Foreword: From the Founders

Foreword

From the Founders

Christina Lu and Janet Malzahn

Dear Readers,

We started The Cornell Diplomat in August 2018 to share student perspectives on global challenges. Since its founding, our magazine has exhibited different angles, places, and positions not commonly discussed on college campuses. In the past, we have explored thought-provoking subjects such as regime stability, the politicization of gender, and the geopolitics of resources in Regime (In)Stability, The Gender Issue, and Rethinking Resources.

In a time where ever deepening political divisions meet the isolation of life socially distanced, we see new borders every day. In our fourth issue, Borders, we wanted to explore the breadth of separations that exist between territories, ideas, and even people. What are the things that divide nations and how do we overcome them? How do the geographic borders that separate country from country change over time and shape the identities of the people that live within them? When should we break down existing borders, and when should we fortify them?

None of these questions are easy to answer–that is exactly why we chose to explore them in the Fall 2020 issue. This semester, we traded our normal Goldwin Smith Hall meeting space for a Zoom room, where we cracked jokes, traded ideas, and crafted an issue we can all be proud of. With this being our last semester at the helm of The Cornell Diplomat, we could not be more excited for this magazine and what is to come for all the members who make this organization possible. We hope you enjoy Borders.

Christina Lu and Janet Malzahn

Special thanks to the SAFC, Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies, and Samantha Malzahn for their support.