Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
Korbel ranked 12th best place in the world to earn a master’s degree in international relations.
Korbel ranked 20th in the world for the best undergraduate degree in international studies.
By: Sylvia Morna Freitas
Collin J. Meisel, acting director of analysis at the Pardee Institute, and his colleagues have just finished their analysis of the Pardee Institute’s Perceived Mass Atrocities Dataset (PMAD) for 2024—and the news is grim. According to the global dataset, people living in 111 countries around the world experienced some form of mass atrocity in the past year.
Covering 196 countries, the dataset aims to determine the breadth and severity of humanitarian suffering in each country under a single metric. The PMAD highlights several regions where analysis of atrocities using data on lethal atrocities only would be inadequate. In the project, a mass atrocity is an act of violence against 25 or more defenseless members of a social, cultural, ethnic, religious, or political group. The acts are rated on a scale of “lethal to less lethal,” which provides a more nuanced scope of threats of human suffering worldwide. For example, 2024 saw a slight decrease in the number of lethal atrocities from 2023. Still, several types of “less lethal” atrocities—actions involving gross, intentional violations of human rights on a mass scale, short of murder—were more numerous.
But as grim as these reports are, the work Meisel and his team complete is integral to providing an evidence-based foundation for future action. “By systematically tracking these atrocities, we increase the chance that perpetrators will one day be held accountable,” says Acting Director of Analysis Collin Meisel.
Countries with the top 25 worst average values for all years from 2018-2024, sorted from highest to lowest. *Events for 2024 data still under review; values may be underestimated.
Chart: The Conversation, CC-BY-ND Source: Frederick S. Pardee Institute for International Futures, Perceived Mass Atrocities Dataset Created with Datawrapper
In addition, because the PMAD classes atrocities under a single metric, it provides a measure to facilitate research on the relationship between mass atrocities and a myriad of other interconnected factors, such as state stability and conflict, economic development, colonialism, and gender equality.
Having an empirical framework to tease out these relationships allows us to better understand the risk factors and consequences of mass atrocities within the larger fabric of the world.
PMAD is sponsored by the U.S. Government and built to support the U.S. Congress’s Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018, which was enacted to prevent acts of genocide and other atrocity crimes through the recognition of patterns of escalation and the methods that prevent them. Elie Wiesel was a Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate who implored the world not to turn away from atrocities but to bear witness. PMAD is a manifestation of that charge and is one of various datasets used by the US Government for monitoring, evaluation, and learning about mass atrocities worldwide.
More here in The Conversation.
The University of Denver has awarded the Scrivner Institute of Public Policy at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies the prestigious designation of "Institute status," recognizing its research excellence and its critical contributions to addressing today’s most pressing policy challenges. Established in 2018 through a transformative $14 million gift from Doug and Mary Scrivner, the Institute has become a leader in interdisciplinary research, civil discourse, and community engagement on local to global public policy issues.
Under the leadership of Professor and Director Dr. Naazneen Barma, the Scrivner Institute has seen remarkable growth, expanding its faculty and partnerships, more than doubling research funding, and producing numerous publications and policy reports. It has also developed innovative initiatives like the Colorado Project, Denver Dialogues, and Scrivner Policy Roundtables. “This recognition from the University is testament to the exceptional work of our faculty and staff and the Institute’s commitment to fostering meaningful policy research and dialogue at local, national, and global levels,” said Dr. Barma.
Fritz Mayer, Dean of the Josef Korbel School, praised the milestone: “The Scrivner Institute exemplifies what it means to be a hub for actionable, collaborative, and innovative public policy research. We are excited to see how its new Institute status will further elevate its impact.”
Learn more about the Scrivner Institute and its groundbreaking work at korbel.du.edu/scrivner.
By: Sylvia Morna Freitas
“Lenin’s entry into Russia is successful. He is working exactly as we would wish,” wrote a German Foreign Ministry official after Lenin, a Bolshevik revolutionary, arrived in St. Petersburg. Yet the state that emerged from the Bolshevik revolution, the Soviet Union, would prove essential in defeating Germany two short decades later.
