International Observation

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Anker’s latest Karapax case for the iPhone 7/7s/8, with its slim, sleek, rugged design and overall military grade construction, makes me feel as though I have the same 360 protection on my phone that I'm used to- Without the bulk! For example, things I particularly like about this case are that: the case itself is strong and sturdy while being flexible and easy to take on and off my phone; the corners are raised and rubberized providing both front and back drop protection; it has a snug fit that conforms to the shape of my phone; the cushioned inside offers shock protection against drops; the rubber adds an excellent degree of slip and drop protection and keeps my phone from from sliding about, or falling out of my pocket; the port openings are deep enough to protect from debris, but not too deep so I can still use my accessories just fine; it looks really good in its sleek black color, contrasting nicely with the silver on my iPhone. What’s makes this case really special to me is that although it’s a perfect fit for my current iPhone 7, it’s also designed to fit the new iPhone 8 and supports the new wireless charging feature. This case will no doubt last me a long time, across both iPhone versions. Paired with Anker’s new Karapax screen protector, it’s perfect! The only thing that I would change, which isn’t even relevant to me but may be for others, is if there were more color options available outside of black alone. Still, the Black is beautiful and I absolutely love it! The one I received as a member of Anker’s Power User program is the slim fit for the 4.7” iPhone. Anker also makes one for the iPhone 7 Plus/iPhone 8 plus as well as the option to purchase one with a hard shell on the back. The price incredibly low, too, given the well known superior quality of Anker products in addition to their outstanding warranty and Support. #Anker #iphone #iphone8 #iphone7 #iphone7s #case #Karapax Here’s the link to check it out on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B074DT4RTH/ref=psdcmw_3081461011_t3_B073S5M4XR *photo courtesy of Anker*

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Emancipative Pedagogy in the Age of Globalization http://internationalobservation.blogspot.com/2010/07/emancipative-pedagogy-in-age-of.html

Visit Today! Full article at http://internationalobservation.blogspot.com

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China Rising: Friend or Foe? Just published on e-IR.http://internationalobservation.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default?orderby=updated "http://... Promoting awareness of international threats through...

Just published on e-IR --- Check it out! http://www.e-ir.info/?p=3570

Dominant powers historically have been challenged by the emergence of another rising power.   Therefore, it is essential that we consider what type of challenge the rising power of China may pose.

Fall from Grace? Is the U.S. destined to “fall” as a great power in the near future? Or can adroit foreign policy extend the unipolarity of the United States? The United States as a powerful world leader has been maintained throughout the great wars and remains today as such in a post-Cold War environment. This has been due to its economic strength, military capabilities, and strategical maneuvers. The possibility of the United States falling from its grace, however, is eminent, but the idea that it will lose all credibility as a great power is debateable. The Washington Post reports: An intelligence forecast being prepared for the next president on future global risks envisions a steady decline in U.S. dominance in the coming decades, as the world is reshaped by globalization, battered by climate change, and destabilized by regional upheavals over shortages of food, water and energy. The report, previewed in a speech by Thomas Fingar, the U.S. intelligence community's top analyst, also concludes that the one key area of continued U.S. superiority -- military power -- will "be the least significant" asset in the increasingly competitive world of the future, because "nobody is going to attack us with massive conventional force." Albeit, rivals will challenge its position as a unipolar hegemon and the inevitable is that the United States is destined to a multipolar world to which its power will be leveraged. Historical evidence reveals a cyclical pattern where shifts in power are predictable. Unipolarity cannot be preserved, as it creates a sense of instability in the global environment to which others feel pressure to balance the power in order to lessen their vulnerabilities. As states are essentially power-seeking, this balancing attempt will give way to powers that will threaten American interests. By attempting to extend the unipolarity of the United States through coercion, containment, or other forms of deterrence then the possibility remains that states will accelerate others attempts to gain status as a world power as they remain skeptical of the United States agenda. Additionally, ideologies are not always in sync, and the penetration of Westernized values may threaten the internal stability of the state. In order for a state to reinforce its own cultural and political agenda, it therefore feels compelled to push against the hegemonic influence of the United States. Through an attempt to extend unipolar foreign policy, no matter how adroit, the risk of resentment of hostility amongst other powers may pressurize and explode to an international conflict. By embracing the fact that multipolarity is inevitable, the United States can skillfully employ its current power to reinforce stability and build trust in relationships therefore retaining its stance as a world leader in the transition to mulipolarity. The instability that exists in a multipolar international environment may be diminished if the United States tactfully demonstrates that it can successfully establish world order and peace through true diplomacy. Should others then emulate a foreign policy of peaceful coexistence led by the United States, then world order might be secured.

