Ellen's blog post

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/25/opinion/25kristof.html?ref=opinion



Nicholas Kristof is famous for publicizing horrific human rights violations that the Western world has ignored. He won his first Pulitzer prize for his work regarding the Cambodian sex trade and his second for his work regarding the genocide in Darfur.

His column today, Kristof writes about a school started in Southern Sudan, because of the ambition of Valentino Achak Deng the boy who inspired the book What is the What and the resources of the book’s author Dave Eggers. The school is a boarding school and each class comprises 50% girls. Kristof sites government statistics that last year in all of southern Sudan, only 11 girls sat for graduation exams. This school is attempting to raise that number exponentially. The administrators perpetually have to resist the constant pressure from the government officials to admit their own children. However, the school’s administrators insist that admission is based solely on test scores, with a slight preference given to orphans.

Though this school in itself is not an international event, the girls and boys that it educates may someday become players on the international stage and find peaceful solutions to the turmoil that has enveloped their country. The international support for the school, particularly from United States citizens is proof that international relations is more than just state relations. Realism cannot explain why people feel compassion for those who do not influence or threaten them at all. This school and its international support are proof that people care and effect international relations with no obvious motive other than compassion.

Here is the New York Times article about Powerpoint and the Pentagon-- it shares some similar themes with Gregory's arguments about technology influencing how complex situations are viewed.

Future Pope’s Role in Abuse Case Was Complex

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/world/europe/27vienna.html?ref=world

This is an article about current Pope Benedict’s previous responses to allegations of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, specifically a case during the 1990s involving a high-ranking Austrian cardinal. Given the influence then-Cardinal Ratzinger seemed to hold over the Pope and other important Catholic institutions, his critics are unwilling to forgive what they perceive to be his failure to prosecute more vigorously the sexual crimes committed within the church, despite his more recent demonstrations of remorse regarding the scandal. Though the clergyman at the center of this scandal died in 2003, there is still significant interest in the way is case was handled by the current pope, a prominent example himself of the continued relevance of an undead history. The article refers to the matter as a Rorschach-type evaluation that would serve to predict his future approach to such issues. This is in itself an example of a past that is not yet past, but more broadly, the influence of the Catholic Church and its legacy retains an unsettled legacy developed over millennia of power that continues to hold serious implications for current international relations.

Noriega is extradited to France

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8645584.stm

This article discusses an event that took place about 20 years ago. A Panamanian military leader, Manuel Noriega, who previously had good relations with the US, was convicted of drug trafficking, and spent 17 years in prison in the US. After 17 years, Noriega wanted to return back to Panama to serve the rest of his sentence, but his appeals were rejected and he has now been sent to France to serve the rest of his time. This article brings up the issue of the rights of prisoners of war, one that is very much alive today. With the controversy going on in Guantanamo Bay, it is evident that the lines are still hazy concerning the label of "prisoner of war," and the rights they have. In this sense, this article brings up the past, which is still very present today.

Dream election result for Sudan's President Bashir

James Bond theories arise in Korean ship sinking

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-fg-korea-torpedo-20100427,0,2552538.story

A 1200 ton South Korean patrol boat called the Cheonan split and sunk March 26 while it was on a mission in the disputed sea border between North and South Korea. Investigators are pointing to possible North Korea involvement suggesting the Cheonan was with struck by a floating mine or an enemy torpedo. North Korea has denied responsibility, but at least one North Korean defector and an activist in Seoul have provided details of an elite unit of 13 commandos in mini-submarines. The North Korean defector, Jang Jin-sung, who once worked within Pyongyang's spy network, said he is also convinced the Cheonan was hit by a so-called human torpedo.

I picked this article because it reminded me of our reading of Sex Among Allies from two weeks ago. The tensions that existed then between North Korea and South Korea still exist today. Instead of the prostitutes being the actors, the governments and their militaries are the actors in this situation. However, the alleged “suicide bombers” are also the actors because they are the ones being utilized by the government just as the prostitutes were. In addition, there are realist politics at play here. South Korea is contemplating how to respond to North Korea as to express appropriate retaliation, but not to come off too aggressive as to spark a nuclear war.

Iran marks anniversary of failed US rescue attempt

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100425/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_iran_us

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI, Associated Press Writer Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press Writer – Sun Apr 25, 5:40 pm ET

On Sunday, April 25, hundreds of hard-line Iranians marked the 30th Anniversary of the failed US rescue attempt (of the Americans held hostage at the embassy. The 1980 attempt, Operation Eagle Claw, caused major embarrassment for the US when a helicopter crashed during a sandstorm, killing 8 US servicemen. The crash was (and is) a cause for celebration for some Iranians, however, who saw the event as a "divine miracle" to protect Iran from the "evil" US. Hundreds of people gathered at the crash site, as they have in previous years, nearly 400 southeast of Tehran, to remember and celebrate the event. A "Mosque of Thanks" had been built on the site, and there are plans for a museum on the site as well.

This fits well with the blog theme of "What in the 'past' is not really past?"
It also goes well with Derek Gregory's "The Colonial Present." It goes to show that events that happen in the past (even "one-time" events, like a specific accident) can have great relevance to the present. As Gregory's book implies, when one country intervenes in another there are profound consequences, often unanticipated but nonetheless long-lasting. The chain of events that led to that crash (and the response of some Iranians) is very complex. It is also interesting to think that while the US framed the conflict as Good vs. Evil (with the US being the force of good, of course), some Iranians saw it the opposite way. This just goes to show the extent that rhetoric of war is portrayed as narrative.

