21st Century Threats: Non State Actors, Participatory Democracy and Social Rights
The Americas are menaced by the emergence of a reactionary bloc of states & the rise of non-state actors that threaten to plunge the region into chaos.
Boko Haram and the Threat to the Secular Nigerian State
Boko Haram has morphed from a local radical Muslim group to one that is more broadly Nigeria-focused. Its goals cannot be reconciled with the existence of the secular Nigerian state.
Qatar: Emergence of a Regional Power with International Reach
The highly visible role played by Qatar in spearheading the destruction of the Gaddafi regime in Libya has focused world attention onto this tiny Persian Gulf emirate.
The ICTY and the Challenges of Reconciliation in the Former Yugoslavia
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has issued 161 indictments since its establishment in 1993. But has it had a positive impact on peace and reconciliation?
Downgrading Iranian-British Relations: The Anatomy of a Folly
Iran trudged into 2012 under unsettling circumstances. Severe international sanctions have already been taking their toll on its economy while a combination of sabotage activities, targeted killings, and other covert operations against Iranian military initiatives and figures are bedeviling its national security.
Ma Victory Signals (Cautious) Continuity in Taiwan
Taiwan’s incumbent Nationalist Party (KMT) president, Mr. Ma Ing-jeou, emerged from the January 14 polls victorious with 51.6% of the popular vote in a peaceful, competitive election. But what does it mean?
Climate Change, Environmental Security Studies and the Morality of Climate Security
In popular and political debate climate change is increasingly referred to as a security issue. But thus far climate change does not constitute an objective existential threat, and as such, a securitization of climate change – at least here in the West – is morally unjustifiable.
Men and Women’s Support For War: Accounting for the gender gap in public opinion
Both at the outset and during the course of recent military operations, commercial polling companies and academic surveys have endeavoured to record public attitudes towards conflicts. The data reveals a significant ‘gender gap’ in public opinion.
U.S. Legislation Could Shut Down the Internet
Hopefully, Congress will come to its senses and PIPA and SOPA will be defeated. If not, President Obama should announce his intentions to veto both, and the White House should announce a plan to tackle the very real issues of online piracy and intellectual property theft.
Mugabe: How Much Longer?
Mugabe’s regime is hardly on its last legs and is not threatened beyond key points. He is strong enough to intimidate the most senior of his ambitious colleagues and there are many who trace the death in 2011 of Solomon Mujuru to his door.
