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...

Newscapsule for the Month of October 2022

  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 

  • Kochi Metro allowed travellers to use the Metro for Rs 10/- in connection with Gandhi Jayanthi. 
  • CPM leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan passed away. Kerala mourned his death. CM postponed his European tour. 
  • Kerala CM says Hartal violence was pre-planned, lauds police for measures taken against PFI. 
  • 5 RSS leaders in Kerala gave central Y category security cover from PFI violence.
  • Govt postpones its Anti-Drug Campaign. 
  • Kanam Rajendran gets a third term as CPI Kerala state secretary. 
  • Atheits' Litmus Meet held in Kochi. 
  • CM Pinarayi Vijayan leaves for European Tour. 
  • Kerala police deny reports that its personnel have PFI links. 
  • Norway offers assistance to Kerala to implement new projects in fisheries. 
  • BJP removes Sandeep G Warrier from being Party spokesperson. 
  • Vizhinjam Port: Kerala Govt calls Adani Group for discussion.
  • KMRL to open one more entrance at Vadakkekotta.
  • Milk prices are to go up in Kerala; Milma units recommend Rs 5 hike per litre. 
  • Assault complaint by teacher: cops book MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly. 
  • Case of Human Sacrifice shocks Kerala and India. 
  • Suresh Gopi added to Kerala BJP Core. 
  • KPCC Prez, K Sudhakaran comes up with controversial remarks. 
  • Kerala Gov charges up against Ministers asking them to resign. 
  • SC asks KTU VC to resign.
  • Killikollur custodial violence rocks Police in the state. 
  • Online booking is mandatory for Sabarimala darshan. 
  • Eldhose Kunnapillil appears before Crime Branch. 
  • Senior Congress leader Satheesan Pacheni passes away. 
  • HC to Vizhinjam fishers: Don't force us to take drastic action.
  • Kerala raises pension age to 60, govt entities to be graded.

India 


  • Heavy rains in Karnataka. Bangalore faces massive waterlogging and flooding. 
  • 25 dead in Kanpur after a vehicle carrying pilgrims meets with an accident. 
  • A new Hindu temple opened in Dubai. 
  • CPI national Congress held in Vishakapatnam. D Raja to continue as national secretary. 
  • Youth Congress leaders bat for Tharoor as the ideal candidate to lead the party. 
  • Congress Presidential elections held, 96% turnout in Congress presidential polls - Kharge wins by a massive margin. 
  • PFI is a banned org in India. 
  • Gujarat cops beat Muslims tied to a pole for allegedly entering a Garbha event. 
  • RSS and Shiv Sena factions hold their Dussera speeches. 
  • Rahul Gandhi writes to CM Bommai about an injured elephant calf, CM promises action. 
  • Veteran politician Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away at 82. 
  • Bharat Jodo Yatra enters AP and then to Telangana. 
  • Two Sena factions receive new symbols each. 
  • Kerala CM Vijayan, KTR oppose a proposal to make Hindi a medium of instruction in IITs.
  • Muzaffarnagar riots: BJP MLA Vikram Saini sentenced to 2 years imprisonment. 
  • BJP MLA objects to Muslim men applying henna to Hindu women.
  • Gyanvapi Masjid case: Plea seeking carbon dating of 'Shivling' rejected by Varanasi court.
  • On the home turf of RSS, the Congress party triumphs BJP.
  • President Appoints Justice DY Chandrachud As Next Chief Justice Of India. 
  • BJP withdraws candidature of Murji Patel from Andheri bypolls day after Raj Thackeray appeals.
  • Diwali is celebrated across India. 
  • 60 years after 1962 China's invasion of Kashmir was observed. 
  • Kharge forms Steering Committee; Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Oommen Chandy are among 47 members. 
  • Morbi bridge collapses in Gujarat killing in 100s. 
  • The tata-Airbus project is now 'lost' to Gujarat, Maharashtra govt fears blowback.
  • Gujarat ex-CM Shankersinh Vaghela's son quits BJP, joins Congress ahead of polls.
  • ‘Cash skeleton’ in BJP government’s Diwali box to journalists. 

