International Organizations
- -What role do humanitarian organizations play in crises such as those in Ukraine and the Middle East?- - How does policing work at an international level? - - Why has the US only ratified three of the seven major human rights treaties?- -Who guides the international response to climate change, and is it working? This new textbook introduces readers to the nature, structure and purpose of international organizations (IOs). Taking a broad, issues-based approach, the book goes beyond a conventional focus on topics like security and finance to cover global health, migration, food security, and technology. In addition to providing cases of the best-known intergovernmental organizations such as the UN and the World Trade Organization, this text gives space to a wide variety of other bodies, including international non-governmental organizations, non-state actors and multinational enterprises. It looks at the motivations behind regional cooperation with case studies of the European Union and the African Union, and at human rights with reference to bodies as diverse as the International Criminal Court and Amnesty International.Assuming no prior knowledge of the subject, International Organizations uses a range of pedagogical tools and visual features to guide understanding. These include: graphs to illustrate key trends; regional and world maps to illustrate wealth, democracy and development; tables of major international treaties and organizations; chapter previews; and lists of key terms and organizations. The text also makes use of IOs in Theory, IOs in Action and Spotlight boxes to answer focused questions and provide more detail on how IOs operate in different parts of the world. This contemporary survey is an essential text for those studying global governance and international organizations.
The Syrian Conflict in the News
The Syrian conflict constitutes one of the most covered events in this century. Although the coverage of the Syrian uprising and civil war alternated between periods of saturation and silence, it is indisputable that they received an enormous amount of media attention. The Syrian Conflict in the News analyses the coverage of the Syrian conflict in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal, focusing on how the three newspapers framed six key events in Syria from March 2011 to April 2018, including the Ghouta chemical attack, the Russian intervention in Syria and US-led airstrikes. Gabriel Huland argues that US foreign policy dominates the frames of the conflict, which suggests that mainstream newspapers are excessively indexed to elite narratives. In the United States, the Syrian crisis prompted an intense debate about the appropriate degree of US involvement in the civil war and how the country should behave in the face of growing Russian and Iranian influence in the Middle East. The overreliance on elite narratives resulted in the underrepresentation of local voices and other players who were in a more advantaged position to devise solutions to the conflict. By analysing the frames of the Syrian uprising and civil war in three mainstream newspapers and the relationship between media and international conflicts, The Syrian Conflict in the News sheds light on crucial aspects of the crisis currently pervading US journalism.
Regional Politics in Oceania
Stephanie Lawson's book is by far the most comprehensive study of regional politics in Oceania produced to date. Drawing on a range of interdisciplinary sources, she provides a systematic account of major issues facing the region and presents conceptual and theoretical issues in a sophisticated but accessible manner. She traces the trajectories of regional politics from the earliest human settlements to European exploration and colonization, the period of formal regionalization in the post-war period, decolonization, the Cold War, and key geopolitical developments in the post-Cold War period. She also focuses on identity politics, manifest at various levels from the local through to the national, subregional and regional, as well as broader configurations around the West/non-West divide. This book will be of interest to anyone engaged with the history and politics of Oceania or comparative regional studies, especially given the relevance of themes to Asian, African and Latin American contexts.
The Duty to Secure
States have social contractual duties to provide security for their people, but just what measures are morally required? Should states be obligated to address real/objective existential threats via securitization (i.e., threat-specific, often liberty defying, rigorously enforced and sometimes forcible emergency measures)? Do non-state actors or international organizations also have a moral duty to securitize and, if so, why, when, and to whom? Would such duties pertain only to populations of one's own state or also to people in other states? 'The Duty to Secure' offers answers to these and other questions, setting out a rigorous theory of morally mandatory securitization that examines the duties of actors at all levels of analysis. Morally mandatory securitization has practical implications, including for NATO's Article 5 and the responsibility to protect norm, both of which currently take account of only a narrow range of threats.
The Duty to Secure
States have social contractual duties to provide security for their people, but just what measures are morally required? Should states be obligated to address real/objective existential threats via securitization (i.e., threat-specific, often liberty defying, rigorously enforced and sometimes forcible emergency measures)? Do non-state actors or international organizations also have a moral duty to securitize and, if so, why, when, and to whom? Would such duties pertain only to populations of one's own state or also to people in other states? 'The Duty to Secure' offers answers to these and other questions, setting out a rigorous theory of morally mandatory securitization that examines the duties of actors at all levels of analysis. Morally mandatory securitization has practical implications, including for NATO's Article 5 and the responsibility to protect norm, both of which currently take account of only a narrow range of threats.
