Abstract: Very little of the extensive literature on global distributive justice has been devoted to attempting to implement a system of wealth redistribution across borders. This paper offers international courts as a possible venue for enforcing such a system. First, I explain why international courts are uniquely well suited to pursue global distributive justice, drawing primarily on literature in the philosophy of law. Second, I explain some important features of the legal system of the European Union, which I take as a model for a transnational court that works on issues of distributive justice. I then apply the European … Continue reading
What is the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict? Establishing a Determinative Link Between the Nature of the Conflict and its Resolution
Introduction What is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Since its inception, which itself is subject to debate, this violent, heart-wrenching, protracted thing has stubbornly managed to elude definition. Indeed, even the terms “Israeli,” “Palestinian,” and “conflict” represent very specific conceptualizations, themselves implying definitions and provoking intense debate. The countless attempts to frame the conflict in introductions to history books or works of political analysis attest to the fact that scholars have failed to reach a consensus on the essence of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Definitions are important. Defining the nature of a conflict allows us to draw reasonable conclusions about its resolution. … Continue reading
Trans-Pacific Partnership: A Game of Who has the Most to Lose
The TPP? Closed door negotiations, economic concessions, and little to no attention paid by mainstream media has cast an ominous shadow over the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Born out of the 2005 Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement, TPP builds on an economic foundation set by originators Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, and Singapore. Those building blocks include auxiliary countries Mexico, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, Peru, Malaysia, and the U.S., all of whom are on the hunt to break new economic ground in the Asia-Pacific Rim. The TPP hopes to bridge economic partnerships between 11 member states through lowering trade restrictions, removing tariffs, encouraging … Continue reading
Syrian Refugees Protest Refugee Conditions in Turkey
_Syrian Refugees in Turkey. Courtesy of Washington Post._ After protests broke out in a refugee camp for Syrians in Turkey, the Turkish government declared that it would deport 130 Syrian refugees who were directly involved in the protest. The protest resulted in much damage to the infrastructure of the camp, while the Turkish military police force was called in and used tear gas and water cannons to stop the protesters.The United Nations refugee agency, however, expressed concerns about forced deportation, as it would violate the principle of non-refoulement, which forbids forced repatriation into disaster areas, found in the Convention and … Continue reading
The Real U.S. Cyber Strategy and Where It’s Headed: Part I
“I’m cyber-confused,” writes Fletcher School professor and Foreign Policy contributor Dan Drezner. In his brief but insightful analysis of the United States’ declared cyber security strategy, Professor Drezner notes elements of offensive realism as well as a tendency toward traditional deterrence rhetoric. Ultimately, he characterizes U.S. cyber security strategy as an “inchoate cluster of contradictory impulses.” While it is certainly true that U.S. cyber strategy is still finding its feet (not unlike U.S. nuclear strategy in the early days of the Cold War), it is arguably not without certain guiding principles. Professor Drezner correctly identifies a strong emphasis on offensive … Continue reading
United Nations Missions in Sudan and South Sudan: Diaspora Community Engagement
For over two decades, the region of Sudan suffered from a brutal civil war that claimed the lives of 2.2 million people. Spearheaded by the United States, the international community pushed for a series of long peace talks, culminating in the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement. World leaders authorized the United Nations Mission to Sudan (UNMIS) to assist in implementing post-bellum reconstruction. In a 2011 referendum South Sudan voted to secede and gained independence, prompting the creation of the United Nations Mission to South Sudan (UNMISS). A key component of UNMISS strategy is diaspora community engagement. An estimated 1.2 to 1.7 … Continue reading