Category Archives: Introductions

A More Perfect Union

International Journal on World Peace Posted on by

Introduction to June 2009 IJWP Our lead article by James Yunker suggests ways in which global governance could be improved, ways that could create a “more perfect union” than the League of Nations, or the United Nations, which he compares to the Articles of Confederation of the United States. This more perfect union would involve three principles not present in the world government proposals of the twentieth century. First, voting principles must be changed so … Continue reading →

Security for the Innocent

International Journal on World Peace Posted on by

Introduction to March 2009 IJWP This issue contains a variety of articles that do not easily coalesce around a particular theme, but all refer to containing the violence wreaked by those with power in the pursuit of self-interested goals, whether they be political, economic, or religious. This violence might appear in the form of a ruthless warlord raping the economy and natural resources, the kidnapping and murder of NGO workers trying to serve the ravaged … Continue reading →

Living Peacefully with One Another in the Middle East

International Journal on World Peace Posted on by

Introduction to December 2008 IJWP The articles in this issue all relate to the Middle East region from Palestine to Pakistan. This region is perhaps the most resistant to religious pluralism in the world. War and violence are often the result of the attempt by a religious or ethnic group to lay claim on an entire state. A group may want to use the power of the state to redistribute all of the wealth and … Continue reading →

The Role of Diasporas in World Peace

International Journal on World Peace Posted on by

Introduction to September 2008 IJWP Globalization of the world’s economy and the migrations of people for political and economic reasons has caused a collision of cultures within nearly every country. While vast empires have historically been more pluralistic as they contain migrations of cultural groups from one part of an empire to another, twenty-first century migrations are impacting even the most homogeneous states.

Continue reading →

A Post-Colonial and Post-Soviet World

International Journal on World Peace Posted on by

[singlepic id=97 w=125 h=187 float=right]Introduction to IJWP, June 2008 This issue begins by discussing the elimination of the effects of colonialism and the Soviet Union which were each, in their own way, the result of empire-building. The idea of ruling over the lands of other people has been around as long as recorded human history. While it runs counter to the notion that people have the right to pursue their own destiny, it is an … Continue reading →

What Constitutes acceptable use of Force?

International Journal on World Peace Posted on by

[singlepic id=96 w=125 h=187 float=right]Introduction to IJWP, March 2008 “What Constitutes the Legitimate Use of Force?” is a thorny and much debated question in modern political theory and just war doctrine. Under what conditions is the use of force moral? When is it immoral? How much force is enough? What is excessive use of force? Do some types of governments, by virtue of their structure, have a greater right to use force than others? How … Continue reading →

A Post-Westphalian World and the quest for Self-Determination

International Journal on World Peace Posted on by

[singlepic id=95 w=125 h=187 float=left]Introduction to IJWP, December 2007 Issue Many of the key issues of our turbulent age are presented in this issue of IJWP. It contains hints of the outline of how a post-Westphalian, post-bipolar world is shaping up. We have not come close to creating a world of peace, but we are learning a few things that I hope we can collectively remember to come closer to the end of a history … Continue reading →