Museum Artefacts? Or Loot Hidden in Plain Sight?
Mauragh Scott explores the controversial issue of museum loot. Specifically, the article critiques the British Museum, in London, for its continuation of colonial interpretations around the artefacts it has on display. Countries and representatives of cultures to whom artefacts belong argue that it is the museumsâ responsibility to repatriate artefacts back to the cultures that they were stolen from and move forward together to teach a decolonised history of the past.
Charles Henry Turner and the Bias in Academia
Is higher education free of institutional racism? The case of C. H. Turner, a 19th century African American scientist, might answer this question.
The myth of German history consciousness
By Katharina Schmitz. On Yom Kippur, a right extremist terrorist shot two people when attempting to storm a synagogue. Luckily, its doors had been locked and its CCTV was recording. Such security measures illustrate the high level of anti-Semitism in Germany. Only a few weeks later, the radical right-wing party âAfDâ (Alternative for Germany) gained … More
A Review of Pittsâ Boundaries of the International: Law and Empire
By Oskari Mantere. Almost by definition, international law is universal. This belief seems nearly tautological, thus true to the point that it is almost silly. Of course, international law is universal; otherwise, it would not be truly an international law. This self-indulgent and unreflective belief is merely a false historical narrative. The fact is that … More
Moyn, S. (2018), Not Enough: Human Rights in an Unequal World
By Oskari Mantere. When historians became interested in the history of human rights in the 1990s and early 2000s, they traced their history either to ancient philosophies, the Christian natural law, the Age of Enlightenment, or the horrors of the gas chambers. It was the revisionist argument that modern human rights had their origins in … More
Do Fathersâ Rights Movements Undermine Domestic Violenceâs Victimsâ Claims?
By Anastasia Roscia. Fathersâ rights movements are political and social groups of activists that declare themselves to be defenders of gender equality for men, especially in matters such as financial support and child custody after divorce and separation. They are a truly international movement and can be found under different names and associations in many … More
The US College Scandal, The UK âClassâ Ceiling, & The Meritocracy Ideal
By Anastasia Roscia. Last month, the biggest US college scandal to date led the FBI to accuse famous Hollywood actresses, CEOs of law firms and prominent business leaders of paying thousands of dollars to help their children get into competitive elite universities. There were a variety of unlawful methods used, including bribing coaches working at … More
International Broadcasting: Public Diplomacy or Propaganda?
By Berit Braun. Flipping through the channels available on my hotel TV, I stumbled not only onto Portuguese soap operas and Italian talent shows but also onto a channel that left me confused: On France24, an obviously not-French presenter discussed the current situation in Libya in heavily Irish-accented English. The next channel, Deutsche Welle, left … More
The Impossibility of Global Ethics â A Review of Michael Ignatieffâs ‘The Ordinary Virtues’
By Oskari Mantere. Michael Ignatieffâs The Ordinary Virtues takes the reader on a safari through some of the most fragile moral economies of the world. The scenery of this tour is detailed in a prose that is clear and easy to read. The first stop is the Jackson Heights neighbourhood in New York where the … More
Europe and Africa in the Post-Colonial Era: Building Mutually Beneficial Relationships
By William Kennedy. In an ever connected and interdependent world, it is time to embrace opportunity in Africa â Europe relations. The two continents share a long and intricate history, with both positive partnerships to advance and historical grievances to address. Forums for cooperation – including EU and AU institutions – are already in place, … More
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Discrimination within anti-discrimination
By Magdalena Raykova. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the first UN human rights treaty to be adopted in the 21st century and is allegedly the fastest negotiated ever. It has also received unprecedented support from the international community upon its adoption. Furthermore, the document has been hailed as introducing … More
Crimea Five Years On: What has Russia Gained?
By Hans Nasman. Just over five years ago, Russia shocked the international community by annexing the Crimean Peninsula. This move set the stage for a further, ongoing crisis in Ukraine in which Crimea came under Russian control and two widely unrecognised peopleâs republics in eastern Ukraine were formed. No end is in sight to this … More
We Need to Talk about Gendered Violence in Films
By a guest writer. Films have never been more accessible. Services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO, and Hulu are limitless. We are no longer restricted to Blockbusterâs three movies weekend offer; instead, we have endless options. But the accessibility of films means violence becomes an everyday encounter. Yet, rarely do we connect these things … More
Ishay, M. (2004). The History of Human Rights: From Ancient Times to the Globalization Era. Berkley:
By Oskari Mantere. Since the end of the Cold War, there has been a proliferation of interest in the history of human rights. Micheline Ishayâs The History of Human Rights: From Ancient Times to Globalization Era is one example of an archetypal work that arose in the wake of this zeitgeist of the early 2000s. … More
The International Viewpoint 