The death of Fidel Castro last November was a moment of monumental significance in Cuban history. After news broke of the revolutionary’s death, Fidel Castro’s brother Raul Castro announced that he would be resigning his position as the country’s leader, ending the nearly six-decade era … Continue readingCUBA AFTER THE CASTROS: WHERE TO NOW?
By Hamah Hosen – Taking inspiration from the Roman poet Horace, President Erdogan of Turkey and the Justice Development Party (AKP) aims to seize the day by announcing the move for snap elections on June 24th. Amidst the situation in Syria, the looming economic woes, … Continue readingCARPE DIEM: THE CALL FOR TURKISH SNAP ELECTIONS
By Georgia May – “The safety of the people shall be the highest law” – Marcus Tillius Cicero Another year, another school. Another week, another grieving community. Another day, another political shun of those who desperately beseech the truth: that the United States has a … Continue readingANOTHER DAY – ANOTHER DEATH
“Anyone can make war but only the most courageous can make peace” Donald J. Trump North Korean-United States summit, June 12th 2018 The summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore brought together two polarising and unpredictable figures. When Kim Jong-il died in 2011, … Continue readingDON’T BE BLINDED BY OPTIMISM: THE SINGAPORE SUMMIT AND FUTURE IMPLICATIONS
China – the country supposedly going to replace the United States as the global hegemon. The country whose ‘rise’ has been named the top news story of the twenty-first century by the Global Language Monitor. The country that is generally thought to be the superpower … Continue readingCHINA: THE PAPER TIGER
“The interests of the State and the interests of Religion are two entirely different things” Q. Cardinal Richelieu1 In the time of the Thirty Years’ War and the subsequent formation of the modern state system, Cardinal Richelieu sought to reform French national priorities by subordinating … Continue readingMALI AND THE TUAREG: ABANDONED BY GOD
With sectarian violence, nuclear proliferation and nationalism currently the focus of the international news cycle, the economic and cultural partnerships of states well beyond our borders are not often addressed. This is evident with the intricate and perplexing dimensions of Italian-Israeli relations. Yet, from the … Continue readingIT ALL STARTED WITH AN ARTICHOKE: THE ITALIAN-ISRAELI ARTICHOKE WAR
If something is immoral to do, then it is also immoral to threaten. Language is shaped to aid and abet the possession and proliferation of the most heinous weapons known to man – nuclear bombs. The dialogue that surrounds nuclear weapons has been carefully constructed … Continue readingNUKESPEAK: DEFENDING THE INDEFENSIBLE
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has for the very first time held a summit in Australia. Hosted at Sydney’s Darling Harbour Conference Centre in March, the summit brought together global leaders, government officials, and business figures over two days. This historic event has … Continue readingAUSTRALIA-ASEAN SPECIAL SUMMIT: A TURNING POINT IN FOREIGN POLICY?
“I am announcing today that the United States will withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. In a few moments, I will sign a presidential memorandum to begin reinstating U.S. nuclear sanctions on the Iranian regime. We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanction. … Continue readingUS ABANDONS THE IRAN DEAL: WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE REGION?