Politics Archives

Damaged Legacy: Jimmy Carter & the Iran Hostage Crisis

Why did Iran take American hostages in 1979? Why did it take so long to free them? What should President Carter have done differently? Biographer Jonathan Alter can’t ignore the crisis that defined much of the presidency of Jimmy Carter—the Iran hostage crisis. Alter details the road to the crisis, Carter’s resistance to using military force, and the final push to free the hostages just as Carter’s presidency came to its end. Read on to learn about this dark chapter in American history.

The Origin of Social Justice: Liberal & Marxist Material Solutions

What were some of the first social justice movements? How did they differ from later movements? Authors, academics, and cultural critics Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay discuss the history of social justice in politics and scholarship. They say that the social justice we have today is far removed from the earlier movements. Continue reading to learn about the origin of social justice movements.

Jimmy Carter’s Foreign Policy: A Tainted Legacy of Peace

What were Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy successes? What personal principles undergirded his global approach? On the global stage, Jimmy Carter distinguished himself as a president who would eschew the use of military strength except as a last resort. Instead, he prioritized maintaining and promoting peace at any cost, including political damage to himself. Read more to learn about the key successes and failures of Jimmy Carter’s foreign policy.

Why Vermont’s Death With Dignity Law Sparked Debate

Why is Vermont’s “Death With Dignity” law so controversial? What are the pros and cons of physician-assisted death? Vermont has become the first state to remove the residency requirement for physician-assisted death, sparking renewed debates around “Death with Dignity” laws. This change means that terminally ill individuals from outside the state can now seek life-ending care in Vermont. In this article, we’ll discuss the details of the law and the pros and cons.

Tenets of Postmodernism: A Focus on the Expression of Power

What’s postmodernism? What’s deconstruction? What’s the difference between cultural hierarchy and class hierarchy? In Cynical Theories, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay show how, over time, social justice went from a positive force to its current form. The first phase featured liberals and Marxists taking a material approach. In the second phase, postmodernism, the focus shifted to culture. Read more to learn about the tenets of postmodernism and how it shaped social justice.

China’s Economic Reform: Maintaining Xi’s & the CCP’s Power

How does Xi Jinping use China’s economy to achieve his aims? How does the Chinese economy impact the US? According to diplomat Kevin Rudd, China changed course when Xi Jinping came to power. Rudd believes that the core of President Xi’s vision is retaining control over the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), keeping the CCP in power, and using Marxist-Leninist ideology to guide the country’s economic policies. Keep reading to learn why Rudd thinks that China’s economic reforms are really about keeping Xi and the CCP in power.

Jimmy Carter’s Political Career: From Georgia to Washington

How did Jimmy Carter’s political career start? What are some of the defining moments that shaped his career and formed his legacy? Biographer Jonathan Alter takes us on a journey through Jimmy Carter’s political career that starts well before his presidency. Alter discusses what drew Carter to politics in the first place, and he describes the various stops on the winding road that ended at the White House. Read more to learn about Carter’s career from the Georgia State Senate to the US presidency.

China’s Global Influence: Challenging the Global Rules-Based Order

Why is China attempting to rebuild its historic trade relationships? Why is it establishing businesses in various parts of the world? China isn’t content with the “world power” status it’s enjoyed for decades. They want even more. That’s the view of diplomat Kevin Rudd, who writes that President Xi Jinping aims to challenge the “global rules-based order” and wield more and more influence all over the world. Read more to learn about China’s global influence and how it’s growing.

Current US-China Relations as Seen From Each Perspective

How do the US and China view each other? Why have US-China relations soured in recent years? Hostility between the US and China has been growing for over a decade, eroding the wary but pragmatic relationship of years past. Australian diplomat and politician Kevin Rudd argues that this tenuous relationship is unraveling, and he provides an analysis of where relations stand now. Read on to understand current US-China relations from America’s and China’s perspective.

A History of Social Justice: How It Ended Up as Critical Theories

What’s the history of social justice ideology and approaches? How have the goals and methods changed over time? Past movements for equality used to fight for concrete issues. Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay contend that contemporary activists and scholars are now more concerned with policing language and culture, shutting down rational debate, and challenging the very foundations of liberal society. Read on to understand how this incredible transformation came about.