Contemporary International Society Research Articles

The naval Operation Irini of the European Union: a step backwards of the csdp in the fight against the illegal immigration and search and rescue activities in the Mediterranean

Operation Irini is a new EU naval operation, in the framework of CSDP, to address violations of the arms embargo and illicit export of petroleum products in Libya, imposed by the United Nations Security Council. As a second objective, the Operation contributes to the training of Libyan coastguards in their fight against illegal immigration, as well as combating the mafias involved in the smuggling of migrants in the Central Mediterranean. From the outset, the naval operation has had scant resources and, unsurprisingly, its results have been poor in these first three years. In short, this new Operation, in the wake of Sophia’s poor results in the last months of its activity, represents a new setback for the CSDP and for the EU’s ambition to become a relevant actor in contemporary international society. Unfortunately, moreover, allegations of significant violations of migrants’ human rights by Libyan coast guard forces cast a shadow over the EU, which is assisting and training these security forces. Received: 04 September 2023Accepted: 24 January 2024

The Role of Religion in the International Clash of Civilisations: Beliefs and Frictions

This paper is based on Samuel Huntington's theory of the "clash of civilisations" and explores the complex role of religion in the international clash of civilisations. He argues that the post-Cold War global conflict will no longer be a confrontation based on ideology or national interests, but rather a friction between civilisations, particularly over differences in religious beliefs. The role of religion in shaping international relations and inspiring conflict is revealed by analysing a number of key international events and trends, such as religious conflicts in the Middle East, tensions between the West and the Islamic world, and cross-civilizational interactions in the context of globalisation.Firstly, the article explores how religious identity has become an important criterion for distinguishing the self from the other in international relations, especially in the context of the confrontation between Islam and the Western world. Next, the article analyses how religious extremism affects international politics, particularly its role in international terrorism. In addition, it examines how globalisation has exacerbated the friction between religions and civilisations, while at the same time opening up new opportunities for dialogue and understanding between civilisations. Through these case studies, the aim is to shed light on the dual role of religiosity in the international political arena: on the one hand, as a catalyst for divergence and conflict among civilisations, and on the other hand, as a potential conduit for cross-cultural understanding and peaceful dialogue. The article concludes with a discussion of how religion-induced clashes of civilisations can be mitigated through cross-cultural dialogue and cooperation in a multicultural and religiously diverse contemporary international society, contributing to international peace and stability. The study not only provides new ideas and perspectives for understanding major issues in current international politics, but also offers profound insights into dealing with differences and conflicts among civilisations.

Assembling international society

AbstractProducing a means of conceptualising and analysing international society as an assemblage, this article reflects on Adam Watson’s Evolution of International Society and demonstrates how an assemblage theory approach allows us to undertake Watson’s general aims to engage in broad, comparative analyses of international societies historically and produce a history of contemporary international society, but without the problematic biases and omissions that plague the empirical dimensions of his work. Understanding international society as an assemblage affords an ability to see that the endurance of so much of Western European international society in contemporary, global international society is owing to its particular form of assemblage. As a highly adaptive form of assemblage, what changes there might be in the international domain tend to occur within the assemblage, as the assemblage’s form renders both a substantive change of the assemblage and the establishment of any rival assemblage unlikely.

Arrighi’s pendulum: (Re)reading The Evolution of International Society in the twenty-first century

AbstractIn re-reading Watson’s The Evolution of International Society through the work of Giovanni Arrighi, this article makes two contributions to the English School (ES). Firstly, I offer a more grounded analysis of Watson’s ‘succession of hegemonies’ from the seventeenth century onwards. Secondly, and relatedly, through closer attention to the dynamics of capitalist international society, we are better able to apprehend the current contradictions and challenges facing contemporary international society. Rather than replace Watson with Arrighi, I argue that Arrighi’s framework of ‘systemic cycles of accumulation’ complements and extends the insights offered in Watson’s magnum opus. It is hoped that this dialogue between the ES and critical political economy may open the way for further ES research on the (dis)orderly dynamics of capitalist international society.

Use of disinformation as a weapon in contemporary international relations: accountability for Russian actions against states and international organizations

We have chosen to study international responsibility for carrying out disinformation campaigns, aiming to assess the importance and progress that the use of disinformation campaigns has obtained in contemporary international society as a geopolitical weapon, much like other well-established means such as the use of force. We focus on the situation with Russia because it has become apparent not only to specialized researchers but also to all citizens through the mainstream media that Russia has used disinformation campaigns to cloak its invasion of Ukraine in a smoke cloud of lies and half-truths. Thus, we found that, in the case of the Russian disinformation campaigns, the full circle of the accountability relationship has been completed. The Russian state has been accused of or blamed for carrying out these disinformation campaigns. The violation of certain international obligations has been reported, and it has been held accountable or even sanctioned for this. In light of these findings, it can be concluded that disinformation campaigns are becoming increasingly important as a tool of geopolitics or international relations, either on their own or in conjunction with other, more classic weapons in international society, such as the age-old use of force.