Australia and China
In the early 2020s, there has been a notable shift in the fundamental framework governing the relationship between Australia and China, with geopolitical considerations taking precedence over economic interests. Canberra has implemented a series of new measures in response to perceived risks in Australia's economic ties with China, the Chinese Communist Party's attempts to wield political influence in Australia, the expanding capabilities and presence of the People's Liberation Army, and Beijing's economic and diplomatic advancements in Southeast Asia and the Southwest Pacific. China's approach towards Australia has become more coercive, encompassing both economic and diplomatic dimensions. Despite this, Australia has successfully weathered Beijing's punitive trade measures without experiencing significant economic repercussions. China's increasingly assertive regional stance has prompted substantial adjustments to Australia's defence and alliance policies, involving new acquisitions of capabilities and strategic initiatives. Authored by expert in international relations and diplomacy, this book offers a nuanced exploration of the multifaceted connection between Australia and China, highlighting the complexities that arise from a blend of economic interdependence, geopolitical considerations, and cultural differences.
Regional Politics in Oceania
Stephanie Lawson's book is by far the most comprehensive study of regional politics in Oceania produced to date. Drawing on a range of interdisciplinary sources, she provides a systematic account of major issues facing the region and presents conceptual and theoretical issues in a sophisticated but accessible manner. She traces the trajectories of regional politics from the earliest human settlements to European exploration and colonization, the period of formal regionalization in the post-war period, decolonization, the Cold War, and key geopolitical developments in the post-Cold War period. She also focuses on identity politics, manifest at various levels from the local through to the national, subregional and regional, as well as broader configurations around the West/non-West divide. This book will be of interest to anyone engaged with the history and politics of Oceania or comparative regional studies, especially given the relevance of themes to Asian, African and Latin American contexts.
China and Taiwan
"China and Taiwan: Crossing the Strait" dives into the complex dynamics between China and Taiwan, offering a nuanced exploration through its diverse chapters. From dissecting Taiwan's aspirations for reunification to unravelling the intricacies of cross-strait relations and China's expansion tactics, the book navigates the geopolitical landscape with precision. Topics like "Social Entrepreneurship in Post-Developmental State Taiwan" and "Chinese Youth Nationalism" provide a fresh perspective on societal aspects. The book also scrutinizes economic ties, tracing the trajectory of Taiwanese investment in China and examining cross-strait economic connections. Readers also witness the evolution of identities in Taiwan during Ma Ying-jeou's era and gain insights into U.S. security relations with Taiwan. The narrative extends to the identity shifts among Taiwanese in mainland China, contemplating the pivotal question of whether to pivot, hedge, or ally. The comprehensive exploration concludes with an in-depth analysis of Xi Jinping's Taiwan policy. "Crossing the Strait" is a thought-provoking journey through the multifaceted aspects shaping the delicate relationship between China and Taiwan.
Kenya Election Results Data and History 1888 - 2017
The book provides both a narrative history of elections in Kenya and data on election returns, winners and losers in each general election. It reveals the increasing number of female candidates contesting and the fascinating details of election petitions. It provides a reliable source of data for researchers and strategic analysts who wish to cross check election and governance data, events and trends. In the belief that an electoral process cannot be properly understood without an analysis of the factors which shape it and the trends which drive it, I have tried to put all Kenya general election data in their historical perspective and political context as from 1888 - 2017. It contains vital issues underlying the drama of nominations, campaigns, polling and counting of ballots which demonstrates that elections by themselves can not be integrative unless the electoral environment allows participants to accept the outcome. The book shows the composition of goverments; its cabinets, senior state officers and foreign envoys appointed to serve after each election cycle. It also indicates the national assemblies elected, there speakers and other senior officers who work under the speaker, women representation, political parties and gender ratios. In a nutshell, it describes the political history of representation of Kenya from colonialism to date, 1888 - 2017.
Dynamic Partnership
Over the past two decades, the relationship between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Russia has transitioned from what some described as a relationship of convenience to what both countries now call a "comprehensive strategic partnership." The growing strategic partnership between China and Russia is reflected in a burgeoning China-Russia space and military relationship. Once the dominant power in the space relationship, Russia now appears to be taking a secondary role. China's growing expertise in space, matched with the financial capabilities to sustain a large and growing space enterprise, signals not only China's rise as a major space power but also the geopolitical transition taking place between China, Russia, and the United States. Any limitations of the China-Russia relationship do not appear to be significant enough to derail the broader relationship. Indeed, not only do Beijing and Moscow seem to have successfully compartmentalized such irritants, but bilateral cooperation in sensitive dual-use areas of scientific and technological research suggests that they may be gradually overcoming-or are working to overcome-their mutual mistrust. As we embark on this journey through the intertwined realms of military strategy and space exploration, we invite readers to explore the depths of this dynamic partnership and the future of international relations.