South Park Controversy

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/23/arts/television/23park.html?src=me&ref=arts
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_ts1763

This isn't my post for the week, but just an issue I've been hearing a lot about lately and I was wondering what your opinions on it were. You've probably all heard about the controversy regarding a recent episode of "South Park" that planned to depict the Prophet Muhammad and was censored by Comedy Central after threatening statements about the shows creators appeared online. (If you haven't heard about, here a couple links to articles that describe the controversy). I have never watched "South Park" (nor do I have any desire to). If any of you watch the show (or even if you don't), what do you think about this issue? Could representations (of Muhammad and others) on this show be considered Orientalist? If portraying Muhammad is very offensive to some people, should others be allowed to do it simply because it is not offensive to them? Should the network have taken the steps they did to censor the episode? I'm not quite sure how I feel about this complex issue, and I'm curious to know what you guys think.

school lunchs as a security threat?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_school_lunches_threat

Some have called unhealthy school lunch programs a threat to national security because it leads to poor health and therefore inadequate soldiers.

This hearkens back to the day of the Boer war- around the turn of the century, Great Britain was fighting to maintain its colony in South Africa against the "Boers," the Dutch settlers. Because of the industrial revolution and the unhealthy living/working conditions in cities, many of the young men who tried to enlist in the military in Britain were deemed to be physically unfit to serve. This caused great concern and led to the establishment of education reforms, such as including physical fitness as part of education, and the promotion of sports for young men.

Edward Said videos

Here is a link to the Said interviews/videos that we watched in class today (Tuesday). You can watch the remaining segments as well if you like. A warning applies about the terribleness of youtube comments, however.

Role of Sports in International Relations

http://english.aljazeera.net/sport/2010/04/2010420174912560221.html

http://english.aljazeera.net/sport/2010/04/2010417183527498531.html

These first two links discuss recent developments in the cricket world. The first one is connects particularly well with what we discussed in class today about imagined geographies.

"Afghanistan may pose more of a threat to South Africa's hopes of winning cricket's Twenty20 World Cup than the leading nations, Proteas captain Graeme Smith said, pointing to their "war zone" mentality."

This is in a way implying that Afghanis would be more aggressive given the country they grew up in. This assumption is further implied later in the article.

"It's going to be nerve-wracking playing them. I read their opener (Karim Sadiq) said he was not scared of facing Dale Steyn and I wouldn't be either if I grew up in a war zone. That's the thing, they have no fear and they have nothing to lose, which makes them dangerous."

The second link is about a bombing that occurred outside an Indian Primer League stadium. It is currently unknown who was behind the bombings. This is not the first time the sport has been a target for attacks. "Pakistan lost co-host rights for the World Cup a year ago after terrorists attacked the Sri Lanka team convoy in Lahore, killing six police officers and a driver. Sports venues in India have faced tight security amid fears that Islamist radical groups may target them, with last year's IPL being held in South Africa."

http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/13/egypt-and-algeria-brace-for-match-of-hate-sequel/

This links to a blog about the violence before an Algeria-Egyptian soccer match. Part of this violence was due to the last game played between the countries in 1989, which cause an extreme amount of violence. One Egyptian player even compared it to the war against Israel in 1973. The second game, the game that the article was blogging about, had become known as a "match of hate."

And, of course:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gfD134ED54&feature=related

It is clear the sports arenas are not spared from violence or political tensions. Is this simply because of the nature of sports, and their fans? Or do these international sporting events take on a boarder meaning? These players in a way represent their country. Going to the example of the "Miracle on Ice," the hockey players had nothing to do with the situation with the Soviets in Afghanistan, but that did not prevent the game from taking on a symbolic meaning. (Does anyone who has seen the movie "Miracle" remember the "Soviets: Get the puck out of Afghanistan" banner?)

It seems that these internationally-competing sports teams cannot escape political tensions or assumptions that correspond to their country. In this way, sports teams can play an interesting role in International Relations.

American Perceptions of Islam

I saw this picture the other day and thought it was relevant to we were talking about today. Someone said that we generally have more knowledge about Islam and the Middle East now than pre-9/11. For the Macalester crowd, this most likely led to a greater understanding of Middle Eastern culture, but for the rest of the US, 9/11 may remain the only thing people associate with Islam.

http://gawker.com/5520077/a-picture-of-911-is-not-a-thing-to-put-on-your-truck

Medics Call for Ban on Trans-fat in UK Food

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8622723.stm

British doctors and scientists have concluded that 7,000 deaths a year could be prevented in Britain alone by reducing trans fat consumption by a single percent. Anything above 2% (of daily caloric intake) is considered dangerous. Thus, the UK is pushing to ban fatty acids all together. We have seen similar bans in NYC and Denmark.

However, if this ban is “successful” in the UK, will similar bans be made across the globe? In the US? Why or why not? Moreover, is it the government’s place to be placing bans on certain foods in the first place? (What’s next, a universal ban of potato chips?)

This article explores the extend of a government’s control, as well as the international "domino effect" this ban may inspire.

Also consider that the UK runs under the precautionary principal, meaning that it requires less scientific evidence and debate when attempting to enforce bans such as this: thus expediting the process considerably.

Airlines Press Europe to Ease Ban on Flights

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/19/world/europe/19ash.html?scp=2&sq=airlines&st=cse

“Airlines Press Europe to Ease Ban on Flights”

This article deals with the crisis many European travelers have been facing since the eruption of Iceland’s volcano. The eruption released a massive cloud of ash that now has drifted over much of the European mainland. Initially, many predictions showed that if an aircraft were to fly through the ash the engines would stall. However, this article shows that now airlines are pushing for test flights to see if this is actually the case. Many European airlines are putting pressure on governments to reopen their airspace and allow flights to take off. These airlines have suffered financial losses of almost $50 billion over the last decade, and losses due to the current crisis are almost $1 billion in lost revenue. It has been theorized that if flights continue to be grounded some of the weaker airlines could go under. Also, some airlines have refunded their passengers for tickets or offered free rescheduling services on flights that have been cancelled due to the ash.

This situation could have grave effects on the international relations within Europe and between Europe and the rest of the world. With many airports across Europe closed, the international travel and trade-related industries will suffer greatly if this continues much longer. The ash cloud and the authorities policies regarding flights not only affect the airline industry but also the tourist industry and any industry that ships goods using airfreight carriers. As should be evident at this point, any situation that affects international trade negatively has severe consequences on relations between nations.

