Thematics of counterterrorism: comparing 24 and MI-5/Spooks

This paper examines terrorism and counterterrorism as they are manifest in the popular culture of the USA and UK, focusing on two contemporary televisual works, namely, 24 and the series named MI-5 when aired in the US or Spooks when broadcast in the UK. I compare similarities and differences in the representation of agents (individuals) and agencies (organisations) involved in counterterrorism, and how such representations impact upon the two democratic polities. I explore themes of legitimisation, normalisation, and subversion in these works.     

Inside/Outside and Around: Complexity and the Relational Ethics of Global Life

ABSTRACT

It has become expected of policymakers, pundits, and scholars to refer to a whole raft of dilemmas – from the economic downturn to climate change – as complex. The complexity of these challenges intimates a pattern of interactions marked by sharp discontinuities and exponential transformations triggered by incremental changes. How can one act ethically and politically in such a turbulent environment? Drawing on Complexity Thinking (CT), this article emphasizes the radical relationality of global life, which contests the Eurocentrism and anthropocentrism of International Relations (IR). The proposition is that the fundamental rift in IR’s inquiry is not merely about the divide between the domestic (inside) and the international (outside) as mainstream orthodoxies aver, but about the very context (around) in which such schisms are located and performed. The relational ethics of such a “complexified” outlook critique the atomistic individualism dominating IR and reimagine the international as a dynamic space for dialogical learning, which promises a world that is less hegemonic, more democratic, and equitable.     

Minority Religions and the Context of Violence: A Conflict/Interactionist Perspective

Violence (broadly defined to include collective as well as individual violence) associated with the recent rise of newer religious groups or 'cults', as well as longer-term minority religions, is examined, using a conflict orientation. The interactional nature of such violence is discussed, with accusations of violence concerning minority and newer religions placed in a conflict perspective that stresses the interdependency of religious groups and their opponents. Special attention is given to allegations of: (1) violence derived from group teachings and practices, with a focus on major recent tragic events involving religious groups; and (2) violence directed against members and groups by others, including private individuals and organization, as well as governmental entities.     

The globalization of intelligence since 9/11: frameworks and operational parameters

In the early 21^st century we are witnessing the increasing globalization of intelligence. The phenomenon of international intelligence liaison is central to this process, an area where intelligence and international relations connect. This article highlights the key themes that are currently developing within international intelligence liaison relationships. It asserts that we can identify a trend towards ‘homogenization’ of intelligence and other law enforcement and security initiatives. It even suggests we may speak of something close to ‘international standardization’ among a widening group of partners. These processes are underway to establish viable frameworks and operational parameters for the intelligence liaison arrangements, together with addressing counterintelligence and other security considerations. These convergent ‘regimes’ contribute to the important processes of trust and confidence building, as well as their subsequent maintenance over time. In short, a ‘best practice’ approach is becoming ‘normalized’ operationally, facilitating the optimization of intelligence liaison arrangements.     

War/Truth: Foucault,Heraclitus and the hoplite Homer

This article extends and critiques Michel Foucault's political sociology of war by taking it beyond its modern subjects. Positioning his work alongside Homer, Heraclitus and Plato, it analyses relations between war, truth and race in the transition from Archaic to Classical Greece. In doing so, it approaches philosophical texts as direct reflections on specific historical experiences of war, making the case for a political theory of fighting as a necessary and under-developed aspect of critical war studies. Such an approach, the article concludes, opens up new scholarly possibilities for the political sociology of war and resources political intervention against war-waging powers whose authority—inside and outside the academy—derives from a supposedly authoritative relation to the history and conduct of fighting.     

America's Old/New Meets Russia's True/False: The Case of Europe's North

Recent talk about Europe's diminishing importance to America's policymaking is here regarded as unfounded. Europe remains an indispensable signifier tightly embedded in the soul of the US as well as that of Russia. With identity being a relational process and profoundly social in character, both America and Russia employ Europe as the main mirror in which they portray themselves. This article unpacks their respective delineations of Europe: the American old/new as outlined by Donald Rumsfeld, and the Russian true/false, focusing on Europe's North as a region where the two perspectives might potentially clash.     

