International Relations Commons^™

The "Roaring Flame": Pursuing Thymos In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, Samrand Avestan, Owen G. Mordaunt

International Dialogue

Drawing principally from Francis Fukuyama’s (1952–) conception of thymos, this article focuses on exploring Okonkwo’s desire and his rigid personality in Chinua Achebe’s (1930–2013) magnum opus titled Things Fall Apart (1958). This paper hopes to prove how Achebe’s most famous character, Okonkwo, attempts to gratify his thymos which is described as a ‘desire for recognition’. Consistent with Fukuyama’s notion, this research examines how Okonkwo struggles to gain his thymos in confrontation with Ibo people and how his thymos-driven emotions incite him to reject the white colonists’ dominance in the fictional clan of Umuofia in Iboland. Therefore, we argue why Okonkwo’s …

Notes From The Editor: Volume 12, Rory J. Conces Prof.

International Dialogue

No abstract provided.

Divided Memories About Building Peace In Chechnya (1995-2004), Cécile Druey

International Dialogue

The conflicts in and around Chechnya are intractable, with a perceived impossibility to find a negotiated solution. This paper focuses on the hostage crises of Budennovsk (1995) and Beslan (2004) which are episodes from the two Chechnya Wars and had an important impact on their further course. Based on the memories of key actors representing specific sides of the conflict, the paper identifies and contextualizes diverging approaches to negotiations and conflict settlement. Conceptual support for this analysis of open-source materials is provided by the theoretical literature on “ripeness” and “readiness” as conditions for the initiation and successful conduction of negotiations. …

Table Of Contents, Rory J. Conces Prof.

International Dialogue

No abstract provided.

Disorder In Heaven And On Earth: Heaven In Disorder Slavoj Žižek. Or Books, New York And London, 2021. Pp. 240., Edward Sankowski, Betty J. Harris

International Dialogue

This essay examines three main aspects of Slavoj Žižek’s book. Beyond interpretation, we also aim for a constructive account of what novel insights might emerge from critically examining Žižek’s efforts in this book. (1) One aspect of his text is his continuing insistence on the goal of a newly re-conceived Communism, so named, e.g., in remarks about ecological threats (65) and in the concluding section, “Why I Am Still A Communist” (212; 218). Žižek’s goal is Communism, but supposedly not the authoritarian variety of communism that emerged in the twentieth century (213). In Žižek’s view, Communism must be invented to …

Levinas, Adorno, And The Ethics Of The Material Other By Eric Nelson, Suny Press, 2020 Pp. 480, Emilia Angelova, Curtis Hutt, Leah Klmanson, Eric Nelson

International Dialogue

This is a number of reviews and responses to Eric S. Nelson's Levinas, Adorno, and the Ethics of Materials Other (2020) SUNY Press. This includes:

The Relation of the Ethics of the Material Other to the Rights of the Stranger by Emilia Angelova

Nelson's Defense of Asymmetrical Ethics: On Religion and Human Rights by Curtis Hutt

On Nelson and East Asian Philosophies by Leah Kalmanson

Author Response: The Ethics of the Material Other and the Right of the Other by Eric S. Nelson

Becoming Human: A Theory Of Ontogeny Michael Tomasello. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2019 Pp. 392., Benjamin Gregg

International Dialogue

No philosophical question is older than What are we, we humans? Michael Tomasello contributes a splendid, empirically based answer to this hoary debate in Becoming Human, with a programmatic subtitle, A Theory of Ontogeny. We humans are an evolved organism with a capacity to create culture only by means of which we can realize aspects of our biological selves—and just as our biology can realize aspects of our cultural selves. That is, our biology evolved in ways that released in us capacities for “culture” that, in turn, released in us biologically relevant capacities, with “enormous and cascading phenotypic effects”—but effects …

Working With English Grammar: An Introduction Louis Cummings New York: Cambridge University Press, 2018, 372 Pp., Owen G. Mordaunt