Thai army defends business area from "red shirts"

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63H06E20100420

Remember how last time I mentioned that speculation was the situation was gonna get violent? Well, our friends in Bangkok didn't disappoint it would seem. Currently, red shirts are threatening to descend upon Bangkok's business district, causing the government to reinforce it with armed forces. Speculation that there could be a coup is growing and the stability of Thailand continues to deteriorate. The protestors (who call themselves the Red Shirts) are demanding early elections and are backed by the former prime minster.

In this case, you have a realist power structure clashing up against an objective power structure. The government of Thailand is attempting to operate like an objective power structure. It is making power assessments and deciding how to strategically engage the red shirts, by defending critical areas (such as the financial district) with an overwhelming display of force. They are the states, the primary actors, who in theory should not be influenced by internal affairs of the states (ie protests). However, they are clearly disturbed by the turn of events and are responding to the rebels. Only by claiming the rebels count as a de facto state could you keep this situation within a solely realist worldview. However, it is realist in that the objective power structure that the Thai government adheres to has little regard for human rights and freedoms. It doesn't feel that holding new elections now will be necessary and the regime is currently as military dictatorship. There would seem to be no normative structures that the Thai government feels beholden to.

However, the protestors feel that the government should be accountable to the people. The fact that they would risk doing something about this when the odds (objectively) are stacked significantly against them shows that realist power considerations don't heavily influence their thinking. It would seem that other considerations better inform their decisions. Firstly, their belief in basic human rights and beliefs seems to imply that they hold a liberal philosophy. This is the causative element that explains their decisions.However, the way that they are going about it goes against the basic good element of people that liberals espouse as well. Therefore, we are left to assume that constructivism most likely informs their decision making, that the normative acceptance of violent clashes and revolutions made it possible for this kind of process to take place.

Despite Advice, Many Fail to Breast-Feed

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/health/20stat.html?ref=health

This article presents evidence stating that the more educated a woman is, the more likely she is to breast feed. Now commonly considered one of the best practices for a healthy child, development and future health, breast feeding is highly encouraged by health providers and by the national government. Yet education is not the only factor influencing who breast feeds and who doesn't. The article states that african american women with college degrees are less likely to breastfeed than white women with college degrees. This implies that breast feeding is somewhat of a cultural practice, and not only hangs on education.

This article really makes me reflect on the policies that shape 1) education and 2) cultural norms. People with better health care are usually better educated. They recieve more preventetive procedures and take prevenetative (such as breast feeding), which ultimately betters their quality of life and the quality of life of their children. This ciclical measure of good health is generally feuled by government policies. The United States has a higher level of health education overall, which through its policies is encouraging breast feeding to women on a natural level. Yet in some nations there are cultural factors that might influence what the government promots generally as far as health care goes, what they are able to educate thier citizens on, and what they are able to warn women against. When a government is unable to give or even teach about preventative health care, quality of life and life expectancy are much harder to increase.

If health is a universal human right, and some governments cannot afford to extend it to all of itz citizens, there becomes a political and social disparity between nations, and classes within nations.

Sinking of the Cheonan

http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2010/04/looks-like-an-external-explosion

http://defensestatecraft.blogspot.com/2010/04/cheonan-sunk-by-external-explosion.html

Ah the sea. Briney air, ocean breeze. Nothing but bright blue in...*siren* OH S**T! OH S**T! TORPEDO! BRACE FOR IMPACT! *KABLAM*

Why is it that naval vessels and mysterious explosions have so much war starting potential? The Gulf of Tonqin Incident and the explosion of the USS Maine give us great examples of that. Now we have the explosion of the South Korean patrol boat, the ROKS Cheonan. Though I suppose here the explosion is not so mysterious (Investigators ruled out an internal explosion, no mine has been found in Korean waters since the 1980s, leaving a torpedo as the sole culprit). All this makes for some interesting international relationing. Anecdotally, it seems fairly obvious that North Korea is responsible for this attack (who else in the Yellow Sea is gonna take pot shots at a South Korean patrol boat with torpedoes?). In terms of North Korea's relationship with the rest of the international community, though, this really doesn't make sense. What reason would North Korea have for making an attack like this? It's not as if North Korea is going to benefit from the increased attention they're receiving as a result of the attack, the attack is simply going to make North Korea's position in the international community worse, decreasing the chances of North Korea ever resolving the sanctions that are currently suffocating its economy. My guess? Kim Jong Il had nothing to do with this attack. Someone either on the North Korean boat or in the command hierarchy immediately above the captain of the boat screwed up.

Mood Is Dark as Israel Marks 62nd Year as a Nation

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/20/world/middleeast/20israel.html?hp

This article describes the lead up to Israel's independence day. According to the article this year there is "something about the mood this year that feels darker than usual", describing some of the worries being experienced by the country as of late. In addition to fear of Iran developing and employing a nuclear weapon, Israel is concerned with the growing tensions between themselves and the Obama administration. Furthermore, the data taken from a poll conducted by BBC shows that Israel along with Iran, North Korea and Pakistan are viewed least favorably by people around the world. Additionally, Israel argues that they are still rejected and resented by most of the arab world, due to their existence.

This article may be evaluated through a constructivist perspective. Constructivism, argues that states relations are a result of the way in which they perceive each other. In this situation Israel is preoccupied with Iran's development of a nuclear weapon because they perceive Iran to be a danger to themselves. According Gregory, this is due to the way in which Israel has defined themselves in accordance to Iran and the other arabic states that surround it. Therefore there sense of insecurity comes from them having defined themselves as "the other" or the opposite of what the arab states. This comes from both states perceiving themselves as being inherently different from the other, in terms of religion and culture, ultimately leading these states to being in conflict with each other. This may be seen as Mr. Netanyahu stated that "Israel must again become an inalienable part of the West". Thus, differentiating themselves from what is considered to be oriental.

