Politics Archives

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.

Do Boycotts Work? A Look at Cancel Culture in the US

What’s behind the recent rise in boycotts in the US? Do boycotts work? Is there such a thing as too many boycotts? Boycotts are on the rise in the US, but experts say they’re not leading to the change that Americans participating in them hope to see. Experts say the growing ubiquity of boycotts could reduce their effectiveness in the future, as constant controversy associated with them causes Americans to tune out. Keep reading to learn about the most recent boycotts in the US and whether or not they’re working.

Reform & Diplomacy: A Fresh Look at the Carter Administration

How did Jimmy Carter reshape the role of the vice president? Why was the Department of Energy created? What are the highs and lows of Carter’s foreign policy? Supporters of Jimmy Carter would probably rather talk about his post-presidential years than his time in the White House. However, biographer Jonathan Alter thinks the Carter Administration deserves another look. While mistakes were made, Alter believes Carter’s achievements should be acknowledged. Continue reading for Alter’s assessment of Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

China-US Diplomatic Relations: Normalization & Beyond

Why did the US want China as an ally in the 20th century? After the two nations normalized diplomatic relations, what were the sticking points? In The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd explains the complex factors contributing to hostility between the US and China. One chapter in this fascinating history is the normalization of relations between the two countries. Read on for an overview of China-US diplomatic relations in the latter part of the 20th century.

The Anti-Free Speech Approach of the Social Justice Movement

Do you feel like social justice advocacy has gone too far? Does it seem like you have to constantly watch what you say? The authors of Cynical Theories explain how this came to be. While past movements for equality used to fight for concrete issues, Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay claim that contemporary activists and scholars are more concerned with policing language and culture and shutting down rational debate. Continue reading to learn about the anti-free speech approach of the Social Justice Movement.

California Black Reparations: Overdue or Unnecessary?

What is California’s Black reparations proposal all about? How does it compare to past reparations attempts? What does the public think? A task force in California has approved a proposal seeking reparations for Black residents for generations of harm due to the legacy of slavery. This prompted a lot of different responses including approval, confusion, and some have even called it a “scam.” Here we’ll discuss that proposal within the context of the national conversation around reparations.

The Problems With Communism and Islam in the West

What would happen if communism and Islam took over the West? Are they on the verge of destroying Western society? In Stefan Aarino’s book Hard Times Create Strong Men, he claims that communism and Islam are spreading to the US and that they will destroy American values. This is because modern Christian men are becoming too tolerant and will be pushed aside. Keep reading to learn about the problems with communism and Islam, according to Aarnio.

The Avoidable War: Kevin Rudd’s Take on US-China Relations

Is a war between the US and China inevitable? What’s the history and the future of US-China relations? Hostility between the US and China has been growing for over a decade, eroding the wary but pragmatic relationship of years past. Now, as tensions threaten to escalate, diplomat and politician Kevin Rudd argues that a full-blown military conflict can and should be averted. Continue reading for an overview of The Avoidable War, Kevin Rudd’s analysis of this critical situation.