International Dialogue

The purpose of this book is to give an introduction of the grammar of the English language to students with little or no knowledge or no prior knowledge of English grammar. It could be part of a linguistics program and could include students working toward a TEFL/TESOL degree or even those students working towards certificates in these areas. It could also be suitable for students in Advanced Placement in the U.S. and Advanced Levels elsewhere. In addition, this text could be useful to those who need to increase their knowledge of English grammar, be they professionals, writers, editors, teachers, speech …

Structures Of Loyalty: A Comparative Study Of Jewish And Palestinian Evangelicals' Acquiescence To Fundamentalist And Authoritarian Values, Anders P. Lundberg, Kristian Steiner

International Dialogue

This is a qualitative comparative study of two evangelical movements in Israel and in the West Bank: the Israeli Messianic (IM) movement and the Palestinian Evangelical (PE) movement. Through interviews on how informants understand the Middle Eastern conflict, our aim is (1) to compare the prevalence of fundamentalist/authoritarian (F/A) values in the IM and PE movements and (2) to understand how a particular socio-political context —Israel and the West Bank—might affect the acquiescence to a F/A mindset amongst the two movements. To accomplish this, we created a F/A construct that measures five values: literalism, social withdrawal, authoritarian aggression, authoritarian submission, …

Football As Soft Power: The Political Use Of Football In Qatar, The United Arab Emirates And The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Vitas Rafael Carosella

Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series

In November 2022 Qatar hosts the first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region FIFA World Cup. This paper seeks to understand the use of football as a soft power political tool in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Based on culture, values and policies, soft power is power through attraction as opposed to coercion. The stronger one player’s values, culture and policies are, the more soft power that player has. Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, traditional fossil fuel-based states, suffer from a lack of attraction. By investing in football, each nation hopes …

Qualitative Analysis Of Factors Supporting Child Labour Trafficking In Nigeria: Public Perceptions And Cultural Relativism, Femi Omotoso Prof., Olayide Oladeji Phd, Babatunde Alokan

Dignity: A Journal of Analysis of Exploitation and Violence

This study aimed to establish how socio-cultural and economic factors support the endemicity of child labour trafficking in Nigeria. The research was conducted among rural and urban households and stakeholders in southern Nigeria. A field survey was conducted in Ekiti, Edo, Kwara, Lagos, and Osun States. The study utilised cultural relativism and the margin of appreciation theories. The qualitative research approach used in-depth interviews, focus groups, and personal observation methods to collect data. Researchers interviewed 70 participants, including parents/guardians, stakeholders (government officials and private agency representatives), traffickers, trafficked children, and their employers. Societal context, especially the perception of child rights, …

Targeted Sanctions Against Human Rights Violators: A Question Of Efficacy, Jennifer F. Dillard

Honors College Theses

Human rights violations occur all too frequently, with authoritarian regimes at the forefront of abuses. Countries that respect human rights engage in various initiatives, one such example being targeted sanctions to try and stem the tide of human suffering at the hands of unscrupulous dictators. Currently, Uyghurs are victims of genocide in China, dissidents in countries such as Russia and Belarus are falsely imprisoned, and individuals in Saudi Arabia are persecuted and imprisoned solely for advocating for freedom of speech and equality for women. Each of these countries have been the subject of sanctions. This paper seeks to answer the …

Foreword

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

No abstract provided.

The Holy See: An Institution Like No Other, Jace Bartz

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

This paper explores the Holy See’s role within the international order of states. Although viewed primarily as a religious institution, the Holy See’s position as a sovereign state and head of a religious body allows it to have a prominent voice on the world stage. I examine the IR theories of constructivism and realism in relation to the Holy See’s influence. This comparison illustrates how the Holy See can affect international action due to its emphasis on diplomacy and peace. I review the history and ability of the Holy See to implement a diplomatic approach to engage with states multilaterally …

Lessons From European Energy Transition: Reality Or Green Dream?, Sky Berry-Weiss

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

As a looming climate crisis continues to overwhelm the global community and Europe grips with fluctuating fossil fuel prices due to geopolitical tensions, the European Union appears to be rushing to forge a path to renewable energy to forgo dependence on nonrenewable energy sources. Decades ahead of the global community, the European Union has succeeded in its 2020 goals by increasing the share of renewable energy to 20% of overall consumption. Heading towards their strikingly ambitious goals for 2030, this great transition provides a case study that other states should be watching closely. This article analyzes the effects of several …

List Of Abbreviations

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

No abstract provided.