Terreblanche's death stokes racial tensions

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/04/04/terreblanche.analysis/index.html?npt=NP1

Eugene Terreblanche, a white supremacist leader in South Africa, was killed earlier this month by two of his farm workers over an apparent labor dispute (http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/04/03/terreblanche.dead/index.html). The former leader of the Afrikaner Resistance Movement, Terreblanche actively led the resistance against the end of apartheid in South Africa in the the 1990s. Since his death 2 weeks ago, old racial tensions have come back to life, creating comparisons to the dark days before South Africa became a democracy. The uneasiness stems from the timing of the Neo-Nazi's death, which came relatively soon after a member of the African National Congress was barred from singing the anti-apartheid song "Kill the Boer," which is about killing a farmer. Now, a seemingly similar atmosphere to that of apartheid South Africa exists, in which the white men are suspicious of the black men and vice versa.

Apartheid seemed to be something of the past, but with the assassination of one of its greatest supporters, the spotlight now shines bright on racial issues within South Africa. Many fear that the new segregation created over the death of Terreblanche will create an apartheid-like atmosphere, an undesirable situation at best for international relations. South African international relations during the Apartheid were practically non-existant; South Africa was politically isolated until the end of the Apartheid came around. If the racial tensions in South Africa revert back to the times of Apartheid, then relations with the country could come to a screeching halt. Therefore, apartheid, which was seemingly an element of South Africa's past, could possibly spill into its present. Furthermore, this situation disputes the realist argument that only states matter and that domestic issues have no affect on international relations. The racial segregation in South Africa during the Apartheid definitely had an effect on how the world interacted with the South African government, and the current situation could also affect South African international relations as well.

Japanese Politicians voice opposition to Suffrage for “Foreign” Nationals

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20100418a1.html

High profile politicians from five of Japan's political parties have voiced stanch opposition to proposals to allow foreign suffrage in local elections. Out of Japan's population in 2008, 912,400 foreign nationals were registered with Japan's government, and 420,300 of these people were special permanent residents of Korean and Taiwanese descent who had been forced to take Japanese Nationality during past colonialism. Several generations of Korean and Taiwanese who were born and live in Japan still do not have citizenship, which is a tedious and complex process. The DJP has been accused of supporting suffrage for foreign nationals to gain support for the upcoming Upper House election. Financial Services Minister Shizuka Kamei stated that, “it was obvious that granting suffrage will destroy Japan.”

While it seems logical to deny foreign residents born in other countries the right to vote, denying families that have been born and living in Japan for centuries suffrage rights makes less sense. The process of becoming a Japanese citizen is difficult, because Japanese citizenship primarily held by people who are ethnically Japanese. Before citizenship laws were changed, new citizens were forced to adopt Japanese names. Minorities of other Asians (Korean, Taiwanese, Chinese, etc.) have faced discrimination within Japan, and even 3rd and 4th generation Koreans and Taiwanese are still denied citizenship. Holding notions of a “Japan for only the Japanese,” leaves impressions of xenophobia that damage Japan's international credibility. Internal policies towards the citizens of other countries living with in your borders, can also have an effect on your relations with those countries. Like with internment camps of Japanese Americans during WWII, xenophobia and discrimination play larger roles in our international relations. Post-9/11 treatment of Muslims and Arab-Americans have also fueled animosity between the US and Arab states.

The history of a nation

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8622880.stm

This article talks about Venezuela and a movement to bring back a certain breed of dog that has special significance to Venezuela's past. A special breed of dog that was prominment in Venezuela in past decades is famous for being a faithful companion to Simon Bolivar who is a famous revolutionary leader against the Spanish occupation. With government backing there is a small group that is attempting to bring this breed back from the brink of extinction. The government of Venezuela hopes to use the dog to promote its social political revolution against the United States and big corporations. The dogs have become such a prominent symbol that the government plans to stuck several of them in every embassy they have around the world.

This is a good example of a seemingly insignificant portion of the past being brought up and manipulated by the government to try and bring a certain opinion on their people and other peoples. This is a prime example of constructivism as a tool for governments that we studied earlier in the semester. The companion dog of a revolutionary figure has ascended to become one of the prime symbols of a political movement that is of great importance to international relations.

Russia Seeks Ways to Keep Its Children and the 2008 Beijing Olmpic Games

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/world/europe/16adopt.html?scp=4&sq=Russia&st=cse
This article is primarily concerned with Russia’s suspension on adoption, which is caused by a 7-year-old boy who was sent back to Russia by himself last week by a Tennessee woman who adopted him last year.
This issue may not be an issue on international relations according to realists, who believe that parents and adopted kids cannot be actors. From constructivism prospective, this issue may contribute to the tension between the two countries. If all Russia kids live happily in the US, there must be some Americans who will feel sympathy for Russia’s kids and are concerned about the country. If, on the contrary, Russia’s kids live an unhappy live in the US. This fact must contribute to the negative inter-subjective identity between the two countries.

For this blog post, I also want to talk about the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, because during the preparation period, I was at Beijing and I witnessed all the coverage of the event at home.
The 2008 Olympic Games is not supposed to be a political event, but it is not as it turned out to be for the Beijing Olympic Games. Not every Olympic Games was seen as a political event, and some of them were just seen as an opportunity to develop economy, like the one in Sydney and in London. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is seen by many people as an opportunity for China to show its progress over the 50 years, its transformation from a country in extreme poverty to a developing country. So, the Olympic Game was actually related to a nation’s pride and honor. That’s part of the reason for which after the disruption of Torch Relay in Paris, China’s relationship with France almost hit the lowest point for 10 years.

On "looting" in Haiti post-Earthquake

Rebecca Solnit writes, "We live and die by words and ideas, and it matters desperately that we get them right."