In a commentary with the Modern War Institute at West Point, Collin J. Meisel, acting director of analysis at the Pardee Institute, discusses how political events sometimes boomerang in ways that are difficult to anticipate. The German government’s backing of Lenin’s infiltration into Russia during World War I guaranteed Russia’s permanent exit from the war but also contributed to Germany’s later defeat at the hands of the Soviet Union, according to Meisel.
As Meisel highlights, “History is replete with short-term victories that have evolved into long-term losses.” In light of the recent fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Meisel counsels caution.
While Syrians are understandably celebrating in the streets after decades of the Assad regime’s infamous brutality, only time will tell if the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which the United States designates a terrorist organization, will usher in a more peaceful and moderate era for Syria. Meisel says, “We should not mourn Assad’s fate. Nor should we call out the marching bands, at least not yet.”
The Modern War Institute serves as an intellectual resource for solving military problems and provides a forum for professionals to share opinions and cultivate ideas. Acting Director of Analysis Collin Meisel has a background in strategic and data-based geopolitical analysis from his work at the Frederick S. Pardee Institute for International Futures. Similar to the Modern War Institute, the Pardee Institute endeavors to build knowledge and tools to help policymakers and academics plan for the future.
Read the full article at the Modern War Institute.
Denver, CO— The Josef Korbel School of International Studies is proud to support those who serve by offering a 50% tuition scholarship and waived application fees to individuals entering or transitioning out of federal service, government contracting, or government affiliated programs. This initiative recognizes the expertise and dedication of public service professionals and their vital role in shaping policy and global affairs.
Whether you are entering government service or returning to the private sector, we are committed to helping you take the next step in your career. The Josef Korbel School provides rigorous training in international affairs, public policy, security, and development. Our programs equip professionals with the skills, networks, and expertise needed to lead and make an impact in a rapidly changing world. With this scholarship, we aim to make a world-class education more accessible to those dedicated to public service.
“At the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, we believe that service is essential to building a better world. Those who dedicate their careers to federal service play a vital role in shaping policy, advancing diplomacy, and strengthening our communities. This scholarship is our way of recognizing their contributions and ensuring they have access to the education and resources needed to lead effectively—whether they are stepping into federal service or transitioning to new opportunities. We are proud to support them on their journey” – Dean Frederick “Fritz” Mayer
About the Josef Korbel School of International Studies
The Korbel School at the University of Denver is the 12th-ranked program in the world to earn a master’s program in International Relations and the 20th-best place to pursue an undergraduate in International Studies by Foreign Policy. Located in Denver, Colorado, the Korbel School offers flexible undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificate programs, allowing students to build skills to solve real-world challenges. Studying in Denver offers a unique blend of global engagement and fresh perspective—where a thriving, forward-thinking city meets unparalleled access to the outdoors, providing the space to think beyond the beltway and approach complex challenges with clarity and vision.
The United Nations Development Programme, in collaboration with the Pardee Institute, has released a new report titled Land Degradation and Human Development in Yemen.
The report hones in on a region extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change and explores the links of environmental issues to the current humanitarian crisis and lack of human development in that region. The report culminates with recommendations for several policy strategies intended to mitigate the effects of land degradation and desertification in Yemen and support vulnerable communities across the region.
The Institute’s Associate Director of Development Analysis, Taylor Hanna, co-authored the report alongside independent researchers Andrew Kruczkiewicz and Michael Owen. Pardee Institute Director Jonathan D. Moyer, Senior Scientist Barry B. Hughes, Senior Systems Developer José Solórzano, Lead Operations Manager Yutang Xiong, and Pardee Fellow Researcher Victoria Pepera also contributed to the report.
The report is intended to explore, and to help policymakers understand, the connections between land degradation and human development; it also offers key interventions aimed at mitigating the effects of land degradation and supporting improvement in human development. Notably, the report uses the International Futures (IFs) integrated assessment model to explore scenarios that analyze how land degradation may affect human development in Yemen. In addition, the authors present pathways for further development in the region under differing IFs scenarios.
