Australian Big Brother: Critical consideration of the Australian approach to security and effects on individual liberty

A series of coordinated terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists across the United States on September 11, 2001, had far reaching implications beyond the immediate destruction and casualties they caused at the time. In the wake of these events, which highlighted the unpreparedness and naivety of modern Western civilisation to the threat of terrorism (Rudner 2007, … Continue reading Australian Big Brother: Critical consideration of the Australian approach to security and effects on individual liberty

Migration – Humanitarian or Security Issue?

The aim of this essay is to explore and discuss critical issues of human security with relevant application of the framework of securitization suggested by the Copenhagen School. Specifically, this essay will argue that since the end of the Cold War western governments have placed an emphasis on securitising the relocation and resettlement of victims … Continue reading Migration – Humanitarian or Security Issue?

Terrorism in Australia: A Legitimate Threat?

Following the New York City terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the subject of national security and counter-terrorism has become increasingly prevalent in western society. In Australia this prevalence has seen significant changes made to the way foreign policy is considered and written, beginning with the first Terrorism White Paper of 2004 (Department of Foreign … Continue reading Terrorism in Australia: A Legitimate Threat?

Going Danish: An Introduction to the Copenhagen School

The aim of this short essay is to introduce the Copenhagen School and social constructivism as political theories which will be analysed further in a later paper. This essay will analyse both the merits and disadvantages of the Copenhagen School and social constructivism, arguing that the theories of the Copenhagen School have the potential to … Continue reading Going Danish: An Introduction to the Copenhagen School

Public Relations: Saving the Oldest Olympic Sport

Background  In Strategic Sport Marketing (Shilbury, Westerbeek, Quick, Funk and Karg 2014) the authors present a case study which centres on the removal of amateur wrestling as a sport from the Olympic games. In this case study the authors suggest that the eventual survival of wrestling as a sport, in whole or in part, was … Continue reading Public Relations: Saving the Oldest Olympic Sport

Neoliberalism, New Media & The Political Discourse

With the rise of convergence and social media culture the influence of mainstream media outlets in political discourse is greater than ever before. The public can now engage in live media, whilst simultaneously commentating with their peers, in a way that can influence politics like never before. With the application of theories from Harvey (2005) … Continue reading Neoliberalism, New Media & The Political Discourse