O constitucionalismo global e o projeto constituinte da Terra: Uma análise das formulações teóricas mais recentes de Luigi Ferrajoli

The transformation of contemporary international society in recent decades has strengthened the links between the various regions of the planet and created the necessary conditions for the establishment of the debate about the possibilities of configuring a constitutionalism of global reach. This process has been strengthened recently by the spread of the new coronavirus and by the difficulties encountered in the adoption of coordinated actions among the various States to confront the respective pandemic. It was in this context that the Italian jurist Luigi Ferrajoli formulated the so-called Earth Constituent Project. Thus, the present article analyzes this proposal and its possibilities of realization. The conclusion of the research is that, although the formation of a true global constitutionalism is still unlikely, the implementation of an Earth Charter is fundamental for the expansion of international cooperation, for the peaceful resolution of conflicts, and for the protection of the common goods of humanity. In the pursuit of this study, the hypothetical-deductive scientific method and the bibliographical and documental research technique were used.

Book Review of Yasuaki Onuma, International Law in a Transcivilizational World

1. The book under review is Yasuaki Onuma, International Law in a Transcivilizational World, Cambridge University Press, 2017, ISBN 9781107024731. As the title indicates, this book took a holistic approach and aimed to shift the view on international law from a West-centric angle to a multi-centric angle against the backdrop of a transcivilizational world. The book is oriented as a treatise (textbook) by an Asian international lawyer in the early twenty-first century. Divided into 10 chapters, the book allocates Chapter 1–5 to open general discussions in international law and Chapter 6–10 to further dissect specific issues in contemporary international society. The author put forward a prescriptive thesis, namely the traditional view of international is circumscribed by a West-centric view and applying a transcivilizational perspective will generate new dialogues in international law. 2. Chapter 1 sets the scene for interpreting international law in a multi-civilizational world, emphasizing the instrumentality aspect: international law as the law of international society and an inter-subjective product of humankind. Chapter 2 tackles problems when identifying international law. The author, rather than seeing international law in a static mode, alternatively set the elaboration in a functional mode. The functional approach applies to piercing the veil of context/forum-based international law into its cognitive basis and processes via analyzing treaties, resolutions, decisions, and views of international organizations and judiciaries and beyond (p. 131).

The Relevance of ‘International Society’ in the 21st Century: Challenges and Opportunities in a Potential Post-Liberal Order

In this paper, I aim to update and apply the idea and practices of “international society,” as developed in the classic book written by Hedley Bull (1977). This, by assessing its continuing relevance in the first decades of the 21st century. For scholarly, practical, and policy reasons, I believe that Bull’s masterpiece offers a relevant ‘guide to the perplexed’ to navigate world politics in our turbulent times. The two research questions to be addressed in the paper are: First, what are the challenges confronting the idea of the contemporary international society and its practices in the third decade of the 21st century? Second, what is the relevance of the idea of the international society and its practices nowadays? To answer the first question, I compile a list of significant contemporary challenges to the international society. In a nutshell, these include the rise of non-state actors and their challenge to the centrality of states; the impact of globalization and the preponderance of global issues (such as COVID-19 and climate change); and the lack of agreed global and shared norms, in both cultural and normative terms, which make international cooperation more difficult to obtain. Facing these four intertwined challenges, I argue that the idea and practices of international society can be updated to face the complex realities of our times. I sustain this argument by linking the concept and practices of the international society to the relevant mechanisms of global and regional governance, including the institutions of the international society. I refer to alternative world orders from the North and the South that reflect the resilience of the international society. Moreover, the opportunities for the flourishing of international society might include its potential decoupling from the Liberal International Order.

Inter-Philosophical Analytical Role Of Doctrine Of Marxism And Doctrine Of Mohism In Shaping International, Inter-Civilisational Development And Multilevel Governance Mechanisms

Both Doctrine of Marxism and Doctrine of Mohism had been exerting in-depth influences over nature and scope of individuality and collective being, the significance of labour and humanism, ethical and social status and collective, communal human development, which may be far more philosophically and ideationally and even institutionally indispensable in the contemporary international society of imbalanced uncoordinated, and unsustainable world system of remaining capitalistic production network and the comparative predominance of one singular superpower over the alternatives in relative terms. Both of these philosophical doctrines highlight neither narrow mindset nor self-centered preference over the interests of one dominant, privileged groups against those of the underprivileged and underdeveloped but rather, comparatively speaking, universal, communal fraternity and courage in the exchange of mutual benefit and production amongst the dispossessed groups and rejection of a kind of unfair governance mechanism and institution--provided that a set of criteria on international, inter-civilisational human development should be principally prioritised, for both of these philosophical schools fairly represent and serve the core interests of the underprivileged and the dispossessed in their corresponding, respective eras and their doctrines may have contradicted with the comparable interests of the privileged, powerful and aristocratic elite communities, who tend to launch profound vitriolic criticisms upon the exaggerated falsifiability, invalidity and non-sustainability of School of Marxism and School of Mohism.

