The Yegiora Files

The Medium Term Development Plan III (MTDP III) states that PNG is a party to the United National Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The signing and ratification of the UNFCCC by the Government of PNG (GOPNG) was done in 1992 and 1993 respectively. The UNFCCC is also labeled as an intergovernmental treaty. The GOPNG together with other governments around the world signed on behalf of its citizens to address the problem of climate change. By December 2007, the treaty had been ratified by 192 countries. The MTDP III stated that PNG has played a leading role in advancing the REDD+ agenda under the UNFCCC. REDD+ stands for countries' efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and foster conservation, sustainable management of forest, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks. The GOPNG worked together with the United Nations Development Authority (UNDP) to developed the PNG National REDD+ strategy. The strategy is a key par...

In the Alotau Accord II , foreign policy is listed as a priority sector. The deliverables are; adopting a new national foreign policy and seeking appropriate donor support to partner infrastructure development. The Department of Foreign Affairs is listed as the agency responsible. Pillar 4 of Vision 2050 talks about security and international relations. We have to make sure that our foreign policy reflects the national interest. Our conduct and management of international relations remains uncoordinated and poorly managed. We have to change this condition. The Medium Term Development Plan III outlines well its connection to the Vision 2050 , the Development Strategic Plan 2010-2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) . For example, Pillar 4 of the Vision 2050 is connected to the Key Result Area 4 on improved law and justice and national security. One reason why we need to study the theories of international relations is to help us understand our deve...

We need to understand the evolution of the sub-field in order to fit in the different theories of IR in a timeline. Since the birth of the sub-field, there has been so many changed over the years. Burchill and Linklater gives a good account of the evolution of IR theory. They begin by mentioning the work of Carr and Morgenthau. They said both scholars developed a broad framework of analysis which distilled the essence of international politics from disparate events. They have provided the necessary theoretical tools needed to understand international political events. The main point we should note in their work is the distinction between positivism and post-positivism. The distinction helps us to understand the various theories and scholars who helped contribute to the development of the sub-field. Positivism talks about the scientific approach to studying international relations. The use of rational choice and game theory is influenced by the field of economics. Such sys...

Sovereignty and jurisdiction are two important terminologies that help us understand international relations (IR). A state is a key actor in the international system and it is sovereign. Its sovereignty is exercised within its defined jurisdiction when it makes decisions on behalf of its citizens. This article will begin by discussing both key terms including the terms asylum seeker and refugee. In the discussion, the Tampa Affair will be used as a case study to help explain the key terms. In addition, a review of relevant domestic and international law texts that are connected to the Tampa Affair will be discussed to help one further understand the key terms. Sovereignty Shaw said that the doctrine came about after the birth of the modern state system and the emancipation of IR. Some scholars of IR believe that the modern state system began in 1648, after the Treaty of Westphalia. The term sovereignty is derived from the Latin terms superanus through the French term s...

In recent years students have complained that international relations (IR) has too many theories. There are many theoretical approaches and it is difficult to differentiate their central argument or thesis. Many have engaged in the 'theory versus practical' debate to determine the relevance of learning about theories. Anne-Marie Slaughter in her piece on principle theories said the study of IR takes a wide range of theoretical approaches. Some emerged from within the discipline while others where imported.  Scott Burchill and Andrew Linklater said the study of IR began as a theoretical discipline. The two foundational texts by Carr and Morgenthau were works of theory in three central respects. Theories provide the framework for analysis. Furthermore, according to Norwich University , theories of IR can help us understand the way the international system works, as well as how nations engage with each other and view the world. I like this particular statement on th...

Huawei Technologies has dominated international headlines this week and for a few weeks now. The company has been accused of spying and defrauding. But the company and the Chinese government have both denied all accusations. The news about the heads of US intelligence agencies warning American citizens not to use products and services made by Chinese tech giants Huawei and ZTE was reported in early 2018. Both companies have since been monitored very closely. FBI Director Chris Wray was concerned about the risk of allowing any company that belongs to a foreign government who do not share similar values to gain positions of power inside the country's telecommunications networks. He said this will give them the capacity to maliciously modify or steal information. Furthermore, he said they will have the capacity to conduct undetected espionage. According to Forbes , the company's CFO and its subsidiaries Skycom and Huawei Device USA now face criminal charges for ban...

For the past couple of years, I have spent a lot of money buying Digicel mobile phone credits to purchase the various TV packages offered by Digicel Play . In a smart move, Digicel Play has secured the NRL broadcasting rights for PNG forcing all fans to pay in order to have access to their NRL channel TVWAN Action. Fans formerly enjoyed viewing for free when EMTV had the broadcasting rights. But the entry of Digicel into the market has changed the broadcasting landscape. They created Digicel Play and quickly capitalized on the fact that Papua New Guineans love watching the NRL. They also broadcast the PNG Hunters home and away games. Fans have to pay in order to have access to the TVWAN Plus channel. TVWAN Plus is different from TVWAN Action, sometimes fans are faced with a tough decision when a NRL game is televised on a Saturday afternoon time slot similar to a PNG Hunters match.  Furthermore, viewers have the option of watching the PNGNRLC games live on the TVW...