Decoding Russia-China Axis
"Decoding Russia-China Axis" is a scholarly exploration of the partnership between Russia and China, a pivotal force in the complex tapestry of international relations. The book meticulously unravels the nuances of this strategic alliance, diving into historical roots and contemporary dynamics that define Sino-Russian relations. The Content sets the stage by offering a broad overview, providing readers with a historical context and foundational elements of this geopolitical alliance. Subsequent chapters comprehensively explore various facets of China and Russia's collaboration, scrutinizing motives and implications. The journey extends to Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, evaluating the substance of their relations in the region. Theoretical frameworks of international relations are examined, questioning the prospects and challenges of a potential military alliance between the two nations. The book critically addresses whether this alliance aims to balance the United States strategically.It contributes to the ongoing discourse on global politics, decoding the layers of the Russia-China axis to provide readers with an understanding of motives, challenges, and potential trajectories in 21st century geopolitics.
The Imf, Financial Crisis, and Repression of Human Rights
This book seeks to answer a number of key questions about the relationship between the IMF, developing states and the impact of financial crises on human rights abuses, including: Why do some but not other IMF-assisted developing states experience the joint outbreak of currency and sudden reversal crises under the Fund's program?; What are some of the short-term political ramifications of such crises?; Why do human rights violation by governments increase sharply in the wake of twin currency and sudden reversal crisis in some but not all crisis-affected countries?
Culture, Conflict, and Peacebuilding
This book explores the complexity, multiplicity, intersectionality, and dynamism of cultures in connection with critical and emancipatory peacebuilding. It includes diverse voices to emphasize local and everyday peacebuilding within a narrative that links the personal to the political. It is a valuable resource for students, educators, and practitioners in peace and conflict studies, cultural studies, sociology, and related disciplines.
Knowing Too Much
Traditionally, American Jews have been broadly liberal in their political outlook; indeed African-Americans are the only ethnic group more likely to vote Democratic in US elections. Over the past half century, however, attitudes on one topic have stood in sharp contrast to this group's generally progressive stance: support for Israel.Despite Israel's record of militarism, illegal settlements and human rights violations, American Jews have, stretching back to the 1960s, remained largely steadfast supporters of the Jewish "homeland". But, as Norman Finkelstein explains in an elegantly-argued and richly-textured new book, this is now beginning to change.Reports by Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and the United Nations, and books by commentators as prominent as President Jimmy Carter and as well-respected in the scholarly community as Stephen Walt, John Mearsheimer and Peter Beinart, have increasingly pinpointed the fundamental illiberalism of the Israeli state. In the light of these exposes, the support of America Jews for Israel has begun to fray. This erosion has been particularly marked among younger members of the community. A 2010 Brandeis University poll found that only about one quarter of Jews aged under 40 today feel "very much" connected to Israel.In successive chapters that combine Finkelstein's customary meticulous research with polemical brio, Knowing Too Much sets the work of defenders of Israel such as Jeffrey Goldberg, Michael Oren, Dennis Ross and Benny Morris against the historical record, showing their claims to be increasingly tendentious. As growing numbers of American Jews come to see the speciousness of the arguments behind such apologias and recognize Israel's record as simply indefensible, Finkelstein points to the opening of new possibilities for political advancement in a region that for decades has been stuck fast in a gridlock of injustice and suffering.
Transformative Violence
In patterns of violence across the world, some victims attract strong public support and propel historic levels of collective action, but the vast majority suffer in silence. Why are some violent acts more galvanizing than others? In Transformative Violence, Erica Marat examines the mobilization following the gang rape of a 23-year-old student in New Delhi in 2012 and the disappearance of 43 students in Mexico in 2014 to explain how certain violent acts can trigger unprecedented levels of mobilization in defense of the victims. While such events--transformative violence--emerge from complex networks of causal mechanisms, they all draw sharp moral contrasts between the typical victims and repressors in a society. More specifically, Marat shows that cases of violence that spark large public reaction share a similar set of traits. They include mobilization of both grassroots and national-level activists, a type of victim that resonates with the broader public, and a visual narrative of the victim's suffering. While all three occur independently, it is the union of these events that captures the attention of the public at large, prompts it to act, and eventually leads to policy changes. If any of these three events are missing, the chances that an act of violence will be transformative diminishes as well. Marat also identifies patterns of violence in societies and incidents of civic activism before and after events of transformative violence. By understanding the factors leading to social mobilization in the name of specific victims, we can explain what social structures, processes, and institutions move the political realm toward more inclusive representation. Transformative Violence thus explores the dynamics of violence in the contemporary world--how a society interconnected by vibrant conversations and instant visuals rises against structural violence.
The United States as Global Liberal Hegemon
The United States as Global Liberal Hegemon examines America's role as the global liberal hegemon. Using a historical analysis to understand how the United States came to serve as the world leader, Goldberg argues why the role of a liberal hegemon is needed, whether the United States has the ability to fulfill this role, and what the pitfalls and liabilities of continuing in this role are for the nation. He also considers the impact that this role on the global stage has for the country as well as individual citizens of the United States. Goldberg argues that the United States's geographic location away from strong competitors, it's role as the dominant economy for much of the 20th century, and its political culture of meritocracy all contributed to the United States taking this role in the 1940s. He also argues that the role of liberal hegemon has shifted to include not only being the international policeperson but also to be the world's central banker, a role that at this time only the United States can fill.