From Franco's Nightmare To A Globalized Spain: A Cinematic Analysis, Claire Maurer

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Spain has had a long history of determining its own identity through successive regime changes, national crises and shifting international alliances. With Las Chicas de la Sexta Planta (Le Guay, 2011), Torremolinos 73 (Berger, 2003), Miente (De Ocampo, 2008) and The Way (Estévez, 2010) as a guide, I examine the distinctive characteristics of Spansh identity across three notable sections of its history: Francoist Spain (1939-1975), “free” Spain (1975-1986), and Spain as a member of the supranational European Union (EU) (1986-), or the European Economic Community (EEC) at that time. These films and time periods help to shed light on important …

Integrated Or Excluded: The Effects Of French Integration Policies On Immigrant Communities From 2000 To 2020, Johanna N. Soleil

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Few issues are as important to European politics as integration, though research into the actual effect of integration policies on immigrant communities is sparse in Europe and especially in France. This paper examines through the data available to researchers how immigrant communities compare to native populations in terms of cultural, health, and economic characteristics. To this end the paper is organized as follows: the first section introduces the French political context and the cultural attitude towards immigrants. Next, the various methods of analysis are presented, and each of the previously mentioned attributes is analyzed in the French context as well …

Judging From Above: French Feminists & Their Influence On The Veil Debate, Emma Caroline Delapré

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Over the past two decades, the international community has found itself questioning France’s application of laïcité and the egalitarianism it supposedly ensures, particularly regarding veils associated with the Islamic faith. Integral to the face veil debate is the advocacy of French feminists, especially those who identify as pro-ban. Overarchingly, pro-ban feminists argue that the practice of wearing face veils or coverings undermines a French citizen’s obligation to foster cohesion in the public sphere through the acceptance of republican norms. This viewpoint informs the analysis of the state of social division in France undertaken here. The tools of analysis include a …

2015 Syrian Refugee Responses Based On The Strength Of Securitization Discourse, Jacob M. Decarli

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

This paper seeks to answer the question: Why were policy responses to the 2015 Syrian refugee "crisis" so different in Germany and the UK? I argue that these policies were driven by public opinion about migrants and immigration. Germany adopted a more liberal migration policy because of higher approval for refugees entering the country. I argue that this is the result of the degree to which securitization discourse explains different public attitudes towards Syrian refugees in 2015. Specifically, I argue that the greater the strength of securitization discourse, the easier it is to implement restrictive immigration policy. This paper demonstrates …

The Eu's Capacity To Lead The Transatlantic Alliance In Ai Regulation, Varun Roy, Vignesh Sreedhar

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

In the face of Chinese advances in AI in terms of technological prowess and influence, there has been a call for collaboration between the EU and the US to create a foundation for AI governance based on shared democratic beliefs. This paper maps out the EU, US, and Chinese approaches to AI development and regulation as we analyze the capacity of the US and EU to establish international standards for AI regulation through channels such as the TTC. As the EU rolled out a proportionate and risk-based approach to ensure stricter regulation for high-risk AI technologies, it laid the foundation …

Efficacy Of The European Union And The United States' Sanctioning Of Russia In Response To Breaches Of Ukrainian Sovereignty, Alexej W. Latimer

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

This research inquiry breaks down some of the intricacies of US and EU sanctions imposed on Russia following the breaches of Ukrainian sovereignty by the Kremlin in 2014. These sanctions are examined for their direct fiscal impacts and implicit efficacies as the result of specific policies. This paper seeks to identify nuanced characteristics of various sanctions and determine how sanction efficacy is tied to the classification under which the controlled product/good category is considred. This is just an initial record of observed patterns in sanctioning within a specific geopolitical realm. The paper was written in December 2021, and therefore prior …

Jewish People In The German Far-Right: How Afd Is Pandering To Jews To Gain Legitimacy, Luca L. Zislin

