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A Modern Odyssey You may have heard of the ancient Greek tragedy called, “The Persians”, written by Aeschylus. It is a play that unconventionally gives a voice to the “enemy” (the Persians) after their defeat in the Greco-Persian War. It is a piece that evokes sympathy and heartache in the face of the loss, pain, and withered pride left like a shrapnel lodged in the characters’ expression and speech. Perhaps the modern Greek financial crisis is today’s version of the “The Persians”. A story of grand plans gone sour, over-indulgence, suffering, mismanagement, empty promises, and populistic trials of a country...

Classical realism is a political philosophy and methodology for understanding international relations. At its core, classical realism posits that how nations and states undertake politics is driven by the emotions and desires which are endemic to mankind. This philosophy is connected to a wider branch of political thought called realism, which has been one of the driving forces of political theory for centuries. Classical realism has some parallels with the tenets of Isolation Moderation, mainly in the ideas regarding how states should approach political alliances. In this piece, we will delve into the history and theorists behind classical realism, from...

In June 2016, the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union. The vote was closely contested, with 51.9% voting to leave and 48.1% voting to remain. After 47 years as part of the European Union, Britain signalled its intent to shape its own destiny. In some ways, Brexit bears some of the hallmarks of the political philosophy of Isolation Moderation. This is particularly in regards to immigration and economic independence. Throughout this piece, we will take a look at Brexit through the lens of Isolation Moderation, to see if this political turning point really is an example of Isolation Moderation...

The issue of Catalan secession is a matter of of great political importance in the 21st century, as this region seeks to become an independent state from Spain. For years, Catalonia has been a culturally diverse region from the rest of Spain, through its economic activity, regional identity, and even its distinct language. Still, is that enough to achieve separation from Spain in legal and political terms? Secession is a process that was quite common during the past centuries, and is still occurring today. On many occasions, the secessionist act has been justified by the region's political, economic, social, or...

States often mediate disputes between belligerent parties. The principles of Isolation Moderation encourage mediation as a tool of international policy. However, this philosophy believes that a state government should not attempt mediation unless both sides welcome it. Mediation is the act of an individual or country working voluntarily with opposing sides in order to resolve a conflict without resorting to military force or legal resolution. Isolation Moderation supports a unilateral approach, as it does not encourage the use of international organizations for mediation in most cases.  This article will examine how these principles relate to American efforts to mediate the...