Category: International Theory
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Are Security Issues Most Effectively Addressed by a Neo-Realist IR Approach?
Neo-realist theory has long been at the centre of the debate about security within International Relations. From its origins in Machiavelli and Hobbes, to Morgenthau and classical realism, neo-realism continues to be popular within the discipline, with thinkers such as Waltz and Mearsheimer offering seminal texts that discuss security from a neo-realist perspective.
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Global Human Rights Norms and the Retention of Capital Punishment
In the past 25 years 67 states have abolished capital punishment for all crimes, 5 have abolished it for ordinary crimes, and a further 35 states have become de facto abolitionists. This trend is curious because abolition has met with significant domestic resistance in a number of abolitionist states; in many the majority were against…
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Gender Equality in Australia
Historically, Australia’s social structure contributed to significant differences in opportunity and outcome between the genders, resulting in prejudice and discrimination against more women than men over time. Whilst there are far fewer examples of overt gender-based discrimination in Australia, the progress towards true substantive gender equality has clearly stalled.
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Who is to blame for the perceived crisis in democracy? Politicians, the media or the public?
Blame can be placed on citizens, politicians and the media for not adequately fulfilling their democratic role. However, each relies on each other in such a way that makes a healthy democracy impossible if one does not function adequately. Put differently: citizens, politicians and the media are to blame for the crisis in democracy.
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How has globalisation changed the international system?
Globalisation has become a major topic in the study of International Relations. Almost all aspects of the modern day society have been influenced by it in some way. Problems do not arise isolated any more and thus the solutions for these now have to be found in collective action rather than individual responses.
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To What Extent Do We ‘Occupy a World of Our Own Making’?
This essay will critically assess the normative and empirical elements of society, primarily on the international level, which lend themselves to the constructivist brand of theory, focusing largely on the impact of the socio-historical and socio-cultural on state behaviour. It will also address the importance placed on power by Realists and others holding the classical…
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‘Globalization’ and economic development: why Geography still matters
Interrogating the concept of globalization and examining the differentiated materialities which have both facilitated its development and continue to shape its future direction shows quite clearly that new and complex social relations have arisen which are not easily mappable onto existing territories.
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Can nationalism be understood as a cause of ethnic conflict?
What is it that makes divisions along ethnic lines salient to forms of opposition that can degenerate into levels of violence as extreme as genocide? What made the peaceful multi-ethnic neighborhoods of Sarajevo turn into battlefields? The short answer is the politicization of ethnicity and ethnic diversity.