The Validity of a Postcolonial Account of World Politics
A Purist’s perspective is necessary in negating the worst excesses of Idealism, as is the latter necessary in doing so for the former. Such paradigmatic vibrancy can only be a good thing for Postcolonialism and the self-critical arena that this has created means that the approach will go from strength to strength in its project of postcolonialising the dominant mode of Orientalism.
The Balance of Power: a Cause of War, a Condition of Peace, or Both?
The theory of the balance of power, where the distribution of power is equally shared amongst the appropriate entities, is a concept crucial to the study of International Relations and of war. When studied in relation to the 19th century, we can see that it is a major part of both contemporary and modern literature, thinking and politics
The European Union: Power and Ethical Goals
The particular theory of “Ethical Power Europe” is one that has emerged relatively recently as an evolution of the characterisation of the power that the EU wields. The EU is finding it hugely difficult to act in a truly ethical foundation, devoid of self-interest as a primary motivator. Even the consistent location of the External Relations policy of the EU in a framework of Security suggests that the security of the EU that is the primary motivating factor rather than ethical goals
The status of women as a key indicator of modernity in Muslim society
Using women’s status as an indicator for the level of modernity achieved in non Western Muslim societies can set up a vicious circle that reinforces an orientalist bias. Such an evaluation is often affected by a belief that secular-liberal regimes hold a more favourable stance towards women. In addition, some Western feminist scholars have developed an approach that exasperates this dynamic
Creating Balance in Reconstruction States
A successful transition from post-conflict society to developing state requires balancing punitive justice with the need for the conflicting parties to reconcile their differences.
The Differences Between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda
The mainstream media and the Bush Administration blended the Taliban and Al-Qaeda together making the two groups the same terrorist entity in the eyes of the American public.
The Role of Violence During Indonesia’s Political Transition
The beginning of the 1990’s marked the start of a transition in the realm of Indonesian politics, as the population began to show their frustration towards Suharto’s authoritarian regime.
All That Works Is Obsolete: The Shortcomings of US COIN That Must Be Addressed
The western way of war, in which conflict is politics/policy by other means, need not be the only lens through which the military understands problems, even if it remains the only lens through which it operates. Insurgencies are not fought simply for political reasons but also for intractable social and cultural reasons, and this lesson must be further examined and understood.
The Sky is Not the Limit: The Billionaires’ Space Race Read Through Buen Vivir
The billionaire’s space race is critiqued as being exclusionary and individualistic (resulting from Western subjectivities) with the ethical framework of Buen Vivir.
Do Advances in Synthetic Biology have the Potential to Transform the Future of Warfare?
The social, political, and operational environment within which advances in synthetic biology exist are crucial in shaping its potential impact on warfare.
