Abstract This essay discusses the U.S. foreign policy towards Middle Eastern and Latin American countries before 9/11 and post 9/11. The foreign policy is analyzed, its inherent problems are highlighted, and a comparison of U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East with U.S. foreign policy towards Latin America is made.
From the Paper "With all eyes turned toward Iraq and the Middle East, South America rarely makes the headlines in the United States. Except for perhaps tighter controls and security on U.S. borders and waterways since September 11th , it seems Latin foreign policies are not top priorities for Washington. However, recent events in October in Bolivia led to "a massive mobilization of Indians and peasants"military crackdowns that left as many as 70 people dead"and led to the demise of the conservative Gonzalo S"nchez de Lozada government on Oct."
Tags: homeland, security, act, immigration, policies, state, department, interests, democracy, arab, world, anean, region
Abstract This paper explains that Kant states that a republican constitution, which by definition must be representative of a republic and the people existing within, must ultimately be concerned with the concept of perpetual peace; and, when a republican constitution is utilized, it must follow that, in order for war to be declared, the citizens of a nation must consent to this war. The author points out that Kant also argues in this passage however that the "ultimate evil" of war is that it may not allow for peace at any point, because further war is spurned as a result of the debt that is often incurred from the act of war itself. The author believes that Kant's argument should have been that the adoption of a republican constitution facilitates more motivation and tendency within a country toward perpetual peace and makes it more difficult to engage in war on a continuous basis without direct approval of the citizenry.
From the Paper "The non-republican constitution thus thwarts all efforts toward perpetual peace. Perhaps here Kant is observing the frequency of war that is declared in nations and countries ruled by someone considered the nations "owner". True, in the sense that some countries are seen in a state of perpetual war rather than in a state of peace. However, even within countries that abide by a republican constitution, perpetual peace is hardly realized. The argument that such a constitution provides for peace is faulty. Even if the citizens of such a nation object to war, there is possibility in some situations that they will find themselves in the throes of war regardless."
Abstract This paper looks at the growing trend in human rights violations throughout the world and the need to respond to these violations. The paper argues that massive human rights violations, genocide, and repression of populations justify some form of intervention by the international community. The paper then provides a definition of humanitarian intervention and looks at the different forms it may take, its origins, and the major argument in the humanitarian intervention debate. Additionally, the paper looks at the Doctrine of Preemption, as defined by the present Bush Administration, and the principal behind the doctrine. Finally, the need for a peace-building agenda is discussed, followed by a conclusion reasserting the need for international involvement in humanitarian assistance.
From the Paper "Human rights violations have taken place from the medieval times to the present day, throughout the world. Recently, serious and widespread human rights violations and humanitarian catastrophes have rocked the world and prompted new international responses. Cambodia, Uganda, Somalia, Rwanda, Serbia, Bosnia' Cuba and other Latin American countries, South Africa's apartheid regime, East Timor, Congo and most recently Iraq - the list is never ending - have challenged the international communities to deal with these situations. The magnitude, duration, and pace of recent emergencies, as well as how to respond to them, present serious challenges to governments and the larger international community. Actions to address such humanitarian catastrophes are urgently needed."
This paper discusses that Anton La Guardia, in his book, "War without End", argues convincingly that there is not likely to be a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in our lifetime.
Abstract This paper explains that the blame lies on a number of shoulders: The inability of political leaders to find peace, the international community, the very real and human desire for revenge, and the inability of religious leaders to see past their own agendas. The author points out that, in a larger historical context, La Guardia sees the Israeli-Palestinian struggle as one of the most complex and intractable struggles that the world has ever faced. The paper relates that solutions for the conflict are surprisingly slim, and the pessimism of the title is generally reflected in the book's contents.
From the Paper ""War without End" manages to be what is the most rare of all in accounts surrounding the Israeli-Palestine conflict: Fair. In his book, La Guardia is continually fair but not detached in his description of the struggle that Israeli's face in coming to terms with the destruction of national myths in the post-Zionist era. Similarly, he is equally fair and compelling in his discussion of the Palestine struggle to build a nation. He criticizes each side for their role in the conflict, but manages to do so relatively even-handedly. Thus, it could never be said that his treatment is fully objective, but La Guardia manages to bring a rare sense of fairness and equal treatment to the book."