This article is a moving, and devastating indictment of the discourse of 'looting' in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti last winter. It connects these issues to questions of what constitutes 'security' and 'relief'. Her piece exposes the myriad ways race, class, and nationality form unexamined assumptions that serve as the foundation for how people are represented, and how we think about and theorize such problems in the first place. This piece is strongly recommended as a follow up to the issues of race and class privilege we've be discussing in class, and a precursor to discussions the contributions of post-colonial theory to IR.

Nuclear Fear of Cold War Now Applies to Terrorists

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/16/world/16memo.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

This article focuses on the similarities between the nuclear threat during the Cold War from the Soviets and the current threat of proliferation to terrorists. The similarities they discuss are almost identical; fear of potential agents inside the US, concern over proliferation into the US trough porous borders, and increased security to prevent attacks are some of them. However, the main difference now is that the threat is coming from non-state actors, which directly challenges realist theory.

Nothing embodies realist theory more than the Cold War. Two hegemons battling to become the most powerful state in the world, each looking out for their own interests, and increasing their security (and, at the same time, decreasing the security of the other player) is the definition of realist. Now, however, even though many of the same aspects of security threats are the same, it is coming from non-state actors. Realist theory only applies to state actors, not individuals.

The issue of terrorism and terrorists poses a problem to realist theory credibility. The argument can be made that this theory lost its relevance after the Cold War. However, it is interesting to entertain the thought that terrorists can be thought of as a "state." Don't they, in most cases, behave as a state in realist theory behaves? Groups like al-Qaeda look after their own interests and seek to increase their global dominance. Does thinking of terrorist groups as "borderless states" continue realist theory's relevance?

Russia Suspends US Adoptions

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/europe/04/15/russia.adoptions/index.html?hpt=T2

I am posting this story not only because it kind of follows the blog theme for this week, but also because it is something that is close to my heart. My mother works in international adoptions, with Russia being the main location, so this affects her and my family, and more importantly all the orphans we have, and haven't, met all over Russia.

Last week, a woman who had adopted a boy from Russia sent her adopted son back to Russia alone, with only a note explaining that she no longer wished to keep the boy because of his supposed psychotic state. She manipulated a Russian driver into picking up the boy from the airport and taking him to the ministry of education, where she left the decision of what to do with the little boy up to them. She claimed that the adoption case-workers had lied to her about the mental state of this boy, and for that reason she was justified in sending him back.

This has caused much argument and discussion about international adoptions, especially of Russian children by US families. This is not the first incident where a Russian child has been mistreated by their US adoptive family, and the discussion ultimately resulted in the suspension of Russian adoptions from the US.

This relates to the blog theme because in this case a child, who virtually can not make his own decisions in various areas, has influenced international discourse and action. While there is a sector of government that deals with adoptions, The Ministry of Education, it is interesting that a couple instances of mistreatment could result in such action by governmental actors, and overpower all the positive stories that have come out of international adoption. While this instance is horrific, I personally have experienced the happiness and feeling of belonging that has occurred on both the adoptive family and orphan side, and it angers me that this possibility might be taken off the table in the future. However, as this article states, there isn't much to worry about, and international adoption from Russia should resume as usual, but hopefully with more evaluation of the children, and more importantly, the parents.

Agreement at the Nuclear Security Summit

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/04/13/obama.hu.nuclear.meeting/index.html

This week, national leaders are meeting in Washington to discuss the issue of the security, in specific regards to nuclear weapons. There has been much talk about the issue of enriched uranium, and what to do with this uranium so that it is not used for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons. A few countries, including Ukraine and Mexico, have taken bold steps to decrease the amount of enriched uranium in their country, and to convert this enriched and dangerous uranium to a low-enriched form that cannot be used for nuclear weapons. Most of this uranium is being transferred to plants in the US and Russia, to be converted.
These agreements and actions signify advancements in diplomacy, joint policy, and the use of transnational organizations to oversee efforts. It seems as though liberalism and constructivism best apply in this situation, for talks seem to be between international actors such as heads of state, and transnational organizations. However, a realist may be quite suspicious of the actors in this situation. Realism argues that every state is out for itself, and that defaulting in agreements may be the most beneficial in certain situations. In this situation, if a country defaults on lowering the amount of enriched uranium, while the other countries proceed to decrease their amounts, they are now at an advantage over other countries in agreement because of their higher nuclear capability.
Another interesting point is that most of the uranium will be converted in Russia and the US, two historically powerful nations in nuclear terms. While it makes sense that they would have the technology necessary to convert the Uranium, because of their advanced nuclear programs, it is a bit unnerving that so much dangerous material will be in the hands of the two historically rival countries when it comes to nuclear power.
Nonetheless, this sort of diplomacy and compromise is very impressive in todays political environment. Now we will have to wait to find out if, when nuclear weapons are taken out of the equation, the relationship between countries becomes more peaceful, or whether it becomes more aggressive with less threats of mutually assured destruction.

Ousted Kyrgyz president gets support at home as opponents debate his fate

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/12/AR2010041204169.html

This article brought to us by our friends at the Washington Post concerns the deliberations of the current president of Kyrgyzstan. Currently, the court system in Kyrgyzstan is debating whether or not the President should be exiled or arrested. The debate has impaired international attempts to resolve the issue and has brought the future of aid in Kyrgyzstan into question. Furthermore, the future of a US base in Kyrgyzstan is questionable, due to the instability of the transition government. Currently Kyrgyzstan officials are concerned that arresting and trying the president might result in bloodshed. Although the it would most likely come at great cost, the trial of the president would most likely create solidarity within the opposition party. Complicating the issues, both Russia and Kazakhstan support the proposed exile of the Kyrgyz President.

This situation could be interpreted through several different International Relations lenses. First is realism. The situation seems to be recognizing that certain things can and can't be done and that such decisions are made based on objective power assesments. The country of Kyrgyzstan recognizes that if it doesn't have the capacity to oust the President relatively peacefully then it probably won't do so. This acts as a blow to liberalism, because Kyrgyzstan might abandon liberal policies and ideals in favor of what it can and can't do as defined by the constraints of anarchy on the world stage.

