Threats of war from North Korea are nothing new. The Stalinist country has long played the part of the town drunk that’s been kicked out of the bar and now sits outside challenging people to a fight. Their most recent outburst of aggressive rhetoric has certainly been of a larger magnitude than has been the…
For the United States the war in Afghanistan is finally approaching an end. President Obama’s deadline for troop withdrawal is set for the end of 2014, and for many in America this could not come sooner. The conflict, now more than a decade old, has resulted in the deaths of over 2,000 US military personnel…
The recent death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez marks the end of an era. His 14 year presidency leaves behind a legacy of championing improvement of the lives of millions of poor Venezuelans and resisting US influence, which he often denounced as “imperialistic”. The charismatic leader often portrayed himself as a sort of modern day…
The common portrayal by the US and Israeli governments of Iran being a grave threat to peace in the Middle East is rather ironic. For about the past decade and even more so recently there has been a constant saber-rattling by the two countries over the Iranian nuclear programme. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has…
In the context of modern social revolutions the Zapatista movement, or EZLN, of Mexico has stood out. The Zapatistas practice a unique blend of libertarianism and socialism, with a large degree of autonomy for their communities and a focus on collectivism within them. This largely-indigenous group emerged as a movement for greater economic equality in…
The recent violent reactions by some fans of the Israeli soccer team Beitar Jerusalem to the first-ever signing of two Muslim players has brought attention to the issue of racism within Israeli society. For those unaware with the situation, an arson attack on the team’s headquarters following the announcement of the signing has been attributed…
The nature of warfare in the 21st century is changing. Rapidly advancing technology has provided militaries with a significant level of funding, particularly that of the United States, with access to equipment such as radar-evading stealth aircraft and long-range missiles. One relatively new technology becoming increasingly relied upon by the U.S. is that of unmanned…
Bahrain – The Forgotten Revolution In late 2010 we witnessed the beginning of a series of events that would radically alter the political and social landscapes of the Middle East and Northern Africa. These events, which later became known as the “Arab Spring”, began with an unprecedented wave of pro-democracy protests against the various authoritarian…