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 November 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. 

Article of the month- US MidTerm Election Results. 


Kerala 

  • DYFI urges Kerala government to scrap order raising PSU pension age.
  • Kerala Governor bars 2 local channels from press meet.
  • Kerala Govt plans to tweak provisions in IPC act enabling control over media outlets.
  • Late RSS worker responsible for fire at Sandeepananda Giri ashram
  • Vizhinjam protest sees widespread protests. 
  • Palakkad KSRTC bus terminal inaugurated. 
  • Illagal use of 'Govt of Kerala’ board: MVD to take strict action.
  • IMD forecasts heavy rain in Kerala.
  • Norwegian expert team marks favourable response for Wayanad tunnel road project.
  • Temporary VC appointed in Kerala Tech University. 
  • Islamic institute in Kerala starts teaching sanskrit. 
  • Vizhinjam protestors backed by the Church attack and injure more than 40 policemen. 
  • CM Pinarayi Vijayan creates record for having been the CM for most number of days consequtively. 
  • Online food delivery personnel go on strike in Kochi. 
  • K Sudhakaran makes controversial statements on Nehru.
  • Tharoor starts Malabar yatra to visit party cadre. He is not included in the Gujarat elections campaigning. 
  • Kerala witnesses sharp drop in students enrolling for graduation courses. 
  • VD Satheeshan and Sukumaran Nair clashed over NSS issues with Opposition leader. 
  • Sabarimala impasse back, Kerala govt withdraws handbook for cops on women entry.

India 


  • Gujarat election dates announced. 
  • India's first voter dies in HP after voting for 34th time, PM, Kharge and others mourn death.
  • ED issues summons against DK Shivkumar
  • SC upholds 10% reservations for EW sections. 
  • BJP and CPIM had come together in the West Bengal Cooperative elections. 
  • Chief Justice DY Chandrachud takes over as new CJI of India. 
  • After 100 days, Sena MP Sanjay Raut gets bail; court slams ED for arresting him for no reason.
  • Ex-Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, his former Cabinet ministers opt out of state polls.
  • Supreme Court sets up bench to hear Gyanvapi mosque case. 
  • SC releases all the convicts in Rajiv Gandhi assassination Case.
  • PM Modi visits Bangalore to inaugrate several projects. Prime Minister lauds city's startup spirit, bats for good connectivity.
  • MoS Home Kiren Rejiju calls for replacement of collegium system. 
  • Himachal Voting held: BJP Hopes For Historic 2nd Term, Congress Banks On "Rivaaj". Himachal Pradesh Assembly elections: Voter turnout of 65.92% recorded as polling ends.
  • 'Society's Outrage No Justification To Suppress Free Speech': Delhi Court.
  • POCSO Act Meant To Protect Minors From Sexual Abuse, Not Criminalize Consensual Romantic Relationships Of Young Adults: Delhi HC.
  • PM Modi holds multiple rallies in Gujarat. 
  • Rahul Gandhi held his first Gujarat rally in Rajkot breaking away from Bharat Jodo Yatra. 
  • Out of 5 selected for Rhodes Scholarship 2023, three from DU.
  • MCD poll dates announced.
  • 'If everything is hunky-dory… ': SC asks Centre to produce appointment files of new Election Commissioner Arun Goel.
  • "Right To Vote Is A Constitutional Right": Justice KM Joseph Disagrees With Election Commission Of India.
  • SC asks govt to pay 5lakh compensation to those injured in Enrica Lexie case.
  • Constitution Day celebrated in India. 
  • The Kashmir Files 'Propaganda, Vulgar Movie': IFFI Jury Head & Filmmaker Nadav Lapid Criticises Vivek Agnihotri's 'The Kashmir Files'.
  • After 'gaddar' row, Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot appear together in a show of unity.