That is not to say that normative considerations are not being made. Again, if we think of the situation of constitutive thinking, we can come to some interesting conclusions. Leaders (although they have always been exiled) have only in recent history been tried and convicted. Mostly if they are killed at all, it is the product of a power transition and not viewed as a symbolic act of justice. However, the fact that it is considered "ok" to try and convict a person at all speaks to the liberally normative evolution of the international community away from execution as a purely political means.

Ellen's post

Ellen Toobin

Blog Post

This article is about a Venezuelan painter, Carolos Zerpa using art to “stand up” to large state powers, particularly the United States. Western observers argue that Zerpa’s message is offensive due to its pro revolution and anti- western message. Such a message however, has appealed to the Socialist dictator Hugo Chavez. Reportedly President Chavez himself has sanctioned both Mr. Zerpa and other street artists work with similar ideological inspiration. This article claims that such art has become a manifestation and even driving force behind the countries political and self-identity.

This article shows how political ideology is shaped in many ways, and even in this case through art. This new pro-government art suggests a blossoming medium of political policy design.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/world/americas/12caracas.html

Poland

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/11/world/europe/11kaczynski.html?scp=2&sq=poland&st=cse

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/poland/7583134/VIP-passenger-syndrome-may-have-contributed-to-Polish-plane-crash.html

The first article I posted is a New York Times piece on the political contributions of recently deceased Polish President Lech Kaczynski in a plane crash last saturday that killed him and 95 other people, including other high-ranking government and military officials. It describes his political rise and leadership career as a contentious figure often at odds with the dominant international relations expectations; he was enthusiastic about U.S.-dominated trade organizations of which other members of the European Union were more skeptical, and he was known to instigate tension between Poland and Russia as well as a general right-leaning tendency, which sometimes put him at odds with his people and the international community. The second article from a British newspaper gives another perspective on his death; rather than a freak accident, it evaluates conspiracy theories and the motivation for Russia to have facilitated the conditions of his death.

This is a pretty serious allegation, and the ill-will it has created threatens to undermine the stability of the European system which has been becoming increasingly more peaceful and integrated. Is this leftover animosity from previous violations of trust, is it the result of the narrative of hostility promoted and encouraged by Kaczynski, is it a response to unsettling tragedy that can be dismissed for its confusion, or something else entirely? What are the implications of rising ill-will between these two relatively developed, well-integrated countries in Europe in 2010?

Rampant cheating hurts China's research ambitions

By GILLIAN WONG, Associated Press Writer – Sun Apr 11, 12:49 am ET

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100411/ap_on_re_as/as_china_academic_cheating

This article looks the issue of plagiarism (cheating, ghostwriting, or faking results) in Chinese academia. The article states that plagiarism is a common problem in China, not only among stressed students but professors and elite researchers as well. One reason given is that the current system for academic promotions places more importance on the number of rather than quality of publications. Also, some don't see ghostwriting (paying someone else to write a paper for you)or "borrowing" someone else's work without citation as necessarily unethical. Some experts see the cheating as so widespread that it may hinder China's efforts to become a global leader in science research. This issue comes to light after a British science journal retracted 70 papers (all by the same two scientists) on the grounds they were plagiarized. The editor of the journal was careful to assert that many Chinese authors had submitted high-quality, important contributions to scientific journals, and that the actions of a few were not necessarily indicative of many. The article goes on to say that the Chinese government claims it is trying to crack down on academic dishonesty, but the dean of Peking University remained skeptical, and said that while the government is happy to fund research, they don't want to police it.

I found this fit well into this week's blog theme of "IR in unexpected places." Academics and research are a major source of international communication, as we at Mac should know firsthand. An issue like this will no doubt have an impact on the scholarly relations between these two states. Not only does it perhaps threaten China's bid to become a global leader in research, but one expert went so far as to say "I suspect there will be less appetite for non-Chinese scientists to collaborate with Chinese colleagues who are operating in a culture of misconduct." Whether or not issue really causes less collaboration between academics, this issue will no doubt affect how the states' perceptions of each other. There is the risk of many honest scholars suffering for their colleagues academic dishonesty;it is possible that a kind of stereotype may develop that Chinese academic sources are not reliable, in a new kind of Western Orientalist neocolonial superiority complex. And we can see that not only are individuals involved in this issue; state governments are as well, as the US government may pressure the Chinese government in stricter enforcement or policy changes regarding academic publishing and scholarly ethics.

Making money off of FGM

I've added a new blog to the bloglist. Wanjiru, who writes the blog "Can we save Africa?" (and who also got her PhD in Political Science at the U of Minnesota when I was new to grad school there) has been posting a really interesting series on companies who use the issue of female genital mutilation in Africa to promote their products as a socially conscious and women-friendly choice. She criticizes these companies for not being serious about the issue, but using the suffering of women in order to sell more products. She also critiques an NGO for their 'adopt a clitoris' campaign for reducing women to their body parts. Check it out.

Countries defaulting on their debt

http://www.economist.com/business-finance/economics-focus/displayStory.cfm?story_id=15814868&source=hptextfeature

This article focuses on counties that default from their sovereign loans. Argentina recently defaulted on its loans, and as a consequence, was shunned from international markets for an extended period of time. Now Greece is looking to be in a very similar position where, defaulting on the loans could actually have more positives than negatives involved in it.Often times defaulting and getting your debt restructured is favorable to not being able to reach an agreement with your creditors.
We are studying the economic impacts of global economies on local micro-economies and how they can put them in a situation of serious and inescapable debt. The countries that are choosing to default are usually quasi peripheral countries like Greece and Argentina. You have to wonder how much of this economic problem is due to the effects of the core nations such as America and Britain taking great advantage of them in the recent rough economic times and the previous times of seemingly shady business practices. This sort of debt defaulting can be devastating on countries but is often better for them than living with the debt. The other question that i would ask is how do countries wind up with such a humongous debt that this sort of action is necessary?

