The Problems with Westphalian Nation-State System

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We all associate ourselves with various identities such as Indians, Chinese, Pakistani, Americans, Canadians, French, British and much more. Why do you think we all associate with all these more? Are there any other identities which people associate with?  The identities which I mentioned before are relatively new compared to other identities such as religion, language, caste, and various other identities. It is not to say that people never had such feelings towards nations or the state. But the idea of loyalty and love for the motherland was very important which offset various other identities. The question we are arriving at is what is the motherland, who made and how it formed.  What we refer to today as a Nation or Country refers to what we know in political science as a Nation-State. Today almost all the countries we know are categorised Nation-States and some even as State-Nations. International Relations and Political Science suggest that states are the most important a...
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Newscapsule for the Month of August 2022

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Following are the top news for the month.  If you wish to follow and get notifications of future articles, you can signup using the email on the left sidebar. 


Kerala 


  • Heavy rains in Kerala: Red alert was issued in various districts. 
  • AKG Centre Explosion Case was winded up after Police were unable to solve the issue. 
  • M K Muneer of IUML makes a controversial remark on gender equality. 
  • Govt. removes Sreeram Venkataraman from collector post after protest from pressure groups. 
  • Oommen Chandy becomes the longest-serving member of the Kerala Assembly.
  • Manapurram temple in Aluva, Kochi flooded after heavy rain. 
  • Despite frequent flooding risk, Kochi still lacks drainage master plan. 
  • Mullaperiyar and Idukki Dam opened due to filling of dams. 
  • Kerala HC asks NHAI to fill potholes within a week after the death of a motorist on the National Highway. 
  • Kanthapuram faction joins hands with Muslim League to oppose gender-neutral uniforms. 
  • Onam kit distribution in Kerala begins. 
  • Mattannur municipal poll: LDF wins 21 seats in 35 wards, UDF grabs 14 seats.
  • 675 AI cameras now keeping a tab on roads in Kerala.
  • Kerala HC orders to close down illegal religious places, prayer halls.
  • Kerala government promoting marigold farming in Kochi ahead of Onam season.
  • Kerala's Invite To Amit Shah For Boat Race Named After Nehru Sparks Row.
  • Kodiyeri steps down, M V Govindan appointed CPM state secretary.
  • Schools, colleges shut in many Karnataka districts due to heavy rain. 
  • Extreme Rain in Kerala causes flooding and water logging in Kochi city. 
  • No obligation to pay KSRTC salaries: Kerala govt tells HC. 

India 


  • India confirms Asia's first monkeypox death. 
  • Arrests were made in Karnataka BJP leaders' murder Case; similarly with youth hacked to death in revenge to this murder. 
  • ED raids National Herald HQ.
  • CAA to be implemented once Covid vaccination drive concludes: Amit Shah. 
  • "Rahul Gandhi Will Become PM," Said Seer At Karnataka Mutt. Then Came A Caveat.
  • CM announces Bommai Rs 500 crore relief fund for rain-affected regions of Karnataka.
  • Rahul Gandhi was detained for protesting against the ED and Central Govt. 
  • Vice President Venkaih Naidu's term ends. 
  • Motorcyclist dies after signboard falls on him in Chennai.
  • Bihar CM Nitish Kumar ends alliance with BJP and forms a new government with RJD and opposition parties. 
  • Central Govt's Har Ghar Tiranga campaign successful in connection with Independence Day Celebration. 
  • India celebrates 75th Independence Day from British Colonialism. 
  • Maharastra CM expands his cabinet after 40 days in power. 
  • U U Lalit takes charge as the next CJI. 
  • Shashi Tharoor to receive Legion Of Honour, France's highest civilian award.
  • 8 Kerala police officers selected for Home Minister's Medal for Excellence in Investigation.
  • Union govt reinstates Shah Faesal as Deputy Secretary in Tourism Ministry.
  • Anand Sharma quits as chairman of Steering Committee of Himachal Congress.
  • Senior leader Gulam Nabi Azad quits the party.
  • The New York Times posts front page news on Delhi's govt schools. 
  • Manish Sisodia's office raided by ED. 
  • In a letter To PM, 13,000 Schools Accuse Karnataka Government Of Corruption.
  • Probe Against UP Official For Not Recognising Smriti Irani Over Phone.
  • Modi govt amends rules governing post-retirement benefits for SC judges. 
  • Karnataka High Court clears Ganesh festival at Hubballi Idgah Maidan. 

