http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/isis Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:50:50 -0400 Thu, 09 Apr 2026 06:50:50 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1941/towards-a-new-consensus-the-post-centenary-historiography-on-the-origins-of-world-war-i By Arvand A.M. Fata - The causes of the First World War remains a historiographical topic of contention more than 100 years on from the start of the conflict. With the passing of the centenary in 2014, a new wave of publications has expanded the scope and depth of historians' investigations on the outbreak of the Great War. By reviewing the recent English-language literature and comparing the various approaches academics have taken to analyse the July Crisis, it is clear that we have entered a new historiographical 'phase:' a flourishing of theses and arguments which have followed from - yet remain distinct to - the... Fri, 25 Feb 2022 09:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1941/towards-a-new-consensus-the-post-centenary-historiography-on-the-origins-of-world-war-i http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1648/the-next-frontline-of-the-battle-against-the-islamic-state-southeast-asia By Elani Owen - The global network of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), also known as Daesh,2 is expanding rapidly. Southeast Asia is especially vulnerable because of its large Muslim population and its history of extremist groups. In fact, some experts predict that Daesh could establish a strong satellite presence in Southeast Asia within the next year, with dire consequences for the region.3 As the leader in the global fight against terror and in the Global Coalition to Counter Daesh, the United States (U.S.) needs to increase its counter terrorism cooperation with the governments in Southeast Asia... Wed, 07 Jun 2017 11:26 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1648/the-next-frontline-of-the-battle-against-the-islamic-state-southeast-asia http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1649/remote-sensing-satellites-as-a-solution-towards-anticipating-food-and-water-wars By David C. Harary - In December 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognized the universal human right to food. Most recently in July 2010, the U.N. General Assembly adopted resolution 64/292 that recognized the human right to water as well. While food and water are of vital importance to the security of individual nations, over 700 million people lack adequate access to these basic resources.2 Alarmingly, anthropogenic induced climate change is expected to further undermine human security3 through a reduction of available food and water across particular geographic... Mon, 22 May 2017 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1649/remote-sensing-satellites-as-a-solution-towards-anticipating-food-and-water-wars http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1602/obama-and-the-economic-recovery-keynesian-policies-gridlock-and-the-new-global-economy By Ayodele Aruleba - The Obama presidency will largely be defined by the administration’s ability to respond to the unique and historic challenge facing the country at the time of his inauguration: the Great Recession. This paper evaluates the president’s success throughout both of his terms in enacting an economic policy, which was largely defined by an embrace of Keynesian economics and more stringent regulations on the financial services industry, but simultaneously highlights the institutional limitations facing the president on influencing the economy. By assessing the administration’s efforts... Fri, 31 Mar 2017 11:01 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1602/obama-and-the-economic-recovery-keynesian-policies-gridlock-and-the-new-global-economy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1596/scientific-federal-agencies-andand-the-united-states-negotiation-for-the-limited-test-ban-treaty-1962-1963 By Helen Thompson - In October of 1962, the United States and Soviet Union’s arms race in ballistic missiles escalated to an unnerving confrontation that lasted thirteen days, while both world leaders waited on opposite sides of the world for the other to say the word and start a nuclear war. This confrontation became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis and is equated to be the climax of the Cold War.[1] During these frightening thirteen days, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev deliberated over launching nuclear warheads to begin a nuclear war in the Western hemisphere. The magnitude of this... Mon, 27 Mar 2017 12:38 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1596/scientific-federal-agencies-andand-the-united-states-negotiation-for-the-limited-test-ban-treaty-1962-1963 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1504/artistic-expression-for-political-change-comedy-as-counter-terrorist-action By Zoe D. Fine - In March of 2015, National Public Radio published an online news story called “Egyptians Fight ISIS Fear-Mongering With Punchlines And Parody.” Author of the piece, Leila Fadel explains in the story that some individuals and organizations use comedy as a tool of subversion, as a means of defusing jihad and other terrorist acts (2015). Making themselves and others laugh