Thai Protesters Refuse to Leave Central Bangkok District

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/07/world/asia/07thai.html

Protesters have remained entrenched in Bangkok despite explicit government orders for them to disband. Soldiers and other domestic government forces are in the city in an attempt to maintain order and the status quo. Protests started out fairly peaceful, as soldiers (ostensibly deployed to contain the protestors) allowed the group into the district of Sukhumvit. Consumption of products and certain elements of the financial sector have shut down, which has elevated tensions in the capital city. A break-in into a government building also increased tensions, as protesters pressured the government to complete an investigation of a Thai multinational. Although no force has been employed, the situation is growing increasingly precarious and the government has repeatedly requested the protesters disband. The protesters are calling for the Prime Minister to shut down parliament and hold new elections, as a result of charges of corruption and incompetence.

This seems to me to be a blow against realism. Realism would have us believe that only states, and powerful states at that, matter in terms of political science. However, clearly, this suggests that at least the potential for the internal affairs to influence international politics. How the people of a state choose to act within a state most certainly has political ramifications on an international level. Revolutions, rebellions, protests and basic civil unrest all can change the course of political power in the long term and in the short term effect economics, infrastructure, trade and social institutions. We have seen these trends in the past and could potentially see these results in Thailand if the situation does not improve. Therefore, I believe that the realist model is oversimplified.

Spring Harvest of Debt for Parched Farms in Southern China

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/asia/05china.html?scp=4&sq=&st=nyt

Spring Harvest of Debt for Parched Farms in Southern China

By MICHAEL WINES

Published: April 4, 2010

The Yunnan and surrounding provinces of China have been struck with a severe drought over the winter months. This poses a problem for many living in this area as not only do they not have enough clean drinking water but since the area is primarily agricultural they also have trouble raising enough money from their crops to feed their families. Apparently, this drought is the worst to hit southern China in almost 100 years. 24 million people do not have enough water, and agricultural losses are near $3.5 billion. However, as “serious as the dry spell is, it affects only about 6 percent of China’s farmland and a tiny portion of its 1.3 billion people. Government officials say that its impact on inflation and food supplies is expected to be minimal.”

I found this article to be an interesting example of the topics of critical theory we have been discussing. The author attempts to include the stories of real individuals like Huang Jianxue who has had “to borrow money to send his 7-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter to school.” This perspective contrasts with the government’s cold statement that the overall effect of the drought is expected to be minimal. Like the critical theory authors we have read argue, reducing real suffering to statistics and numbers is a poor way to address an issue. Therefore, I found it refreshing that both the statements from the government and statements from those personally dealing with the drought were included in this article.

Pirates seize South Korean tanker

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/africa/04/05/somalia.tanker.hijacked/index.html

This article deals with a pirate attack on a South Korean tanker. The hijacking occurred Sunday about 690 miles from the Somalian coast, an area where piracy is unusual. The tanker was revealed to be heading from Iraq to the United States carrying about 2 million barrels of oil, worth about $170 million. Combined Maritime Forces released a statement praising the successful reduction of piracy in resent times, in areas near Somalia. However, they warn that pirates are going further from their strongholds in search of "easier commercial targets", as they make most of their money from ransoms. The South Korean government however, has already stated it will not negotiate with the pirates, and this was up to Sahmo Shipping (the company with ownership of the tanker).

This article could be used as a critique of realist theory. Realism argues that states ought to only concern themselves with the actions of other great powers as they are the only ones that have an impact on international relations. Furthermore, realist theory argues that the individuals are unimportant in the grand scheme of international relations. When applied to this article one may see that realism is flawed as the Somalian pirates are not a not a nation or a great power, thus according to realist theory they ought to not have any effect on international relations. However, in this situation this is not the case as the European Union has entered into the conflict by cooperating with the Combined Maritime Forces in an attempt to stop the occurrence of piracy. Furthermore, realism does not account for the occurrence of multi-lateral agencies such as the Combined Maritime Forces, as realism is based on the ideology that there is a limited amount of power in the world and states are interested in the retention of as much of it as possible. In this situation however the involvement of the multi-lateral agency "Combined Maritime Forces", which is concerned with the safety of various country's maritime travel. Thus, this organization has some amounts of power which may not be explained by realism. As a result realism is unable to explain the reason the pirates has an effect on the international community, as well as why several countries have an organization which assures all of their travel by sea.

Haiti Struggles to Reopen Its Schools After Quake

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2010/04/05/world/international-uk-quake-haiti-schools.html?_r=1

Many schools in Port-au-Prince are still unable to reopen due to lack of supplies stemming from extreme poverty. Haiti’s education ministry insisted that classes resume 12 weeks after the quake, however many sections of Haiti were completely destroyed. Thus, some schools are using tents as substitutes for classrooms and others simply don’t have the staff or materials ready to re-start schooling sessions.

Yet, is the United States doing enough to assist?

I found one answer to this question particularly shocking and selfish. Garrett Harding (as expressed in Pasha) argues in favor of “lifeboat ethics”, which makes an analogy between drowning people clamoring for a lifeboat and impoverished people clamoring for financial assistance. Just as with lifeboats, we can only save so many before pulling ourselves under as well.

A critical theorist would argue that we are simply looking at poverty in the wrong way: Pasha argues we need to stop viewing ‘the poor’ as a mere number because this distances us from the acuteness of their suffering. “Numbers have the distinctive ability to sanitize the subjective side of human misery” (Pasha). Perhaps this is a problem US citizens face when dealing with Haiti: we need to stop thinking of the suffering in Haiti as merely flashes of light across the television screen.