World/International


  • Grain ship departs Ukraine port for the first time since Russian blockade.
  • US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reaches Taiwan amidst strong Chinese protests, leaving for South Korea and Japan thereafter. 
  • China holds drills in the Taiwan strait and imposes sanctions on Taiwan. 
  • The US sends warships near South China as a warning message to China. 
  • Al Qaeda leader Al Zawahri was killed in a US drone strike in Kabul. 
  • US Senate Approves Sweden, Finland's Bid To Join NATO.
  • US DOJ sues Idaho over abortion law; the first test since Roe was overturned.
  • Kansas voters uphold the right to abortion
  • 30,000 km and 35 countries in 450 days: Kerala Kozhikode man to cover Trivandrum-London stretch on cycle. 
  • Indiana congresswoman Jackie Walorski dies in a car crash.
  • Salman Rushdie, the famous author was stabbed at an event in New York. 
  • Man who shot Ahmaud Arbery sentenced to life in prison for hate crime
  • Israeli strikes on Gaza kill 8, including senior militant.
  • Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut sent to 14-day Judicial Committee. 
  • Four Muslims were killed in Albuquerque suspected to be racially motivated. 
  • FBI raids Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence in Miami, Florida. 
  • Trump pleads 5th in before the New York Attorney General's office. 
  • FBI recovered 11 sets of classified documents in Trump search: report.
  • Boris Johnson visits Kyiv on Ukraine's Independence Day; Ukraine hit by Russian missiles. 
  • A month after the police chief was fired in Lexington, Mississippi, the city and police department are now being sued.
  • NBA won't play on 2022 Election Day, encouraging fans to vote.
  • Liz Cheyney loses primary in Wyoming.
  • Daughter of a Russian who was the inspirational force behind Putin's invasion of Ukraine killed in a car explosion.
  • Europe facing its worst drought in 500 years: Study.
  • One-third of Pakistan is under water as floods wreak havoc, toll reaches 1200. 
  • Camilo Guevara, son of Cuba's rebel hero Che Guevara, dies.
  • Mikhail Gorbachev, former Soviet leader and reformist, dies at 91. 
  • FDA authorises COVID-19 Booster shots. 
  • Taliban celebrate the anniversary of foreign troops’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Technology 


  • Indian govt withdraws Data Protection Bill 2021
  • NTA postponed CUET-UG in Kerala due to heavy rains
  • TKM College of Engineering gets Autonomous status
  • WhatsApp Now Gives You Up to Two Days To Delete Messages After Sending Them. 
  • Kochi Metro announces Rs 10 tickets on Independence Day.
  • Fishermen's protest in Trivandrum forces Vizhinjam port construction to halt. 
  • MVD to conduct test for learner's driving licence in offices from Monday.
  • In wake of recent murders in Kochi, police increased the CCTV network to 2 lakh cameras. 
  • Laal Singh Chaddha becomes the HIGHEST grosser of 2022 overseas.
  • The renewable energy expo took place in Kochi.

Business and Finance


  • KSRTC introduces flexi charges; ticket fares for inter-state services to go up. 
  • Federal Bank becomes the first bank to list its Payment Gateway on the new tax platform.
  • Russia supersedes Saudi Arabia to become the second-biggest crude supplier to India.
  • Inflation Reduction Act passed in US Congress. 
  • Senate Democrats pass climate, tax and health care bill after marathon voting session.
  • Siemens hits Rs 1-trillion market capitalisation for the first time. 
  • Federal Bank donates 1.55 acres of land to the Kerala govt's Life Mission project.
  • Investor Rakesh Jhunjunwhala passed away. 
  • Former Deutsche Bank CEO Anshu Jain dies at 59.
  • Bangalore BMTC announces free Bus ride on Independence Day. 
  • Gold hits over 3-week low on strong US dollar, Fed-rate-hike worries. 

Sports 



  • The Commonwealth Games concluded in Birmingham.
  • India finished 4th in the Commonwealth Games 2022 medal tally with 22 gold, 61 medals in total.
  • Asia Cup began in UAE with India at top of the table. 
  • FIFA suspended AIFF only to take it back within two weeks. 


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