Sarah Bassil

Schar School Students Explore Geopolitics and Human Security in Cyprus

Andrew J Schappert — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:08:44 +0000

Schar School Students Explore Geopolitics and Human Security in Cyprus Andrew J Schappert Thu, 07/24/2025 - 15:08

�� students and professors with Chrysilios Chrysiliou (center), director of the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-Seas, and Port Security.

Students from ��’s Schar School of Policy and Government recently returned from an intensive study-abroad program in Cyprus, where they examined the Eastern Mediterranean’s shifting geopolitical landscape and human security challenges.

Led by Schar School professor Ellen Laipson, director of the master of international security program (ISEC), and Michal McElwain Malur, director of external programs, the course blended rigorous academic study with direct engagement with diplomats, policymakers, security officials, and civil society organizations.

High-level diplomatic engagement was a hallmark of the program. Before departing, students visited the Embassy of Cyprus in Washington, D.C., to meet Ambassador Evangelos Savva. In Cyprus, briefings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs offered insights into the island’s strategic role in regional diplomacy. A highlight was meeting Carter Wilbur, a George Mason alumnus and acting political-economic chief at the U.S. Embassy in Nicosia, who shared perspectives on U.S. policy and economic interests in Cyprus.

Security institutions and regional preparedness were other key focuses. The class visited facilities underscoring Cyprus’s role in regional security, including the Cyprus Center for Land, Open-Seas, and Port Security (CYCLOPS), a U.S.-Cyprus initiative serving as a regional hub for training in border security, customs enforcement, and cybersecurity.

Students also toured the Cyprus Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC), which coordinates maritime and aerial search and rescue operations. During their visit, the JRCC was actively managing evacuations following U.S. bombings in Iran—a vivid example of Cyprus’s role as a regional humanitarian hub.

The program emphasized peacebuilding efforts on the island. Students visited the United Nations Buffer Zone and met with representatives from the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP). They toured the Home for Cooperation, an NGO fostering dialogue between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities and visited the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) Anthropological Laboratory, where a bi-communal team works to identify and return remains of individuals missing since the island’s 1974 division.

Beyond field visits, students attended lectures covering topics such as great power politics in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkish Cypriot politics and economic developments since 1974, regional conflicts and their global implications, climate change and environmental security, energy developments, international law, and the transnational challenges of migration and climate.

“Offering these study-abroad experiences is essential to equipping our students with the knowledge, skills, and global awareness they need to become effective leaders and practitioners in policy and international affairs,” said Malur.

While the week was academically demanding, students also explored Cyprus’s archaeological sites in Kourion and Paphos to experience firsthand the island’s nearly 13,000 years of history. The program concluded with a scenic boat cruise along the coast—a well-deserved moment of reflection.

Students praised the program for its immersive, real-world learning.

“Seeing the JRCC coordinating evacuations in real time during U.S. military actions against Iran underscored the critical importance of human security in conflict zones and drove home the real-life implications of what we are learning in the classroom,” said Sarah Bassil, an ISEC student who was herself evacuated through Cyprus from Lebanon in 2006.

“Our group enjoyed lectures from leading experts, intensely engaging field visits, and great camaraderie among our diverse student group. Cyprus is an intriguing case study,” added John Thacker, another ISEC student.

As geopolitical tensions continue to shape the Eastern Mediterranean, Schar School students return to George Mason with invaluable insights and a deeper understanding of how regional dynamics intersect with global security.

For more information on Schar’s study-abroad offerings, visit the Schar School study-abroad page.

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Ellen Laipson

Michal McElwain Malur

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Examining Transnational Security Issues: A Schar School Study-Abroad Experience in Costa Rica

Andrew J Schappert — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 19:48:17 +0000

Examining Transnational Security Issues: A Schar School Study-Abroad Experience in Costa Rica Andrew J Schappert Mon, 04/07/2025 - 15:48

Schar School students visit Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest to assess the impact of illegal deforestation and wildlife trafficking. Photos provided.

During this year’s spring break in March, 25 �� students, many of them graduate students at the Schar School of Policy and Government, traveled to Costa Rica for an immersive study-abroad program focused on transnational security—tackling complex issues such as human trafficking, migration, environmental crimes, and the illicit drug trade.

From left, student Hannah Townley, Salazar, and Pardo-Herrera.

Led by international development scholar Camilo Pardo-Herrera, PhD Public Policy ’19, and in partnership with Costa Rica’s Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO) University, a network of social sciences academics founded in 1957 by UNESCO, the program combined academic coursework with real-world exposure to transnational security challenges affecting Latin America and the United States.

The program began in the Costa Rican capital of San José, where students attended sessions analyzing the role of globalization in transnational crime, the economics of illicit markets, and the regional security policies shaping migration patterns. A key theme was the link between organized crime, corruption, and governance, with case studies illustrating how illicit financial flows sustain criminal enterprises.

After traveling to Monteverde, students explored environmental crime and conservation policy, visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest and Selvatura Park to assess the impact of illegal deforestation and wildlife trafficking. Discussions focused on how environmental degradation fuels security threats, from resource conflicts to displacement. These site visits reinforced classroom discussions on how governments and nongovernment organizations combat illegal environmental activities while balancing economic development.

From left, international development scholar Camilo Pardo-Herrera, PhD Public Policy ’19, who led the trip, FLACSO Costa Rica Director Karla Salazar, and student Sarah Bissell holding her FLACsO certification of completion.

The journey continued to Arenal, where students examined the relationship between ecotourism and security policies. Through group discussions, they assessed how tourism can be leveraged to prevent illicit activities while promoting sustainable development.

Reflecting on the program, tour leader Pardo-Herrera praised the students’ engagement and enthusiasm.

“Students approached each topic with curiosity and dedication,” he said. “Seeing them connect academic theory with field observations was exciting. This experience not only deepened their understanding of transnational security but also prepared them to think critically about global solutions.”

Morian Bailey, a student in the Schar School’s master of public administration program, highlighted the value of diverse perspectives within the traveling cohort.

“The best part of this study abroad was how culturally diverse my classmates were,” she said. “Everyone had different viewpoints from their respective programs, and it was great to engage with them.”

Kayla Maxey, a senior from George Mason’s School of Integrative Studies, shared that the trip was academically stimulating. “We physically went to see where the things we learned took place,” she said. “I can't wait to apply what I learned to my degree and career.”

With the support of FLACSO Costa Rica, this study-abroad experience provided a unique opportunity for students to analyze security challenges from multiple perspectives. By the end of the course, participants left with a deeper understanding of policy responses to transnational security issues—knowledge that will shape their future academic and professional pursuits.

Author Sarah Bassil is an international securities master’s student at the Schar School of Policy and Government.