Politics & Society
The Big Chill: What happened to Canada-China relations?
Since December last year, relations between Canada and China have deteriorated to the extent that the major aspirational interests of each country in the other have gone to dust for the foreseeable future.
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What next for the Kurds in Syria?
Egemen Bezci looks at the current predicament facing the Kurdish population in Syria.
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Q+A: How influential is the presidency of the United States?
How much does the U.S. presidency matter for the direction of the United States, and for the rest of the world? Maria Armoudian speaks with William F. Grover and Joseph G. Peschek about the power of the U.S. presidency and what they term the “unsustainable presidency.”
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What do changes in Congress mean for the ongoing policy battles in the US? 🔊
With the historic changes in the American House of Representatives, what can we expect from the Congress and President in the ongoing policy and investigative battles? How will the power struggles play out? Will the Supreme Court weigh in and if so how?
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How will climate change impact Aotearoa? ▶
How will climate change affect our natural world, our society, and our culture? And what can we do to halt the looming catastrophe? A panel of experts discuss how climate change will impact New Zealand.
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Q+A: How do fear, anger, and resentment lead to conflict?
How much do emotions impact or even dictate political outcomes like ethnic violence, wars, or even genocides? That is a key question posed by international relations theorists, political scientists, psychologists, and communications scholars
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Does denying trans identity impact mental health?
Denying transgender identity has a serious impact on mental health according to Bethany Grace Howe.
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Why are radical environmentalists being persecuted?
Radical environmentalists are fighting climate change so why are they being persecuted?
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Who are the Gilets jaunes?
For the past four weeks, the Gilets jaunes protests have dominated the French socio-political landscape and monopolised the media. But who are they exactly?
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Is it time for a law change on cannabis use in New Zealand?
A medicinal cannabis bill has just past its third reading in the New Zealand parliament. But is it time to also look at recreational use in the country?
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Q+A: How does our unconscious mind alter political outcomes?
Scientists are finding more and more evidence that human behaviour is not rational, not conscious, and maybe completely programmed without our rational thinking. How does the unconscious mind and biological predispositions effect political outcomes and prejudice biases?
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What are the implications of the US-China trade war? 🔊
In 2018, the United States and China have been embroiled in a trade war with each country continuing to raise tariffs placed on goods traded between the two nations. But what exactly are Donald Trump’s tariff policies and what will be their effects?
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How does the media weaponise far-right conspiracy theories?
Heather Woods and Leslie Hahner discuss how mainstream media helps to weaponize far-right conspiracy theories.
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Is patriotism the solution to nationalism?
Is patriotism the solution to nationalism? Peter S. Henne explores.
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Is bigotry a public health problem?
Is bigotry a public health problem? Ronald W. Pies investigates.
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Is democracy surviving in Trump’s America?
The results of the US 2018 mid-term elections are in and there’s cause for optimism, writes Paul Taillon.
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Aid and Diplomacy, Not Tear Gas: What should we do do address the Central American Migrant Crisis?
Kai Thaler outlines what needs to be done to resolve the Central American migrant crisis.
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How does fear feed online bigotry and real-world violence?
Fear, more than hate, feeds online bigotry and real-world violence according to Adam G. Klein.
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Open Letter: Why must New Zealand act now to halt climate change?
Earlier this week, one hundred and fifty academics and experts across various disciplines signed an open letter to the New Zealand government calling for greater and more immediate action on climate change. If we do not act, we face impending catastrophic environmental breakdown.
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Hell on Earth: What is going on in Yemen? 🔊
Experts say Yemen is the worst humanitarian crisis in modern history. Warnings from the UN say the death toll from starvation could reach 18.4 million by the end of the year. Why is this happening and what can be done?
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