Archive for 2010

The Contrasting Sides of the Great Fire Wall

James Rogers • Dec 15 2010 • Essays

It is clear to see that from a historical cultural point of view that the two nations were built on very different ideological manifestations; liberal capitalism for Hong Kong and authoritarian communism for China. From these differing ideologies come different viewpoints and in turn, differing laws, which further lay the foundations for the differences the two states have.

Why did Britain join the war against Germany?

John Higgins • Dec 14 2010 • Essays

Many in the British public believe that the First World War was fought over nothing but trivial issues amongst a tiny elite. But the idea that Britain went to war for no reason is without charge; Britain went to war to preserve its national interests that were threatened to such an extent that it faced no other realistic opportunity but to engage in war.

Human Security and the Plight of Europe’s Roma Population

Brian Stern • Dec 14 2010 • Essays

Given the severity of the discrimination and prejudice suffered by Europe’s Roma minority, defining government’s role was key to further understanding the challenges faced by Roma and how they live in a perpetual state of crisis as relates to human security. The question of Roma is a thorn in the eye of Europe, not only for Roma but for a region that cannot afford such human insecurity amongst its population

George W. Bush: DECISION POINTS

Harvey M. Sapolsky • Dec 12 2010 • Articles

Hauntingly, it seems that the Bush years will never go away. Combined, the wars have already cost a trillion dollars and both meters continue to run. Bush created new entitlements at home and abroad, and then cut the taxes needed to support them. On his watch the economy went into a lingering, deep recession and the government’s budget shifted from substantial surpluses to deficits that soar beyond likely redemption

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions: A Conflict of Interest?

James Rogers • Dec 10 2010 • Essays

The All-China Federation of Trade Unions’ first and second allegiances are to the government and the employer respectively, as it is in these organisations that the power and funding is to be found. Employees in the future will likely find ways in which to find greater representation, either through alternative foreign trade unions, or through employee formed trade unions, as has already been seen in Shanghai.

Disinterest and Frivolity: Assessing Luttwak’s ‘Give War a Chance’

Will Plowright • Dec 10 2010 • Essays

The ‘give war a chance’ argument is one which argues against disinterested and frivolous motives. Whereas most would likely agree that disinterested interventions are undesirable, Luttwak’s extension of this to include all interventions is inappropriate. The key assumptions of his argument simply do not stand up to logical analysis

Has the Northern Ireland question been resolved?

Claire Graham • Dec 10 2010 • Essays

The ethno-national, colonial and paramilitary conflicts of the extremists within Northern Ireland are the key issues for development and the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Until their full decommissioning on both sides of the divide, Northern Irish politics struggles to find resolution, in spite of the framework of power-sharing being in place.

Wikileaks and climate diplomacy

Rodger A Payne • Dec 9 2010 • Articles

The Guardian website has a portal that allows users to search the Wikileaks database for particular US embassy cables regarding issue areas or specific countries. A search for “climate change” turns up 14 cables — and 4 recent Guardian stories about those particular cables.

The Emissions Trading Scheme: EU Leadership, Problems and Decision-Making

Fiona Smith • Dec 9 2010 • Essays

It is now widely recognised that climate change is affecting the earth’s atmosphere and that governments must act quickly and efficiently in order to halt this. The EU Emissions Trading Scheme has been held up as the centrepiece of EU legislation, allowing the EU to perform a leadership role globally by initiating the world’s largest multi-country, multi-sector greenhouse gas emissions trading scheme ever seen.

The Failure of British Multiculturalism and the Virtue of Reciprocity

Afshin Shahi • Dec 9 2010 • Articles

The existing perception and enforcement of multiculturalism is hindering social integration in Britain. The slow process of social integration, which is caused by some multicultural policies, is intensifying the fragmentation of British society, thereby jeopardising the future of diversity in Britain. Multiculturalism promised to bring social inclusion, but has failed and is becoming a justification for exclusion

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