Featured Publications
American Journal of Qualitative Research, Jan 1, 2024
This essay reviews classic works on the philosophy of science and contemporary pedagogical guides... more This essay reviews classic works on the philosophy of science and contemporary pedagogical guides to scientific inquiry in order to present a discussion of the three logics that underlie qualitative research in political science. The first logic, epistemology, relates to the essence of research as a scientific endeavor and is framed as a debate between positivist and interpretivist orientations within the discipline of political science. The second logic, ontology, relates to the approach that research takes to investigating the empirical world and is framed as a debate between positivist qualitative and quantitative orientations, which together constitute the vast majority of mainstream researchers within the discipline. The third logic, methodology, relates to the means by which research aspires to reach its scientific ends and is framed as a debate among positivist qualitative orientations. Additionally, the essay discusses the present state of qualitative research in the discipline of political science, reviews the various ways in which qualitative research is defined in the relevant literature, addresses the limitations and trade-offs that are inherently associated with the aforementioned logics of qualitative research, explores multimethod approaches to remedying these issues, and proposes avenues for acquiring further information on the topics discussed.
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Revista Internacional de Pensamiento Político, Dec 27, 2022
Both the Soviet and United States military interventions failed in their respective efforts to es... more Both the Soviet and United States military interventions failed in their respective efforts to establish stable regimes in Afghanistan, whose reputation for resistance to foreign occupation and state-building operations has earned it a near-mythical moniker: “the graveyard of empires”. This study examines the history of regime development in Afghanistan with a focus on the perennial challenge of finding a balance between the degree of centralized power necessary to maintain security and perform state functions, on the one hand, and the threshold of tolerance for centralized power among the country’s tribal population, on the other. The analysis shows how the highly centralized communist regime established through the Soviet intervention as well as the excessively decentralized democratic regime established through the United States intervention represent just two chapters in Afghanistan’s historical struggle to establish legitimate and enduring sources of centralized state power.
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Studia Historyczne, Mar 18, 2022
Despite historical perceptions of systemic communist-capitalist bipolarity in the Cold War world ... more Despite historical perceptions of systemic communist-capitalist bipolarity in the Cold War world order, the international communist system was nevertheless affected by the same geopolitical realities that influenced the international system as a whole. By examining the seven cases of military conflicts between communist states from 1945 to 1991 – the Soviet invasion of Hungary (1956), the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia (1968), the Sino-Soviet border conflict (1969), the Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia (1978-1989), the Chinese invasion of Vietnam (1979), the Somali invasion of Ethiopia (1977-1978), and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan (1979-1989) – this article challenges both the notions of Cold War bipolarity between communist and capitalist systems as well as the Marxist theory of peaceful coexistence between communist states.
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Revista Internacional de Pensamiento Político, Jan 28, 2022
The isolationist presidency of Donald Trump was only the last, albeit the most radical, of a seri... more The isolationist presidency of Donald Trump was only the last, albeit the most radical, of a series of United States administrations that have largely ignored fostering close relations with Latin America and the Caribbean. This apparent withdrawal has resulted in the steady rise of Brazil as a significant regional power as well as the incursion of Russian and Chinese influence in the region. In light of these developments, this article presents a historical overview of United States hegemony in the western hemisphere before outlining how recent setbacks have undermined this trend in the areas of regional trade, diplomacy, and security. As the Biden administration makes its transition, the article finishes by proposing how the United States could regain influence in the region by collaborating with its southern neighbors to promote economic development, defend human rights, and confront the region's ongoing security issues.
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Análisis GESI, Feb 12, 2019
Despite the United Nations’ support of a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people,... more Despite the United Nations’ support of a referendum on self-determination for the Sahrawi people, the Western Sahara has been under de facto Moroccan occupation since a cease-fire with the Polisario Front was signed in 1991.