The Somalia Conflict Revisited
This book aims to examine how informality of spatial governance has influenced the evolution of the conflict in Somalia and the region. It not only reopens the debate over how the irregular conflicts can transcend national boundaries, but also presents the complexities of spatial governance on national and regional security. The book examines how socio-political and identity bonds play out in spatial governance sometimes resulting to informal control of vast national territories. The book argues that such informally governed spaces increase the level of security threat vulnerability at the national and regional levels. The book therefore adds to the existing literature which has not only to be dominated by discourses on the impact of identity on the conflict but also fall short of connecting the impact of informal spatial governance on security. Examining how informality in governance in one country can impact on the security of an entire region is a key consideration in emerging peacebuilding strategies.
Intelligence Cooperation Under Multipolarity
While counterterrorism has been the primary focus of the defence and security policies of major Western countries in the last two decades, recent years have seen the re-emergence of states as the major threat. Intelligence Cooperation under Multipolarity offers a timely analysis of the challenges and opportunities for intelligence cooperation, characterized by the re-emergence of great power competition, particularly between the United States, China, and Russia.This collection explores foreign policy and national security tools and partnerships that have emerged as the United States, typically an international leader, experiences internal and external shocks that have rendered its role on the international stage more uncertain. The book focuses on non-American perspectives in order to understand how America's allies and partners have adjusted to global power transitions. Drawing on contributions from leading intelligence and strategic studies scholars and professionals, Intelligence Cooperation under Multipolarity aims to broaden and deepen our understanding of the consequences of the power transition on national security policies.
Role of Ballistic and Cruise Missiles in International Security
The book attempts to understand the myriad roles of ballistic and cruise missiles in international security. They are for combat purpose, deterrence, coercive diplomacy and power and prestige of a state. The book also studies missile developments across the world. The book also aims to fathom the various possibilities to reduce the threat from missile systems.
The Story of NATO
"The Story of NATO" provides a comprehensive narrative that unravels the historical tapestry of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), shedding light on the organization's origins, evolution, and its role in shaping the geopolitical landscape of the 20th and 21st centuries. Authored by seasoned experts in international relations and military history, the book offers a detailed exploration of NATO's formation, its challenges, triumphs, and its enduring impact on global security. It examines the alliance's response to emerging security threats, its contributions to counterterrorism efforts, and its role in promoting international cooperation and peacekeeping missions. The book stands as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and anyone interested in the multifaceted story of NATO.
The Complex Landscape of Asylum and Refuge in Europe
"The Complex Landscape of Asylum and Refuge in Europe" is a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted challenges surrounding migration in Europe. The book, organized into fourteen chapters, delves into critical issues shaping the region's asylum policies. From the nexus between migration pressures and terrorism concerns to the fate of irregular migration, it navigates through complex topics. Chapters also scrutinize legal immigration, border security management, and the dynamics of Mediterranean migration. Addressing the pressing concerns, the book assesses responses to asylum issues, identifies factors influencing asylum seeking, and envisions secure and lawful routes for refugees. Timely discussions on the impact of crises, such as the Ukrainian conflict, underscore the need for improved coordination in European asylum policy. The inclusion of technology solutions, future policy considerations, and the 2030 blueprint makes this book an indispensable resource for anyone seeking a nuanced understanding of the challenges and potential solutions in Europe's asylum landscape.
Religion, Politics and Society in Modern Turkey
This book is a critical reading of Turkey's entanglement and struggle with modernity, Islam, diversity, democracy and human rights/liberties over the last two centuries. Its major argument is that the relationship between religion and state forms an important dimension not only of official state ideology, but also of interrelations between different groups in society and in those groups' relations with the state. The book provides an overarching view of modern Turkey's religion, politics and society over an extended period and examines the complex relations between society, religion, laicit矇, state identity and their reflections in state power and daily life. This book's originality and novelty stems from its examination of religion, politics and society in modern Turkey over an extended period, from the Ottoman era to current times.
