Is ‘Europeanization’ a Useful Concept?
This essay will argue that the existence of a number of ‘Europeanizations’ is imperative in understanding specific instances of change and integration between EU and member states that differs ‘from policy sector to policy sector’. Furthermore, the sum of these theories amounts to a detailed understanding of how the different causes of Europeanization merge and result in a more unified European Union.
What are the main functions of the World Health Organization?
It is now possible for infectious diseases to spread around the globe in a matter of days. The threat of infectious disease brings with it a number of traditional, hard security issues that other health issues do not. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that IR scholars will need to expand their examination of the ways in which the World Health Organization functions beyond the realm of infectious disease
Ethnicity, Identity and the 2007-2008 Electoral Violence in Kenya
Violence surrounding the recent election in Kenya has gained high-profile media coverage in Europe and North America. In this context, the dynamics of nationalism and ethnicity in Africa—and popular understandings of the role of ‘identity’—represents a pertinent subject for critical analysis.
Expected Trends in the New Zealand-China Dairy Trade
The New Zealand-China dairy trade does not pose a significant threat to the Chinese economy and it seems unlikely that China has any desire to limit dairy trade with New Zealand in the near future.
NGOs and the Retreat of the State?
This essay contends that states will continue to hold the upper hand over NGOs because the international system remains the preserve of nation-states, and nation-states remain the most adequate guarantor of human security. To be sure, the 1990s alliance between NGOs and international institutions ‘was never more than a minor affair with a minor mistress.’ When stakes are high, ultimate power in the international system resides with states.
Inadvertent War: Rare, yet Real
Inadvertent wars, although rare, can be identified in history, and their causes can be explained by analysing prescribed crisis management techniques and the realist security dilemma.
Gender-Based Violence in South Africa: A Crisis of Masculinity?
The ‘crisis of masculinity’ thesis focuses solely on changing gender relations in post-apartheid South Africa, and is inadequate for explaining the high level of gender-based violence.
Can ‘Just Giving Money to the Poor’ Reduce Poverty?
Whilst giving money to the poor is necessary to alleviate certain aspects of poverty, this social protection method in itself is not sufficient to reduce the multifarious aspects of poverty.
Anarchy and War: A Critique of Waltz’s Third Image
Claiming that wars occur because there is nothing to prevent them is like saying that a sick man died because he did not take any medication—and not because of his illness.
Ballistic Missile Defence and 21st Century Stability in International Relations
This essay determines the effect of National Missile Defence (NMD) is primarily destabilising. However this has to be put in the wider context of relations between the US, China and Russia – for the destabilising effect of NMD is very much characterised by how it is used and what kind of policy it is a part of.
