Welcome to our roundup of news and current events related to ethics and international affairs! Here’s some of what we’ve been reading this past month:
The New York Times: ‘Not another coup as usual’: What to know about Niger’s crisis.
Last month, the Nigerien military arrested the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, and declared they had taken control of the country. The coup in Niger marks the sixth coup in three years in West Africa, following coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea. Many in the West saw President Bazoum’s election in 2021 as ushering in an era of democracy and economic growth for the country and the region. Niger has close military relations with France and the United States, with thousands of French and American troops stationed there. Since the coup, the US and France have threatened to cut off foreign aid, which contributes 40 percent of the national budget. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened possible military action if the military does not restore President Bazoum by July 30, a deadline which has already expired.
Read more about democracy and coups d'état in Ethics & International Affairs:
The Pragmatics of Democratic ‘Front-Sliding” (2022: 36-4)
War, Duties to Protect, and Military Abolitionism (2021: 35-3)
Deconstructing Nonviolence and the War-Machine: Unarmed Coups, Nonviolent Power, and Armed Resistance (2021: 35-3)
J. Robert Oppenheimer and Kitty Oppenheimer watch "Ten Seconds that Shook the World." Photo credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory via Wikimedia Commons.
Los Angeles Times: Critics say omitting the Japanese toll makes ‘Oppenheimer’ ‘morally half-formed.’
The blockbuster film “Oppenheimer,” written and directed by Christopher Nolan follows the creation of the bomb through the perspective of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist who led the Manhattan Project. While most reviews of the film have been positive, some critics argue that the film fails to grapple with the loss of life and traumatization of Japanese civilians from the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and the impact of the Trinity test on Native American communities in New Mexico. It’s unclear what the reception will be in Japan when Oppenheimer premieres. However, the Japanese public has reacted negatively to "Barbenheimer" posts on social media, with Warner Bros. Japan releasing an apology for its U.S. parent company’s sharing of Barbenheimer memes, and the hashtag #NoBarbenheimer trending on Twitter.
Read more about nuclear ethics in Ethics & International Affairs:
Nuclear Ethics Revisited (2023: 37-1)
Just and Unjust Nuclear Deterrence (2023: 37-1)
The Ethics of Choosing Deterrence (2023: 37-1)
The Myth of “Just” Nuclear Deterrence: Time for a New Strategy to Protect Humanity from Existential Nuclear Risk (2023: 37-1)
The Nigerian team celebrates after a goal at the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Photo credit: Happiraphael via Wikimedia Commons.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Nigeria, Jamaica, South Africa Women's World Cup success stories shining light on inequality.
As the Women’s World Cup proceeds to the Round of 16, the successes of the Nigerian, Jamaican, and South African teams have shed light on gender inequality in the sport and the many hurdles players from developing countries face. After a dispute with the Nigerian Football Federation over unpaid bonuses and the near firing of their coach, Nigeria drew 0-0 with Canada, who won the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, and beat Australia, also a favorite. Jamaica relied on crowdfunding to travel to Australia for their second Women’s World Cup, where they have advanced to the round of 16 for the first time after a 0-0 draw with Brazil. South Africa, who also relied on a donation to attend the tournament, also advanced to the round of 16 after drawing 2-2 with Argentina and beating Italy 3-2.
Read more about sports and global inequality in Ethics & International Affairs:
Ethical Fandom in an Era of State-Owned Teams: The Case of Newcastle United (2022)
Global Power Shifts, Diversity, and Hierarchy in International Politics (2019: 33-2)
The United Nations at Seventy-Five: Where are the Women in the United Nations Now? (2020: 34-3)
The Koran is the central religious text of Islam. Photo credit: Rachid Oucharia via Unsplash.
Reuters: Why are Sweden and Denmark having a crisis over the Koran?
Last week saw an escalation of anti-Islam activities in Denmark and Sweden, with several copies of the Koran being burnt and damaged, prompting condemnation and anger. For example, Turkey highlighted the burnings in its opposition to Sweden’s application to join NATO. Freedom of speech and expression is protected in the constitutions of Denmark and Sweden, and the countries have long allowed public criticisms of religions. Both countries are considering new policies to prevent future Koran burnings or allow authorities to intervene. Some argue that these policies would go against freedom of speech, though there are already limitations that exist for hate speech regarding ethnicity and sexual orientation.
Read more about state identity and values in Ethics & International Affairs:
The Ethics of Kin State Activism: A Cosmopolitan Defense (2019: 33-4)
A Post-Western Europe: Strange Identities in a Less Liberal World Order (2018: 32-1)
Constructing Universal Values? A Practical Approach (2020: 34-3)