苏联(俄罗斯)与古巴关系的演进

1959年古巴革命胜利后苏联与古巴之间的关系急剧升温,1962年两国关系发展达到高峰,但当年发生的导弹危机使这种关系进入调整、巩固和发展时期,两国在政治、经济、军事等领域形成"特殊关系"。20世纪80年代中后期,随着"新思维"改革的提出,两国间原先存在的问题开始日益尖锐化,最终因苏联的解体而使苏古之间的密切关系不复存在。苏联的继承者俄罗斯最初实行的"一边倒"的亲西方政策使其与古巴的关系出现全面倒退,但随着调整期的结束,俄罗斯与古巴逐步恢复了平等互利的正常关系。     

Disregard for Security: The Human Rights Movement and 9/11

ABSTRACT

International human rights NGOs have warned that human rights have been threatened since September 11. However, the matter is complicated since what is involved is in reality a relationship between two concepts: human rights and security against terrorism. This article demonstrates that there is a tendency for international human rights NGOs to brush aside questions on security against terrorism. NGOs have stipulated that human rights values should be superior, or they have maintained, but failed to show, that there is no goal conflict between security and human rights—even that human rights fulfil a considerable instrumental function with respect to freedom from terrorism.     

禽流感病毒A/Turkey/Canada/63毒株HA和NA基因的克隆及序列分析

用SPF鸡胚增殖禽流感病毒(AIV)A/Turkey/Canada/63毒株,提取病毒基因组总RNA,应用RT-PCR技术分别扩增该病毒分离株的HA和NA基因全片段,并克隆到pMD18-T载体上。测序结果表明,该毒株的HA基因全长为1745bp,含有完整的阅读框架,编码566个氨基酸；NA基因全长1467bp,编码469个氨基酸。BLAST序列比较结果显示,该毒株HA基因属于H6亚型,NA基因属于N2亚型。将获得的HA和NA基因与AIV数据库中H6和N2基因进行遗传演化分析,表明该毒株HA基因与其他H6基因核苷酸的同源性为80.5%～87.3%,氨基酸的同源性为88.0%～93.1%；NA基因与其他N2基因核苷酸的同源性为86.0%～93.5%,氨基酸的同源性为90.6%～96.3%。     

Vulnerable warriors: the atmospheric marketing of military and policing equipment before and after 9/11

In this article, we analyse changes in the circulation of advertisements of policing products at security expos between 1995 and 2013. While the initial aim of the research was to evidence shifts in terrorist frames in the marketing of policing equipment before and after 9/11, our findings instead suggested that what we are seeing is the rise of marketing to police as “vulnerable warriors”, law enforcement officers in need of military weapons both for their offensive capabilities and for the protection they can offer to a police force that is always under threat.     

H9亚型禽流感病毒分离株A/Chick/Shandong/6/96的基因序列分析

对1株H9N2亚型禽流感病毒(AIV)A/Chick/Shndong/6/96(H9N2)进行了全病毒基因序列分析.结果表明,该毒株8个基因的核苷酸序列皆与1994年分离株A/Chicken/Beijing/l/94(H9N2)具有很高的同源性(96.0%-98.6%);推导其血凝素(HA)裂解位点处的氨基酸序列为A-R-S-S-R,完全符合H9 AIV欧亚分支中的类A/chicken/Beijing/1/94亚分支的特征;虽然其神经氨酸酶(NA)基因与A/Chicken/Beijing/l/94(H9N2)相比,出现了9个核苷酸的缺失,然而其同源性仍然较高,为97.3%;而与欧亚分支中的类A/Chicken/Korea/323/96和类A/Quail/HongKong/G1/97亚分支的同源性却相对较低,分别为92.0%和84.2%;其它基因的比较情况也大体相近.提示该毒株是由1994年分离株进化而来,在遗传演化上属于H9亚型流感病毒欧亚分支中的类A/Chicken/Beiing/l/94(H9N2)亚分支.     

Conflict and gender: the implications of the Burundian conflict on HIV/AIDS risks

Sexual and gender-based violence in many conflict and post-conflict contexts are creating vulnerabilities to HIV. The paper is based on research conducted in Burundi in 2007–2008.The country experienced long-term civil war from the early 1990s until recently and has been the locus of post-conflict disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration programmes, providing a coherent and focused study. The research finds that the relationship between conflict and HIV/AIDS is a function of pre-existing gender relations that also regulate sexual life and determine critical female vulnerabilities. When put under stress by armed conflict, these vulnerabilities become amplified, creating conditions for the increased spread of HIV. Analysis of how gender relations and vulnerabilities change according to the specific social and economic circumstances generated by military mobilisation, organisation and deployment, in relation to civilian displacement and insecurity, in a range of distinct circumstances, provides a framework for understanding HIV vulnerabilities during and after the conflict.     

Achieving behaviour change: Three generations of HIV/AIDS programming and jargon in Thailand

NGOs have played an important role worldwide in the fight to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS through achieving behaviour change. NGOs have often been at the forefront of innovative changes, influencing government and international programming activities. This paper identifies and analyses the evolution of the HIV/AIDS programmes of one NGO in Thailand over a period of ten years. Three generations of programming are identified both through distinct approaches to this area of work and through the changing jargon used to describe the people the programmes are aimed at.