Framing Refugees
This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International licence. It is free to read at Oxford Academic and offered as a free PDF download from OUP and selected open access locations. Across the world, the number of people forcibly displaced from their homes has more than doubled during the last decade. Although international law does not allow states to turn back refugees, some countries close their borders to refugees, some open their borders and grant extensive protection, while others admit some groups of refugees while excluding others. How can we make sense of these different responses to admitting refugees? In this book, Daniel Drewski and J羹rgen Gerhards show that governments' refugee policy, as well as the stance adopted by opposition parties on the issue, is heavily dependent on how they frame their country's collective identity on the one hand and the identity and characteristics of the refugees on the other. By defining the "we" and the "others", politicians draw on collectively shared cultural repertoires, which vary by country and by political constituency within a country. The book is based on a discourse analysis of parliamentary debates. It explores the specific framing of nations' identities and the corresponding perceptions of otherness by focusing on six countries that have been confronted with large numbers of refugees: Germany, Poland, and Turkey, all responding to the exodus of Syrian and Middle Eastern refugees; Chile's reaction to the Venezuelan displacement; Singapore and its stance towards Rohingya refugees; and Uganda's response to the displacement from South Sudan. The study explores not only differences between governments of different countries but also the conflicting views of different political parties within the same country. This volume has emerged from research carried out as part of the Cluster of Excellence "Contestations of the Liberal Script - SCRIPTS", which analyzes the contemporary controversies about liberal ideas, institutions, and practices on the national and international level from a historical, global, and comparative perspective. It connects academic expertise in the social sciences and area studies and collaborates with research institutions in all world regions. Operating since 2019 and funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG), SCRIPTS unites eight major Berlin-based research institutions: Freie Universit瓣t Berlin, the Humboldt-Universit瓣t zu Berlin, the Berlin Social Science Center (WZB), the Hertie School, the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW), the Berlin branch of the German Institute of Global and Area Studies (GIGA), the Centre for East European and International Studies (ZOiS), and the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO).
Negotiating with the Devil
After many years in the little-known world of back- channel mediation, helping sworn adversaries to prevent, manage or resolve conflict, Pierre Hazan felt compelled to re-examine the acute practical and ethical dilemmas that affected his work in Bosnia, Ukraine, the Sahel and the Central African Republic. What is the mediator's responsibility when two belligerents conclude a peace agreement to the detriment of a third? Should mediators never be party to 'ethnic cleansing', even if it saves lives? Is a fragile peace worth sacrificing justice for--or will that sacrifice fuel another cycle of violence? In an increasingly dystopian world, Negotiating with the Devil offers both practical guidelines and a moral compass for mediators whose field of action has transformed dramatically. We have gone from soft to hard power; from "peace dividends" to war in Europe; from the end of one Cold War to a new East-West confrontation in Ukraine; from Pax Americana to a multipolar world; from the dream of an all-powerful UN to the organization's marginalization. Against this tapestry, Hazan sheds light on the complex work of those steering peace negotiations, blending vivid first-hand observation with sharp insights into the psychology of compromise as a first step towards peace.
Seasons of Empire
At the end of WW II, the United States and the Soviet Union, each bristling with missiles and nuclear armaments, squared off against each other in a fight for world dominance, thus staging the dynamic into which the Baby Boomers were born. They were the ones who had to stand on the front lines as the United States amassed its power and sparred against global communism's expansionary ambitions, and stand they did. It defined their generation and changed the world, and Seasons of Empire tells how it happened as only one of those who got sucked into the vortex, spun around and around, and spit out again can tell it. It's their story. And so much more.
Understanding the threat of Bioterrorism
"Understanding The Threat of Bioterrorism" is a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted landscape of bioterrorism, authored by experts in the fields of biosafety, biosecurity, and counterterrorism. Delving into the intricate web of bioterror threats, the book offers a deep understanding of the challenges posed by both traditional and emerging biosecurity threats. The book provides a holistic view of the bioterror landscape, encompassing historical perspectives, contemporary challenges, and future scenarios. This comprehensive guide serves as an invaluable resource for policymakers, security professionals, and anyone seeking a nuanced understanding of the evolving threat of bioterrorism in the 21st century.
Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics
One of the most peculiar features of municipal politics in Canada is how frequently local politicians, activists, and scholars disagree about how to describe the municipal arena. For some, municipal politics is distinct from other levels of government, a world of non-ideological elections, pragmatic and technical policymaking, and issue-by-issue policy coalitions. Others argue that municipal politics is similar to politics at other scales, with persistent axes of political disagreement and a recognizable "left" and "right." This recurring debate features prominently in municipal election campaigns across Canada.In Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics, Jack Lucas investigates municipal ideology in Canada. Using data from original surveys of municipal politicians and the Canadian public, the book reveals how municipal politics is clearly structured by left-right ideology. It shows that municipal politicians represent their constituents' ideological preferences quite well: they understand their constituents' ideological perspectives, they align with their constituents' preferences, and they are elected in part because of their ideological alignment with voters.A lively and accessible study, Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics will appeal to readers interested in municipal politics, political ideology, and political representation.
Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics
One of the most peculiar features of municipal politics in Canada is how frequently local politicians, activists, and scholars disagree about how to describe the municipal arena. For some, municipal politics is distinct from other levels of government, a world of non-ideological elections, pragmatic and technical policymaking, and issue-by-issue policy coalitions. Others argue that municipal politics is similar to politics at other scales, with persistent axes of political disagreement and a recognizable "left" and "right." This recurring debate features prominently in municipal election campaigns across Canada.In Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics, Jack Lucas investigates municipal ideology in Canada. Using data from original surveys of municipal politicians and the Canadian public, the book reveals how municipal politics is clearly structured by left-right ideology. It shows that municipal politicians represent their constituents' ideological preferences quite well: they understand their constituents' ideological perspectives, they align with their constituents' preferences, and they are elected in part because of their ideological alignment with voters.A lively and accessible study, Ideology in Canadian Municipal Politics will appeal to readers interested in municipal politics, political ideology, and political representation.