This report begins with a literature review exploring both the main drivers of desertification and land degradation and the links between precipitation and net primary land productivity and then moves into a detailed analysis of climate data within Yemen, including historical and projected data on temperature and precipitation. The authors note that the relationship between precipitation and land productivity is not especially strong. While land degradation may be driven in some of the regions by climate change, the larger problem lies in unsustainable agricultural practices and water use, in addition to conflict and governance challenges. Hence, reforms of these practices and policies in the region can, and should be, made to mitigate land degradation in Yemen.
Despite the weak linkage between precipitation and net land productivity, the authors note that the future evolution of precipitation patterns in Yemen could shift land degradation levels.
Many regions within Yemen are likely to see increased precipitation in the future, but exactly how is uncertain. If that increase is gradual and steady, this may provide an opportunity to strengthen “ecosystem resilience” by improving water management infrastructure and thus supporting agricultural productivity. But this increase could also come in the form of increased sporadic rainfall events which could exacerbate land degradation due to extreme flooding and interruptions in consistent agriculture yields. The authors propose new methods for analyzing precipitation in Yemen to improve accuracy in forecasting and encourage further data enhancement in the region.
The second part of the report delves into the socioeconomic impacts of land degradation in Yemen. This section uses scenario analysis with the IFs tool to demonstrate the effects of continued land degradation in the region on the Yemeni economy, agricultural yields, hunger, and poverty.
The first scenario created in the IFs tool is the Baseline scenario. This scenario is one that simulates a world without future effects of land degradation on economic and human development. This serves as a counterfactual against which we can compare the Land Degradation scenario.
In contrast, a continued Land Degradation scenario, which models the effects of land degradation on water and agricultural resources, results in lower economic and agricultural production. By 2050, this model leads to five million more people experiencing poverty and four million more experiencing hunger than the Baseline scenario forecasts. This scenario yields lower agricultural production and leads to a reduction in gross domestic product (GDP) of 5.6 percent compared against the Baseline scenario.
The Land Restoration scenario demonstrates an effort to focus directly on preventing further land degradation, rehabilitating agricultural yields, and implementing policies to aid in environmental improvement. This scenario forecasts an increase in economic output by 15 percent by 2050 when compared against the Land Degradation scenario. It also prevents further increases in hunger and significantly decreases the undernourished population by 9 million.
The Integrated Restoration scenario builds on the previous Land Restoration scenario by adding to it an end to the current conflict, improving governance and inclusion, and addressing other key human development deficits. This scenario forecasts that GDP per capita can reach pre-conflict levels by 2055. Twenty-two million fewer Yemenis experience poverty and 13 million fewer are undernourished in this scenario’s forecast compared to the Land Degradation scenario for the same year
(Refer to the report appendices for detailed information about how each scenario was created.)
The report concludes with several targeted, restorative recommendationsfor policymakers and key regional constituents to consider. These efforts include reaching a peaceful end to the current conflict; continuing to develop and understand quality data and research regarding desertification in Yemen; enhancing water resources and agriculture practices that prevent environmental degradation; and investing in extreme-weather infrastructure. A concerted and determined effort to follow these recommendations may lead Yemen into a peaceful and sustainable future, economically and environmentally.
The Pardee Institute’s ongoing partnership with UNDP reflects the Institute’s commitment to using quantitative modeling tools to identify strategic policy interventions to advance human development and sustainability. Similarly, this research highlights our efforts to understand the linkages between environmental challenges and conflict, governance, and peace. This project is notable as the first time IFs was used to forecast the effects of land degradation.
Dr. Suisheng Zhao, Professor and Director of the Center for China-U.S. Cooperation (CCUSC) at the Josef Korbel School, continues to receive widespread recognition for his book, The Dragon Roars Back: Transformational Leaders and Dynamics of Chinese Foreign Policy (Stanford University Press).
Foreign Affairs magazine has named Zhao’s work among its Best Books of 2024, further solidifying its contribution to the field of international relations.
The book has also garnered high praise from leading scholars and journals:
Explore the full list of Foreign Affairs’ Best Books of 2024, at foreignaffairs.com.
