US Intervention in the “Arab Spring”
US intervention in the Arab world is still predicated on the same foundations that determined the courses of US foreign policy during the Cold War. With the Arab Spring, US intervention is likely to continue and expand.
Situating Religion in International Relations Theory
IR theorists face the challenge of situating religion in their explanations of global events, but, as Sandal argues, this does not necessarily require the abandoning of existing theories.
The Conviction of Pussy Riot: Part of a Larger Pattern
The conviction of three members of Pussy Riot is only the most visible manifestation of new developments in Russia. Putin wants to use the scrim of Russia’s legal system to show how completely he has eclipsed it.
The Controversies and Complexities of the Russian Federation Joining the WTO
The story of the Russian Federation joining the WTO works two ways; in terms of exports and imports. The shift from economic nationalism to market liberalism comes with controversies and complexities.
Can Peace-Building be an Act of Violence?
If the international community wishes to minimize the (inadvertent) harms of its actions, then it is necessary to give more attention to violence that may be embedded in strategies used to create peace.
The Unasur-Mercosur Project, the European Crisis, and the Pacific Consensus
The South American integration processes, Unasur and Mercosur, are most directly affected by the geopolitical and geoeconomic transformations involving China’s rise, with a crucial role for Brazil as a new emerging country in this complex scenario.
How Can Islam Help Us Tackle Climate Change?
Rather than lagging behind in awareness and action around climate change, Islamic nations should be leading the way by taking their Islamic duties to the environment more seriously.
Twin Gods, Twin Fears: Religion and Politics
Modern democracies have many lessons to learn from history about how religion can be treacherous. But the temptation to ban traditional religion from democratic politics will not ultimately serve democratic purposes.
The Limits of International Relations Theory: A Postcolonial Critique
IR, as the discipline which makes the international its object of enquiry is, for the most part, an obstacle to a recognition and exploration of this, rather than a guide to it.
Is IR a Force for Good in the World Today?
The average person knows little or nothing about IR’s issues. This lack of relevance suggests that the discipline should be more self-critical. The next stage in IR’s development should not be theoretical – but attitudinal.
