Author Archives: Dr Gerard Toal

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About Dr Gerard Toal

Irish born academic living in Washington DC researching geopolitical competition and territorial conflicts in post-Communist Europe. Author of CRITICAL GEOPOLITICS (1996), BOSNIA REMADE (w C Dahlman) and NEAR ABROAD: PUTIN, THE WEST AND THE CONTEST OVER UKRAINE AND THE CAUCASUS (Oxford University Press, 2017).

Power and Policy in the United States. Fall 2013 Course Syllabus

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

Financial Times Graphic, Iraq War 2003-2013. This semester I am teaching a foundational Masters level course for our Masters of Public and International Affairs degree in the National Capital Region, Power and Policy in the United States. The course is a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Congress, Constitution, Current affairs, Democracy, Dirty Wars, drones, George Bush, Israel, Jeremy Scahill, Obama, political system, special interests, state theory, Washington D.C. | 3 Comments

Airstrikes and Affect over chemical weapons use in Syria

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

It looks like the US and some allied countries, possibly France and the UK, are making preparations for limited military strikes against the infrastructure of the regime of Assad in Syria. No doubt this action will spark outrage among some, … Continue reading →

Posted in Affect, Bosnia, Current affairs, genocide, Syria | Tagged , | 3 Comments

The Rhetorical Trap in US Foreign Policy

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

The horrific events in Egypt these past days, and past month, have placed a persistent dilemma in US foreign policy to the fore once again. What does the US do when its ‘national interest’ or ‘strategic imperatives’ and ‘military logic’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Current affairs | 1 Comment

Just a River Runs Throught It? Transnistria, Moldova and Geopolitical Faultlines

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

Superman Lenin outside the Transnistrian Supreme Soviet Parliament Building De Facto states are commonly viewed as pawns in a game of Great Power geopolitics. They often exist as a consequence of Great Power intervention and crucial support at consequential moments … Continue reading →

Posted in Current affairs | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Cartographic Exhibitionism’ article on Armenia & Karabakh published

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

The journal Problems of Post-Communism (POPC) has just published an article I wrote with Laurence Broers entitled ‘Cartographic Exhibitionism? Visualizing the Territory of Armenia and Karabakh‘ (vol. 60, no. 3, May–June 2013, pp. 16–35). Laurence’s part time day job is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cartography, Critical Geopolitics, De Facto States, forced displacement, Geography, Nagorno-Karabakh, Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, Nagorny Karabakh, World political map | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

One Million Bones on the National Mall

Posted on June 10, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

This is what our football pitch on the Mall looked like on Sunday. Taking over the space was a public art installation called One Million Bones. Read about it here. The non-governmental organization behind it is called ‘The Art of … Continue reading →

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‘Dirty Wars’ Washington premier at E Street cinema

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

Because the initial showing sold out E Street switched the show to Theatre 4, their largest, and it was almost full by showtime. Despite the topic, the US corn industry had a good night as people were shoveling the stuff … Continue reading →

Posted in Current affairs, Dirty Wars, drones, Jeremy Scahill, Obama, Somalia, war on terror, Washington D.C., Yemen | 3 Comments

The Bordering of South Ossetia

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

Having grown up in a contested border region during the Northern Ireland Troubles, I’m familiar with the trepidation and tragedy that often accompanies projects to harden borders, to militarize them in the name of state security. As our recent article … Continue reading →

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Inside South Ossetia article published

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

The article “Inside South Ossetia: a survey of attitudes in a de facto state” has just been published by Post-Soviet Affairs (now owned by Taylor & Francis). This article is based on a research field trip conducted in 2010 and … Continue reading →

Posted in August War, Caucasus conflict, Current affairs, De Facto States, ethnic cleansing, Five Day War, forced displacement, Geography, Geopolitics, George Bush, Georgia, nationalism, Political Geography, Saakashvili, South Ossetia, World political map | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The Endless Everywhere War? America’s War of Terror, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0….

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Dr Gerard Toal

Asked at a Senate hearing yesterday how long the war on terrorism will last, Michael Sheehan, the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict, answered: “At least 10 to 20 years…”  A spokeswoman later clarified that Sheehan … Continue reading →

Posted in CIA, Current affairs, drones, Geography, Geopolitics, George Bush, war on terror, Washington D.C., Yemen | Tagged , | Leave a comment