General Ne Win's Legacy of Burmanization in Myanmar
This book focuses on how Burmanization created and reinforced ethnic divides since the 1962 coup d'etat. when General Ne Win concentrated all authority in the Burmese speaking army. Background research for the book includes Burmese language materials from the Burmese Socialist Party (BSP) and others that describe with what the BSP believed in their own terms. This is unique from previous works on the topic which either simply pointed out that the policies "didn't work" and therefore are uninteresting, or to claim that they were "necessary" given the chaos of the previous regime. The authors agree that Ne Win's policies "didn't work." However, the book goes further by elaborating why Burmanization policies developed in the 1960s are important for understanding Burmese society today. Most importantly, Ne Win's ideology reflects how patterns of interethnic relationships in Myanmar lead to the "intractability" of the battles in early twenty-first century Myanmar.
Whites and Democracy in South Africa
Key book in Whiteness Studies that engages with the different ways in which the last white minority in Africa to give way to majority rule has adjusted to the arrival of democracy and the different modes of transition from "settlers" to "citizens". How have whites adjusted to, contributed to and detracted from democracy in South Africa since 1994? Engaging with the literature on 'whiteness' and the current trope that the democratic settlement has failed, this book provides a study of how whites in the last bastion of 'white minority rule' in Africa have adapted to the sweeping political changes they have encountered. It examines the historical context of white supremacy and minority rule, in the past, and the white withdrawal from elsewhere on the African continent. Drawing on focus groups held across the country, Southall explores the difficult issue of 'memory', how whites seek to grapple with the history of apartheid, and how this shapes their reactions to political equality. He argues that whites cannot be regarded as a homogeneous political grouping concluding that while the overwhelming majority of white South Africans feared the coming of democracy during the years of late apartheid, they recognised its inevitability. Many of their fears were, in effect, to be recognised by the Constitution, which embedded individual rights, including those to property and private schooling, alongside the important principle of proportionality of political representation. While a small minority of whites chose to emigrate, the large majority had little choice but to adjust to the democratic settlement which, on the whole, they have done - and in different ways. It was only a small right wing which sought to actively resist; others have sought to withdraw from democracy into social enclaves; but others have embraced democracy actively, either enthusiastically welcoming its freedoms or engaging with its realities in defence of 'minority rights'. Whites may have been reluctant to accept democracy, but democrats - of a sort - they have become, and notwithstanding a significant racialisation of politics in post-apartheid South Africa, they remain an important segment of the "rainbow", although dangers lurk in the future unless present inequalities of both race and class are challenged head on. African Sun Media: South Africa
Learning from the Past, Looking into the Future
This book tries to highlight what appears to the author to be some of the shortcomings of the foreign policy approach of the Philippines. The author is of the view that two considerations in decision-making are deficient: national interest and state power. Through this work, the author makes suggestions, based on his background and experience in government. On the national interest, the country started out with a huge swathe of territory bequeathed by the Treaty of Paris between the United States and Spain in 1898. The country's leaders did not cement ownership of that wide expanse of water. On state power, the Philippines did not prepare itself so that it could secure its territory after independence in 1946. While it is true that it was beset with internal dissidence, the external defense mission was way short of fulfilment under the mandatory portfolio of nationhood. For this neglect, the Philippines paid the price in that it lost territory, including access to resources on and beneath water, that it was entitled to under international law. Given the above-mentioned historical background, the author suggests that Philippine leaders, diplomats and shapers of public opinion need to shift their focus of analysis from the current naive approach of legalism to realism. Realism is at the base of international political analysis in the sense that its approach precisely takes care of what the Philippines needs as a theoretical framework. It was codified by Morgenthau, systematized by Waltz, and applied by practitioners like Kennan and Kissinger. The loss of territory and territorial rights is one of the most devastating blows that a nation can suffer. Never again should the Philippines bear such a catastrophe. It is time to mature as a nation. Leadership is key to the renaissance of the Philippine psyche. The future generations of Filipinos will depend on two vital elements that their leaders should concentrate on: the appropriate foreign and defense policies consistent with the national interest and the required state power. These elements have to be underpinned by a robust economy to support expenditures and investments in them. The Philippines has to be equal to the task if it seeks to deserve to be a respectable state in the community of nations.
Post America
If America falters and states secede, what kind of constitution would they use? My belief is that people will want to create a new constitution that attempts to solve all of our problems. That is what I have done. I completely started from scratch. I wrote it from an idealistic perspective that believed anything is possible.I have attempted to create a society that is as close to being perfect as possible. It's my attempt at perfection. So what is perfection? Harmony, equality, fairness, opportunity, liberty, prosperity, safety, love, happiness, passion, joy, euphoria, contentment. Some say that such an objective is impossible. I say, why not try? If we could start over, why not attempt to achieve our highest hopes and dreams?
