Welcome to Badly Presented

Part 3 of the series on US debate on torture, this video explores how consequentialist moral theory & the Ticking Time Bomb scenario form the backbone of the normative claim for the justified use of torture.

Posted: August 24, 2023

This video, I delve into CIA's Enhanced Interrogation Techniques: what they are, how were they developed, and how they were used. It ultimately doesn't matter though and it's irrelevant to the actual debate. Hopefully, I lay out why in detail.

Posted: July 31, 2023

In this video, we will briefly go over the context of how the US government and public started to harsher methods to extract information from suspects post 9/11 global war on terror, the controversy of CIA's Enhanced Interrogation Techniques, and the ticking time bomb scenario and its moral debates.

Posted: June 7, 2023

Why do some people call the US an empire? This episode of BadlyPresented delves into the reasons behind this label, exploring its implications in the broader context of international politics. Additionally, the episode sparks a conversation about the fluidity and contestation of definitions in society.

Posted: May 30, 2023

In this episode, we dive into the controversial topic of anti-war films, focusing on the acclaimed remake of "All Quiet on the Western Front". I'll be challenging the widely accepted narrative of these films and exploring whether they truly help or hinder the public understanding of war. As a film enthusiast with a particular interest in international politics, I aim to highlight the complexities that these films often fail to address. This journey is meant to open a dialogue and perhaps offer a fresh perspective on how we view war through the lens of cinema.

Posted: May 18, 2023

In this video, we'll examine the new Netflix series "The Diplomat" and discuss why it's so unusual to see the State Department and its diplomats as the focus in popular media. We'll consider whether this lack of representation is reflective of a broader political reality where diplomacy often seems to be sidelined.

Posted: May 4, 2023

This time, it's about structure and balance. Two of the things missing from my life. Anyway, we go forward unto the breach, yet again, into Kenneth Waltz's book Theory of International Politics.

This is the second video in the "Structural Realism" series and the third video in "What is Realism" series. I gotta work on the naming scheme or this is going to get as confusing as Kingdom Hearts 3.5: Dream Sequel: REDUX: Part 2/3.

Posted: April 26, 2023

Kenneth N. Waltz is one of the most prominent Realist scholars in International Politics/Relations. He is best known for "Structural Realism". In this video, we theoretically dive into the theoretical world of Waltz through his book "Theory of International Politics", which is highly theoretical. In theory.

Posted: April 20, 2023

Realism is a collection of theories in international relations that are more popular than you might realize. This delves into the realist mindset behind the theory, the foundational philosophy outlined in the book, "Leviathan," by Thomas Hobbes. So what really is realism?

Posted: April 14, 2023

I heard it's very nice there at this time of the year.

Posted: April 11, 2023

The ICC has the authority to prosecute individuals who have committed specific crimes such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression. Recently, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova for allegedly kidnapping Ukrainian children. What is the significance of this?

Posted: January 18, 2023

Let's talk about North Korea's nuclear program and missile testing, and the lack of attention it receives from the international community. The Crisis Generation theory, which suggests that smaller states can force concessions from stronger states by manufacturing international crises, may have been the motive behind North Korea's past actions. However, in recent years, North Korea's focus has shifted towards improving and finalizing its missile designs to maximize its deterrent capabilities. North Korea's updated nuclear policies indicate a focus on deterrence, rather than forcing concessions. The country has adopted the "dead hand policy" to counter South Korea's plan to target Kim Jong Un first in the event of all-out war. In a nutshell, North Korea's weapons programs are getting more defensive in nature and aimed at securing itself from hypothetical South Korean military aggression. So should we be worried?

Posted: November 11, 2022

NATO is a North Atlantic Treaty Organization founded in 1949, with the primary goal of protecting Western Europe from Soviet Union aggression. Its defensive function is enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which states that an attack against one member shall be considered an attack against all. NATO's second function is preventing war among Western European states. The Americans saw the regional rivals of the UK, France, and Germany as a bunch of rowdy rascals who were constantly trying to one up each other for the supremacy of Western Europe, so they decided to create NATO as the foundation for a "security community." The security community is different from a military alliance, as it encourages economic collaboration and the advancement of liberal democratic values in governmental institutions among its members. NATO was successful in creating a cohesive and unified security community, and it is looking to expand. How does Russia really feel about NATO enlargement?

Posted: October 6, 2022

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2014 was preceded by the Orange Revolution, which successfully overturned Viktor Yanukovych's claim to the presidency. Yanukovych, who was accused of trying to poison his opponent, nevertheless remained one of the most popular politicians in Ukraine. He was elected president in 2010, and he was initially seen as pro-Russian due to his decision to renew the lease of the Russian naval base in Sevastopol in the Crimea. However, his administration was considering an association agreement with the EU, which was primarily focused on trade and adopting EU standards in the economy and political institutions. This was seen as a way to grow the Ukrainian economy in the long term and be recognized as a European identity. But there now was a conflict as Russian-led economic group called the Customs Union also wanted Ukraine to join their group. This created a problem as Russia did not want Ukraine to join the EU and wanted to maintain its influence over the country.