What Military Lessons can be Drawn from the Spectacular Terrorist Attacks on the United States on 11 September 2001?
“Never despise your enemy, whoever he is. Try to find out about his weapons and means, how he uses them and fights. Research into his strengths and weaknesses” asserted Field Marshal Prince Alexander V. Suvorov in 1789. In executing the most spectacular terrorist attacks in history in September 11th 2001 this is certainly what al-Qaeda did. To respond, the United States military must recognise the unconventional nature of its new opponent and greatly broaden its conception of threats and the means to counter them.
The Shadows of Tiananmen: Chinese Foreign Policy and Human Rights
Since Tiananmen Square 1989, China’s understanding of the significant yet contingent power of human rights discourse has guided much of its foreign policy on the subject.
The Contrasting Sides of the Great Fire Wall
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.
Does Terrorism Pose a Real Threat to Security?
Terrorism has become the most prominent security issue of the early 21st century and the response of western states to its dangers has also been highly controversial. Terrorism has existed since 66AD with the sicarii in Palestine whose activities “would qualify them as terrorists”. There are also many types of security with traditional and new security having differing views on where the emphasis of security should lie and what security actually is
Explaining European Integration: The Merits and Shortcomings of Integration Theory
The different theories of regional integration have widely different views on regional integration in Europe and offer widely different explanations for it. This essay will deal with three of the main theories of regional integration: intergovernmental institutionalism, neo-functionalism and multi-level governance.
The Need for a New European Union Energy Policy
The European Union faces important energy security challenges and needs a comprehensive external energy policy which includes not only market-based but also geopolitical elements.
The Pot Boils Over: Egypt’s Ongoing Arab Spring
As the political factions wrangle for power, the future of the Egyptian Revolution relies on the army remaining aloof, choosing to keep the country at peace rather than seeking political power.
Discuss and Evaluate the Relationship between Poverty and Terrorism
Following the September 2001 attack on America’s ‘World Trade Centre’, the ‘causes of terrorism’ has been a subject of intense investigation and speculation. Despite the educated and generally wealthy backgrounds of the 9/11 hijackers, poverty has been cited by numerous world leaders and respected academics as a central and direct cause of terrorism in the twenty first century. However, recent studies have suggested that there is little or no direct causal link between poverty and insurgent terrorism.
Political Islam: A Threat to the Political Stability of Current Regimes in the Middle East?
Political Islamism has become mainstreamed to such an extent that no regime in the region can avoid engaging with it.
Is the US winning the ‘War on Drugs’ in Latin America?
The general consensus in the literature and the media is that the US is losing the ‘war on drugs’. Rates of consumption in the US have remained roughly the same over the last ten years and the drug trade remains a multi-billion dollar industry run by a complex international network.
