Infinity Journal

Bringing Back Focal Practices to Combat a Hot, Flat, and Crowded World: A Critique of Thomas L. Friedman
Thomas Friedman’s Hot, Flat and Crowded is short-sided. First, his solutions adhere too closely to the system already in place. This paper proposes that changing the system is a priority. Second, his argument could benefit from looking at Habermas’ discourse ethics. Finally, this paper argues that creating a cultural backlash against excess through re-developing focal practices (a la Borgmann) will cultivate enthusiasm for code green in line with Friedman’s system theory analysis.

By Ronda Lee Levine      Spotlight Article

The important legacy of the “third wave era of democratization” in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has hogged the limelight as a symbol of bad governance. The attendant socio-economic and political challenges in the first decade of the 21st Century worsened the democracy ratings, the pariah status peaking in 2008 with the media, scholars and commentators alike converging at the same chorus: “the Zimbabwe crisis”.

By Edson Ziso

Child Soldiers in Africa and Implications for Nigeria
In the paper, I examine and argue on the conceptual issues surrounding the use of children as child soldiers in Africa, the international perceptions on the issue plaguing the continent besieged by conflicts and the implications therein for Nigeria. It recommends, among others, that practices, customs and traditions that encourage the use of children as child soldiers be abolished because what occurs in a community or society to a large extent informs what courses of action that community or society will take. Further, there must be a strengthening of international laws that can properly cope with the issue.

By Chinenye Patience Dave-Odigie

Christian Politics: The Creation of a Moral Voting Base in the U.S. and South Africa, 1980-2008
Between 1980 and 2008, perspectives on sexually-based political issues shared by Christian South Africans and Americans were used to create a new moral voting base in each country. Although many political issues revolve around sexually-based topics, this essay focuses primarily on abortion and same-sex marriage. These issues are highly debated in both countries and conflicting perspectives play into the debate from both ends of the emotional and political spectrum.

By Aaron Davis

“The Skull Beneath the Skin”: Examining Qualities of Good and Evil in “The Duchess of Malfi”
Literature reflects human nature and trends; it is not only the potential for cruelty among mankind one encounters when experiencing The Duchess, but also the title character’s incredible gift for greatness of spirit and fortitude in times of greatest distress.

By Daniella Vinitski

Using Applied Decision Analysis to research the rationality of Bin Laden when ordering the 9/11 attacks
The 9/11 attacks and their unprecedented nature pose an important question as to the motivation and the rationality of Osama Bin Laden's decision making process that led to them. Using Applied Decision Analysis, this paper shows that the process of decision making that Bin Laden took in planning the 9/11 attacks was rational, however not in the traditional way. He did not take the alternative that offered the rationally best utility, the maximizing one – but one that in the view of his beliefs and emotions, seemed like the best one for him, meaning that his rationality was bounded.

By Roy Hasson

Examining 'Offensive Jihad'
Offensive jihad is a radical belief that can be traced to the dark cells of one of Egypt’s concentration camps of the Nasser Era. It was in this camp that Sayyid Qutb, one of the “original theorists of modern Islamism”, offered justification for his radical view of jihad.

By Adam Stahl