More on Dr. Zhao and Center for China-U.S. Cooperation at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies here.
Dean Mayer and Dean Karim El Aynaoui formally signed a student exchange agreement during a ceremony held at UM6P’s Rabat campus, coinciding with events from the Atlantic Dialogues.
The Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver is excited to announce a new Student Exchange Agreement with the Faculty of Governance, Economics and Social Sciences (FGSES) of the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Morocco. The agreement, finalized on December 13, 2024, establishes a robust partnership enabling graduate students to participate in academic exchanges between the two institutions beginning in the 2025/26 academic year.
Dean Frederick “Fritz” Mayer of the Korbel School and Dr. Karim El Aynaoui, Dean of FGSES, formally signed the agreement during a ceremony held at UM6P’s Rabat campus, coinciding with the events of the Atlantic Dialogues conference. The agreement aims to foster academic collaboration, broaden students’ international experiences, and strengthen ties between the U.S. and Morocco.
Korbel students will have the opportunity to study in UM6P’s renowned graduate programs in political science, global affairs, and economics. Similarly, FGSES students will have access to Korbel’s diverse academic offerings, including its Master’s programs in Global Economic Affairs, Global Environmental Sustainability, International Development, International Human Rights, International Security, International Studies, and Public Policy.
“This partnership underscores our commitment to preparing students to navigate an increasingly interconnected world,” said Dean Mayer. “We look forward to the enriching academic and cultural exchanges this collaboration will bring.”
The signing event included presentations on UM6P’s programs, a campus tour, and engaging discussions with students and faculty. Both institutions also pledged to explore future opportunities for broader cooperation in teaching, research, and professional development.
For more information about the exchange program, please contact Dr. Kevin Archer at [email protected].
Jonathan Moyer, the director of the Pardee Institute, recently traveled to Seoul, South Korea, to present a paper at the Integrated Assessment Modeling Consortium (IAMC) conference. The paper, titled “Quantifying the roads ahead broadly: forecasts of the SSPs across demographics, conflict, economics, education, health, infrastructure, and governance for 188 countries to 2200,” introduces new Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) scenarios developed using the International Futures (IFs) model.
The IAMC is an international consortium of research institutions developing and using integrated assessment models to study global environmental change and socioeconomic development. Its annual meeting is a major forum for exchanging ideas and research on integrated assessment modeling.
The SSPs are a scenario framework used in various sustainability-related research efforts, including as inputs into the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessment. The scenarios show five standard pathways of human and social development in the absence of climate policy or climate change impacts to frame worlds with different challenges to climate mitigation and adaptation.
This new SSP series introduced by Moyer and colleagues at the Pardee Institute represents a broader set of issue areas than the current SSP framework, including dynamically interconnected forecasts of economics, demographics, education, health, infrastructure, and governance. This series is also projected to reach 2150, allowing climate models to forecast granular change in development further into the future compared with existing SSPs that end in 2100.
"The new SSP elements provide a more comprehensive and integrated view of the future," said Moyer. "This will be valuable for researchers studying the impacts of climate change and other global challenges." Future plans include submitting this work for peer review and publication and making the new scenario results available via the IIASA website.
Dear Friends of the Korbel School,
As we reflect on Korbel's fall quarter, it is perhaps good that we have time to catch our breath and find ways to recharge before the New Year. It has been an eventful fall! As always, the school was buzzing with activity, in our classrooms and outside of them as we grappled with all that is happening around the world.
Certainly, though, the US election commanded much of our attention. I recognize that many of you had strong feelings on election night. You care deeply about the issues on which we work: peace and security, human rights, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and democratic governance.
A few days ago, a friend sent me a speech that Madeleine Albright gave in Prague shortly after the 2016 election. She said:
Democracy is a messy business that requires patience, hard work, flexibility, and the acceptance of its inherent imperfections. It also asks us to live peacefully as neighbors with people who are different from us and whom we may not even like. What most of us discover, and what I hope we will discover once again, is that we share more in common than we think, and that we are stronger as a people if we overcome our superficial differences and unite around our shared interests and ideals.