Abstract This paper explains that there have been many efforts to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, with many of leaders of countries signing several different treaties, but nothing can stop the production of such destructive weapons. The author points out that the majority of the nations and organizations, such as our allies, rogue nations, and terrorist groups, have some sort of a weapon of mass destruction. The paper stresses that, as destructive as chemical weapons are, far bigger threats to international security are biological weapons, which, if not decreased, can cause more causalities than chemical weapons.
From the Paper "The variations of the different types of chemical weapons hurt a nation's chances of a defense or readiness against a chemical weapon because chemical weapons are hard to stop spreading. As mentioned by the government document, chemical weapons have been used before when ?Chlorine gas and mustard gas were widely used during World War I.? Many countries can produce chemical weapons on a mass scale and have the resources that are necessary to produce the chemical weapons. A nation's only defense would be retaliation, which could mean an all out nuclear war which will meet any human's fear or global destruction. With this risk of global chaos existent, many of the world's leaders should be put at blame. If world leaders such as the United States established treaties to decrease or even eliminate chemical weapons, this problem would cease to exist because other nations would follow along."
Abstract This paper explains that the oldest and most cordial pedigree of religious autonomy can be found in U.S.A., where public policy says that religious beliefs must be a matter of individual scruples and entirely resistant from any intrusion by the state. The author points out that the separation of Church and State is vital, but the State can"t be a religion-free zone that goes in opposition to the foundation of religious freedom and freedom of idea. The paper relates that United States" dedication to religious freedom has become a part of its overseas policy as stated in the breakthrough legislation, the International Religious Freedom Act, which fights against religious harassment in foreign countries.
From the Paper "Religious liberty is one major cause for the origin of our country. The notion of ideological and spiritual freedom remains as strong these days as it was at the time of the founding of the United States. The founding fathers left their homelands for a country, which assured freedoms to all. Representatives at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia (1787) deliberately avoided making strong declarations concerning religion due to a firm conviction that religious necessities were needless to protect religious freedom. This oversight was not taken calmly by six states, which went on to offer amendments guaranteeing religious liberty."
Abstract This paper provides a description of both the French and British political government systems and then follows these descriptions with a look at the similarities and the differences between the two governments. The paper also looks at how the citizens of each country see their respective government and concludes with a positive assessment of the outlook for both countries.
From the Paper "In France and Britain, citizens have displayed various attitudes toward their governments. Recent elections in France show a dramatic leaning toward right wing politics and a general loss of interest and faith in politics from the masses. Voter turnout was just over 71 per cent, the country's lowest turnout since 1958 (Rebick, 2003). This can create a problem in a representative democracy and it benefits the right. People are spending a lot of effort in trying to counter the rise of the far right by mobilizing grassroot groups focusing on war, the Israeli occupation, anti-Semitism and racism. But their efforts don?t seem to be supported due possibly to a global view that is being manipulated by the right since the terrorist attacks of 9/11."
Abstract In 1993, Harvard professor Samuel Huntington changed the face of international relations when he published "The Clash of Civilizations"? in "'Foreign Affairs" magazine. Huntington's controversial article later evolved into a book in 1996, entitled ?The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order.? The provocative thesis of the article was that the fundamental source of conflict in the post-Cold War world would be cultural clashes, not ideological disagreements or economic competitions. This paper is a critical argument against Huntington's theory. The paper argues that his labels of civilizations are weak and that there is, in fact, no Sino-Islamic alliance, a main part of his "clash of civilizations" theory.
From the Paper "Clearly the history of Russia is one that looks westward culturally and politically. The Russian Orthodox Church is closer to the Catholic Church than the Catholics are to the American Evangelicals. The cultural expressions of Russia, the literature and music, are viewed as comparison points for western culture (westerners put Tolstoy and Chekhov in their frame of cultural reference, but not Tao Qian or Basho) Even Leninism, the defining ideology of the Russian 20th Century, has its roots in two Germans. Russia became, in the Cold War, a part of a newfound "east/west" delineation that was utilized primarily because it made geographical sense in Europe."
