Global Currents Blog

  • More Than New Friends, “Framily” For Life

    by Sandra McAnanyMay 18, 2026 10:00 am

    How I Became a Sponsor

    In early 2023, I read an article about Kyle Varner, a doctor in Spokane Washington who had sponsored over 40 Venezuelans through a humanitarian parole program and reached out to him via social media to find out more.  When I commented on his post on Facebook, my messenger started flooding with messages from individuals and families in Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua who were looking for sponsors through the new Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela (CHNV) humanitarian parole program.  I met with Kyle virtually, learned the steps involved, and wanted to sponsor a few people.  After exchanging messages with individuals online and not knowing any of them, I decided to sponsor four single women who were working hard in Venezuela, displayed resilience and focused on having a safer future.  I added the mother of one of the four when I realized she would be all alone in Venezuela if her daughter left. For me, this was an opportunity to make a true commitment to immigrants after being an informal advocate for years. ...

  • CGS Faculty Honored for Excellence in Instruction

    by Jasmine CarruthMay 8, 2026 12:30 pm

    CGS is proud to celebrate the achievements of these Center for Global Studies faculty affiliates and congratulates them on their Campus Awards.

  • From Illinois to the UN: CGS Affiliate Professor Lisa Hinchliffe on Information Integrity

    by Jasmine CarruthMay 4, 2026 4:45 pm

    Professor Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe of the School of Information Sciences, Coordinator for Research Professional Development at the University Library, and CGS Affiliate, recently addressed the UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on the topic of libraries and information integrity.

  • Convening Global Perspectives: CGS’ Inaugural Global Policy Forum

    by Jasmine CarruthApr 30, 2026 12:15 pm

    The Center for Global Studies (CGS) hosted a successful two-day Global Policy Forum (GPF) on April 14th and 15th, 2026. With almost 100 registrants, this forum spotlighted student presenters from over a dozen departments, covering academic areas such as political science, human rights, climate resilience, and sustainable development. 

  • Exploring Global Studies through a Global South Lens: CGS Fall 2025 Event Roundup

    by Shoutao WuDec 17, 2025 10:45 am

    In the Fall 2025 semester, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Center for Global Studies (CGS) focused its programming lens on the Global South, hosting nine lectures that collectively engaged various global challenges across broad geographical contexts, and diverse fields and scholarship.

  • Center for Global Studies Highlights Climate Leadership in Multinational Student Competition

    by Dr. Leon LiebenbergDec 8, 2025 3:15 pm

    Urbana, Illinois – The Center for Global Studies (CGS) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign proudly celebrated the achievements of students from around the world during the 5th annual Reimagine Our Future sustainability competition held on December 6, 2025. CGS has supported the competition since its inception, advancing its mission to foster global perspectives on sustainability, climate resilience, and interdisciplinary innovation. 

  • Who gets to speak for Iran? Global Media, Regime Narratives, and an Ignored People

    by Vesal RazavimalekiDec 8, 2025 1:15 pm

    Iran might be the most lied-about country on Earth. You may assume I’m talking about crude axis of evil stereotypes – headlines that reduce Iran to terrorists, turbans, and uranium. Those, as it happens, are real, but they are not what I find most dangerous.

    The real distortion is subtler, more insidious, and far friendlier to the Islamic Republic itself. It’s the story that says: Iran is changing; the regime is quietly moving away from theocracy; secular youth and clerics are converging toward some pragmatic middle. In this story, the state and the people are blurred into one complex society that just needs time, sanctions relief, and a bit of gradual reform.

  • CGS Faculty Affiliate Antoinette Burton Wins 2025 Campus Award for Public Engagement

    by carruth3@illinois.eduSep 8, 2025 9:15 am

    Individuals and teams from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences who have visibly impacted society were recently recognized with the 2025 Campus Awards for Excellence in Public Engagement. Faculty, staff, students, and community members who engage the public to address critical civic and community issues at the local, state, national, and global levels were honored at an awards ceremony last month.

    This year's LAS recipients include faculty member Antoinette Burton, graduate student Ananya Yammanuru, and the Entomology Graduate Student Association team.

    Burton, a history professor and director of the Humanities Research Institute at Illinois, received the Distinguished Award for Excellence in Public Engagement.

    Published initially by the Illinois News Bureau. 

  • Multilateralism’s Collapse Under Trump and the Call for Global South Pluriverse

    by Shoutao WuJul 31, 2025 3:15 pm

    Multilateralism, in brief, refers to multiple countries working together to achieve a common goal through diverse membership in international institutions. As Charvet and Mota argue, multilateralism and international cooperation exist, as no nation can be shielded from global threats, regardless of the framing of altruism or geopolitical interests. They require reconciling short-term national interests with long-term global prosperity for mankind. Such reconciliation, however, is at odds with the sweeping “America First” agenda, as multilateralism takes time, compromises self-interests, and requires subsidies from wealthier and more powerful states. Donald Trump and his administration do not want that.

  • Bringing Them Home: CGS Affiliate Dr. Scott Althaus Helps Recover WWII Airmen Lost for Decades

    by Associated PressMay 27, 2025 12:15 pm

    This Memorial Day, CGS recognizes the contributions of faculty affiliate Dr. Scott Althaus and his involvement with Project Recover, which helps bring home World War II service members.