Politics Archives

The Ukraine Food Crisis: Who’s Hurting the Most?

What’s causing the Ukraine food crisis? Which countries are affected? What other supply chain issues are expected? Ukraine is an important source of wheat, barley, and other foodstuffs for many poor and developing nations. However, Russian blockades have prevented exports from Ukraine from reaching the rest of the world, creating a food crisis through shortages and global price increases. Read on to learn how the Ukraine food crisis is developing and which countries are facing shortages.

Morality in Politics: Reason vs. Virtue

How should issues of morality be treated in politics? Should the government embrace one view of morality or avoid enforcing any specific moral code? Morality is a contentious subject in political philosophy. Liberalists argue that we should deemphasize moral questions in favor of reason and logic. Proponents of Aristotle’s political theory, on the other hand, consider moral questions crucial for politics. Michael Sandel contrasts the two philosophies and how they might inform real-life political debates pertaining to morality.

What Are Troll Farms & Which Countries Use Them?

What are troll farms? How do they spread disinformation online? What can be done to stop them? Governments are hiring troll farms to flood social media with disinformation, with the aim of suppressing opposition, sowing division, and ultimately threatening democracy. Social media companies have taken steps to end state-sponsored trolling, but some say it isn’t enough. Keep reading to learn more about what troll farms are and why they’re harmful.

How U.S. Intervention in Afghanistan Backfired

Could the 9/11 attacks have been prevented? Why did the United States get involved in Afghanistan in the 1980s? In The Silk Roads, historian Peter Frankopan argues that the political meddling by the U.S. and other Western powers in the Middle East and Asia during the 20th century would come back to haunt them in the 21st century. He cites Afghanistan in particular. Read more to learn how U.S. intervention in Afghanistan backfired.

Utilitarianism vs. Libertarianism: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between utilitarianism vs. libertarianism? Can the two be reconciled? To what extent should government restrict personal freedoms to ensure public safety and well-being? Utilitarianism states that government should only concern itself with maximizing public welfare. Libertarianism, on the other hand, says that government should only concern itself with maximizing personal freedoms. Michael Sandel explores the difference between these two ideologies and how their views apply to real-life political questions.

Global Balance of Power: 20th-Century Empires & Superpowers

How did the global balance of power shift in the 20th century? How did these balances shape wars, and how did wars shape them? In The Silk Roads, historian Peter Frankopan identifies Central and Western Asia as the battleground where the great empires of history rose and fell. He argues that understanding the East is crucial to our understanding of the world—particularly for Westerners who have lost this global perspective. Keep reading for Frankopan’s discussion of the global balance of power in the 20th century.

The Origins of Political Order by Francis Fukuyama: Book Overview

How and when did government develop as an institution? How are governments held accountable? What makes a democracy stable? The Origins of Political Order by Francis Fukuyama explores the development of political systems from prehistory to the eve of the American and French revolutions in the late 18th century. Fukuyama is interested in how and why contemporary liberal democracies emerged. Keep reading for an overview of the book.

Applying Michael Sandel’s Philosophy of Justice

What is Michael Sandel’s philosophy of justice? What are the key tenets of Sandel’s communitarianism? In Justice, Michael Sandel advocates his philosophy of justice and how he thinks it can create a more moral world—”communitarianism.” Communitarianism argues that the goal of the state is to create and preserve a community of citizens by promoting public engagement, kinship, and a sense of belonging. To show how communitarianism works in practice, Sandel offers the following examples of how governments can create and preserve a community of citizens.

Oil and Politics: How the Silk Roads Became the Oil Roads

Why does everyone fight over oil? How does this struggle affect the balance of power in the world? In ancient times, Persia was prized by the great powers of the world for its wealth and location. In modern times, the area is prized for its oil. The discovery of this commodity altered the world’s political landscape forever. Continue reading for a historical overview of oil and politics.

Understanding Democracy: 3 Takeaways From Francis Fukuyama

Is there a “recipe” for democratic government? Is democracy contingent? Can political decay be reversed? To understand the pressures on democracy in the 21st century, it’s important to understand what modern democracy is and where it came from. Francis Fukuyama aims to build that foundation in his book The Origins of Political Order. Continue reading for the book’s takeaways on understanding democracy in the world today.