International Security and “Failed States”: A Cause for Concern?
Failed states signal that the Westphalian model lacks empirical support and is a simple political construction that deserves greater theoretical scrutiny.
Security-Insecurity
The Incompatibility of COIN Warfare and Nation-Building in Iraq and Afghanistan
The disjuncture between kinetic elements of American COIN doctrine and the nation-building mission inherent to ‘new’ conflicts lies at the root of ongoing difficulties.
Drawing Links Between Food Security and Land Rights in an Era of Globalization
With an increasing world population and changing weather patterns, governments must rapidly address concerns regarding international policy on food security.
Coalition ‘Victory’ in Iraq as a Result of the ‘Surge’ and ‘Anbar Awakening’
The synergistic interaction between the ‘Anbar Awakening’ of 2006 and the surge of 2007 paved the way for U.S. withdrawal at the expense of a long term, stable, Iraq.
The Just War Tradition and Utopian Political Thought
War is neither humane nor inhumane; it is merely human, and to elevate the phenomenon to a humane altitude is a utopian project beyond mankind’s present reach.
A Critical Evaluation of the Concept of Human Security
Critics of human security argue that its adoption has done little to change the behaviour of states or alleviate pressures of everyday life of the most vulnerable.
Recontextualising the ‘War on Terror’: Discursive Practices from Bush to Obama
The strategies employed by the Bush administration after 9/11 to manufacture public consent for action have since been recontextualised towards Iran by Barack Obama.
Comparing Third-Party Management of Peace Spoilers in Liberia and Sierra Leone
The way third parties manage spoilers during peace processes plays an important role in explaining why some peace agreements are successful and why others fail.
Is the Current Political Turmoil of the ‘Information Age’ Revolutionary?
The ‘Information Age’ has brought undeniable and unprecedented changes to the ways insurgencies and social movements organize themselves.
Explaining the Case for Invading Iraq from a Neo-conservative Perspective
The Bush administration’s invasion of Iraq was a story of neo-conservative ideas (militarism, morality, and democracy) about the role of America in the world.
Will Japan Become a Nuclear Weapons Power?
Japan’s non-nuclear policy appears to be a pragmatic realisation of numerous domestic factors, perceptions of regional security, and faith in the US alliance.
Fuel to the Fire: Why a Nuclear Iran Will Further Destabilize the Middle East
Four grave risks for regional stability lurk in the wake of a nuclear Iran: regional proliferation, an ‘imbalance of terror’, an emboldened Iran, and Israel’s response.
