Essays

Lessons in Nation-Building: The American Reconstruction of Germany and Japan

Kieran Neeson • Oct 20 2008 • Essays

In this paper I will assess an important element of American foreign policy, that of nation building. I will focus on the American reconstruction of Germany and Japan in the aftermath of the Second World War and to evaluate their impact and successes and to ascertain whether those lessons on nation-building can be implemented today in Afghanistan.

Conceptualising Global Governance in International Relations

Victoria Lennox • Oct 3 2008 • Essays

The questions of how the concept of global governance can be used to describe the prevailing global order and what is the most appropriate way of formulating the concept of global governance challenge the limits of traditional IR theory to explain a world where the shape and importance of individual states is changing and the role of agents above and below the state is increasing.

Is Global Capitalism Eroding the State?

John Hardy • Sep 22 2008 • Essays

This article is a response to the pervasive rhetoric that globalisation, in particular the associated implication that capitalism is an expanding global force that is inextricably enmeshed within globalisation, has been and continues to erode the state.

An Analysis of the Difficulties Associated with Establishing State Responsibility for Human Rights Violations Occurring as a Result of Climate Change

Liz Jardine-Smith • Sep 18 2008 • Essays

Despite conclusive and significant scientific evidence to the contrary, there is still some considerable scepticism over the nature, causes and consequences of climate change. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and cyclones, as well as retreating glaciers and melting sea ice at the North and South poles, are all indicative of a warming world.

Was Communism Truly Politically Stagnant in the 1970s?

Vera Michlin • Sep 14 2008 • Essays

Communism in the 1970s was stagnant both as an ideology and as a form of government. This work will outline several factors which made the system stagnant. It is important to bear in mind that there was some progress at the policy level, but the analysis will show this did not translate into real progress because of problems ingrained in the system.

European Security & Defense as a Model for East Asia & Africa

Victoria Lennox • Sep 9 2008 • Essays

The European security regime cannot serve as a model for East Asia, as this region is conditioned by markedly different institutional, political, economic, and cultural factors that are manifest in strong preferences for informal, incremental and bilateral frameworks based upon the principles of non-interference, consensus-building, power-balancing and bandwagoning. Nevertheless, the OSCE pillar of the European security regime may be a more appropriate model for Africa.

After the Surge: Political Mobilisation and Statebuilding in Iraq since 2007

Matt Malone • Sep 5 2008 • Essays

Analysing the record of the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq since 2003 has often been an exercise in reconciling seemingly contradictory interpretations and dynamics. The key point on which such interpretations implicitly or explicitly diverge is on the role of the state in Iraqi history, particularly its strength and weakness in the exercise of political authority.

A Comparative Review of the Opportunities, Agendas and Performances of Mikhail Gorbachev (1985-1991) and Vladimir Putin (1999-)

Justa Hopma • Sep 3 2008 • Essays

The aim of this piece is not to provide a conclusive assessment, but to consider different aspects of Gorbachev and Putin’s leadership. In examining leader-type and surveying conditions, light is shed upon the significance of these individuals and upon the different purposes of leadership during their premierships.

Canada-US Cross Border Regions: Engines of Integration at an Impasse – The Case of Cascadia

Victoria Lennox • Sep 2 2008 • Essays

Informed by the global governance perspective, this essay explores the internal, interrelational and ideational dimensions and forces shaping the Cascadia cross-border region (CBR) to provide useful insights into the nature, implications and future prospects of Canada-United States (US) CBRs.

How does a Regional Perspective Affect the Analysis of Democratization and Economic Reform in Putin’s Second Term?

Vera Michlin • Sep 2 2008 • Essays

This work will assess whether the regional perspective has anything new to offer for the understanding of democratisation and economic reform in the Russian Federation.

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