World/International


  • Ukraine encircles Russian forces near Donetsk, overshadowing Moscow's annexation of the region. 
  • Ukraine launches a counter-attack in the Kherson region. 
  • Kerch bridge between Russia and Crimea saw massive damage. Russia takes revenge by bombing civilian targets. 
  • US Senate Approves $12 Billion In New Aid For Ukraine Amid War. 
  • China withdraws anti-AUKUS resolution at IAEA due to lack of support. 
  • US VP Kamala Harris visits South Korea. She was welcomed by Missiles from North Korea. 
  • UK walks back controversial plan to cut the top tax rate. 
  • US SCOTUS upholds the gun stock ban. 
  • Florida was hit by a massive hurricane. Gov DeSantis asked the feds for hurricane relief. But he’s long used their cash.
  • Biden and DeSantis met to review Hurricane Ian's recovery efforts. FEMA will activate programs for temporary housing for those affected by Hurricane Ian, the administrator announced while travelling with Biden.
  • Cough syrups imported from India to Gambia result in the death of children says WHO. 
  • US Teen Eating Burger In Car Shot At Multiple Times by a cop.
  • Massive protests break in Iran and protestors are being shot dead by the security forces. 
  • OPEC states that it will not cut output production. 
  • In UNGA, India votes to reject Russia's demand for a secret ballot on the draft resolution on Ukraine.
  • UN SG visits Gujarat and supports climate action. 
  • Male guardians no longer required to assist female pilgrims during Hajj. 
  • UK's Liz Truss sacrifices finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng only to resign later. 
  • Rishi Sunak is now the new Asian-African-origin PM in the UK. India, and Pakistan lay claim to Rishi Sunak ancestry.
  • Jan 6 panel votes to subpoena Donald Trump. 
  • Trump asks IRS not to reveal his tax returns. 
  • Floods in Nigeria affect the lives of millions of people. 
  • Chinese President Xi addresses the National Congress and keeps the issue of Hong Kong and Taiwan alive. 
  • Putin declares martial law in annexed regions of Ukraine
  • Diwali to be a public school holiday in New York City from next year.
  • Australia reverses the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. 
  • China's frail ex-president Hu was removed from Party Congress.
  • Xi Jinping gets third as CCP party general secretary. 
  • Rishi Sunak reinstates Suella Braverman as interior minister. 
  • St Petersburg University students cheer for the professor who was jailed for anti-war protests. 
  • Lula wins Brazil's presidential election, edges out incumbent Bolsonaro in a tight contest. 

US Mid Terms 

  • Trump launched a direct attack on Senate Minority leader McConnell a month out from the midterm elections. 
  • Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke clashed only in the planned Texas gubernatorial debate. Similarly in Florida, Georgia, etc. 
  • Nebraska GOP Sen. Ben Sasse is likely to leave for the college presidency. 
  • Obama Campaigns for democrats in Key races. 
  • Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan was banned from holding public office for 5 years.
  • Senate debates were held in Pennsylvania and Georgia. 
  • Paul Pelosi attacked at his home in San Francisco. 

Technology 


  • PM Modi launches 5G services. 
  • Brian Stellar leaves CNN after his show was cancelled. 
  • Hurricane destroys power grid infrastructure in Cuba. 
  • US Supreme Court to debate liability protections for internet companies. 
  • India to mandate NAVIC chips in phones. 
  • SpaceX launches astronauts with NASA. 
  • Uber, Ola, and Rapido autos to discontinue in three days labelled illegal in Bangalore. 
  • PM Modi declares Gujarat's Modhera as India's first 24x7 solar-powered village.
  • Kochi metro first in the country to inaugurate free wifi services inside the train.
  • MiG29K crashes in Goa. 
  • KMRL begins LiDAR drone survey for phase 2. 
  • Mysuru-Chennai route to get South India’s first Vande Bharat train on November 10.
  • Turkey coal mine explosion kills 41, injures 11.
  • The world's largest passenger aircraft touches down in Bengaluru. 
  • Biden calls Pakistan- "Most Dangerous Nation", Pak PM's Responds.
  • Russian tower block in flames as aircraft crashes.
  • Online booking is mandatory for Sabarimala darshan. 
  • Air India to start a tech centre in Kochi. 
  • India’s largest rocket launches 36 satellites for a UK-based company.
  • Welsh govt to invest in Kochi. 
  • Delhi's air quality worsens after Diwali. 
  • Mukesh Ambani's Reliance enters the metaverse as first Indian firm to announce earnings in virtual space
  • A bus every minute': Kerala improves transport options ahead of Sabarimala pilgrimage. 
  • China to break its own record: World's new largest wind farm could power 13 million homes.

Business and Finance


  • Railway employees were granted a bonus equivalent to 78 days' wages before Dussehra. 
  • Cinema opens in Kashmir city after 14 years but few turn up. 
  • Businessman Atlas Ramachandran dies at 80. 
  • Liz Truss's economic decisions collapse UK Pound. 
  • India's GDP growth to decline to 5.7 pc in 2022: UNCTAD. 
  • Rupee Collapses Significantly To 82 a Dollar.
  • US Fed to hike rates further. Fears of recession loom. 
  • IMF warns rising prices will be worse in UK.
  • A milestone event in Kochi's development history: BODHI 2022 held at Bolghatty Palace in Kochi.
  • Idli vending machine opened in Bangalore.
  • Wall Street Journal carries full-page ad against Modi govt, advisor blames fugitive Devas boss.
  • 9,585 aspirants placed through Kerala govt’s employability centres in 2021-22 period. 
  • Taj Wayanad opens a luxury resort stand on the banks of Banasura Sagar. 
  • FATF decides to let Pak exit the grey list. 
  • John Shaw, husband of Biocon chief Kiran Mazumdar Shaw dies at 73.
  • Gas prices in EU plunge as the storage level are full.  
  • Kejriwal asks govt to print photos of gods on currency notes. 
  • Elon Musk takes over Twitter. Elon Musk Dissolves Board of Directors After Twitter Takeover. 
  • Petrol, Diesel To Get Cheaper By 40 Paise Across India From Nov 1. 

Sports 


  • Manchester City wins massively against United. 
  • Qatar World Cup will be my last: Lionel Messi. Fans celebrate his birthday on 30th October. 
  • Indian Super League inaugurated in Kochi. 
  • Sourav Ganguly out of BCCI after declining IPL chairman post; BCCI won't back him for ICC chairman's post.
  • T20 World Cup starts in Australia. 
  • FIFA WC preparations are underway in Qatar. 

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