Nicole Sedaka, fellow at the Center for Effective Government and Democracy, speaks to students at the Harris School of Public Policy.
In an interview with maroonNicole Bivins Sedaka, Democracy Fellow at the Center for Effective Government (CEG), shares advice for students who want to pursue a career in international affairs and her work at the Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization Freedom House. He talked about his role.
CEG is a division of the Harris School focused on civil reform and advocacy. Over the course of February, Sedaka met with students from the Harris School of Public Policy and the university to discuss his research and insights.
Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity. This conversation took place before the Russian elections.
chicago maroon: Can you describe your day-to-day job at CEG and your new role?
Nicole Bivins Sedaka: I am a Democracy Fellow at the Center for Effective Government. In my day job, I am the vice president of an organization called Freedom House. My role at Freedom House is to oversee all programs and strategies. [Freedom House] We focus on expanding and defending freedom around the world by informing the world about the challenges and opportunities that exist in democracy and freedom. [for] Mobilize actors to take real action in the fight for freedom and support activists around the world. Therefore, as a fellow, I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak to students about what is happening in freedom in the world, and at the same time explore opportunities to partner with universities in this area.
CM: Could you share some thoughts about your experience at the Harris School?
NBS：I was so happy that we had such wonderful conversations yesterday and today. Students are incredibly engaged, interested, eager to learn and share their ideas. They had a lot of great questions and conversations. All of our conversations have been focused on democracy around the world, so there's been a lot of confusion among students, especially some international students, and obviously American students, about what this year means. I think there's a lot of hunger and interest in talking about how that impacts the cause. As countries approach elections, many are facing democratic backsliding. So we tackled some of the toughest questions our students had.
CM:What elections are you paying attention to this year?
NBS: So I'm paying a lot of attention to the Indian elections. Parliamentary elections will be held in April and May. Elections are also held in Mexico, but the current president is term-limited.So [Mexico] There is no doubt that a new president will be elected in June. [We’re] We are also keeping an eye on South Africa's elections later this year. For example, we know that Russia and Venezuela hold many elections, but we do not expect them to be free and fair, nor do we expect them to reflect the will of the people. not. But it is notable that leaders feel the danger of acting as if they are actually democrats, even though they do not govern as such.
CM: How do you think CEG's work advances some of the causes you've been working on at Freedom House?
NBS: I admire the work CEG is doing with its series of introductory books on democracy. It's really amazing. And it provides very practical, research-based information on some of the important questions about how democracy works.and my organization works [both] Not just in the US, but around the world. So for us, seeing what academics are specifically saying about the technicalities of how democracy works is a great way to stay connected to what the academic community is thinking. would be a great way to
CM: How do you assess the state of democracy in the world today?
NBS: There are things that make us anxious and things that make us optimistic. So, in the relevant categories, we are witnessing 17 years of continued decline in freedom around the world. In other words, our report shows that more countries are falling behind than are making progress in the development of democracy. about how citizens experience political and civil rights; And that means that attacks on freedom from authoritarian governments around the world are definitely increasing, but also for some weakened democracies as well, so this is worrying. So, it's certainly something we think about in our heads almost every day.
But even though we are in very difficult times, there are also many things that give us a lot of hope. We see activists all over the world demanding their rights in the streets, even though they are facing real physical, emotional and political battles. And whether it's Venezuela, Sudan, Ethiopia, Iran, they're demanding rights and they want all of us to experience them. The fact that there are dictators and undemocratic leaders who still feel the need to hold elections in an election year says a lot about what electoral norms, democratic norms are. Masu.—Just the fact that you are cherished—It has some weight. And that's important because it means that this concept that democracy is the best system of governance that represents the voice of the people has not been lost. There is no doubt that it is a challenge, but it is by no means lost.
CM: Can you talk about how your work at Freedom House contributes to promoting democracy?
NBS: Yes, absolutely. Our work begins by raising awareness of where the challenges lie. Because it's important to share facts and share the truth about issues. So a lot of what we're doing is raising our voices through events and reporting and research and making sure we know where the challenges lie and how authoritarian leaders are using tactics like transnational repression. It's about letting the world know where we're using it to silence the voices of others. . But we really aim to mobilize action to advance the U.S. government, the United Nations, and other democratic governments to use their power to pressure and strengthen democracies around the world. And finally, we know that the real courageous people are not those of us sitting in Washington. [D.C.] But the people on the streets, the people in prison, the people working for change all over the world. So we listen to those needs and look for ways we can respond to those needs by providing aid, providing training, and supporting those on the front lines of the fight for freedom. I'm here.
CM: What advice would you give to students and young professionals interested in a career in international relations?
NBS: We hope that many students will find work in international relations. It's an exciting way to serve your country and serve your world. I encourage students, both in the classroom and in research, to look for opportunities to dig deep into what the most difficult challenges are and consider ways to build expertise around these issues. But also look for opportunities, especially overseas, whether through the U.S. government or not.—They have many opportunities abroad through non-governmental organizations like Freedom House.—or other organizations. And there are a lot of service organizations out there, whether it's through faith-based groups or other opportunities that people have to really go out and see the world and see what the challenges are. I think it's extremely important to have talented people in the civil service who want to bring democratic values into the public sphere. But if you look at charities and non-governmental organizations, that's also a great way to serve. But in every sector, be it the business sector, the journalism sector, or nonprofit organizations, the issue of democracy cuts through everything. And people have the opportunity to consider how their next steps in their professional careers will align with the democratic values of their field.
CM: Is there an opportunity you would recommend to today's students?
NBS: I pursued a Rotary Fellowship and I can't say enough about it. It was a great opportunity. I encourage students to look it up. There are many other opportunities for students to go abroad, such as Fulbright. The Peace Corps is a path many of my colleagues and friends have followed over the years seeking opportunities to serve overseas. Therefore, I encourage students to consider all of this as a means to serve and see the world after graduation.
CM: Do you have any advice for graduate school, especially considering Harris' new five-year path?
NBS:I think the 5-year program is wonderful. And obviously, the University of Chicago is just a special school. And I think the five-year program is a great opportunity to earn both degrees in a shorter amount of time. If someone only chooses a four-year course, I would recommend spending a few years in the workforce before choosing graduate school. I think it will be helpful. If immediately after graduating from undergrad she does not have the opportunity to participate in a 5-year program, work somewhere, be it in Washington for a year, or even he spends 2-3 years. [D.C.], in the policy community, abroad, and elsewhere, to determine what graduate school looks like. As a former professor, I think it was during this period that I saw many students use that time to refine their thinking and refine and test hypotheses about what they wanted to do in the long term.
CM: Are there any opportunities at Freedom House that you would like students to know about?
NBS: Of course, we have a summer internship program on our website, freedomhouse.org, and we encourage everyone to apply. We warmly welcome wonderful students like you. [and other] Chicago students are here. And once you're out of school, there are plenty of jobs for new grads and entry-level jobs that involve researching trends around the world, working with Capitol Hill and government, and working programmatically. In this job, you not only have to deal with different countries, but also interesting areas such as communication and development. Nonprofits like ours require a full range of skills. Therefore, we encourage students to seriously consider Freedom House as a landing place.
