International Security

Iran: What is the Nuclear Crisis?

Caren Navas • Aug 5 2011 • Essays

The notion of popular sovereignty stands in contrast with Iran’s religious lineage. This dichotomy makes it difficult for the state to materialize its diplomatic goals, which only isolates it from the international system, fueling the need to expand its nuclear program in an effort to ensure national security. It is virtually impossible for Iran to forge successful international relations when it suffers from the national clashing principles of Islamic rule and popular sovereignty.

Sovereign States & State Terrorism

Neil Braysher • Aug 3 2011 • Essays

The German sociologist Max Weber claimed “the state is the form of human community that (successfully) lays claim to the monopoly on legitimate physical violence.” This is essentially a statement about state sovereignty. This essay suggests that while only the most extreme and systemic examples of a state abusing its power could properly be called state terrorism, the concept is not a contradiction in terms when derived from dominant conceptions of sovereignty.

Realism, Military Power, and the Conflict Between Israel and Hamas

Tom Thornley • Aug 2 2011 • Essays

The Realist emphasis on military strength does not conclusively explain world politics. For a school of thought focusing on power, Realism misunderstands what it means to ‘have power’. The failure of Israel to gain security demonstrates the contextual and contingent nature of power, and how military capacity is not the means to all ends.

Democratisation and the decline of political violence in Northern Ireland and the Spanish Basque Country

Roberto Robles Fumarola • Aug 1 2011 • Essays

This dissertation attempts to determine the impact of democratisation in helping undermine terrorism, by reaching a democratic compromise between all parties (as in Northern Ireland), or by delegitimising terrorist groups’ goals and means in the eyes of their audience (as in the Basque Country).

How has Russia framed the conflict in Chechnya as part of the ‘War on Terror’?

Steven Hawkes • Jul 30 2011 • Essays

The contrast between the nationalistic sentiment of self-determination emphasised in the First Chechen War and the rhetorical transition towards radical Islam in the Second Chechen War has been highlighted by many as evidence of the significance of the Chechen conflict in the global ‘War on Terror’. This essay will examine how Russia has managed to illustrate the Chechen conflict in terms of a global fight against international Islamic terrorism.

Global Cooperation and Domestic Legislation to Save the Earth

Camille Eva Marie T. Conde • Jul 29 2011 • Essays

The deterioration of our environment can lead to horrific and irreversible consequences. What makes this area far more complex is that it requires a worldwide effort. It is not enough for only the main subjects of international law to address this concern, but participation from all levels of society, from the government to the individual and to multinational corporations, is also vital.

The Role of Intelligence in the 2003 Invasion of Iraq

Daniel Sutherland • Jul 27 2011 • Essays

This essay examines the events leading up to the Iraq War in 2003, including the evidence from the intelligence community which was presented to the international community as justification to begin military action in Iraq, as well as numerous documents and publications during the Iraq War which highlight the importance of intelligence, particularly in shaping the decision to go to war.

How Appealing are CBRN Weapons to Terrorist Groups?

James Robertson • Jul 26 2011 • Essays

Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) terrorism is often portrayed as one of the greatest threats facing the world. But to the rational terrorist, acting with concern to the strategic considerations of external support, possible retaliation and mass-casualty outcomes, CBRN weapons are of limited appeal.

What is the terrorist threat in cyber-space?

Ross Hall • Jul 26 2011 • Essays

The typical approaches to warfare, force, offence, defence and deterrence, do not necessarily cross over into cyber conflicts, be they for cyber warfare or countering cyber-terrorism. The world of network interactions changes the rules of the game, where the attackers can more easily remain anonymous, and the targets can be anything that is on an open network.

Is Israel’s policy of targeted killing synonymous with assassination? Can it be legally or morally justified?

Frances Deft • Jul 25 2011 • Essays

Israel is often criticized for its policy of targeted killing, which has escalated following the breakdown of Israeli-Palestinian communications of October 2000. Although Israel defends this policy, claiming that it can be both legally and morally justified, it has failed to provide an adequate definition.

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