Japan Occupied
This book documents Japan's psychological deterioration caused by its defeat in August 1945. Also, Japan's traumatic transformation from authoritarianism to democracy is detailed. The study exposes an ideological war between the Soviet Union and the USA within American-occupied Japan, which triggered violent polarization among the Japanese. Under General MacArthur's tutorage, the defeated Japanese were expected to become a peace-loving people, but the Cold War derailed Japan's progress toward freedom and democracy. The "Red Purge," instituted by MacArthur's Headquarters (GHQ) from 1949 to 1950, triggered the devastating side effects on Japan's academic freedom and freedom of speech. Stanford University Professor Dr. Walter C. Eells (1886-1962) served at the GHQ as an influential education adviser and became the most vocal advocate of the Red Purge. Japanese Marxist historians have constructed the popular postwar narrative of the Red Purge, blaming the GHQ for every failure. The vast archival materials, including the GHQ papers, Eells papers, and Japanese-language documents, revealed that the Red Purge was a serious propaganda battle between the Americans and the Soviets in a war-torn Japan. This propaganda war engendered the violently polarized political climate, in which the conservative Japanese government behaved according to the dictates of US Cold War policy. By revealing feverish tensions within the GHQ regarding communist influences in Japanese universities, this study sheds bright new light on the Red Purge and its lasting impact on Japan's political future.
State-Building, Rule of Law, Good Governance and Human Rights in Post-Soviet Space
This edited book analyses the issues of state-building, the rule of law and good governance, and human rights in the post-Soviet space after 30 years from the USSR dissolution.
Global Environmental Institutions
Global Environmental Institutions provides the most accessible and succinct overview of the major global institutions attempting to protect the natural environment describing their creation and operation, decision-making processes, interactions with other institutions, and impact.
Beyond Social Democracy
Beyond Social Democracy examines the electoral decline of social democratic parties and how distinctive strategic moves might enable them to salvage different segments of their former electoral coalitions. Social democratic decline, however, does not imply the demise of basic tenets of the parties' programmatic appeals. Under the impact of novel twenty-first-century political-economic challenges, these concerns are also invoked and repackaged with new ideas by novel left parties. Empirically, voter movements show that social democratic parties incur net losses mostly to these other leftist parties, while sustaining a balanced, but voluminous exchange with center-right parties. Contrary to commonly held preconceptions, there is little net loss to the new extreme Right. These findings will be pertinent to anyone interested in understanding or devising party strategies in twenty-first-century democracies. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Facts and Explanations in International Studies...and Beyond
The politicizing of facts and factual claims has led some to abandon all talk of a meaningful distinction between a fact and a strongly held political commitment. This book argues that what we need, instead, are better accounts of facts and their relationship to explanation.
Connecting Africa and Asia
By 2100, more than 80 per cent of the world's population is expected to live in Afrasia (Africa and Asia). This book draws lessons from history, provides a new cognitive map of the world, and discusses multiple challenges global citizens will face in the age of Afrasia, an emerging macro-region.
Autocratization in Contemporary Uganda
Autocratization in Contemporary Ugandaanalyses two interrelated outcomes: autocratisation, manifest in the deepening of personalist rule or Musevenism, and the regime resilience that has made Museveni one of Africa's current-longest surviving rulers. How has this feat been possible, and what has been the trajectory of Museveni's increasingly autocratic rule?Surveying that trajectory since 1986, the book takes as its primary focus the years since 2005; bringing to the fore the 'autocratic turn', placing it within a broader comparative lens, and enriching it with comparative references to cases outside of Uganda. While positing the notion of 'autocratic adaptability' as a defining hallmark of Museveni's rule, the book examines the factors and forces that have made that adaptability possible, analysing the dynamics around three keys themes: institutions, resources, and coalitions. Through empirical research, each chapter seeks to demonstrate how either one or two of these three variables have functioned in propelling autocratization and assuring regime resilience - producing theoretical and and comparative implications that reach beyond Uganda.
Isis' Propaganda Machine
This book examines ISIS's media propaganda machine.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is one of the most rapidly developing centres of the multipolar world.The contributors to this volume, representing a range of the states within the SCO, evaluate the possibilities for the SCO, and the challenges it faces in achieving them through a prism of legal regulation.
China’s Big Power Ambition under Xi Jinping
Instead of emphasizing China as a developing country, Chinese President Xi Jinping has identified China as a big power and accentuated China's big power status. This book explores the narratives and driving forces behind China's big power ambition. Three narratives rooted in Sino-centralism are examined. One is China's demands for the reform of global governance to reflect the values and interests of China as a rising power. Another is China's Belt and Road Initiative to construct a nascent China-centred world order. The third is the China model and self-image promotion in the developing countries.There are many forces that have driven or constrained China's big power ambition. This collection focuses on two sets of forces. One is China's domestic politics and economic incentives and disincentives. The other is China's geo-political and geo-economic interests. These forces have both motivated and constrained China's big power ambition. The chapters in this book were originally published in the Journal of Contemporary China.
