Dear Readers,
Thank you for reading the Summer 2025 issue of the Jackson School Journal of International Studies. We are honored to present the outstanding research and writing of our fellow undergraduate scholars.
Our latest issue is characterized by a theme of “Aftershocks and Undercurrents,” as it zeroes in on pivotal and formative political, environmental, and diplomatic events that continue to reverberate within their respective policy domains today. Jane Pan’s research illuminates Japan’s nuclear energy policy discourse by examining the long-term effects of the Fukushima Accident, exploring youth perceptions in particular and how they manifest in Japan’s civic sphere. Leila Aden’s analysis of collaborative economic statecraft between the United States and Japan traces bilateral fault lines and the recalibration of diplomatic and economic strategy in response to China’s rapid, disruptive rise in the semiconductor sector, and as a dominant power in the Indo-Pacific as a whole. Adriana Amanti scrutinizes the role of legal activism in China in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square demonstrations, shedding light on how the “rule of law” and legal institutions may take root in an authoritarian system. This edition is concluded by our interview with General David H. Petraeus, who reflects on the evolving terrain of military strategy in the digital age as technology swiftly revolutionizes modern warfare.
Whether dissecting a cataclysmic moment in the course of global history or upheavals in military and political dynamics, investigating the residual effects or latent forces that impact public perception, strategy, and decision-making beneath the surface is integral to understanding our contemporary geopolitical landscape.
We hope this edition provides this insight and are grateful for your ongoing support of the Jackson School Journal of International Studies.
Taylor Arredondo, Chloe Mau, Tin Pak, Teerth Mehta, Fern Hinrix, and Upajna Palepu
The 2024-2025 Editorial Board

