I can't speak for Dave, but personally, I've been a bit too swamped these last couple months to worry about the blog. Here's a snip-it of what I've been up to, and what the next 12 months of my life will be dedicated to:
Curiously, history provides concrete evidence that the world’s most capable democratic states do not respond to instances of genocide with consistent behavior. The principles of nonintervention and sovereignty, a state’s self-interests, and an array of internal and external pressures, can cause action, or be completely ignored. The primary puzzle to be investigated is thus, ‘What motivates advanced democratic states to politically commit to genocide intervention?’ This project will investigate the argument that states have made calculated responses to recent acts of genocide based on national self-interests, internal and external pressures, and their normatively influenced identities. Contributions will therefore be made to the existing literatures of genocide research, humanitarian intervention, and international relations.
Being a grad student has its perks, but it can also be quite frightening. I envy those with stable 9-to-5s and a family life. What if my research turns up nothing? What if no one even reads the damn thing? How in the hell is this going to help me get a job?
For me, the easiest answer to the above questions is another question: 'Who cares?' There are few things in life more gratifying than committing yourself 100% to a goal and seeing it come to fruition. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. For now, I'm taking things one step at a time, which means I've got just one more week in England before my first year is kaput. Then: iced coffee, sand, sunshine, music, and Lake Michigan.
2 comments:
Adam,
Your project is compelling and I think will add a great deal to the field. I have thought a bit about the same question, and I think it is ripe for a deep well of inquiry. Among the more fundamental questions it raises are:
How are states's interests defined and what do those interests include?
Can states be considered ethical actors?
Which states are responsible to which others?
Exciting stuff here Adam, can't wait to hear more of where you go with it.
im a creep and got this link via facebook... but i miss u adam so i had to see what you were up to. and as a fellow grad student, i can commiserate on the similar things, especially in the scientific field... i think ur topic is super interesting, and when ur done u should send it to me, and that way you know someone will read it. and then i will do so with my dissertation on west nile virus. and i will feel better about my void of life spent in a lab....hahah hope everything else is goin well!
-Kat
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