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The Transformation of the Global Village into a Global Convergence
A report called “Global Risks 2035” was published by the Atlantic Council in September 2016. The report predicted a chaotic and war-torn future characterized by violent extremism, the breakdown of order, and a state of perpetual war. The report identified China and Russia as new enemies of the Western world, particularly the US and its…
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Unintended Intelligence Consequences: How Yesterday’s Proxy Insurgents turned into Today’s Terrorists
Introduction During the Cold War, nations were increasingly sponsoring and/or supporting insurgencies. For instance, the United States of America supported Afghan-Mujahedin, Nicaraguan Contras, and Tibetan Buddhist fighters. The Soviet Union supported communist guerrillas in Angola, Greece, and South Africa. China supported insurgents in Vietnam. India supported Sri Lankan Tamil rebels. In fact, Trends in Outside…
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Recognizing Outdated Power and Eliminating the Divide: Countering Terrorism through Smart Power
Introduction Countering terrorism through “smart power” is a concept deliberated on creative thinking to combat one’s enemy, especially terrorists. This essay will examine the reconceptualization of traditional approaches toward counterterrorism and discuss how ideologies from a Western liberal democracy can respond to an unconventional terrorist ideology. To begin with, the term “power” will be defined.…
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Responsibility to Protect Syria – A Case Study
Introduction It is widely believed that non-intervention is the norm within an international society since international law restricts the use of force except for purposes of self-defense or by way of collective enforcement as authorized by the United Nations Security Council (Bellamy and Wheeler 2014). This misunderstanding is grounded in the debate on how the…