Author

Allegra Mendelson

Allegra Mendelson is a U3 student currently pursuing a double major in Economics and World Religions. She specializes in articles relating to Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar, the international refugee regime, democratization, and the interrelation of religion and politics. She is passionately averse to anything orange.

The Lady Has Fallen

Allegra Mendelson Jan 27, 2020

A lot has been said about Aung San Suu Kyi since she first emerged on the international stage. Her complicated and unfortunate transition from iconic peace activist to genocide-sympathiser has been nothing short of shocking and upsetting,…
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MIR Canadian Federal Election Podcast Miniseries: Indigenous Engagement

Allegra Mendelson Oct 20, 2019

On this episode, Senior Editor Allegra Mendelson speaks to Canada's Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, Carolyn Bennett, about the government's engagement strategy with the Indigenous community, its relationship with the environment,…
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There Are No More Second Chances

Allegra Mendelson Oct 20, 2019

With rhetoric continuously taking precedence over substance, it is unsurprising that there are no clear paths forward for empowering indigenous communities coming into the 43rd federal election.
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Opinion | Canada is Quickly and Quietly Falling Behind in Humanitarian Aid Spending

Allegra Mendelson Oct 16, 2019

There is no justifiable way to spin how little Canada currently spends on foreign aid. One could say the numbers speak for themselves, but until one is on the ground bearing the immediate consequences of this abysmal deficit it is difficult…
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Is the Release of the Reuters Journalists Part of a Greater Political Game?

Allegra Mendelson May 10, 2019

While the long-anticipated release of the two journalists is undoubtedly a reason for celebration, nothing comes free in Myanmar.
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The Implications of Labelling the Rohingya Crisis as Genocide

Allegra Mendelson Dec 27, 2018

Ethnic cleansing and genocide are often, incorrectly, used interchangeably in political dialogue. Although many may perceive such a distinction as only a matter of words, the difference between the designation of ethnic cleansing and that…
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A New Era for the Clintons

Allegra Mendelson Dec 3, 2018

Much can, and has, been said about the Clintons since they first entered the political arena in 1974, but regardless of one’s politics or personal opinions, most would agree that they are one of the most famous power duos in American …
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I Went to Rakhine State and This is What I Learned

Allegra Mendelson Dec 3, 2018

"I went to Rakhine State" is not a phrase that you commonly hear anymore. In fact, as of August 25, 2017 foreign travel to Myanmar’s infamous northwestern state has plummeted, and for good reason. Although the state was once abundant with…
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Malaysia’s 2018 Elections Explained

Allegra Mendelson Jun 12, 2018

An unprecedented mix of ecstasy and shock layered Kuala Lumpur on May 10th as Malaysians awoke dumbfounded to discover that the opposition party, Pakatan Harapan (PH), had somehow toppled the archaic incumbent, the Barisan Nasional (BN).…
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The Rohingya Refugee Crisis: A Gendered Emergency

Allegra Mendelson Jun 1, 2018

The mass exodus of Rohingya refugees out of Myanmar and into neighboring countries has attracted significant attention from the international community in the last year and has even been labeled by many as a bona fide form of ethnic…
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An Open Letter to American Lawmakers Opposed to Gun Reform

Allegra Mendelson Mar 14, 2018

To any member of Congress currently opposed to gun reform legislation: On February 14th, 17 people, 14 of whom were children, were murdered because you failed to pass legislation that would have prevented an AR-15 style semi-automatic…
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Striking the Impossible Balance: The Rise of Censorship in Southeast Asia

Allegra Mendelson Feb 8, 2018

Recent developments within several Southeast Asian countries have prompted concern regarding the rights of the press and the safety of journalists in the region. Many of the countries, notably Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia, in question…
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Pseudo-Secularism in Myanmar

Allegra Mendelson Jan 9, 2018

The crossroads of religion and politics, despite its universal prevalence, continues to be overlooked and even disputed in many parts of the world. While many politicians openly admit to being religious and even publicly cite their faith as…
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US Announces Military Withdrawal from Myanmar: Another American Foreign Policy Quagmire?

Allegra Mendelson Nov 20, 2017

The US State Department has announced that it will be withdrawing military support from Myanmar in the coming weeks as well as suspending all travel waivers for Myanmar military officials, amid the ongoing infighting between the Rohingya…
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A Day Inside Myanmar’s Unremarkable Parliament

Allegra Mendelson Oct 16, 2017

55 years ago, the world watched as Myanmar, formerly Burma, suffered a revolutionary coup d'état in which the country's military toppled the civilian, pro-independence Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League-government (AFPFL). The military…
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