The Yegiora Files

Today, for IR431, we had a really critical discussion on what Australia is doing on Manus Island. The discussion came after viewing the video on the Journeyman Pictures channel on YouTube titled: 'Australia's Secret Migration Detention Centre'. In the next few days you will be working on your personal opinion on Australia's offshore detention centres. I look forward to reading some of the points you mentioned verbally in class today. Please note the questions for consideration: What is your understanding of Australia's offshore detention centres? Do you agree or disagree with Australia's approach? Why do you agree or disagree with Australia's approach? What would be your suggested solution? I like how you connected the case to your selected human security issues. We all know by now that we have 7 main human security categories according to the Human Development Report 1994 : Economic security Food security Health security Environmental secur

We cannot study international relations without understanding international law. International law gives the study and practice of international relations its legal structure. States and non-state actors are questioned about their actions in reference to various international laws. Goldstein (2005) says that international law and international norms limit state sovereignty. States are supposed to be sovereign and whatever they do within their sovereign territory should not be questioned. On the other hand, for those in IR302, Raffo and her colleagues (2007) talked about the realist view of international law. International law is used by powerful countries to achieve their own interest. Let us go back to the feudal system during the period where monarchs ruled over their subjects. No one dared to question the king if he wanted someone's wife or land. Monarchs were sovereign and had the power do do whatever they wanted with no limitation. When you look at the notion of sovere

An academic paper or presentation is distinguish by one's ability to reference well. In-text and end text references help validate your analysis of a particular topic. I was surprised that many of you used information from websites like Wikipedia to reference your presentation instead of reading the wonderful books in the library, journal articles from the online database and eBooks via the links provided by the library. The books I downloaded and shared in our reading folders in all 3 units are from the website recommended by the librarians. I also used our online database to help me gain more knowledge relating to our units or topics. It is time we make good use of our access to the internet by sourcing credible sources to help us write well or to support our oral presentations. You are all privilege to have access to such information or resources. When I was doing my undergrad and honors, I had a really hard time using online resources. I was able t

I have discussed the definition of terrorism and English School (ES) Theory in my previous articles. The key learning outcomes that I want you to develop at the end of this period (Week 9-11) for IR431 are: Determine the connection between the English School Theory and the phenomenon of terrorism. Argue the merits and demerit of using the English School Theory to explain the phenomenon of terrorism. Like the other theories of IR, ES has its merits and demerits. The readings I shared in our reading folders will help you determine the merits and demerits if you spend time to read. I like the book by Buzan titled 'From International to World Society? English School Theory and the Social Structure of Globalization' . I ordered a copy for the Friendship library, make sure you borrow the hard copy if you do not like reading the electronic copy. So let us ask the important question; how is the ES connected to the phenomenon of terrorism? At what point does the ES as a schoo

While watching the video by Professor Pierre d'Argent on 'reservations' in class today, I quickly remembered the article I wrote on the resettlement of refugees on PNG Attitude in 2014. The article talked about the seven reservations PNG made when signing the 1951 UN Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol on 17 July 1986. The reservations covered covered wage-earning employment, housing, public education, freedom of movement, refugees unlawfully in the country of refuge, expulsion and naturalisation. According to Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties : "reservation" means a unilateral statement, however, phrased or named, made by a State, when signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to a treaty, whereby it purports to exclude or to modify the legal effect of certain provisions of the treaty in their application to that state. Article 42(1) of the Convention and Protocol Relating to the St

Twitter is defined as a social networking and microblogging online service that allows users to send and receive text-based message or post of up to 140 characters called "tweets" . Technopedia further explains that Twitter was designed by Jack Dorsey in March 2006. Twitter has been a communication tool used by many for close to 12 years. Donald Trump has been a poster boy for Twitter. He has, to my opinion, made Twitter so popular. Apart from using Facebook in my teaching. I have also worked on developing a way to introduce the use of Twitter into my learning and teaching strategy. I started by asking students to tweet about different topics related to our class discussion. The screenshot below shows tweets by students on the Australian Sports Diplomacy Strategy 2015-2018 . We talked about foreign policies and used the ASDS1518 as a case. We learnt how the PNG Hunters fit into the strategy, and the capacity building of different sporting codes in the country.  Stud

The video from Gerard Van Der Ree from the University College Utrecht on social constructivism gives us a really good synopsis of the theory.  He begins with a critique of rationalism, he says that both realism and liberalism claim that decision-making is rational. He goes on to say that sociology and anthropology tells us a different story. Decision-making is not rational but is influenced by our social systems.  To help us understand, I shared with you in class a scenario. I asked if you could on one sunny or hot day decide to walk into the DWU student dinning hall with your swim wear. All of you said no with a capital 'N'. So I asked why? You all gave various reasons why this type of dressing is not appropriate.  Some of you said that you have dressing codes for different venues. You are required to wear something decent to class or to the student dinning area. If you wear your swim wear then you will attract negative comments. Some of you said that; cul