Is One Jelly Bean Ever Enough? "You can tell a lot about a fellow's character by his way of eating jelly beans." - Ronald Reagan As the intent of an international organization aims to serve the good of its purpose, so many often fall by the wayside. Rather it be politics, economic factors, leadership ability, or an abstract of reasoning only few have remained true to their cause. One of the main problems found in international organizations is their ability to grow, adapt, and diversify. Often, diversification will find them outside of the realm of their purpose and redefine their goals. Complexity of the organization becomes intense and before long their scope is tremendous. Without focus or direction, their intent becomes misconstrued limiting or allowing for their overall success or failure. The United Nations is an example of an IGO that has become so tremendously vast in its entirety that it is very difficult to understand its general intent. It is obvious that global governance is its core issue and it makes a good attempt to cover a broad range of international governance issues through its many programs, goals, and agenda. The areas of concentration of the UN are based on Peace & Security, Economic and Social Development, Human Rights, Humanitarian Affairs, and International Law. One look at the UN Organizational chart and it’s easy to get lost in translation. Surely, all of these are components necessary to global governance but are they really effective when so much is covered? The United Nations has become a world in itself with its overloads of conferences, civil societies, and NGO’s that participate. The formality is overwhelming. Not only is it comprised of various commissions, but commissions within those commissions. A benefit is that it has achieved a status as a tremendous resource base and central hub for all nations combined. It can effectively unify and penalize nation-states that defy any of its members, as well as provide support for those in need. These capabilities solidify its legitimacy and the ongoing efforts of serving for global governance, but it is this same formality and complex structure that hinders it. How can the UN be effective when the response time is so limited through its bureaucratic structure? How can the UN be effective when it is focusing on issues outside of global governance? How functional is a blanket organization in this regard? With an agenda inclusive of their deep involvement into habitats and things like climate changes, are they truly about global governance exclusively or have they ventured off into an all-inclusive world organization? As a result, Nations have recognized that non-state actors, such as MNC’s and NGO’s, are instrumental in the pursuit of an array of globalization efforts by providing expert advice, training activities, national and international partnerships, and various other support systems. IGO’s, such as the UN have in turn learned to maximize their impact and make “efficient use of its financial and human resources.” Conversely, non-state actors have been able to take a more civilian approach to critical issues where IGO’s have failed to do so, thereby filling a void through precision and diversification. Globalization also has a cultural dimension, making it more dynamic and therefore demanding strategic precision and diversity. Kushal Deb in an IRCC article conceptualizes globalization “in terms of cultural flows that both reflect and reproduce global metropolitanism.” He cites Arjun Appadurai, (Senior Advisor for Global Initiatives at The New School in New York City and former professor of International Studies and Director of the Initiative on Cities and Globalization at Yale University) suggesting that there are five dimensions to these flows: 1. ethnoscape: produced by flows of business personnel, guest-workers, tourists, immigrants and refugees 2. technoscape: by flows of machinery, technology and software produced by trans-national corporations and government agencies 3. finanscape: by flows of capital, currencies, and securities 4. mediascape: by flows of images and information through print media, television and films 5. ideoscape: by flows of ideological western worldviews like democracy, sovereignty and welfare rights Thus, globalization is multi-faceted and requires a multi-faceted approach. While most of us generalize dependency theory as relating to capitalism, often viewing it as threatening compromising the welfare and interests of a state, these same economic principles can be translated into the organizational dependency that states have developed on IGO’s. Just as economic diversification is critical for economic sustainability, so too is organizational diversification important for political and ideological means of development.