Reflecting on the GCC Crisis
The puzzle of the Gulf blockade and its myriad impacts are examined in this volume. It builds upon early analyses to offer a range of crisp, insightful reflections, many based on new primary sources. The chapters take a multidisciplinary and diverse theoretical approach to the crisis.
From Peril to Partnership
Plan Colombia and the M矇rida Initiative are the two most significant US security assistance efforts in Latin America in the twenty-first century. At a time when US objectives in the Middle East and Central Asia were flagging, Colombia was a rare US foreign policy victory--a showcase for stabilization and security sector reform. Conversely, Mexico struggled to turn the tide on the country's scourge of crime and violence, even with an influx of resources aimed at professionalizing the country's security, defense, and judicial institutions. As Washington reconsiders its approach to stabilizing crisis countries after a challenging withdrawal from Afghanistan, From Peril to Partnership's comparative analysis of Colombia and Mexico offers lessons for scholars and policymakers alike, providing insights into the efficacy of US security assistance and the necessary conditions and stakeholders in partner nations that facilitate success. Crucially, private sector support, interparty consensus on security policies, and the centralization of the security bureaucracy underpinned Colombia's success. The absence of these features in Mexico contributed to the country's descent into chaos, culminating in the country's highest-ever homicide rate by the end of the 2010s. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, From Peril to Partnership evaluates to what extent security assistance programs helped improve the operational effectiveness and democratic accountability of Washington's partners--Colombian and Mexican security forces. It answers why Plan Colombia achieved its objectives and why the M矇rida Initiative underdelivered in Mexico. Most importantly, it goes beyond drug war theatrics and the "one-size-fits-all" approach to US-led stabilization--at once, restoring agency to institutions on the receiving end of US security assistance and helping chart a course toward more nuanced and effective US policy.
Ideologies in Action
Ideologies in Action: Morphological Adaptation and Political Ideas explores how political ideas move across geographical, social and chronological boundaries. Focusing on North American and European case studies ranging from populist tax revolts through parenting advice manuals to online learning environments, the contributors propose new methods for understanding how political entrepreneurs, intellectuals and ordinary citizens deploy and redefine ideologies. All of these groups are consumers of ideology, drawing on pre-existing, transnational ideological concepts and narratives in order to make sense of the world. They are also all producers of ideology, adapting and reconfiguring ideological material to support their own political aims, desires and policy objectives. In doing so, they combine common conceptual elements - interpretations of freedom, order, national identity, democracy, community or equality - with sentiments and imaginations deeply embedded in cultural and social practice. To render these ideological practices intelligible, the contributors to this volume blend conceptual morphology, which emphasizes how meaning emerges in and through connections between political ideas, with close readings of the vernacular and experiential dimensions of ideologies in action. This book offers new insights into how ideologies in varied social and political settings can be decoded, and challenges hierarchical distinctions between ideological 'producers' and 'consumers'. The chapters in this book were originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Political Ideologies.
Beyond the Gatekeeper State
Beyond the Gatekeeper State explores the dynamic changes occurring within and between African states, and the international system since the turn of the century.Frederick Cooper's model of 'gatekeeper states' - shaped as much by their international links as by their domestic practices - provides the basis for the contributors' thinking about international relations in Africa and the wider international system. The chapters explore the political implications of Africa's new relations with the old super-powers, former colonial powers, and the emerging powers from the South. These new relationships reflect and affect changing technology, infrastructure, and resource flows within and between African states. Drawing on both rich empirical cases and theoretical approaches, the book interrogates the implications of these changes on how we think about states and state systems.Exploring the impact of changing technology, finance, and resources on African politics, Beyond the Gatekeeper State will be of great interest to scholars of African Politics and International Relations (IR), as well as African Studies, IR, and the politics of the Global South more broadly. This book was originally published as a special issue of Third World Thematics.
Beyond Social Democracy
Beyond Social Democracy examines the electoral decline of social democratic parties and how distinctive strategic moves might enable them to salvage different segments of their former electoral coalitions. Social democratic decline, however, does not imply the demise of basic tenets of the parties' programmatic appeals. Under the impact of novel twenty-first-century political-economic challenges, these concerns are also invoked and repackaged with new ideas by novel left parties. Empirically, voter movements show that social democratic parties incur net losses mostly to these other leftist parties, while sustaining a balanced, but voluminous exchange with center-right parties. Contrary to commonly held preconceptions, there is little net loss to the new extreme Right. These findings will be pertinent to anyone interested in understanding or devising party strategies in twenty-first-century democracies. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