Her words seem to me as wise today as they were eight years ago. Secretary Albright asks that we reflect humbly on the lessons to be learned from elections and that we redouble our efforts to engage with others who do not share our views.
Of course, Madeleine didn’t mean she would stop fighting for the things she believed in. Nor should we.
As we come back together in 2025, we will stand firm for our core values—justice for all, equality of opportunity, respect for all persons, the value of public service, the importance of community, and an unshakeable belief in evidence, expertise, and the value of education—and carry on with our mission to do our part to make the world safer, fairer, greener, and more democratic.
Sincerely,
Frederick "Fritz" Mayer
Dean, Josef Korbel School of International Studies
Natalie Dunn, Principal Investor at LvlUp Ventures, is dedicated to supporting startups in their earliest stages, focusing on entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and the potential to create significant impact. Passionate about problem-solving and business building, she brings a founder's mindset to her work, emphasizing social impact and the pursuit of meaningful change.
Dunn began her higher education journey as a tennis player at the University of Denver, but her passion for addressing global challenges led her to the Josef Korbel School of International Studies. "I've always been drawn to more humanities versus STEM," she says. "I was incredibly passionate about some of the global problems that we're still dealing with—everything from gender inequity to human rights and the global economy."
Inspired by professors and intellectual depth at Korbel, Dunn declared International Studies as her major, pairing it with minors in Spanish, economics, and business. She credits her Korbel education for shifting her mindset and expanding her lens to evaluate companies, sectors, and industries critically and positively.
She is proud of her diverse ethnic background as a member of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, with Mexican, Danish, and Irish heritage, and embraces her identity as a queer woman. Reflecting on the intersectionality of identity, she acknowledges its profound influence on her work and worldview. "It's important that we take time to reflect on what identity means and how it impacts everything around us," she explains. She is particularly passionate about educating others on the lasting impacts of colonization and its continued role in shaping societies globally.
Dunn found a sense of community at the Korbel School beyond DU's vibrant sports culture. She connected with students and professors eager to discuss deep, meaningful topics like climate change, politics, and global economics. These experiences helped shape her approach to evaluating global challenges, a perspective she continues to draw upon in her work today.
Dunn also maintains a strong connection to her Native American heritage and community. Her family plays a significant role in fostering this bond, particularly her older sister, a Dartmouth graduate who majored in Native American studies, and her grandmother, who resides on the Pascua Pueblo Yaqui Reservation in Arizona. This fall, Dunn participated in the El Tour de Tucson with members of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe. She rode in honor of a cousin who recently passed and to raise awareness about diabetes and diabetes prevention. Dunn emphasizes the importance of understanding and honoring the past, reflecting on the legacy of her ancestors. “I appreciate how we hold space for folks that have come before us,” she shares, aspiring to inspire the next generation by continuing the tradition of strong Indigenous women in her family.
Navigating male- and white-dominated fields like venture capital hasn't been without challenges. "While these industries are working towards becoming more diverse and inclusive, there is still a long way to go,” she says, “and I’m hopeful I can be a steward in supporting those initiatives.” Once a shy and soft-spoken individual, Dunn has worked hard to find her voice and take up space. Inspired by her mother and sister's strength, she has developed a clear sense of her core values, tackling the challenges of advancing meaningful change with determination and resilience.
Dunn plans to focus on social impact and problem-solving for good. "I want to gear the next decade of my career toward creating a better world," she says. Her advice to others: find what fills your cup, pursue work aligned with your passions, and leverage your unique talents to make a difference.
For prospective Korbel students, Dunn emphasizes the importance of exploration and engagement. "Connect with professors and folks in the resource centers—they are very inspiring and keyed into amazing ways to get involved. Expand your community and network," she advises. Reflecting on her journey, she adds, "If I could go back, I'd get even more involved with the initiatives and people leading impactful change at Korbel."
From her Indigenous roots to her education at the Korbel School to her current role in venture capital, Natalie Dunn's story is one of embracing identity, pursuing passion, and striving to leave the world better than she found it.
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