serves to counter ISIS or ISIL, the violent extremist group famous for using weapons such as “highly-produced videos of brute violence” including recordings of a man being burned alive in a cage, Christians... Wed, 07 Dec 2016 02:50 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1504/artistic-expression-for-political-change-comedy-as-counter-terrorist-action http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1516/lasting-and-expanding-an-analysis-of-the-islamic-states-incentive-system By Isabelle Canaan - In the past five years, millions of people have lost their homes, loved ones, and lives.2 The Syrian territory is now a battlefield, contested by multiple actors. The rise of the Islamic State underscores the hopeless nature of this bloody quagmire. The speed at which the Islamic State has captured and held territory, as well as the degree to which it has dominated the Western psyche and monopolized Western fears, has been met with both shock and panic. Newspapers headlines scream about the unique and terrifying threat of the Islamic State and the imminent destruction of the West at its hands.... Mon, 05 Dec 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1516/lasting-and-expanding-an-analysis-of-the-islamic-states-incentive-system http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1536/environmental-decisions-in-the-context-of-war-bombing-isils-oil By David C. Harary - This paper evaluates the ethical dilemma coalition forces had to face when deciding to target and take out ISIL's primary source of revenue – oil. By gathering the impacts ISIL has had on the globe as well as the impacts aerial attacks could have on the MENA region; this paper was able to create a decision matrix that quantitatively weighs the options decision-makers had to limit further harm done on the region's society, environment, and economy. This paper serves as a baseline tool by which policymakers can quickly process the plusses and minuses of initiating attacks. Future research... Wed, 30 Nov 2016 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1536/environmental-decisions-in-the-context-of-war-bombing-isils-oil http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1494/a-colonial-catalyst-reverberations-of-the-sykes-picot-agreement-in-the-rise-of-isis By Sumaia N. Masoom - The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (more commonly known as “ISIS,” but also referred to as the “Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant” or simply “the Islamic State”) has been on a reign of terror in the Middle East for the past three years, and emerged seemingly out of nowhere. However, though its rise appeasr to be quite rapid and is often blamed on Islam or the Middle East itself, in reality, ISIS has its roots much deeper in history, as far back as the beginnings of Western colonialism and the fall of the Ottoman Empire, and the subsequent western affinity... Fri, 11 Nov 2016 11:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1494/a-colonial-catalyst-reverberations-of-the-sykes-picot-agreement-in-the-rise-of-isis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1489/isis-and-the-global-image-war-an-archival-perspective-on-iconoclastic-performance-and-bio-political-authority By Christian Rossipal - The so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) – also known as ISIL, IS and Daesh – has during the last years disseminated videos throughout the Internet in a new recruitment and media strategy focusing on the destruction of cultural heritage. This phenomenon will be used as a point of departure to reflect on the related global image war and the accompanying dissemination of moving images through multimedia archives and pseudo-archives on the Internet. Drawing mainly from Pasi Väliaho – but also Wolfgang Ernst, Ömür Harmanșah and Charles Merewether &ndash... Wed, 02 Nov 2016 10:36 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1489/isis-and-the-global-image-war-an-archival-perspective-on-iconoclastic-performance-and-bio-political-authority http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1430/genealogy-of-a-crisis-europe-greece-and-the-management-of-the-refugee-population By Helen Makkas - As Europe’s frontier with the Muslim East, Greece has been cast as backward, and not worthy of full sovereignty since the earliest years of its independence from the Ottoman empire. Greece's contradictory position as guardian of the origins of European civilization, and now of Fortress Europe on the one hand, and as pariah on the other, informs the tension between Greece and the EU that unfolds in the management of the current refugee crisis.The designation and self-perception of Greece as a pariah state combined with the exposure of the hypocrisy of EU rights discourse produces a violent... Tue, 26 Jul 2016 07:25 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1430/genealogy-of-a-crisis-europe-greece-and-the-management-of-the-refugee-population http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1473/an-analysis-of-legos-response-to-an-attack-on-its-partnership-with-royal-dutch-shell By MaryClaire Schulz - However, LEGO's 50-year partnership with oil and gas corporation Royal Dutch Shell caught the attention of Greenpeace in July 2014, which launched a campaign attacking the toy company for supporting a