Caitlin is a second year student of International Relations at Groningen University and the secretary of Checks and Balances. She has a special interest in human rights issues and international politics. While writing for Checks and Balances she hopes to inform readers truthfully about global news.

Nice, new and smart missiles?

Three weeks ago, we watched as Trump, May and Macron announced their plan to attack Syria in a response to an apparent chemical attack. They each made passionate speeches where

Read More

Can politics still be poetic?

This article was inspired by a discussion organised by SIB Groningen, on the 12th March 2018, called “Poetry and Politics in Iran: The Power of Verse”. It was led by

Read More

Gypsies in Europe: Free Movement or Forced Movement?

This February is the one-year anniversary of Irish Travellers gaining ethnic minority status in Ireland. Simultaneously, The Independent reported that gypsy people were the least tolerated minority in Europe. Respect for

Read More

What’s happening in Pakistan?

On Sunday night, the law minister of Pakistan, Zahid Hamid, was forced to resign after days of protests in the nation’s capital, Islamabad.  But how and why did this forced

Read More

Irish women continue to fight for their reproductive rights

Although the Republic of Ireland is a modern, western European country, with liberal values and an improving economy its female reproductive rights can be compared to those in countries such

Read More