Category / 2018 / Bodies / International / Modern War / Social Justice
-
![]()
I Support Israel. The Jerusalem Capital Declaration Was Wrong
Trump’s December announcement that the U.S. would move its embassy to Jerusalem and recognize the city as Israel’s official capital reversed decades of U.S. policy and has yielded more questions than answers. Even though the administration still claims to value the possibility of a two-state solution, this declaration is a clear statement of one-sided support.…
-
![]()
The Reality of the Fake News Hysteria
Since the 2016 election, “fake news” has become a stunningly popular topic among politicians in America and around the world. As of November 2017, the term’s usage had increased by 365 percent since 2016. Donald Trump played a major role in its popularization, with his attacks on the media often laced with the term “fake…
-
![]()
World Order and American Interest
International order, narrowly defined, means “the body of rules, norms, and institutions that govern relations among key players in the international environment.” Such rules, norms, and institutions include trade deals, security norms, networks, and alliances. The current international order arose after World War II and was shaped subsequently by the Cold War and the collapse…
-
![]()
The Cultural Dimension of Syrian Conflict
From the American Revolution to the color revolutions, intellectuals have played a significant role in creating grand narratives and mobilizing the public. They constructed social theories that facilitated collective action, and their visions continued to serve the new regime after the revolutions succeeded. In the Arab Spring, however, intellectuals are marginalized and the ideological aspect…
-
![]()
Should the U.S. Balance Saudi Arabia Against Iran?
A humanitarian disaster in Yemen. Sanctions against Qatar. Consolidation of power in Riyadh. And yet another possible proxy conflict in Lebanon between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This is what you get when states—Saudi Arabia in particular—get blank checks from the United States of America. This is why the world’s last absolutist monarchy must be brought…
-
![]()
The American Civil War Was Not a Civil War
Recently, I spoke with a family member about the American Civil War. While agreeing with the aim of the Union Army, he wondered how William Tecumseh Sherman could be viewed as anything other than a war criminal. However, he deemed Dwight Eisenhower’s treatment of German soldiers during the Second World War as completely acceptable. I…
-
![]()
Authoritarianism: A Quick and Easy Guide
Congratulations! You are now dictator of your nation! Through your [power acquisition method], you are in an influential position to guide your nation for the next few [days/years/decades]! Be proud, for you are following a strong tradition of autocrats usurping democratic norms for the sake of personal gain. Play your cards right and future generations…