Abstract This paper examines the role of the World Bank in alleviating countries from economic dilemmas. It concludes that the World Bank, ever since its inception, has not been able to address the problems that its member countries face nor has it been able to successfully implement structural adjustment programs. It explains that, instead, it merely played the role of a mediator for the private sectors of the donor countries and the receiving countries.
From the Paper "Ever since inception, member countries and countries that resorted to the World Bank for this purpose have time and gain faced disappointment. Some of the main factors responsible for the disappointment had been perception of the problems involved, bureaucracies, coordination, corruption and disconnection. These areas have been ignored and gradually have become the leading causes for the Bank's failures in addressing structural adjustment problems (Robert, 2000). Currently the World Bank is facing a lot of adverse publicity due to this same fact which leads the readers to question whether the existence of the Bank have any usage if at all and why do the world communities continue to rely on the World Bank for economic reformation."
Abstract This essay discuss the phenomenon of Islamic fundamentalism in Indonesia and its links to international terrorists. Considering that the Indonesian Muslims are better to be classified as moderates, this essay also suggests how policy makers should deal with the issue. The first section discusses the emergence of the contemporary Islamic fundamentalist movements in Indonesia and the following section observes the reaction of the majority of Indonesian Muslims towards those movements. Based on the assessment in the preceding sections, the third section will emphasize the importance of the involvement of moderate Muslims in the effort to combat terrorism particularly that is affiliated to Muslim fundamentalists.
From the Paper "The emergence of Islamic fundamentalism is one interesting phenomenon in post-Suharto Indonesia due to the fact that the vast majority of Indonesian Muslims are widely recognized as moderates. Due to the counter-terrorism concern, further questions could be proposed regarding to the position of fundamentalism among the Indonesian Muslim society and the role of the moderate Muslims in supporting the effort to eradicate terrorism."
Tags: affairs, bomb, current, international, slamiyyah, jamaah, terrorism, war
Abstract This report assesses the current situation of strife and conflict
in Kashmir by using conflict theories, such as the stratification of society, expulsion and genocide among the people of the area, inter-group conflict, prejudice and discrimination, dominant group theory, and vicious cycle phenomenon, as well as other associated theories. The report does not dwell solely on the history of the strife in Kashmir, which is an area that is renowned for its beauty, as well as for being the focus of conflict in Indian society, a point of contention between India and Pakistan, and the impetus point of separatist movements. Instead, it looks at recent events and conflicts in the area using the sociological and theoretical concepts mentioned above.
From the Paper "In terms of the population of Kashmir, the province or area contains over 12 million individuals, most of whom are Muslims. There are also prominent populations of Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists in this area. The Hindu population is more concentrated towards the southern regions of Kashmir, and in the city of Jammu. In eastern Kashmir, the main proponents of the Buddhist population are found. The Kashmiri people are generally working on an agricultural economy ("Jammu and Kashmir"). In terms of the history of the strife that has occurred in this region, briefly, since the partition of India and Pakistan after Indian independence in 1947, Kashmir has been a point of dispute and contention between India and Pakistan, with each country claiming Kashmir as a part of its own nation, and the two countries often going to war over this and associated issues. Lately, since the late 1980s, the conflict in the area has turned more to internal separatist movements against what is viewed to be Indian occupation. This has resulted in prevalent conflicts between the Indian state and the Kashmiri people up to and including the present."
Abstract This paper examines how the ill effects that stem from a decade of misguided trade policies have left average, hard-working Mexican and American citizens faced with a lonelier and more desperate set of economic circumstances than those which they found themselves experiencing prior to 1994. It looks at how the economic counter-productivity produced by the interdependence of the United States and Mexico trade relationship has been equally bad for both countries and how, ten years after its inception, NAFTA has failed to make good on its promises to both the United States and Mexico.
