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Beyond the Archetype: Agency, Trauma, and Institutional Betrayal in the Narrative of Kagusthan Ariaratnam
The landscape of popular culture is populated by enduring archetypes—figures who, through repeated narrative deployment, become symbolic shorthand for complex human experiences. Among the most potent of these are the “child soldier” and the “double agent.” The former often embodies the ultimate loss of innocence, a symbol of war’s depravity; the latter represents the ultimate…
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Toward a “One World” Framework: President Donald Trump’s Potential Foreign Policy in Unifying Global Powers
Donald Trump’s foreign policy during his presidency (2017–2021) was marked by nationalist, transactional, and unilateral approaches. His “America First” doctrine often distanced the United States from multilateral institutions and international agreements. This paper explores how Trump’s foreign policy could be redirected toward a vision of global unity by drawing lessons from the European Union’s integration…
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The Future Implications of Water Wars: A Global Perspective
As freshwater scarcity intensifies globally, competition over water resources is becoming a critical geopolitical and economic issue. Some nations have begun privatizing and even weaponizing water, raising concerns about future “water wars.” This paper explores the factors driving water conflicts, potential geopolitical flashpoints, and strategies for mitigating these tensions. Using a multidisciplinary approach, this study…
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The Role of Arts in Countering Violent Extremism
This article was originally published by “NATO Association of Canada” on March 25, 2019. Reporting on the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the BBC wrote that the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) sponsored by numerous global powers surrounded ISIS within a small patch of land near Syria’s border with Iraq. This…
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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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Understanding the Causes of Civil War in Iraq and Syria
Introduction The civil wars in Iraq and Syria are the most catastrophic and worst humanitarian crisis since World War II. The two main causes of civil wars in Iraq and Syria are authoritarianism and sectarianism. This essay will examine the causes and comparative analysis of two contemporary civil wars: The Iraqi civil war from 2006…