The Axe Of The Fasces

Donald Trump: Rewriting American Foreign Policy   Is there a method in his unconventional ways? When Donald Trump was elected into the White House in November 2016, there was a cloud of uncertainty over the direction American foreign policy would take under his leadership. After all, the United States was getting deeply involved in the Syrian conflict and had seen its ties with Russia reach a dangerously new low, perhaps the lowest since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Today, President Trump’s foreign policy remains the most hotly debated aspect of his presidency, with many claiming that his unconventional methods have succeeded so far. One of the key aspects of Trump’s foreign policy seems to be a certain degree of flexibility over the United States’ stance on geopolitical issues. The first indicator of this was the decision to launch airstrikes against the Syrian government in April 2017. The United States launched 59 tomahawk missiles aimed at government-controlled

Syria Alert: Turkish Ground Invasion !  New phase in the war Turkish tanks roll into Syrian territory. Credits: Kazu Multi-frontier war Just when it looked like there have might be an opening for some dialogue between the warring parties to the Syrian conflict  amidst uncertain calm, Erdogan has effectively opened a new front in the war by launching Operation Olive Branch. On 19th January, 2018, Turkish ground forces began a military operation in north-western Syria. This came as a direct response to the United States' announcement for a plan to set up a 'border security force' in a corridor ranging from Afrin to Manjib, and along Turkey's border with Syria.  Now here's the tricky part- a large majority of these 'security personnel' are Kurdish fighters backed by the US, belonging to groups like the SDF and the YPG, groups deemed as terrorist organizations by the Turkish state, based on these groups' affiliations with Turkey's own dom

Morality: Objective or Subjective?  A bar conversation between Immanuel Kant and Michel Foucault. Kant and Foucault are sitting at a bar. They have just ordered drinks when Kant is shocked by Foucault’s refusal to tip the bartender Kant: That was rather rude, why didn't you tip the poor chap? Foucault : He’s hardly a poor chap. I am already paying an extra charge on top of the price of the drinks. They can pay him his ‘tip’ from that extra premium. Kant : We pay extra for the ambience. And again, don’t you think that denying him his tip is rather harsh? I mean, most of his earning comes from what people tip him. Foucault : What is ‘harsh’ for you, may just be ‘practicality’ for me, you know? I don’t feel I need to tip him, and further, I don’t feel it was ‘harsh’ or ‘rude’ of me to deny him his tip. Basically, what you feel is wrong, is not necessarily wrong for me. Kant: That’s not true at all. There HAVE to be some things that are generally right or ge

Is Globalization undermining state sovereignty? Globalization is a neo-colonial tool which undermines state sovereignty by diluting borders, restricting government control on domestic policies and increasing the influence of powerful nations upon weaker ones.   Introduction Globalisation is the process of integration of nations or its people through the increased flow of money, ideas and culture across international borders. “ It refers to all the processes by which peoples of the world are incorporated into a single world society, a global society .” [1] While it is primarily an economic phenomenon, it nonetheless has social implications due to the vast exchange of social ideas and cultural practices. It is a complex concept which has impact on various areas of everyday life. Nations along with international organisations like the UN, WTO, IMF are all actors on the international arena and are both influenced by globalisation as well as contribute to it simultaneously

Approaching War Clouds? War is the permanent state of affairs, Peace is only transient. Rising International instability, the resurgence of Realpolitik and the return of a rejuvenated Russia in the geopolitical arena - a sign of things to come? As we go further into the 21st century, the drums of war have been getting louder and louder. Even an ordinary civilian who isn't a geopolitical observer will opine that there is more conflict and increasing tension around the world when compared to the relatively peaceful 90s and early 2000s.  While the 90s were marred by inter-ethnic clashes in the aftermath of Yugoslavia's collapse, as well as the brief and inconclusive war between India and Pakistan, the period of 15 years since have been arguably the most peaceful period in the history of mankind.  Where did the chaos begin? And what was the flash-point? Lets observe some of the moves by the major players in the geopolitical arena and how they have c