World/International


  • Benjamin Netanyahu becomes the Prime Minister of Israel. 
  • Ex-Pakistani PM Imran Khan was shot in an alleged assassination attempt. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan blames establishment figures for plotting to kill him. 
  • Russian troops withdraw from Kherson. 
  • COP27 was held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. 
  • Malayalis, including Vismaya's brother, were detained in Guinea.
  •  Putin ally Yevgeny Prigozhin admits interfering in US elections.
  • Hurricane Nicole slams the coast of Florida.
  • G20 summit held in Indonesia, Putin skips the meet. 
  • Xi and Biden met for the first time after US president took charge amid tensions over trade, Taiwan 
  • Xi is elected unopposed as China's leader and general secertary. 
  • Deadly explosion rocks central Istanbul street.
  • Protests in Chinese cities against the Zero Covid policy. 
  • Iranian protests continues.
  • Iranian who made Paris airport home for 18 years dies.
  • Rishi Sunak visits Kiev to meet Zelensky.
  • Three dead in shooting at University of Virginia; suspect at large. A student suspect was at large and considered armed and dangerous after a rampage left three people dead at the University of Virginia.
  • Ukranian President Zelensky visits Kherson after it was re-captured.
  • Same-sex marriage and interracial marriage bill passed in the US senate. 
  • US House passes bill to extend paid leaves for Railway Workers. 
  • UN adopts resolution calling for Russia to pay Ukraine war reparations. 
  • Magnitude 5.6 earthquake leaves at least 162 dead in Indonesia. 
  • Trump's rough day in court ends with a double defeat. His tax returns can be examined by the House.
  • Pakistan's New Army Chief Is Lieutenant General Asim Munir.
  • Authorities disclose note found on Walmart shooter's phone.
  • Buffalo Tops shooter pleads guilty in mass killing of Black people.
  • Christians are non-majority in England and Wales.

US Mid Terms 

  • Republicans win the House of Representatives
  • Democrats win the Senate
  • Mixed results in Gubernatorial races
  • Aruna Miller Becomes First Indian-American To Be Lt Governor Of A US State.
  • Anti-abortion advocates blame lack of money, weak candidates.
  • 'Samosa Caucus' Expands as 5 Indian Americans Enter Congress.
  • High turnout in mid-term elections. 
  • Nancy Pelosi not to run for elections to become Speaker and Minority leader. 

Technology 


  • BYJUs Says 140 Layoffs In Kerala Are Revoked.
  • Twitter was sued by employees after mass layoffs begin after Musk take over. 
  • Power restored in Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
  • Google Drive to expand storage limit for workspace users.
  • COP27: India insists on new global climate finance target by 2024. 
  • Whatsapp unveils Communities.
  • Kerala’s ambitious 625-km coastal highway project gains traction.
  • Elon Musk's pay package at Tesla in the dock amid costly Twitter takeover.
  • International Maritime Organization team all praise for Kochi Water Metro.
  • Garner IT symposium held in Kochi.
  • Kazhakuttam elevated highway thrown open to commuters on Nov 29.
  • US NSA tells developers to shun C and C++ programming languages.
  • Kochi port gets recognition under the Sagarmala project. 
  • 1200 software engineers leave Twitter, now Elon Musk wants help from anyone who knows coding.

Business and Finance


  • Fed increases the rate and is the fourth 0.75% rate increase of 2022.
  • BYJU's Says 140 Layoffs In Kerala Are Revoked.
  • K'taka govt inks 50 MoUs worth Rs 5.64 lakh crore on Day 1 of GIM.
  • Twitter CEO Elon Musk ends remote work for staff in his first email to employees.
  • Facebook follows Twitter's suit and starts layoff. 
  • Facebook employee on maternity leave woke up to nurse a baby, and received news of layoffs.
  • The US removes India from the Currency Monitoring list.
  • Twitter starts a Twitter Blue subscription for $8. 
  • Twitter reinstates Donald Trump's account. 
  • UK increases tax to control inflation. 
  • Kerala and Karnataka hikes milk prices. 
  • Pakistan's 'Rooh Afza' cannot be sold in India: Delhi HC.
  • Warning of Brexit damage to the economy as Paris overtakes London’s stock. 
  • Resignations Roil Twitter as Elon Musk Tries Persuading Some Workers to Stay.
  • Jeff Bezos warns against big purchases, asks people not to buy TV, fridges due to the recession.
  • Red rice developed in Shivamogga takes on the Kerala variety.
  • Brexiteer says the only way the UK can gain economic growth is by 'rejoining the EU'.
  • Centre asks Kerala to pay for the rice that was allocated during the floods. 
  • IFFK 2022 to begin on December 9; 185 films at 15 theatres.
  • RBI Housing Index, Kochi tops the list,
  • Vistara-AI merger: Tatas' another step to consolidate airline.

Sports 


  • Pakistan beat Bangladesh to reach T20 World Cup semis
  • England beats Pakistan in the T20 WC finals.
  • FIFA WC Qatar 2022 begins in Doha. 
  • Cricket fans wish Sanju Samson on his birthday, say India missed him in Australia. 
  • Greg Barclay gets the second term as ICC chairman, Jay Shah heads the F&CA committee.
  • Manchester United TEAR UP Cristiano Ronaldo's contract with immediate effect.
  • Serbia face FIFA probe over Kosovo flag at World Cup.

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