*As a precursor to the first comment by Lisa* Actually a pretty funny story, albeit VERY embarrassing on my part.
Me: (after being asked if attending the Shimon Peres event) “Oh, definitely.”
Lisa: “Okay, great.”
Me: “By the way, what type of music does he play?”
Lisa: “Uhm…he’s the former Israeli Prime Minister.”
Me: “Oh…well goes to show you how much I know about world issues.”
Lisa: *rolls eyes*

Cornell was invaded by SWAT trucks, a 10-car motorcade, and dozens of Secret Service agents. Shimon Peres visited our campus on Tuesday to give a talk about his view on the current situations in Israel and the Middle East. As the former Prime Minister of Israel and the current Vice Premier, Shimon has been a key player in Israel politics and international relations. I went with my friend Hannah and fellow blogger Alex to see Shimon speak at Bailey Hall. The event was completely sold out, and we lined up an hour and a half before the talk to get good seats, after going through an extensive security check of course.

It was great to actually connect concepts I’ve picked up in my International Relations class with good ol’ Peter Katzenstein. Peres talked about the current global situation, how a nation’s power is largely determined by its economic power. PK has mentioned numerous times the reality that multination corporations are running the international stageshow. The empires of today are not so much reduxes of Rome, but rather founded on a company’s success in harnessing the future through science and technology–think Google.

Peres offered positive words to the university, supporting our many ongoing projects in space, nanotechnology, and the like. I don’t blame him: I wouldn’t mind seeing a country run by Cornellians.