From the Paper "For the United States, NAFTA promised to increase the trade surplus with Mexico, resulting in the creation of new jobs, 170,000 a year to be exact (Levy and Bruhn, 2001: 252). NAFTA's effects on the job market, however, have not lived up to the promises. In the 1990?s, the U.S. saw the creation of new jobs at a fairly high rate behind unprecedented economic growth during the Clinton administration. But during the same period nearly two million high-wage manufacturing jobs were lost, leaving half a million U.S. workers certified as NAFTA job-loss victims."
Abstract In 1991, Marilyn Young authored "The Vietnam Wars: 1945-1990". Although the book is considered a general history book on the theme of Vietnam War, it has a major slant and is not an unbiased, objective approach to the war by any means. This paper shows that, in short, the book debunks the belief by those in power at the time, such as George Bush, Sr., that America has ?finally kicked the 'Vietnam syndrome" or that the United States does all that it can not to get militarily involved with other political entities abroad. The paper explains that, by showing both the American and the Indochina sides of this military event, Young expresses that the war in Vietnam and other such activities contested the black-and-white conjectures that, in foreign policy, America always "meant well" and that Communism was always "bad."
From the Paper "She concludes that perhaps it is time to redefine the Vietnam syndrome. The term should no longer refer to the reluctance of the public to engage in war, but rather to the insistence of the present administration that the only cure for that long ago defeat is more war. As President Bush said in a December 2002 U.S. News & World Report interview: " ... it's very important for the American people to know my sentiments about military engagement, that I will use our military as a last resort and our first resort.... ""
Abstract This paper explains that Tim O'Brien's novel, "The Things They Carried",
illustrates that the greatest weight soldiers bear comes from nothing they can physically carry, but rather their emotions, grief, terror, and love. The author points out that O'Brien utilizes the composite novel form, which allows him to play with multiple settings, characters, the theme of storytelling, and even allusiveness, in a way that most fully incorporates the whole of humanity into his story. The paper relates that, through his unique narration, stylistic technique, and attention to detail, O'Brien captures the psychological aspects of war.
From the Paper "The psychological burden of war goes far beyond that of simply fighting. The struggle of staying alive was always emphasized after encountering a battle for which they found themselves alive. "For the most part they carried themselves with poise, a kind of dignity. Now and then there were times of panic, when they squealed or wanted to squeal but couldn't" (19). The fear of losing life was compounded by the idea of being a brave and courageous soldier. The fact of surviving always brought a sense of life to the soldiers. The psychological pressure of fighting and surviving was always followed with a sense of reassembling themselves as soldiers. O'Brien states that for the most part, the soldiers were "afraid of dying but they were even more afraid to show it" (20). Coping with the pressure of war was discovered by way of telling jokes and creating a "hard vocabulary to contain the terrible softness" (20). Their encounters with death were instances where "irony was mixed with tragedy" (20). These statements illustrate how the soldiers did their best to cope with the psychological pressure of the war."
Abstract The Mexican-U.S. dispute over water shortages in the Rio Grande has its roots in Mexico's failure to abide by a 1944 water treaty. As a result, U.S. farmers on the American side of the Rio Grande have been strongly impacted, with many losing their businesses, and the area's agricultural industry has been severely damaged by the water shortage. This paper discusses how the U.S. government has been accused of dragging its feet on the issue and how Mexico has remained largely defiant of its action. It suggests that the solution to this issue may lie in stricter enforcement and the creation of new international laws involving the use of shared water resources, as well as beefing up water conservation on both sides of the border.
From the Paper "In recent years, Mexico and the United States have clashed over water shortages on either side of the Rio Grande River in South Texas. Mexico's failure to abide by a 1944 water treaty since 1992 has severely damaged U.S. agriculture. While Mexico seems largely unrepentant and unwilling to release water to the U.S., U.S. officials have been accused of ignoring the issue in the wake of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). While steps are being made to address the issue, including water conservation and the release of some water owed to the U.S., much remains to be done to solve the shortage. Changes to international law involving the use of shared water resources may provide some long-term relief while the creation of more water conservation measures will likely help alleviate the shortage in the short-term."