Today, with thousands of Sahrawis still living either in refugee camps or in exile, the status quo is very much in Morocco’s favor, as the country continues to profit from its exclusive access to the region’s natural resources. An examination of two historically related cases, those of East Timor and Iraqi Kurdistan, shows why a return to guerilla tactics in the pursuit of independence is now an unviable option for the Polisario Front, which should instead consider negotiating a degree of regional autonomy that would have real effects for the people it represents.
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Political & Social Science
Perspectives on Political Science, Jun 8, 2023
Since its publication, Alexander Wendt’s Social Theory of International Politics has become nearl... more Since its publication, Alexander Wendt’s Social Theory of International Politics has become nearly synonymous with the constructivist school in the study of International Relations. Despite its innovative methodological approaches and bold challenges to neorealism’s hegemonic prevalence in the field, Wendt’s social theory faces issues on both theoretical and empirical grounds. With respect to the former, this critical evaluation of the social theory focuses primarily on Wendt’s neglect of causal questions in the examination of state formation as well as his omission of the psychological and sociological levels of analysis in the examination of cultural development. With respect to the latter, the evaluation focuses on instances in which the historical record contradicts Wendt’s proposed distinction between the Hobbesian culture of the past and the Lockean culture of the present as well as on instances in which international socialization and the establishment of commonly observed ideas and norms have not proven effective in preventing the exercise of power politics among states.
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International Policy Digest, Mar 25, 2021
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The Platypus Review, Oct 1, 2020
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Progressive Connexions, Dec 1, 2019
Since the 1970s and 1980s, subsequent waves of so-called ‘new immigration’ have been arriving in ... more Since the 1970s and 1980s, subsequent waves of so-called ‘new immigration’ have been arriving in the United States and Europe. In the US, this immigration started with the arrival of immigrants and asylum-seekers from Mexico, Central America, and Asia. In Europe, the trend began with the influx of Turkish and Moroccan immigrants and continues today with the ongoing Syrian refugee crisis. Anti-immigrant politicians on both sides of the Atlantic have adopted exclusionary and often xenophobic rhetoric to further their policies, arguing that these new immigrants and their children are essentially incapable of assimilating into Western society. A review of the literature reveals why the classical linear theory of second-generation assimilation is no longer relevant and proposes instead the contemporary segmented assimilation and comparative integration context theories developed by US and European researchers, respectively. A review of the findings of two state-of-the-art studies—the CILS project for the United States context and TIES project for the European context—provides empirical evidence that, despite undeniable obstacles, the new second generation is indeed able to assimilate into Western education systems and labor markets. Nonetheless, gaps in the existing literature also suggest the need for further research in the field for the creation of a more generalizable theory of second-generation assimilation before appropriate policy measures can be implemented.
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Análisis GESI, Oct 9, 2019
Since the end of the Cold War, Cuba has shifted its focus from spreading its revolution in Africa... more Since the end of the Cold War, Cuba has shifted its focus from spreading its revolution in Africa and the Middle East to building a regional bloc of allies in defiance of United States hegemony in Latin America.
Given its history of showing solidarity through military support, Cuba’s continued defense of the Maduro regime in Venezuela amid growing opposition puts into question the lengths that Cuba would go to in order to ensure the security of its closest regional partner. This article analyzes the legacy of the Cuban doctrine of military internationalism by examining the four cases in which the Cuban armed forces intervened directly in foreign conflicts: Algeria from 1963 to 1964, Syria from 1973 to 1975, Angola from 1975 to 1991, and Ethiopia from 1978 to 1989. The analysis shows that Cuban military interventions have had a mixed record of effectiveness in achieving their objectives, particularly with regards to long-term objectives after the withdrawal of military personnel. Nevertheless, given the current interdependence of their regimes, this mixed record of success does not eliminate the possibility that Cuba would intervene militarily in Venezuela should such action be deemed necessary for their mutual survival.
