Ulster’s Political Hauntology and the Forces Research Unit
The emerging academic sub-discipline of political hauntology explores how the past, especially lost or failed futures, can haunt the present.
Opinion – Israel’s Recognition of Somaliland
Israel’s move to spearhead the re-recognition of Somaliland is a watershed moment that marks a potential point of no return in Somaliland’s quest for de jure sovereignty.
Rethinking the ‘Illiberal International’: Power, Fragmentation, and Institutions
Institutional contestation is less a marker of illiberal capacity and more an indication of liberal ambivalence.
The Far-Right and the Construction of the Red Enemy in Latin America
Discursive construction in the region centres on identifying left-leaning politics as the primary opponent, rather than the managerial global elites.
Opinion – How Latin America Can Navigate the US-China Trade War
While the longstanding effects of the Trump era trade war affect everyone, Latin American countries are vulnerable but not defenseless.
Elections as Spectacle: Myanmar’s Manufactured Legitimacy
The 2025 election is another chapter in a long-running performance designed to mask the persistence of military domination in Myanmar.
The Desert of Dune to the University Classroom: Pop-culture and Political Theory
Bringing together researchers and students to watch a pop culture artefact and discuss its implications for IR is a very accessible way to enter into expert conversations.
Opinion – The Mearsheimer Logic Underlying Trump’s National Security Strategy
Trump’s 2025 National Security Strategy has adopted Mearsheimer’s aims for US to achieve predominance in the West and prevent great powers to dominate other regions.
Opinion – Okinawa’s Struggle with Ongoing US Military Presence
National sentiment in Japan can diverge sharply over military instalments, and local resistance remains a source of uncertainty for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s plans.
Opinion – Evidence that Georgia Deployed WW1-Era Chemicals against Demonstrators
Weapons experts consulted by the BBC suggested that an obsolete, more potent agent like camite was used, alongside CS-gas, in Tbilisi.
