Category: Asia

THE NEPAL FLASH FLOOD TO INDONESIAN WILDFIRES: WHEN NATURE STRIKES, WHO PAYS THE PRICE?

Nepal and Indonesia point to the same underlying truth from different perspectives. A flood and a fire are not, in isolation, disasters. They descend into catastrophe only after mismanagement and inefficient decision-making. Both disasters demonstrate that hazards are intensified by land-use decisions; that costs are absorbed disproportionately by children and low-income households; and that institutions respond well once disaster is visible but fail in the quiet years beforehand. … Continue readingTHE NEPAL FLASH FLOOD TO INDONESIAN WILDFIRES: WHEN NATURE STRIKES, WHO PAYS THE PRICE?

RAGS TO RICHES ON DEMAND: THE BLIND SPOT OF CHANGING NARRATIVES IN WESTERN MEDIA 

A young boy in the US and a young boy in China grow up under similar surveillance systems, hear similar promises of prosperity and absorb similar judgements about nations on the other side of the world. The former grows up in a system socially accepted as patriotic, while treating its mirror image suspiciously. … Continue readingRAGS TO RICHES ON DEMAND: THE BLIND SPOT OF CHANGING NARRATIVES IN WESTERN MEDIA 

Space belongs to everyone –  or does it?

Space is no longer a question of whether humanity gets in there; rather, it’s who sets the rules once we do. Private companies already outpace states in access, equity and infrastructure, while geopolitical rivalries turn that dependency into a bargaining chip. This article traces the widening gap between the Outer Space Treaty and the reality of who controls the launchpads, who benefits, and whether polycentric governance can close the gap before the window closes. … Continue readingSpace belongs to everyone –  or does it?

When the Whistle isn’t Neutral

Over the past three decades, corruption scandals, tournaments awarded to authoritarian states, and the persistent failure to enforce its own anti-discrimination rules have exposed FIFA not as a neutral arbiter of sport, but as a political actor in its own right. FIFA is not alone in this. Other sporting bodies such as the Olympics and Formula 1, each publicly commits to neutrality and universality, and each has proven, repeatedly, that when institutional interest conflicts with institutional principle, principle loses. … Continue readingWhen the Whistle isn’t Neutral

The monocultural golden age that (never) existed: An imagined past, and its consequences for a real future

Monoculturalism is more than a simple ‘culture war’ issue. Although domestic political discussion may seem separate from international affairs, the issue of monoculturalism demonstrates how domestic politics have a significant impact on perceptions of the country and international trade. The consequences of such policy cannot be understated.
… Continue readingThe monocultural golden age that (never) existed: An imagined past, and its consequences for a real future

Where machines fail, will human instinct suffice?

Emotion is commonly associated with war and destruction, yet fear and empathy have arguably been the only things which have saved our planet from annihilation — emotions that artificial intelligence (AI) cannot feel. The mix of declining nuclear arms controls and rising AI usage in defence systems raises the question: what happens when humans are distanced from the consequences of their actions?  … Continue readingWhere machines fail, will human instinct suffice?

The Price of Security 

The notion of security seems to holds an amplified status in our political and societal dialogues. Security can effectively elevate a problem from a low political priority to an existential issue that requires disproportionate action. These risks are greatest for developing countries, which are already are often unable to provide enough funds to all sectors of their economy, creating an obstacle to long-term economic growth and prosperity. … Continue readingThe Price of Security 

The Environment: Another Victim of Imperialism?

The wealth of Global North countries, the unequal impacts of climate change and the resulting vulnerability of Global South countries is the direct result of imperialism. The use of imperialist strategies against countries in the Global South has led to an unequal distribution of wealth and the destruction of the environment to fund the safety, wealth and development of countries in the Global North.  … Continue readingThe Environment: Another Victim of Imperialism?

Fragile Borders and Where to Draw Them: How British Mapmakers Immortalised Conflict in the Middle East

Across the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa, the borders that define modern states and the conflicts that dictate modern headlines trace back to decisions made by British officials who were, at best, in a hurry, and at worst, deliberately designing systems of division that would ensure no territory could ever mount a unified resistance. To understand why so many of the world’s most catastrophic conflicts feel permanent, we must follow the ink lines back to the men who drew them.
… Continue readingFragile Borders and Where to Draw Them: How British Mapmakers Immortalised Conflict in the Middle East

How Flag Carrier Airlines Are Rebranding Nation-States

Commercial airlines do far more than transport people or make profits. They actively represent their home country on the international stage and forge links between regions. Commercial passenger aviation is therefore a space where power, reputation and diplomatic struggles for influence play out from the tarmac to the high skies. … Continue readingHow Flag Carrier Airlines Are Rebranding Nation-States