Int’l Affairs

A return to ‘principled realism’ On December 18, 2017, US President, Donald J. Trump, unveiled his administration’s National Security Strategy wherein he outlined the foundation and priorities that will drive US foreign policy during his time in office. The Strategy starts by declaring that it will use “principled realism” to put American interests, values and prosperity first. It says that …

The regime needs to change its policies Living under the shadow of crippling international sanctions for a long time, Iran has faced many an economic predicament. Its population of over 80 million has been reeling under the isolationist policies of the world, especially those of the United States and Europe, against the Islamic Republic. On the other hand, nearly three …

In the contemporary world, the connectivity phenomenon is having its deep roots and it can be easily seen in theoretical world as well as practical fields in maintaining dynamic relations among states. Either to discuss the realist or the liberalist, one thing is common; they are concerned about survival; sustain life and living. Realism is one of the oldest paradigms …

Elections to look out for this year In the year 2017, the French elected Emmanuel Macron as their president, while South Koreans elected Moon Jae-in to replace Park Geun-hye who was ousted in a corruption scandal. In the same year, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani won re-election with a much wider margin of support than his first term while Turkey voted …

Distinguishing the case of Kashmir from Catalonia (Spain) and Kurdistan (Iraq) Introduction The news about the efforts by the peoples of Catalonia (Spain) and Kurdistan (Iraq) have reignited the debate on the importance of the right to self-determination in international law. Understanding the right to self-determination is particularly of interest for the foreign policy makers and students of international relations …

Interconnectedness does not threaten sovereignty For much of the 20th century, ideological discussions and debates have centred on liberal versus conservative, left versus right. No longer. The ideological divide of the 21st century is emerging as globalism versus nationalism. Since the end of World War II, global integration and technological progress have fuelled a new world order centred on free …

The present-day world is characterized with digital means of communication, and social media is the most important of them. In fact, the twenty-first century has placed us in a world where we can connect with people across the globe with just one click. Although the social media impacts all fields of life, the most conspicuous one has been on political …

Managing migration is one of the most profound challenges for international cooperation in our time. Migration powers economic growth, reduces inequalities and connects diverse societies. Yet it is also a source of political tensions and human tragedies. The majority of migrants live and work legally. But a desperate minority are putting their lives at risk to enter countries where they …