Is corruption just a flaw in the system? Is it a way for those in power to maintain power, or does it happen on a much larger scale, in areas we might not think to expect? It’s a worldwide problem. On Wednesday, February 19, 2025, The Walker Institute of International and Area Studies and the Columbia World Affairs Council invited Dr. Chris Yenkey to speak at the February Palmetto Forum.
The Walker Institute had the privilege of hosting Consul General Rachel Galloway in her talk, “Bridging the Atlantic from the United Kingdom to South Carolina.” Consul General Galloway spoke of her career in diplomacy as it relates to enduring trends in geopolitics.
Senior Global Studies major reflects on the past four years of her college experience at the University of South Carolina, sharing advice and insights on what she learned over the past three years as she transitions from being a student to a university alumni.
Dr. Richard Bulliet is a Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern History at Columbia University. He specializes in the history of Islamic society and institutions, the history of technology, and the history of the role of animals in human society
Georgia Cowart is a professor of music history at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio where she specializes in French Baroque music and the art and culture of early modern France.
As the Trump administration prepares to take office, a distinguished panel of scholars convened at the Palmetto Forum on November 19, 2024, to analyze its potential impact on America's role at home and abroad.
On October 11, 2024, the State Cybersecurity Awareness Symposium was hosted at the University of South Carolina. The symposium serves as a platform for fostering collaboration, disseminating vital information and promoting cybersecurity awareness among state agencies, while engaging a diverse group of partners across industry, academia and government. Read more about the symposium and hear from attendees here.
The Walker Institute and Columbia World Affairs Council collaborate in hosting the Korean Economic Institute in October's Palmetto forum, discussing the past, present, and future of the U.S.-Korea economic and security alliance.
Before going abroad to Italy, senior global studies major Ella Tocci wasn’t sure what her future post-grad would look like. Her eye-opening experience studying abroad helped her realize she wants to help college students get a similar experience as a study abroad coordinator.
James "Jimmy" Story served as the Ambassador for the Venezuela Affairs Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota from November 18, 2020, to May 19, 2023. He is now a Senior Fellow at Georgetown University. On October 14th, Story visited UofSC with the Walker Institute to share with students the importance of value and global civil service.
The Technology in Criminal Investigations course hosts an Assistant U.S. Attorney and two Lieutenants in a panel to discuss the roles of technology in CI today. This informative discussion gave students a taste of the rapidly changing world surrounding AI in justice.
A team of University of South Carolina students had to solve an international crisis as part of a competition called Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. The situation was fictional, but their solution to the problem had to be based on real-world policy dealing with technology that crosses borders. The experience gave them a taste of what their future careers may be like.
On April 3, 2024, the Walker Institute hosted an event aimed at fostering stronger connections within the Columbia community. Attendees were given the opportunity to engage with one another and learn more about the idea of Blue Zones.
The TIC Research Symposium at the University of South Carolina brings together experts from various disciplines to discuss Transpacific Studies. Over the past two and a half years, the research group has explored cultural connections across the Pacific amidst political challenges. The symposium, scheduled for May 10-11, 2024, invites both local and international scholars for an interdisciplinary exchange. Open to the public, it aims to foster dialogue on transpacific cultural collaboration.
The Walker Institute co-hosted a talk given by Oleg Budnitskii, Professor of History and Director of the Institute for Advanced Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies at the National Research University-Higher School of Economics (HSE University) in Moscow.
Last Thursday, the Walker Institute organized the 2024 Barnes Symposium on Law and Morality at USC, featuring guest speaker Dr. Nathan French from Miami University. The lecture focused on the erosion and potential collapse of international law concerning civilian protection in times of war, specifically addressing the concept known as responsibility to protect.
The Walker Institute is proud to support USC's first student-organized Cancer Prevention Week!
Three Cyber Policy and Ethics students proudly represented the Walker Institute by competing in the 12th annual flagship Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge.
This past Saturday, the Walker Institute and the Columbia World Affairs Council cohosted Columbia's Academic WorldQuest, a fun, friendly competition for high school students to showcase their knowledge of world affairs, geography, history, and current events.
Arrington Jones, a junior at USC, is pursuing a double major in Global Studies and Chinese Studies. Her passion for exploring diverse cultures led her to apply for a prestigious language program, a significant step towards achieving her academic goals.
Oscar-nominated documentary comes to Columbia's Theater
On September 27th, 2023, the Walker Institute of International and Area Studies and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Atlanta co-hosted the Taiwan Symposium to address one of the world's most pressing security and trade topics: semiconductors.
The Walker Institute’s new degree program, a Bachelor of Science in Cyber Intelligence, provides a direct answer to Governor McMaster’s declaration to “make South Carolina a highly competitive player in the cyber industry.” This degree will prepare students for the jobs in this new industry.