What Challenges Face Attempts to Alleviate Social Suffering within Israel/Palestine?
This essay first briefly explains the significance of ‘structural violence’ in Israeli society, before going on to critically examine dominant conceptions of ‘suffering’ in the Israeli context, arguing that the pragmatic and rationalist bias of this notion itself constitutes one major hindrance to ‘healing’. Finally, I consider the role of silence and memory in perpetuating suffering in Israel, looking specifically at the two imbricated elements of Holocaust memorialisation and the construction of the Other, arguing for a more processual rather than essentialist conception of suffering, community, healing and memory.
Self Censorship and the Danish Cartoons Controversy
Self-censorship plays an integral role in the maintenance of freedom of expression since responsible use of that right prevents calls for its revocation.
The Counterproductivity of US Covert Action During The Cold War
The long term consequences of covert action during the Cold War and the legacy left from ethically dubious plans have cost the US more than they gained.
Towards Presidentialism in Australia?
Australia has undergone a wide range of changes, impacting on the traditional role and image of its politics.
The American Fall
The latest Global Financial Crisis that occurred in August 2007 in the United States is seen as one of the most devastating financial crises since the implementation of Neo-liberal economic policies.
Is there a Primary Cause to War?
This response to the proposition shall focus upon four broad areas within the causes of war. Firstly, it will be necessary to speak of necessary causes of war, as these feature heavily in the literature on war causation. The discussion will then move on to questioning whether or not it is simply human nature that yearns to constantly fight aggressive wars. Then it shall be necessary to address those permissive cause of war which is a notable feature of the world in which we live, before finally outlining the different forms of misperception that are often a crucial instigator for war.
How can the media be successfully used for peacebuilding?
Access to information is a vital building block for lasting peace, yet media interventions are not a ‘quick fix’. While they may not be able to solve conflicts, there is certainly an important role for them in spurring debate, reconciling communities and changing behaviour towards peacebuilding.
Typologies of Islamic Thought
Islamic thought defies straight forward typological organisation. Nevertheless, efforts to do so have become an important part of Islamic studies and serve as a key point of reference for any student wishing to understand how writers organise the faith, culture and identity of Islam.
Who is to blame for the perceived crisis in democracy? Politicians, the media or the public?
Blame can be placed on citizens, politicians and the media for not adequately fulfilling their democratic role. However, each relies on each other in such a way that makes a healthy democracy impossible if one does not function adequately. Put differently: citizens, politicians and the media are to blame for the crisis in democracy.
Amorality and Justice in Machiavelli’s Political Thought
Machiavelli’s political thought, transcends the levels of good and evil, and yet also embraces the notion of just political rule. In that sense, Machiavelli is indeed an amoral political thinker, though not on the basis of his expounding evil, but of his conception of the proper relationship between virtù, fortuna, and political statecraft.
