The Role Played by ‘spoilers’ in Peace Processes
Peace processes are very often lengthy and difficult, many cease-fires negotiated to end civil wars often result in a return to violence, sometimes worse than before. This essay will examine the role of those actors who ‘actively seek to hinder, delay, or undermine conflict settlement’ for a range of reasons and through a variety of methods.
A Child’s Search for Freedom in 21st Century America
In the twenty-first century, slavery still exists in the world despite the widely accepted norm of respect for human rights. Why have some states within the United States been more successful in combatting child trafficking than others?
How can the Theories of Derrida Unbalance the Stable Subject Assumed by Neo-Liberalism?
Within the discourse on development, there has been a fundamental intransigence of neo-liberal principles and attitudes to development. At the heart of this discourse, is a fundamental judgement about the ‘truth’ of human nature. Humans are innately stable, pre-determined entities that generally behave as autonomous, egoistic, utility maximisers. Thus with this ontological question answered the building of structures, be they financial or ones of governance, should be based upon allowing the subject to flourish within this system. At the heart of this is the emphasis of ‘le Politique’, the smooth economic running of things, over ‘la Politique’, the more philosophical debate about how we consider the ontological make-up of people, and if we can even do this.
Is Coercive Diplomacy a Viable Means to Achieve Political Objectives?
Coercive diplomacy is one of the most intriguing and common practices of conducting inter-state relations and embodies the essence of the art of diplomacy: achieving political objectives and fostering a state’s national interest without waging a war. The present essay will first offer a theoretical framework on the notion of coercive diplomacy.
Hidden Victims: The story of sexual violence against men in armed conflict
Sexual violence is arguably one of the worst types of violence, targeting a person’s identity, as well as the identity of his or her group. The psychological consequences often far outlive those of other forms of violence. Progress has been made to address wartime sexual violence against women, yet men remain an under-recognised and under-reported category of victims.
The Importance of Development in Societies Emerging From Conflict
In post-conflict environments, the peace achieved is often unstable, facing a wide range of risks which can force a return to violence. The immediate post-conflict stage can be a negative peace, in which whilst overt physical violence may have ended, other political, social, economic and cultural factors that adversely affect human opportunities and quality of life may persist.
Decolonizing Counter-terrorism: Opportunities Within Transnational Governance
This essay explores how aspects of transnational governance have contributed to decolonizing counter-terrorism while tackling the underlying drivers of violent extremism.
Open Your Eyes: Globalization and the Politics of Attention
Attention, action, and mobilization are needed for citizens to be more responsive to global injustices and thus responsible for a more inclusive world.
Veiled Colonialism: A Feminist Criticism of the Half the Sky Movement
By exercising both the Western colonialist stance and discursive colonialism, “Half the Sky” acts as a roadblock for the very women it supports.
The Deployment of Female Counterinsurgents in Afghanistan
Whilst the deployment of female engagement teams in Afghanistan may have signaled a symbolic change in how COIN is practiced, their existence plays only a supporting role.
