The Turkish political landscape has been volatile for a while now and, especially in the past few years, we have witnessed dramatic transformations of Turkish state structures and institutions. The attempted coup of July 15th 2016 reinforced the significance and ongoing power of the Turkish military regardless of which political interests they are aligned with… Read more »
Month: November 2018
Stretched Thin: When Fragile States Face Climate Hazards
With its population of more than 190 million, Nigeria’s fate is central to the success of West Africa. Armed opposition groups like Boko Haram have plagued the north of the country for years — spilling over and destabilizing neighboring countries — and violence involving Fulani militias in the Middle Belt reached an all-time high this… Read more »
This Week in South Sudan – Week 47
Tuesday 20 November The National Salvation Front accused the SPLM-IO for starting violent clashes in Central Equatoria. The SPLM-IO denied the accusations. Wednesday 21 November Russian oil firm Gazprom Neft signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Sudan to explore four oil blocks. Turkey and President Salva Kiir signed an MOU on education. The… Read more »
What Will China Do About the Middle East?
The Middle East is set to become the major test for China as a global power. The region is characterized by war, political tensions and economic stagnation. China is ramping up its role, not least with its Belt and Road Initiative. What do the Chinese think about the challenges in the Middle East? And is… Read more »
Beyond the Police: Jerusalem’s Modular Security Provision
When we think about public security, we often think about the police, the military, or perhaps about border guards or the criminal courts. But security is often pursued in cooperation with a variety of public and private actors, enlisted by state security actors to reinforce their legal and operational capacities, while providing them with enhanced… Read more »
This Week in South Sudan – Week 46
Tuesday 13 November A UN report found violations of the arms embargo on South Sudan, an embargo which also bans military assistance and military training. Thijs Van Laer and Omar Mahmood in Irin News: “South Sudan Peace Deal: Whose Power are they Sharing Anyway?” Wednesday 14 November The National Pre-Transitional Committee set up four committees… Read more »
The Other Side of Facebook in Myanmar
Facebook has been making headlines this year with what seems like scandal after scandal, from the Cambridge Analytica data breach to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying in front of the United States Congress as a result. But perhaps one of the most serious scandals has been the social media platform’s role in Myanmar in spreading… Read more »
This Week in South Sudan – Week 45
Monday 5 November The National Constitutional Amendment Committee held its first meeting in Juba. Tuesday 6 November Despite the release of 900 child soldiers so far in 2018, the UN reported that thousands of child soldiers are unlikely to be freed any time soon due to lack of funds for aid agencies. Vice President James… Read more »
‘Security, Economy, Population’- A comment to Jacqueline Best
Jacqueline Best’s article ‘Security, Economy, Population’ is a welcome addition to the evolving discussion of ‘exceptionalism’ in the critical social sciences. As Best suggests, over the past fifteen years much discussion of emergency governance and exceptionalism has been shaped by post-9/11 security measures. I fully endorse her call to bring other forms of emergency government—particularly… Read more »
A Political Economy of ‘the Exception’? A comment to Jacqueline Best
One of the most noteworthy responses to the election of Donald J. Trump came from politically radical African-Americans. In light of the longue durée of racial supremacy and the experience of those exploited by America’s economic system, it was not surprising or exceptional that aracist, misogynist, xenophobic plutocrat could succeed the first black President of the… Read more »