Conceptualizing good global statehood: progressive foreign policy after the populist moment

AbstractThis article explores the theoretical challenges for normatively progressive foreign policy following the rise of populist nationalism during the 2010s, using analytical concepts from the English School. It argues that populist nationalism exposes a problem of internal dissensus on the future trajectories of solidarist international society, within the Western states that have traditionally been its principal supporters. The ‘populist moment’ reveals problems of disconnection between domestic publics, the practices, and institutions of contemporary international society, and state actions that are premised in part on ethical regard for non-citizens. The article contends that, as an interface point between rooted communities and global ethical concerns, progressive foreign policy approaches have an important role to play in ameliorating these disconnections. However, these approaches must look beyond a simple ‘re-booting’ of liberal internationalism, focussing instead on building a path towards solidarist international society that is rooted in everyday-lived experiences, communities, and identities within the state. Building upon theorizations of good international citizenship, the article advances an alternative framework of good global statehood, which draws upon a coproduction methodology as a means of creating progressive foreign policies that are better attuned to pluralism and diversity across, but also within state borders.

The Loss of Institutionality in International Organizations, and their Decline in the Contemporary International Society

The Loss of Institutionality in International Organizations, and their Decline in the Contemporary International Society

Authoritarianism as an Institution? The Case of Central Asia

AbstractWhile much of the English School has focused on liberal aspects of solidarism, forms of “illiberal solidarism” in contemporary international society remain underexplored. Drawing on archival material and elite interviews conducted in Central Asia in the period 2013–2019, this paper advances the claim that the Central Asian elites have developed the institution of authoritarianism in their region through the mechanisms of mimicry/emulation and praise/blame. By looking at specific discourses and practices over the last two decades, the paper discusses how the Central Asian governments have been using the new elements of the “democratic transition” in combination with the traditional legitimation offered by diplomatic recognition to secure authoritarian regimes in the democratic age, to create authoritarian state-centric solidarity in the region, and to make “avtoritet” and “stabil'nost'” fundamental pillars of the Central Asian regional order. The paper contributes to the English School literature by providing an initial account of illiberal solidarism and by showing how authoritarianism can potentially be an institution of specific regional international societies; to the authoritarian diffusion literature by demonstrating that authoritarianism can have a deontic component alongside considerations of domestic survival; and to the broader norm diffusion literature by focusing on the spread of illiberal values.

Interpreting great power rights in international society: Debating China’s right to a sphere of influence

The special rights and responsibilities of the great powers have traditionally been treated as a key component – even a primary institution – of international society in the English School literature. Recent interpretivist work has focused on the meanings of special responsibilities in contemporary international society with far less scholarly attention being given to the corollary of this – special rights. This article uses an interpretivist approach to attempt to uncover what recent debates over China’s right or otherwise to a sphere of influence in East Asia tells us about understandings of great power rights in contemporary international society. The argument advanced is that if Beijing’s right to a sphere of influence is successfully rejected by the rest of international society without repudiating its status as a great power more broadly, China will indeed be a great power without historical precedent.

SECURITY AND BORDER WALLS/FENCES IN CONTEMPORARY INTENATIONAL LAW

The fortification of state borders with walls and the but use of law-making power and the adjudicating power of domestic courts to prevent the movement of persons —in particular those in need of protection and mainly on grounds of national security — are increasingly common in contemporary international society. This new trend is sending a troubling message to the international community about what is permitted with regard to third countries and which human rights are protected and to what extent, if at all. For states, border wallsreinforce a unilateral view of international relations and international law. For people, they presage a dramatic decline in human rights protection standards. In all cases, thistrend ignores the values of international law.