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

Despite the consistent rise of anti-Semitic attacks, Jewish people from across Germany are joining the far-right Alternative für Deutschland political party in increasing numbers. In 2018 a group of nineteen Jewish AfD members formed the JAfD, the Jewish division of the party, reflecting just how much Jewish support for the AfD is growing even as national and global Jewish organizations have branded the AfD as anti-Semitic. This growth comes as a shock considering incidents like AfD politician Wolfgang Gedeon’s denial of the Holocaust and accusations that numerous AfD politicians encourage extremist behavior. This paper examines the AfD’s official policy statements …

Necessary Trade-Offs Or Two-Faced Hypocrisy: Normative Conflicts In Eu Policies, Florian Bochert

Claremont-UC Undergraduate Research Conference on the European Union

The European Union (EU) often tries to present itself as a normative leader in both human rights protection and climate change prevention. However, since emission reductions sometimes require investments in solar panels that are produced using forced labor, these two norms can conflict with each other. Based on two case studies of EU policies on Israel-Palestine and North Africa, this article shows how conflicts between different norms are nothing new to the EU. In its policies on Israel-Palestine, the EU has had to balance its historical responsibility to Israel with its commitment to international law. In its policies on North …

Resetting Foreign Economic Relations : Part – Iii, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Newspaper and Magazine Articles

Gulf States: Pakistan has enjoyed very friendly relations with the Gulf States. The first generation of Emirates rulers were very favourably disposed towards Pakistan as they received a lot of cooperation in their journey towards the modernization of the country. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have absorbed a large number of Pakistani workers in their labour force and are the two top sources of remittances. The UAE is one of the major trading partners and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait suppliers of petroleum products and crude oil while Qatar has long-term contracts for LNG. These countries have been coming to Pakistan’s …

The Global Implications Of Xi Jinping’S Formidable Power, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

This abstract examines recent developments within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, highlighting its trajectory towards enhanced surveillance capabilities and centralized control. The CCP's emphasis on maintaining internal stability and ideological purity, exemplified by Xi's consolidation of power and suppression of dissent, raises concerns about the party's commitment to political reform and economic openness. The narrative explores implications for China's domestic governance, international relations—particularly regarding Taiwan—and global technological competition. It argues that while China's economic prowess continues to expand, its increasingly authoritarian governance under Xi Jinping poses challenges to global norms and multilateral institutions. …

Resetting Foreign Economic Relations : Part - Ii, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Newspaper and Magazine Articles

China: there are several areas where the ongoing cooperation between Pakistan and China should be continued but at least three areas need to be focused for accelerated implementation. These are: one, completion of ongoing projects under CPEC – addition of capacity to the national power grid by bringing the hydropower, renewable energy and coal projects to culmination. The ML1 Railway track has been pending approval and financing for several years and each year of delay adds to the logistical costs to the economy and fiscal deficit by absorbing the losses of Pakistan Railways operating an outdated system. The Gwadar Port …

Resetting Foreign Economic Relations : Part I, Ishrat Husain Dr.

Faculty Research - Newspaper and Magazine Articles

The 2021 National Security Policy has made geo-economics its main pivot. It is therefore essential to look in a coherent and comprehensive manner how Pakistan’s economic relations with other nations should evolve to meet this objective. In designing foreign economic policy we should always keep in mind that such a policy would be a by-product of the country’s larger foreign and domestic economic policies. For example, if foreign policy with one particular country or group of countries is silent, ambivalent or agnostic then a foreign economic policy cannot be built upon strong economic cooperation with that country or group. Similarly, …

Russia-Ukraine War Brings Nuclear Risk To Level Not Seen Since Cuban Missile Crisis, Erika Simpson

Political Science Publications

The current Russian-Ukraine crisis is marked by escalating tensions and heightened nuclear threats, reminiscent of Cold War anxieties. Vladimir Putin's strategic maneuvers, including partial mobilization and veiled nuclear warnings, underscore a perilous geopolitical standoff. The risk of nuclear use, potentially greater than during the Cuban missile crisis, looms amid fears that Russia might resort to tactical nuclear weapons. International responses, from stark warnings by Western leaders to diplomatic appeals from global powers like China and India, emphasize efforts to prevent catastrophic escalation. Amidst military developments and societal opposition within Russia, the crisis underscores the delicate balance between deterrence and conflict …