Ben Franklin Transatlantic Fellows Initiative

Russia Group interviews Rob Nelson, Office of Country Reports, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor (CR/DRL) - Several other groups also discuss with State Department

Are immigrants like extra-terrestrial aliens?
No, but Dr. Buonfino says student podcast makes point with satirical analogy

The immigration group's audio podcast takes the form of a simulated radio talk show, replete with fictional callers, a pretend host and even mock advertisements! One of the advertisements leads listeners to wonder about the analogy of 'illegal immigrants' to 'aliens' (as in extra-terrestrial beings). After listening to the student podcast, Dr. Alessandra Buonfino found the performance provocative, emphasising the point that "dehumanizing immigrants is a powerful political tool for justifying strict immigration policies." Read more of Dr. Buonfino's post (which includes some valuable research tips) and participate in the discussion over at the Immigration Weblog.

Professor Quandt: Look for 'shades of gray' in Iran debate
Foreign policy expert congratulates students; offers podcast feedback

After listening to the Iran group's podcast (part one / part two / part three), Dr. William B. Quandt, the Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, congratulated the Ben Franklin fellows for "expressing their views so well." This is heady praise coming from a senior foreign policy expert who has served in the White House as a National Security Council Staff member for the Middle East (1972-74, 1977-79) and was involved in the negotiations that led to the Camp David Accords and the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty. But Professor Quandt also used the opportunity to comment on the format of the Iran group's podcast performance to make a larger point about public discourse surrounding the policy issues posed by Iran's nuclear program:

The value of the debate format is that it sharpens differences and sometimes can clarify choices. But the debate format tends to produce polarization as well, so that sometimes it sounds as if Iran is either a terrible threat or no big problem at all, with no shades of gray in between. - Professor William Quandt

What might a U.S. negotiating stance informed by attention to these "shades of gray" look like? To find out, click through to read Professor Quandt's full post then participate in the unfolding discussion by visiting the Iran group's Weblog.

Heritage Foundation researcher weighs in on Russia podcast
Offers compliments, criticisms, suggestions

Will Schirano, a foreign policy research associate with the Heritage Foundation wrote of the Ben Franklin student fellows' podcast on Russia that the "overall quality of the discussion was excellent. The remarks of each of the speakers were well prepared, and offered an insightful look at a situation that I think many people tend to oversimplify." Mr. Schirano then wondered about the students' focus on the narrow issue of Shamil Basayev's demise, thinking that perhaps the choice reflects a recent trend in foreign affairs where a "tremendous amount of attention paid to single individuals rather than the groups." Mr. Schirano's provocative closing remarks are sure to generate much follow-on discussion over at the Russia Weblog - he asked for student opinion regarding a possible analogy between the situation in Chechnya and recent events in Iraq:

Let me leave you with a final issue to perhaps ponder. I'd be interested to hear the feelings of the group regarding the differences between the conditions for victory that the Russians have ascribed to Chechnya, versus the conditions for victory that the Western nations (most prominent of which is the United States) have ascribed for Iraq. Which of these has a greater chance for overall success in the short-term or even, the medium-term? - Will Schirano

Professor Wexler comments on student podcast
Suggests considering "human rights frame" for immigration discourse

Professor Lesley Wexler, a faculty member at the Florida State University College of Law, listened to the immigration group's podcast and offered insightful commentary in a Weblog post that explored different ways of framing discourse about immigration issues.

I believe it is a mistake to focus on the individual's illegal entrance (and it is worth noting that sometimes individuals are forced to enter rather than making a decision to enter). Instead, it is important to recognize that the countries that pull in immigrants bear responsibility for their protection and well-being. Immigrants, legally entering or not, are like us, they are part of a shared humanity and deserve recognition of that humanity. This is not to say that we must have open borders, only that the focus on criminality can obscure other obligations of our country and our community. - Professor Lesley Wexler

See Professor Wexler's full post, listen to the student podcast, and participate in the unfolding discussion by visiting the immigration group's Weblog.