Contemporary International Society for Urological Pathology Grade Group System 2014: A 2-Year Retrospective Review of Prostate Cancers Diagnosed in Lagos University Teaching Hospital

Abstract Introduction Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer worldwide. It is the commonest cancer among men in Nigeria. Gleason grading and scoring system constitute the most useful prognostic indicator in prostate cancer diagnosis and management. Over the years, it has gone through important modifications. The most recent of these changes was in 2014 by the International Society for Urological Pathology (ISUP). The WHO adopted the new grading system in 2016. It was not adopted as part of routine reporting of prostate cancer biopsies in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) until 2017. The aim of this study is to categorize prostate cancers diagnosed in LUTH based on the grade group system and determine the pattern of prognostic distribution of prostate cancer cases since its adoption. Methods This is a descriptive study; data were retrieved from the histopathologic records of the Department of Anatomic Pathology. Prostate cancers cases diagnosed between 2017 and 2018 were stratified using the WHO-adopted 2014 ISUP grading system. Results During the 2 years, 93 cases of prostate cancers were diagnosed by core needle biopsies. Overall, mean age of cases was 69.85 years (SD 8.49, median = 70 years). Nearly 39% of the 93 cases were ISUP grade group 5 and about 24% were ISUP grade group 4. Together ISUP grade groups 3, 4, and 5 constituted 76.35% of all cases of prostate cancers. There was no statistically significant association between ISUP grade group and age (P = .266). Perineural invasion was present in 35.82% of cases. Sixty-seven percent of these were ISUP grade group 5. Conclusion The data from this study suggest that high-grade cancers, particularly those of the ISUP grade group 5, are the most frequently diagnosed prostate cancers in our institution. Further studies are required to document biochemical recurrence-free progression and survival among our patients.

Identidad europea: raíces y alcance

El panorama actual en Europa requiere una reflexión urgente sobre si existe una identidad europea o no y sobre las consecuencias que se pueden derivar de las posibles respuestas a esa pregunta. Los integrantes del Grupo de investigación sobre cuestiones fundamentales de la sociedad internacional contemporánea de la Facultad de Derecho de la Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, tratamos de dar respuestas a esas cuestiones, junto con un conjunto de profesores de otras universidades españolas y extranjeras a lo largo de dos años. Fruto de esa investigación es este número especial de Cuadernos Europeos de Deusto. Hemos abordado el tema desde una perspectiva multidisciplinar, desde la Filosofía, la Historia y el Derecho. En particular, nos hemos centrado en las raíces de la identidad europea y en el alcance que, una vez determinada la misma, puede tener a la hora de las relaciones en Europa entre personas y grupos de diversas razas, religiones, culturas, etc.Publicación en línea: 27 febrero 2019

European identity: roots and scope

The current landscape of Europe requires an urgent reflection on whether a European identity exists or not, and on the consequences the answers to this question may hold. For two years, we members of the Research Group on critical issues of contemporary international society of the Faculty of Law of the International University of Catalonia, together with a number of professors from other Spanish and international universities, have attempted to provide answers to these questions. This special issue of Cuadernos Europeos de Deusto is the result of this research project. We have approached the topic from a multidisciplinary perspective, and more specifically Philosophy, History and Law. In particular, we have focused on the roots and scope of the European identity, which, once determined, can shed light on the relations between people and groups of different races, religions, cultures, etc. in Europe. Several of the authors have addressed the issue of human rights, a key element of that European identity.Published online: 27 February 2019

Educational cooperation of Spain with foreign countries and their experience for Russia

Spain’s higher education system is researched in the context of the globalization of contemporary international society life. The educational policy implemented in Spain is part of a strategy that is applied throughout the world to improve the knowledge and skills of the entire population, especially the new generation. The cooperation of Spain in the educational sphere with such countries, as the United States, Germany, Mexico, China and international organizations, represents practical interest for Russia, which is developing the public project «5-100» to increase the competitiveness of the leading Russian universities.

Pluralism, decolonization and international society

The classical narrative of the historical evolution of a pluralist international society emphasizes its European origins: emerging in Europe and then progressively expanding worldwide via European colonialism. It is a narrative that is based on particular dualities, such as those of international system and society and sovereignty/anarchy and hierarchy. These dualities create a dichotomy within the classical narrative between an ostensibly pluralist, European international society and the world beyond it, largely insulating its depictions of the evolution of the norms and institutions of the former from the hierarchies and empires of the latter. This article advances a different narrative of the evolution of pluralism within international society, suggesting that pluralism has only been reflected in the practices of the society of states since decolonization. Even after decolonization, there have been continued exceptions and violations to pluralist norms, signifying a contemporary international society that is both pluralist and hierarchical.

International Constitutionalism, Language in Legal Discourse, and the Functions of International Law Scholarship

The article addresses an issue of the role of language and legal scholarship within the ongoing debate on constitutionalisation of international law. The author argues that the lack of common legal language can call into question usefulness of international constitutionalism vocabulary for better understanding of legal changes in contemporary international society. In fact, scholars use different languages within the mentioned debate. There are within it two opposing ‘cohesive elites’, that is to say, two elites sharing different moral, political and social values, and different aims relating to the conduct of academic discourse. Consequently, the article seeks to point out some weaknesses of the constitutionalist approach, which can justify scepticism about constitutionalisation of international law conceived both as a legal process within international society and as a research agenda.