Realism and Constructivism as Compatible Epistemologies
Though commonly conceptualised as opposing poles within the international relations discourse, there is no reason why constructivism and realism could not reach converging deductions.
Use and Abuse of Human Rights Discourse
Politicising human rights reduces their potential to act as a standard against which regimes can be measured and affects power in the international sphere. The War on Terror is an example of this trend.
Sanctions Against Iraq: A Utilitarian Justification
A utilitarian calculus shows that if Iraq‘s nuclear programme had even a five per cent chance of starting a regional nuclear war, the actual harm imposed upon Iraq by sanctions can be justified.
Has Russia Become a Destablising Force in the World Today?
Modern Russia is a status quo power, only acting in response to NATO and US-backed actions without intent to enlarge its territorial or military influence beyond its own region.
Assessing al-Qaeda from the Teachings of Ibn Taymiyya
This essay assesses the validity of the 9/11 Commission’s assertion that the teachings of Ibn Taymiyya, the 13th century Hanbali theologian, influenced al-Qaeda.
The Securitisation of Ethnicity in Serbia (1987-1991)
Securitising moves and speech acts performed by Slobodan Milosevic paralleled his successful attempts at securing and increasing his political power in Yugoslavia.
The Concept of “State Failure” and Contemporary Security and Development Challenges
Though ‘failed states’ continue to pose significant transnational security problems, the emergence of informal actors challenges the assumption of a complete absence of governance.
The Implications of Citizen-Surveillance
From the risks of racial profiling to the ambiguity of ‘suspicious’ behaviour, citizen-surveillance campaigns have serious implications for the security of individual citizens.
Iran’s Rational Response For Nuclear Capability
With Israel not a member of the NPT, coupled with being labeled the greatest threat to the US, Iran is making a rational move in seeking nuclear capability to deter abroad threats.
Iranian-Israeli Nuclear Relations: A ‘New’ Cold War?
Could the Iranian acquisition of nuclear weapons spark an arms race in the Middle East? The Waltzian theory of Cold War nuclear relations shows that claims for a ‘new’ Cold War are insufficient.
