Content from World Affairs - The Journal of International Issues
Tiberio Graziani proposes an interpretation of International Law as a historically contingent regulation of the global order. In contrast to the teleological interpretations that conceive law as an autonomous normative order, and to reductionist readings that regard it as a mere instrument of power, the article argues that the functioning of International Law is conditioned by specific phases of balance and transition within the internati ...
The international system is in peril. It is not unipolar, bipolar or multipolar. It is in transition, but yet to acquire a definite form or shape. This condition is often portrayed as ‘structural flux’. This article analyses the US President Trump’s actions in Caracas. The analysis indicates that the reasons cited for Trump’s Venezuela operation—Trump’s mercurial personality the battle against illegal drugs, untapped oil reserve ...
Arjun Singh Dyarakoti examines the claim made by the US administration to justify the attack carried out against Iran on 28 February 2026, citing the “imminent threat” posed by Iran as the reason. It argues that it was not the “imminent threat” to the US that led to the US attack. Rather, it is a ‘war of choice’ driven by strategic calculations, the belief that there was a window of opportunity to take ...
Located in the heart of the Arab world, Saudi Arabia is an important state in the region. Since its establishment nearly a century ago, it has remained a major power, wielding strong political, religious, and financial influence. As an active participant in global affairs, the Kingdom is involved in both competition and cooperation with its regional neighbours and with outside great powers. Saudi Arabia seeks to draw advantage from the features of its geography, i ...
The global realisation that natural resources are finite and that the oceans are under stress due to human activity and excessive exploitation has resulted in the adoption of the ‘Blue Economy’ concept. India and China have both crafted and announced strategies to sustainably manage and use the ocean’s resources in their respective maritime surroundings. However, China’s expansion into the Indian Ocean with civilian and military objectives ...
India’s foreign policy towards Vietnam during the last 25 years is fundamentally tied to its Act East Policy (AEP) and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI). Economic factors are also key to India’s policy. In the process of implementing economic diplomacy, India acknowledges Vietnam’s economic development achievements in 40 years of ‘“Doi Moi’”. Nguyen Thi Oanh and Phan Cao Nhat Anh
The growing importance of India-Myanmar relations demand a reassessment in the wake of China’s expanding presence and persistent regional volatility. Tarun Kumar Jha argues the dual factors of Myanmar’s political unrest and China’s assertive role complicate India’s diplomatic calculus with Myanmar. If India seeks to emerge as a regional leader, it must invest in robust connectivity, strengthen its border management ...
Sidhant Kumar examines China’s expanding economic and political influence in Nepal, arguing that strategic investments in infrastructure, education, and political ties are increasingly integrating the nation into a China-centric economic and cultural sphere. The research highlights China’s primary strategic objectives: securing the Tibetan border, ensuring strict adherence to the ‘One China Policy’, and expanding r ...
Asif Mohiuddin examines the complex relationship between sharī‘ah and the Egyptian state, emphasising the constitutional evolution of Sharī‘ah, judicial disputes and the difficulties presented by Egypt’s obligations under international treaties. Egypt’s legal system integrates sharī‘ah principles, as stated in Article 2 of its Constitution. However, there are legal and ideological complications when it com ...