Less than a hundred years ago, in continental America, ecological and economic disaster precipitated mass migration across state lines by hungry, destitute and desperate men, woman and children. Like those seeking entry to the wealthy west today, these migrants undertook long and arduous journeys from their homelands in search of hope and opportunity. Like current... Continue Reading →
Articles and Analysis
Reflections on America’s Equal Rights Amendment: A Lesson From the Past for Ireland
As Ireland heads to the polls shortly for a plebiscite on the constitution’s framing of women’s role in Irish society, I am reminded of parallels with another constitutional amendment on women and equality in the United States fifty years ago. Then, in the mid 1970s, a group of conservative women pulled off an extraordinary feat... Continue Reading →
China, India and Ukraine
While the West has reacted strongly to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China and India, representing over one third of the world’s population between, have taken a more ambiguous stance. Both countries abstained from UNSC resolution vote on 25 February that condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine while Chinese president Xi Jinping has called for “maximum restraint”... Continue Reading →
Explainer: What will sanctions mean for Russia — and for Europe?
First published in the Irish Examiner on 24 February 2022. See here Following Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine, the US and its western allies will announce significant sanctions directed at President Vladimir Putin’s allies and Russia’s financial system. Individual targets include the Russian defence minister, the chiefs of the Russian air force and the Black Sea Fleet... Continue Reading →
Afghanistan and the Global War on Terror
On 11 September 2001, the South Tower of the World Trade Center was struck by an airliner watched by millions of stunned television viewers. 18 minutes earlier another plane had collided with the North Tower drawing observers and news crews. A third aircraft plunged into the Pentagon soon after and a fourth, probably destined for... Continue Reading →
The Return of the Taliban in Regional Context
First published in the Irish Examiner on 7 September 2021. See here The Taliban’s reinstatement will unsettle the power balance in the Central and South Asia region. Land-locked Afghanistan borders Iran, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Alongside Russia and India, these states will be jockeying for position in the new order wrought by the... Continue Reading →
US Failure in Afghanistan
First published in the Irish Examiner on 16 July 2021. See here On 8 July, President Joe Biden announced that the US military mission in Afghanistan would end by 31 August just over a week before the 20th anniversary of 9/11. In his remarks, Biden contended that the ‘military mission hasn’t failed, yet’. However, it’s hard... Continue Reading →
Myanmar: A Brief Political History
(9-minute read) Myanmar, also known as Burma, is dominating news headlines since a military coup plunged the country into turmoil on 1 February. Elections, held back in November 2020, delivered a landslide victory to the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The overwhelming vote for the NLD meant that the... Continue Reading →
The Shadow of History on the Syrian Civil War
In late 2010, a revolutionary wave engulfed the Middle East and North Africa and was soon styled as an ‘Arab Spring’ in popular discourse. The uprising in Syria in March 2011 and the thus far decade-long civil war is perhaps the most destructive and consequential of these conflicts. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has... Continue Reading →
The Biden Administration, Ireland, Europe and the UK
First published in the Irish Examiner on 24 January 2021. See here. Over the past four years, Ireland has contended with a tepid relationship with Washington to the west alongside a strained one with London to the east, as Brexit became a reality. Mr. Trump backed the UK’s exit from the EU suggesting Britain would... Continue Reading →
Capitol Riot: Race in U.S. Politics
On the 6th January extraordinary scenes unfolded in Washington DC. Violent rioters stormed the U.S. Congress some wielding flags of the Confederacy – the losing side in the American Civil War. That evening, anti-racism scholar, Ibram X. Kendi tweeted 'white privilege is on display like never before in the U.S. Capitol'. While 'white privilege' may not... Continue Reading →
Timeline of Transition of Power from the Trump Administration to the Biden Administration
Period of time between Election Night and Inauguration – 79 days known as the interregnum 3 Nov 20 – election day The Tuesday after the first Monday in November On election day, Americans do not just vote for president but also many state and local level positions too -- everything from a senator to the local... Continue Reading →
Analysing President-elect Joseph Biden’s Foreign Policy Platform
First published in the Irish Examiner on 16 November 2020. See here. President-elect Joe Biden has promised an end to the United States’ isolationism, once inaugurated in January 2021. His foreign policy platform commits America to re-engaging with international agreements and institutions, including the World Health Organisation and the Iran Nuclear Deal. Mr Biden has... Continue Reading →
Jacqueline Fitzgibbon 