Dear Columbia College Students,

The Journal of International Affairs is seeking submissions for the Winter 2012 Cordier Student Essay Contest for its upcoming issue on Transnational Organized Crime. The author of the winning article will receive $500 along with publication alongside noted scholars in the Journal.  Published by Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, the Journal of International Affairs is one of the oldest and most respected foreign affairs periodicals and past issues have included articles by notable figures such as Noam Chomskey, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Jimmy Carter, Condoleezza Rice, and Kenneth Waltz among others.

Submission Deadline: September 14, 2012

Submission Guidelines:

• All contest submissions must relate to the topic of our next issue, “Transnational Organized Crime,” described below.
• The Cordier Essay Contest is open to all currently enrolled students of Columbia University and affiliated schools.
• Essays cannot have been previously published, but need not be written specifically for the contest. Papers submitted for academic credit are welcome, provided they are relevant to the upcoming issue's theme.
• Papers should not exceed 4,000 words.
• Citations should be formatted according to the Chicago Manual of Style 16^th ed.
• DEADLINE: Essays are due by September 14, 2012 at 11:59 P.M to dha2111@columbia.edu.

Interested authors can send submissions or questions to: David Abrahamson (Cordier and GPPN Editor) at dha2111@columbia.edu.

Fall/Winter 2012: Transnational Organized Crime

The Fall/Winter 2012 issue will comprehensively examine the issue of transnational organized crime (TOC). Given the paucity of scholarly work on this critical issue, we are excited to explore this phenomenon from different perspectives. This issue of the Journal will look at the evolution of TOC, as it has morphed from a contained, if serious, criminal problem to one that is now widely considered a threat to nation states. Contrary to popular opinion, TOC can no longer be confined to specific instances of criminal enterprise; rather, its manifestations are diverse and diffuse, encompassing abuses in the areas of finance, technology, human rights and the environment, among others. It has also become an important tool for aiding and financing terrorist organizations. TOC impacts both developed and developing countries; however, they are a particularly pressing problem for fragile states, where they have hampered efforts to promote development and institution building.

The issue will broadly address four areas:

• Evolution and history of TOC
• TOC within specific contexts (finance, development, human rights, and the environment)
• Arguments (example: decriminalization of drugs, terrorism and TOC, etc.)
• Reflection: Where do we go from here?

Students should not feel limited to the above areas and are encouraged to use creativity in approaching this topic.