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The Hampton Institute, Dec 6, 2018
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RECERCAT, Jul 1, 2018
The United States foreign policy of stabilization through direct military intervention has stirre... more The United States foreign policy of stabilization through direct military intervention has stirred considerable controversy with regards to both its ethics and effectiveness, not least following the recent failures to stabilize the political systems of Afghanistan and Iraq in the aftermath of intervention. Putting normative questions aside, the focus of this work is to analyze the effectiveness of modern United States stabilization operations from a historical perspective by examining Central America and the Caribbean, the geopolitical region in which the United States has maintained its longest and most direct sphere of influence. Accordingly, beginning with their independence from colonial powers, the respective histories of the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Panama, and Haiti are traced through three major periods of modernization and development: the state-building period, the nation-building period, and the stabilization period. Through this historical analysis, the study aims not only to assess the effectiveness of modern United States military interventions in the region but also to attain a deeper understanding of the historical factors that influence political stability in a broader sense. Although the interventions in the Dominican Republic, Grenada, and Panama produced the desired results of increasing political stability, the Haitian intervention ultimately failed to have the same effect, as the country returned to its pattern of instability just years after the withdrawal of intervening forces. The explanation for this difference in outcomes, however, does not lie in any anomalous variation in the Haitian stabilization operation but can instead be attributed to structural setbacks that Haiti experienced during its state-building and nation-building periods in the 20th century.
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The Platypus Review, Feb 1, 2018
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Art History
DailyArt Magazine, Apr 6, 2020
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DailyArt Magazine, Apr 1, 2019
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Letralia, Tierra de Letras, Feb 11, 2019
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DailyArt Magazine, Nov 26, 2018
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DailyArt Magazine, Sep 10, 2018
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DailyArt Magazine, Sep 3, 2018
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DailyArt Magazine, Jun 25, 2018
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Featured Publications
Today, with thousands of Sahrawis still living either in refugee camps or in exile, the status quo is very much in Morocco’s favor, as the country continues to profit from its exclusive access to the region’s natural resources. An examination of two historically related cases, those of East Timor and Iraqi Kurdistan, shows why a return to guerilla tactics in the pursuit of independence is now an unviable option for the Polisario Front, which should instead consider negotiating a degree of regional autonomy that would have real effects for the people it represents.
Political & Social Science
Given its history of showing solidarity through military support, Cuba’s continued defense of the Maduro regime in Venezuela amid growing opposition puts into question the lengths that Cuba would go to in order to ensure the security of its closest regional partner. This article analyzes the legacy of the Cuban doctrine of military internationalism by examining the four cases in which the Cuban armed forces intervened directly in foreign conflicts: Algeria from 1963 to 1964, Syria from 1973 to 1975, Angola from 1975 to 1991, and Ethiopia from 1978 to 1989. The analysis shows that Cuban military interventions have had a mixed record of effectiveness in achieving their objectives, particularly with regards to long-term objectives after the withdrawal of military personnel. Nevertheless, given the current interdependence of their regimes, this mixed record of success does not eliminate the possibility that Cuba would intervene militarily in Venezuela should such action be deemed necessary for their mutual survival.
Art History
Today, with thousands of Sahrawis still living either in refugee camps or in exile, the status quo is very much in Morocco’s favor, as the country continues to profit from its exclusive access to the region’s natural resources. An examination of two historically related cases, those of East Timor and Iraqi Kurdistan, shows why a return to guerilla tactics in the pursuit of independence is now an unviable option for the Polisario Front, which should instead consider negotiating a degree of regional autonomy that would have real effects for the people it represents.
Given its history of showing solidarity through military support, Cuba’s continued defense of the Maduro regime in Venezuela amid growing opposition puts into question the lengths that Cuba would go to in order to ensure the security of its closest regional partner. This article analyzes the legacy of the Cuban doctrine of military internationalism by examining the four cases in which the Cuban armed forces intervened directly in foreign conflicts: Algeria from 1963 to 1964, Syria from 1973 to 1975, Angola from 1975 to 1991, and Ethiopia from 1978 to 1989. The analysis shows that Cuban military interventions have had a mixed record of effectiveness in achieving their objectives, particularly with regards to long-term objectives after the withdrawal of military personnel. Nevertheless, given the current interdependence of their regimes, this mixed record of success does not eliminate the possibility that Cuba would intervene militarily in Venezuela should such action be deemed necessary for their mutual survival.
