Thomas More Institute

Category Archives: World Affairs

Published on
19 April 2011

Time For a Better Financial Stability Mechanism

Posted in Europe, Ireland, Moral Philosophy, Political Economy, Virtue, World Affairs

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has this last weekend called for a better plan to be drawn up to deal with government debts in Europe, and has criticised responses to individual crises so far which threaten to undermine investor confidence there. As Britain prepares for a referendum on its voting system […]

Published on
1 April 2011

The Irish General Election and Ireland’s Place in Europe

Posted in Europe, Ireland, Political Economy, Public Policy, World Affairs

From a guest blogger: For anybody who follows Irish politics, the recent general election, in the wake of Ireland’s financial crisis, represents a remarkable change in the Irish political landscape, but is also instructive about the underlying dynamics of Ireland’s relationship with the European union (EU). The centre-right party that has long dominated Irish politics […]

Published on
16 March 2011

New Forms of Sovereignty and the Right to Protect (R2P)

Posted in Military Ethics, Thomas More Institute Events, World Affairs

‘The R2P doctrine is still a vague and dangerous notion that may be open to abuse. We must, therefore, encourage statesmen, politicians, lawyers and philosophers, to define the R2P doctrine in clear, concise, and very limited formulae. Only such specific terms will enable us to obtain a fine balance between charitable assistance, respect for innocent […]

Published on
11 March 2011

From Guantánamo With Love

Posted in Civil Liberties, Human Rights, Liberty, Military Ethics, Moral Philosophy, Philosophy, United States of America, Virtue, World Affairs

To the delight of many of his foes, and no doubt to the chagrin of many who voted him, Barack Obama has announced the resumption of Bush-era Military Commissions for trying detainees held at Guantánamo Bay. Long after the deadline passed for the President to deliver on his pledge to close Guantánamo within a year […]

Published on
4 March 2011

Should Britain Invade Libya?

Posted in Africa, Human Rights, Legal Affairs, Middle East, Military Ethics, Moral Philosophy, Philosophy, World Affairs

The title I have chosen is somewhat disingenuous. I do not support armed intervention in Libya, and so my intention in blogging on this subject is not to voice support for military action. Neither, however, do I oppose it. But the suggestion that the West might use force in the Arab world has once again […]

Published on
25 February 2011

Tax Justice

Posted in Recommended Links, World Affairs

In a recent episode of PBS’s Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, contributors including Michael Sandel of Harvard University, and Peter Wehner of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, discussed the morality of different approaches to taxation. Watch the episode here. (Video © Educational Broadcasting Corporation)

Published on
9 February 2011

The UK Nordic Baltic Summit: Dispelling the Nordic Myth

Posted in Europe, Political Economy, Public Policy, World Affairs

From a guest blogger who is a Swedish National: What is so fascinating about the Nordic countries, besides their natural beauty, polar lights, and, allegedly beautiful blondes? To the foreign observer, the region seems to be filled with tranquil mystery churning out high-tech goods, economic growth and happy people. As The Economist rightly notes, this […]