The impoverished of Haiti seem to be the puppets of social policy. Thus, with their failing government comes an inability to be the authors of their owns lives. Likewise, if Haitian schools are unable to re-open in a timely manner because of poor government coordination, it will be the Haitians who lose their basic right to an education.

Haitians skeptic and frustrated with Promises of Aid

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1977287,00.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/01/world/americas/01haiti.html?scp=8&sq=haiti&st=cse

A recent agreement between donor states and the United Nations has pledged billions in aid to Haiti. This monetary aid will be monitored by the World Bank and a commission headed Bill Clinton and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive. Aid money will go the Haitian government for development projects, a decision that angers many Haitian people who are still living in the dirt and rubble left behind from nearly 3 months ago. The Haitian people are also frustrated by the corruption from their own government that has prevented the effective distribution of aid. Local government officials were caught selling food coupons for food aid that was free. While hearing news of billions in donations, many Haitians are still dealing with the earthquakes devastation. The Haitian people are tired of talk about change when nothing is being done.

This skepticism does not only stem from the knowledge that their own government is corrupt. The people do not believe that the wealthy donor states and international organizations will actually help them. Since the money is being funneled through the World Bank, conditions for the aid money will likely be attached. The US will also have a huge role in the reconstruction and development of Haiti in the future, through our role in the World Bank and Bill Clinton's influence in the commission overseeing funding. Like Chang argues, neoliberal policies will likely be forced on Haiti. Globalization will also create a situation in Haiti similar to Jamaica, local industries will suffer, while cheap food and goods will flood Haitian markets.

A Female Approach to Peacekeeping

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/06/world/africa/06iht-ffpeace.html?pagewanted=1

A special United Nations Peace Keeping Police Unit comprised of only women has been implemented in Liberia to regulate the streets. These women in strict and professional attire exert a military, as well as socially regulatory force in the streets of Monrovia, Liberia. The 100th International Women’s Day was on March 8,marking the United Nations intensifying efforts to recruit women for peacekeeping missions that seek to mend what war has wrought.

Many critical theorists argue that the presence of women as authority figures instills a respect and order in society. “When female soldiers are present, the situation is closer to real life, and as a result the men tend to behave,” said Gerard J. DeGroot, a history professor at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland who has written books about women in the military. “Any conflict where you have an all-male army, it’s like a holiday from reality. If you inject women into that situation, they do have a civilizing effect.” This situation exemplifies an approach to international politics that reaches outside the realm of traditional ideas about security, conflict and resolution. Manipulating pre-existing social standards (gender roles) in a situation of conflict is a way to change the way that people act, and react. Exemplifying critical theory, the implementation of women as peace keeping soldiers questions the "standard" or "common sense" response to most security issues surrounding war torn areas. Furthermore, inequalities are being recognized, as are the flaws that come along with social inequalities, and this article illuminates the affects when these inequalities are worked against.

Religion and International Relations: Bosnian colleges draw Turks seeking to avoid headscarf ban

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6343VJ20100405

For years, the right to wear the Islamic headscarf in schools and universities has been heavily debated. Although the issue is most discussed in terms of French schools, this article discusses the large number of Turkish students that have decided to attend university in Bosnia in order to avoid headscarf bans in Turkish universities. Over 1,000 Turkish students have left home in order to obtain the right to wear religious headscarves in schools, one they would not have if they decided to attend a post-secondary institution in Turkey.

Although economics and politics are two issues heavily discussed in international relations, conflicts dealing with religion are not as widely discussed. Yes, issues between Sunni and Shi'ite Muslims appear in the news on an almost regular basis, but issues like this one, which deals with more day-to-day aspects of life, do not appear in the news as often. This is a tragedy of sorts, seeing as these daily issues affect more people than the large-scaled, overpublicized issues.

This issue is interesting for a multitude of reasons. First, it discusses a small-scale migration of sorts from one country to another cause by a ban that encroaches on the freedoms of religion. Personally, I find the notion that an entire group of people would leave one country for another based on issues of religion very interesting. Why do these countries let these people go instead of changing policies? The answer is simple. Governments would rather lose a small number of people rather than spend hours of tedious work changing policies. So, people who are persecuted by the law, aka Muslim Turks, are almost forced to leave the country in order to regain their rights.

My big question is this: how does the outflow of Turkish students to Bosnian schools affect the citizens and governments of Bosnia? The schools in Bosnia are funded by Turkish investors, but since these Turkish citizens are living in Bosnian territory, I wonder how Bosnian citizens react to the foreigners.

Overall, I feel that religious issues need to be more properly addressed in international relations as opposed to economic and political issues. Although I feel that economic issues and political issues are quite important to IR, I also think that religion is a topic that needs to be discussed more in depth as it does do a great deal with how countries interact with each other.

U.S. to Delay Chinese Currency Report

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/business/04yuan.html?scp=1&sq=china%20renminbi%20&st=cse
This article is concerned with the delay of a decision whether to declare the China a currency manipulator. The reason for this delay can be attributed to the fact that President Hu Jintao will attend a nuclear security summit meeting in Washington after China give consent of stricter sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program.
Actually, the reason for which the Chinese government is reluctant to let Renminbi appreciate is that the appreciation will lead to an increase in unemployment in southern China, where there are lots of factories produce goods for exports. If Renminbi appreciates to a large degree, these factories will definitely face a bankruptcy. The appreciation of Renmibi in the previous years has actually posed pressure on these firms. Actually, workers in these factories usually just earn a minimum level of living because the exports cannot bring these firms as many profits as many people expect. The Chinese government has been working on this issue for years to try to import some high technologies in order to upgrade these factories and improve the living standard of the workers. The appreciation of Renminbi in the previous years is actually a way to push these factories to upgrade themselves. But because of the depression, exports have decreased and unemployment rate has increased. The factories cannot survive if the Renminbi appreciates to a large degree. I think if it were not for the depression, this issue would not be the center of US-China relations because the Chinese government would let Renminbi to appreciate.