Keywords: Cambridge, ESL, first principles of instruction, language examinations, Trinity
First principles thinking is a technique that guides you to systematically come up with new solutions by way of reverse-engineering societal challenges. It encourages you to critically question the assumptions of the challenge and break it down into basic components, after which you ask more critical questions that will surely inspire new ideas in a way that reassembles the components from the ground up. The methodology itself dates back to classical antiquity, when it was first introduced by Aristotle and later applied by Euclid in his geometrical proofs. It was then further developed during the Renaissance by Descartes’ foundationalism as well as in the age of Enlightenment through Kant’s writings on reason. At the onset of modernity, Marx experimented with pairing first principles with ideology.
However, contemporary works on the method have not gone much further than simply listing the action steps, which leaves much open to the intuition and interpretation of the applicant. Some aspiring first principles thinkers appreciate this more than others. For those who would like some more guidance, we have outlined additional procedures and insights. We furthermore elaborate on two additional steps that we find are particularly relevant in the context of societal problem-solving. In doing so, we also apply each step to the challenge of ensuring sufficient access to fresh water for residents of Cape Town, after which we invite you to do the same for your challenge.
Here you find each step explained in brief:
I. Identify your objective. Transform your societal challenge into an objective statement that captures what needs to be improved, for whom and in which locality, possibly with a deadline, without demarcating it further than this. The statement should indicate whether you seek to tackle a challenge entirely or partially.
II. List your obstacles. Identify all obstacles in the way of your objective. Depending on whether you seek to tackle a challenge entirely or partially, you can decide to embark on either those obstacles that are individually necessary and jointly sufficient to achieve your objective, or those that are (un)related to your background.
III. Question your assumptions. Question the assumptions that underlie each obstacle in a disciplined, rigorous and thoughtful manner, alone or with a partner, through Socratic questioning. Look for evidence, consider alternative perspectives, decompose the elements of assumptions and examine the implications.
IV. Uncover your first principles. Answer your Socratic questions to discover the fundamental truths: your first principles. You can answer the questions intuitively through an educated guess or with the aid of your search engine, as long as the answers are founded in science and deduced as much as is reasonably possible.
V. Come up with new ideas. Pose ‘how can we …’ questions linking the first principles to your obstacles with the goal to come up with new ideas, and ask follow-up questions to make your ideas more actionable. Make sure that you write down all the ideas that come to mind and try to merge them with different questions and ideas.
VI. Refine your ideas. Reduce your ideas to a manageable volume through a simple pass/fail exercise, and settle on a number of evaluation criteria for your ideas. Assess and refine the remaining ideas according to your criteria by way of Socratic questioning, identifying first principles and asking ‘how can we …’ questions.
VII. Select your solutions. Select which ideas will be taken to the implementation table. Depending on how you selected your obstacles in step II, your selection can take place according to which ideas are individually necessary and/or jointly sufficient to overcome your obstacles, or by way of an evaluation matrix.
Though this manual addresses the steps of first principles thinking in depth, we go on to demonstrate how it compares to other societal problem-solving methods. In stark contrast to first principles thinking, analogical thinking seeks to duplicate solutions that have worked in similar contexts to a given challenge rather than develop unique and original ideas. More in line with first principles thinking, however, analytical thinking focuses on the root causes of a particular challenge to develop solutions for it. Design thinking is the most people-centred approach, as it concentrates primarily on the stakeholders in any particular challenge, while lateral thinking looks beyond the challenge in question to draw inspiration from other areas to produce creative solutions. Finally, computational thinking aims to deconstruct challenges into individual variables in order to create solutions based on the results of carefully formulated algorithms. Finally, we look at the scientific method to demonstrate the role that first principles play in hypothesis creation through the process of abductive, deductive and inductive reasoning.