corporation threatening the Arctic environment. Greenpeace's attack on the partnership peaked with its release of a YouTube video titled "LEGO: Everything is NOT awesome," a work by BAFTA-winning creative agency Don't Panic. The video depicted an Arctic landscape that was made of LEGO bricks and taken over by Shell oil drillers, showcasing the environment as it is slowly submerged in oil. Greenpeace... Tue, 31 May 2016 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1473/an-analysis-of-legos-response-to-an-attack-on-its-partnership-with-royal-dutch-shell http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1358/image-repair-and-crisis-response-of-professional-athlete-adrian-peterson By Ryan Winters - During the 2014 season, a disastrous year in terms of public relations for the NFL, Adrian Peterson was among those who tainted the league's reputation. Domestic violence was at the forefront of the controversy, and Peterson's child abuse case caused additional damage to the league's image. This qualitative content analysis scrutinized Peterson's attempt to repair his image through the media after receiving public backlash from his child abuse charges. The study found that his media messages used evasion of responsibility and reducing offensiveness as his chief strategies, but their effects were... Wed, 18 Nov 2015 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1358/image-repair-and-crisis-response-of-professional-athlete-adrian-peterson http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1176/factors-that-limit-regulatory-response-in-the-wake-of-the-global-financial-crisis-ideology-regulatory-capture-and-power-dynamics By Frank Wang - The second set of causes lie within an increasingly interconnected capitalist economic system. These factors include the dominance of market fundamentalist ideology, easy access to credit in the US due to globalization, and economic instability due to excess fictitious capital and irrational exuberance. Finally, I argue that systemic risks inherent in an increasingly interconnected capitalist world economy are insufficiently addressed by regulatory reactions to the global financial crisis due to three factors: theoretical neglect of systemic risk by macro-prudential regulation, regulatory capture... Wed, 23 Sep 2015 12:44 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1176/factors-that-limit-regulatory-response-in-the-wake-of-the-global-financial-crisis-ideology-regulatory-capture-and-power-dynamics http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1056/radical-populism-in-crisis-era-greece-examining-the-impact-of-populist-movements-on-greek-democracy By Tristan Smaldone - This study looks at populist movements in Greece that formed in reaction to the failures of elite statist politicians. Beginning with the 2008 student uprisings in Athens, this narrative follows the escalation of social and political activism as the country entered a period of economic crisis. The impact of austerity measures, imposed in 2010 and 2012 by the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission, and the European Central Bank, is examined in relation to the prevalence of social indignation and the development of nation-wide social solidarity networks. The role of the deficient Greek... Sat, 18 Jul 2015 05:42 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1056/radical-populism-in-crisis-era-greece-examining-the-impact-of-populist-movements-on-greek-democracy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1054/the-islamic-state-healthcare-paradox-a-caliphate-in-crisis By Archit Baskaran - The civil war in Syria has taken an enormous toll on civilian populations. One of the most commonly overlooked aspect of this crisis is the impact on healthcare in the region. Syria’s health capacity has been ravaged by years of government bombings and Islamic State expansion. As the Islamic State (IS) continues to consolidate territory, its actions become less and less clear. Islamic State militants have embarked on a brutal campaign against health providers and infrastructure, yet they attempt to promote health among other social services in order to gain support from local populations... Sun, 05 Jul 2015 05:14 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1054/the-islamic-state-healthcare-paradox-a-caliphate-in-crisis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1051/media-discourse-during-the-financial-crisis-an-inquiry-into-the-nature-of-the-contemporary-fourth-estate By Shaun Docherty - The concept of a “fourth estate” was first articulated by John Declare, editor of The Times in an article published in 1853. He believed the press had a crucial role to play in British society’s transformation into a representative liberal democracy by holding the state to account and by “seek[ing] out the truth, above all things.”