The lunacy of the “red line” in Syria
President Barack Obama is facing criticism because he has backed off on his talk of a “red line” when it comes to Assad’s regime using chemical weapons against his own people now that there is…
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The End of Online Anonymity in China
The Communist government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has approved a law that requires Chinese internet users to register with their real names. They claim it is to protect personal information, but…
So Much for the Reset Button: Clinton Warns of Re-Sovietization by Russia
The Obama administration seems to be finally accepting reality when it comes to Russia. President Obama came into office with the utopian idea that a “reset button” could resolve problematic relations with Russia. But Secretary…
The Responsibility to Protect the Syrian People from Chemical Weapons
Recent media reports that Syrian government forces have loaded sarin nerve gas into aerial bombs mark a chilling escalation in Syria’s civil war that has raged for nearly two years and cost the lives of…
UN Recognizes Palestine: What Does it Mean?
On Thursday, the United Nations General Assembly voted 138-9 to recognize the Palestinian territories as a “non-member observer state.” What does this actually mean? The vote is a sorely needed political victory for Mahmoud Abbas, the…
What Good is the European Union, Anyway?
With all the economic fallout from the euro crisis, Euro-skepticism is on the rise both inside and outside of the European Union (EU). Some of those who support European integration in principle may question the…
Recognizing Syria: Leadership from France
French President Francois Hollande has taken a bold step toward ending the slaughter in Syria by recognizing the newly formed National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as the sole legitimate authority to govern…
Behind the Gaza Conflict: Hamas in the Context of International Law
The recent flare-up of violence in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israelhas brought tragedy before our eyes, and the death toll will get worse if Israel follows through on its threat to invade the…
Regime Analysis of Poland (updated May 21, 2012)
I recently presented this paper at a Fulbright conference. Below is the final version that I used to make my presentation. Me presenting this paper at a Fulbright conference. Introduction Structural functionalism is an…
Answering the Call to Arms: A Study of Conscription
Abstract Providing military protection for their citizens is a basic obligation of nation states. How to staff such a military is a choice all states face, and in the modern age, that is generally a…