for his exceptional work, America’s Cultural Revolution: How the Radical Left Conquered Everything. This book stands as a beacon of insightful analysis and thought-provoking commentary in today’s dynamic cultural landscape.
Join us for an evening of recognition and celebration at the prestigious National Press Club on Friday, March 15, as we honor the Conservative Book of the Year. The ceremony will commence at 6 PM, starting with a cocktail hour from 6:00 – 7:00 PM that offers attendees a chance to mingle and discuss the thought-provoking works of our finalists. The award ceremony and acceptance speech will follow from 7:00 – 8:00 PM.
Join us in Washington, DC >>>
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Because our student editors and writers are bravely bringing conservative ideas to their campuses, we’re highlighting their efforts here.
Trump Touts Economic Nationalism in Michigan Rally via The Michigan Review
“On February 17, former President Donald Trump (R) spoke at an aircraft hangar packed with supporters in Waterford Township, Michigan, about 30 miles northwest of Detroit. Trump focused on his plans to reshore American manufacturing and revive the auto industry. He also touched on the recent indictments and court orders against him... ‘This is merely an election-interference ploy by a crazed lunatic attorney general — did you ever see this attorney general? She’s a lunatic — working closely with a very bad judge,’ Trump told the crowd.”
Pitzer Student Senate Votes to Suspend Study Abroad in Israel via The Claremont Independent
“On Sunday, February 11th, the Pitzer College Student Senate voted to suspend Pitzer’s study abroad partnership with the University of Haifa in Israel. The resolution comes after activists renewed efforts to suspend the program in the months following Hamas’ October 7th attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza.”
Peter Thiel Speaks at The Conservative and Republican Student Conference via The Harvard Salient
“The keynote address discusses the diversity myth and offers important criticisms of academia.”
“A Rehearsal for the Revolution”: SJP Hosts Anti-Israel Walkout, Die-In via The Princeton Tory
“On Friday, February 9, Princeton’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) organized a student walkout to protest Israel’s campaign in Gaza. The assembly joined in chants and cheered on speeches in support of a ‘free Palestine’ from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea, support of Houthi piracy, and the end of the ‘settler-colonial’ state of Israel.”
Are Markets Moral?: A Talk with UVA Economics Professor Kenneth Elzinga via The Jefferson Independent
“At the end of January, UVA’s Kenneth Elzinga delivered a lecture titled ‘Are Markets Moral?’ hosted by the Blue Ridge Center and the Economics Club... Elzinga asserted that, economics, like any discipline, is not above criticism, but to criticize markets for being immoral is ‘just a step too far,’ arguing that the flaws of markets, the ‘false gods’ of greed and avarice, are endemic to the human condition rather than a feature of any particular economic system.” |
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CATEGORY: ECONOMY (11 MIN)
The most well-known Western economists have spilled much ink over the strengths and weaknesses of free trade and protectionism. One of these thinkers, Frédéric Bastiat, is oft-revered for his position in favor of free trade and for his essays criticizing more controlling economic systems.
For this week’s Intercollegiate Review archive, we reprint a portion of a Bastiat essay as part of his collection, Economic Sophisms. It involves a discussion between two men, one of whom is referred to as the “Utopian free-trader.” They discuss the best ways to balance a budget and save a national economy, running through many ideas for the perfect financial plan. Some are reasonable, and others are not. But their dialogue highlights the difficulty in constructing an economic system and the difference between realistic tactics and mere pipe dreams.
Read the conversation for yourself right here.
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Thought of the Day:
“There is only one difference between a bad economist and a good one: the bad economist confines himself to the visible effect; the good economist takes into account both the effect that can be seen and those effects that must be foreseen.”
- Frédéric Bastiat
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Join ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club
It’s never been easier for you to support our mission—and stay part of our community—with ISI’s new Alumni Giving Club!
For just $19.53 a month, you can join the fight and “pay it forward” by educating the next generation for ordered liberty.
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