BSJ

The Butler Scholarly Journal

Category: Politics

  1. Debate: Should Scotland become an independent country?

    Scotland has been part of the United Kingdom since 1707. On 18th September 2014, citizens will have the chance to vote on whether Scotland should become an independent country in its own right, but opinions on the subject are polarised. Here, two Butlerites present either side of the argument for Scottish independence, a debate which has divided the nation. Yes: Kieran Devlin explores the reasons why Scotland should become independent… In this conflict of sneering demonising and contrived one-upmanship, where one “camp’s” mantra is fundamentally petulant fear-mongering, and the other’s fundamentally naïve uber-nationalism; rationality and objectivity is a myth. It’s…

  2. Peace Building in Northern Ireland

    No region or country in the world is without its own troubles, and this is especially true of Northern Ireland. The Troubles which erupted in the 70s and 80s are painfully remembered by many who served in the area or had to live in the midst of the violence. This is why the recent wave of violence, which erupted over Belfast City Council’s decision not to fly the Union Flag every day of the year, has been so shocking and disappointing to us all.  However, it is all too easy to lament the images of reckless violence and devastation caused…

  3. The end of Berlusconi?

    The enduring popularity and success of Silvio Berlusconi has often seemed inexplicable from the other side of Europe, given his frequent problems with the law and penchant for affairs with girls a quarter of his age, but here in Italy there remains a significant proportion of the population entertained enough by his antics to support him. In November 2011, a variety of legal battles combined with the economic crisis saw his approval rating drop to a low of 22%, and he resigned shortly after. However, with the technocratic government of Monti coming under fire for what was seen as their…

  4. Why Romney lost the election

    Despite the economic downturn, high unemployment and low presidential approval ratings, Mitt Romney and his Republicans were unable to secure an election victory or regain control of the Senate. Whilst exit polls indicate that voters viewed that Obama as “more for the middle class”, with Romney tilting to the interests of the rich, many Republicans and conservative commentators are lost for explanations as to why they lost the election. This perhaps presents the perfect opportunity to shed light on what critics from all ends of political spectrum view as an “out of touch” Republican party, which, since the days of…

  5. LIVE ELECTION COMMENTARY

    Hear what Taha Abrar has to say on the election as it happens. Link to a Live Commentary on the Presidential Election, straight from the sofas of Butler Bar: >>>Election Live<<< Election Commentary 4pm-5am Tuesday November 6, 2012 4:03 BSJ: Hello and welcome to the Josephine Butler Scholarly Journal’s US Presidential Election Blog! Ever since Rick Santorum’s withdrawal all but secured Governor Mitt Romney’s ascension to the Republican Party nomination, the fight to be the President of the United States has captivated the US and much of the watching world. From 47%-gate to the Laughing Joe Biden Meme, it’s not an accident…

  6. Why all the excitement?

    In the 1960 US presidential election the main theme of John F. Kennedy’s campaign was ‘a time for greatness’. Arguably during that period the US was at its most powerful; it had yet to set foot in the jungles of Vietnam for a start. But the election this year, along with being highly negative, has also been about trying to persuade voters that America can get back to that level of power and prestige it enjoyed across the world. Obama has wanted to move ‘Forward’ while Romney has asked us to ‘Believe in America,’ but can we do that anymore?…

  7. An Election Overview

    I have been asked to write a few lines about the American election. Instead of trying to cover everything I have decided to write a little bit about a few issues and put some links down so you can read more if you want to. I decided to put a few of my opinions down in the end to start a discussion. Feel free to discuss and comment. I hope to see all of you in the bar tonight. If you do not want to read what everyone else is saying about Obama and Romney, but want to read what they…

  8. ‘Ohio holds the key’

    The newspapers are filled with headlines such as ‘Romney ahead 50% to 47%’ or ‘Obama levels at 48-48’. Despite these national polls dominating our news, they are largely irrelevant. We should instead look at around eight swing states, with none more important than Ohio. Having only backed a losing candidate twice since 1900, whoever wins the Buckeye state is likely to win the election. The combination of the Electoral College system and America’s polarised politics means that around 400 of the 538 state votes are largely decided. With Obama leading amongst those, it is highly probable that he needs just 33 more…

  9. ‘In Obama We Trust’?

    A wise woman once remarked of Barack Obama, ‘how’s that hopey-changey stuff workin’ out for ya?’ While this quotation derives, unfortunately, from Sarah Palin, it does quite pertinently satirise Obama’s struggle to build upon his expansive campaign rhetoric of 2008; ‘Yes We Can’ has become the rather less catchy ‘Yes We Could Have Done If The Republicans Offered Us Some Measure of Bipartisan Support’. By consequence, the Obama campaign of 2012 has failed to capture hearts and minds in quite the same way. Luckily for Barack, the Mitt Romney gaffe-machine was firing on all cylinders, producing gems such as this: There are…

  10. What Foreign Policy?

    Being President of the United States of America is not a simple task. There are a plethora of different roles to be filled, from the responsibility of leading the most powerful nation in the world to the small problem of trying to convince the majority of a very large, and divided, population to vote for you in four years’ time. The President and Vice-President are the only nationally elected positions in the US and this is one of the reasons why the President has far greater freedom in foreign policy than domestically. The President is Head of State, Commander in Chief and has…