[2] This basic premise has been developed by liberal democracy theorists like Noberto Bobbio who have defined the modern media’s pivotal role in a functioning, inclusive democracy. Today, the media’s role in a democratic society... Fri, 19 Jun 2015 09:26 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1051/media-discourse-during-the-financial-crisis-an-inquiry-into-the-nature-of-the-contemporary-fourth-estate http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1672/the-spanish-financial-crisis-economic-reforms-and-the-export-led-recovery By David C. Wagner - Today, Spanish culture is first and foremost distinguished by its seventeen autonomous regions. During the evolution of civilization in the Iberian Peninsula, cities sprang up along the coastlines with little interaction. The Pyrenees mountain range isolated Spain from France to the north, other mountain ranges made for a natural border in the interior of Spain, and the sea served as a border from the exterior. Distinct cultures arose based on the various climates and inhabitants of the different cities, including a Catalán culture surrounding Barcelona in the northeast, a Gallego culture... Wed, 01 Oct 2014 12:13 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1672/the-spanish-financial-crisis-economic-reforms-and-the-export-led-recovery http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1600/economic-countercyclical-fiscal-policy-and-growth-in-democracies-after-the-2008-recession By Bradley Harmon - After years of economic downturn and recovery, the debate over stimulus packages and countercyclical policy continues globally. Proponents of such policies claim that the various stimulus packages and policy initiatives around the globe helped bring about quicker recovery, while opponents claim that in many cases these policies brought further economic woes. This study seeks to examine the effects of stimulus packages and major countercyclical policy initiatives on economic recovery over the last six years. This study uses quantitative methods, and controls for bank leverage, population growth... Tue, 31 Dec 2013 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1600/economic-countercyclical-fiscal-policy-and-growth-in-democracies-after-the-2008-recession http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/833/crisis-management-and-sports-in-the-age-of-social-media-a-case-study-analysis-of-the-tiger-woods-scandal By Blair Bernstein - Tiger Woods saw his reputation crumble as reports of infidelity leaked to the press in November of 2009. This research evaluated the crisis management strategies of Woods and his crisis management staff, as well as social media's role and reaction to the scandal. The eight press statements issued by Woods between November 29, 2009, and August 23, 2010, served as the primary documents for this case study analysis. Results found that mortification was the most frequently used crisis management strategy. Despite the criticism Woods received for his handling of the crisis, social media research indicates... Sat, 14 Dec 2013 10:54 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/833/crisis-management-and-sports-in-the-age-of-social-media-a-case-study-analysis-of-the-tiger-woods-scandal http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/832/image-restoration-in-political-sex-scandals-what-to-do-and-what-not-to-do-when-youre-caught-with-your-pants-down By Margaret Moran - This study sought to apply a Crisis Communications lens to the area of American political sex scandals. Applying William Benoit's "Theory of Image Restoration" to 24 American sex scandals, ranging from 1987 to 2011 and all of which received significant national attention, this study examined each official's public statements in response to allegations of sexual impropriety and coded them for their adherence to the five strategies outlined in Benoit's work. The study found "Evading Responsibility" to be most frequently used, while "Denial" was the least utilized of his tactics. This study served... Sat, 14 Dec 2013 10:37 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/832/image-restoration-in-political-sex-scandals-what-to-do-and-what-not-to-do-when-youre-caught-with-your-pants-down http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/624/dissent-protest-and-revolution-the-new-europe-in-crisis By Andrew R. Myers - The understanding of the political landscapes of current times varies widely in form and content. Some assure the larger community that threats of collapse are fear mongering in form and invalid in content. Others see a changing western world and radical departure in the ideologies of its inhabitants. Though this paper takes a negative view of the prospects for a stable, peaceful future, the tone only remains negative to expose the meaning of current events, to encapsulate the “vague” calls and attitudes of a movement protesting the current global situation. Europe, though perhaps... Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/624/dissent-protest-and-revolution-the-new-europe-in-crisis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/321/the-water-crisis-a-quest-to-conserve-our-planets-most-precious-resource By Valerie D. Wade - What are our threats? Where do we stand at our current pace of waste and misuse of our precious resources? What are ways in which we can sustain our planet? Although I will focus on the global water crisis, you will soon see how all of the current threats against our planet are intimately intertwined. We’ve heard the old saying, “keeping your head above water,” which could mean just doing the minimum or barely surviving, but what if there is no water, literally, to keep your head above. Join me, form your own opinion, and keep an open mind. Our chances are dwindling if we are... Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:28 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/321/the-water-crisis-a-quest-to-conserve-our-planets-most-precious-resource http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/291/kosovos-road-to-independence By Boris S. Nikitin - Since the collapse of the Soviet Empire in 1991, the world has gone through a final massive wave of democratization in Europe, which was highlighted by the fact that many countries finally gained long sought independence and autonomy. Sudden change of governments resulted in increased tensions, economic meltdowns and violence in some cases, due to the ideological differences of the many groups within the European population. People who had been denied basic human rights and the ability to voice their opinions were finally granted such rights as the states were moving at a full speed towards free... Wed, 22 Sep 2010 06:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/291/kosovos-road-to-independence http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/279/the-bush-tax-cuts-a-lasting-legacy By Frideriki A. Meris - Without question the Bush Tax Cuts were a huge legislative victory for George W. Bush. In the course of two years, George W. Bush managed two large tax reform measures. The first measure which was passed in 2001, The Economic Relief and Tax Reconciliation Act (“EGTRRA”) revised income tax and estate tax rates. The second measure, passed in 2003, the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief and Reconciliation Act, lowered the income tax from dividends and capital gains. The total price tag for the two cuts was initially estimated at $1.35 trillion1 and has become popularly known as the “Bush... Thu, 02 Sep 2010 06:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/279/the-bush-tax-cuts-a-lasting-legacy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/167/being-educated-for-failure By Robert S. Harvey - Racism still flourishes in American society, and the institution that perpetuates this new idea of racism is the least expected—public schools. Racism today is as equally alive as the civil rights movement of the 1950’s, the whips and lynchings of the 1800’s, and even the transatlantic Middle Passage slave trade of the 1600’s. The old racism was based on legal ownership and division of public institutions. In contrast, the new racism is based on educational philosophies, and social theories. And while conversations about the importance of and need for diversity—the... Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:44 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/167/being-educated-for-failure http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/37/equitable-capitalism-the-rebirth-of-american-business By Louis Tigh - The desire to earn and receive proportionate and just profits has been cast into a dark corner of the American marketplace and the swinish face of greed has been allowed to dominate, pulling American business into a grim period. Examples of this greed relating to our current economic situation are everywhere: the adjustable rate mortgages that many banks were all too willing to hand out, even to unqualified and irresponsible buyers; the collateralized debt obligations (many of which were heavily comprised of the risky mortgages mentioned earlier) that banks were quick to sell to investors; the... Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:17 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/37/equitable-capitalism-the-rebirth-of-american-business http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1270/why-financial-conglomerates-are-at-the-center-of-the-financial-crisis By Arthur E. Wilmarth - In the United States, where the crisis began, markets for stocks and homes have suffered their steepest downturns since the 1930s and have driven the domestic economy into a steep and prolonged recession. The total market value of publicly-traded U.S. stocks slumped by more than $10 trillion between October 2007 and February 2009. In addition, the value of U.S. homes fell by an estimated $6 trillion between July 2006 and the end of 2008. U.S. gross domestic product declined sharply during 2008 and the first quarter of 2009, and five million jobs were lost during the same period. Many sectors of... Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1270/why-financial-conglomerates-are-at-the-center-of-the-financial-crisis http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1301/financial-crisis-and-regulatory-challenges By Michel Prada - A number of reports have established a diagnosis of the financial crisis. The first was produced by the Financial Stability Forum, in April 2008 and was the basis for the preparation of the first G 20 meetings in 2008. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the G 30 produced updated analysis in 2008 and 2009. More recently, the Larosière Group, although mainly focused on E.U. issues, also addressed global concerns , as well as the Adair Turner report which presented the new regulatory strategy of the UK Financial Services Authority (FSA). The main features of this unprecedented financial... Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:00 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1301/financial-crisis-and-regulatory-challenges