http://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JOPWA/issue/feedJournal of Politics and World Affairs2014-03-19T18:23:17+00:00Open Journal Systemshttp://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JOPWA/article/view/44Editor in Chief Message2014-03-19T18:23:17+00:00Mahdi S. H. Al Sammarraiemahdihamoudi@yahoo.com“The skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think” (Edwin Schlossberg). Our mission is to help writers to create this context and by consequence to participate in the improvement of scientific researches dealing with subjects, issues and concerns that are related to our existence. It is a noticeable challenge in the time of rapid flow of information through modern means of communication and the Internet which made it easy to access to knowledge but difficult to choose the accurate sources. We believe that in dealing with politics and world affairs there is always a great debate of different ideas and multiple positions. JOPWA publishes researches in total scientific impartiality. The current first issue reinforces this commitment. Authors are deliberating significant subjects. Their articles cover diverse fields of political science and important zones of the world.2012-04-16T00:00:00+00:00http://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JOPWA/article/view/45The United States and The Democratization of Iraq After Sept.11: Problems and Prospects2014-03-19T18:23:17+00:00Omar S. Saadalhazamfeera@yahoo.comThe issue of reformation in the Middle East has gained great importance; rather it was the most prominent in the international and regional arena since the events of September 2001 where US linked terrorism to the absence of democracy in the Middle East. Before those events, the United States policy towards the region had not changed since World War II, which was to maintain its interests in the Middle East based on the traditional strategy. The main objective of this strategy was to maintain the status quo in the region. After the events of September 2001, US foreign has witnessed a radical shift especially when George W. Bush reached the White House and surrounded himself with Neo-Conservatives , who have imposed their effect on the institutions of the Presidency, Foreign Affairs and Defense. Hence, these events showed the impact of these leagues on the US foreign policy, and their ability to formulate its priorities and orientations. These events have played a key role in providing the Neo-Conservative agenda, as a ready plan for the immediate response to the terrorist attacks, which the United States launched. Following these events, the US deployed its extensive military mobilization campaign to support its choices in pre-emptive war. As a tool of full control, the US strategized by rearranging the Middle East and the Gulf, and achieving the imperial ambition, which are the same goals that were expressed by the Neo-Conservatives in their vision of the US role to lead the world through military superiority. Accordingly, the features which Iraq enjoyed made it on the top concerns of the international strategies - in particular the US, which considered it the most important areas in the world for its vital interests. Hence, the US perceptions was that the occupation of Iraq and changing it, according to the American vision, was the starting point for the implementation of the US moving towards the Arab region.2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00http://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JOPWA/article/view/46Facilitating Sustainable Political Stability: Malaysia’s Experience2014-03-19T18:23:17+00:00Lukman Thaiblukman@unirazak.edu.myFor many post-colonial plural societies, nation building has been regarded as one of the most important tasks. Almost every country in Southeast Asia was faced with the problem of alienation of one or more ethnic group from the political system. This was the challenge of national integration. Malaysia is no exception. Immediately after the independence the prime challenge for the country’s leaders has been the elimination of primordial sentiments among the ethnic groups and turning the loyalties of sub-national groups into loyalty towards a nation state. This paper examines how Malaysia’s plural society was constructed, and how its ruling political elites especially UMNO and the National Front (BN), has been able to maintain the political hegemony while achieving political stability in a fragmented society over the last decades. It elaborates the model of regime maintenance that has been adopted and led to the emergence of a ‘grand political coalition’ among the ethnic leaders in the country. Finally, the research paper focuses mainly on the factors contributing to peace and sustainable political stability in Malaysia.2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00http://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JOPWA/article/view/47Neuropolitics and the Politics of Non-Apology among Politicians in Malaysia2014-03-19T18:23:17+00:00Rugayah Hashimguy73106@yahoo.comShaharuddin Badaruddinguy73106@yahoo.comMohd Anuar Mazukiguy73106@yahoo.comNorizan Sharifguy73106@yahoo.comNooraini Mohamed Ismailguy73106@yahoo.comZulkifli Abd. Latiffguy73106@yahoo.comAdzrool Idzwan Ismailguy73106@yahoo.comMalaysia’s constitution requires a general election to be held at least once every five years, the next one being the 13th General Election (PRU13) scheduled for 2013. However, the prime minister can also request for Parliament to be dissolved at any time within that five years. Politicians, especially from the ruling coalition, are scrambling to ensure another victory in PRU13. Similarly, the opposition will try their best to win through the democratic process of voting. Hence, the current political scenarios have continued to see remarks, insinuations and even outright accusations on certain issues among the politicians so as to gain public attention. Some will even go to the extent of digging dubious pasts of the individuals and engaging in character smearing resulting in court cases to prove their innocence while others will demand for public apology. However, not all politicians will apologize and non-apology will drag the case for an indefinite time. The unwillingness to apologize requires much thought and deliberation in the amygdala. Consequently, through purposive sampling and the analyses of preliminary interviews with politicians and political analysts, this paper will propose and provide insights into the construct of a variable framework that will form the foundation of neuropolitically-based non-apologetic behavior among politicians in Malaysia. Understanding the politician’s unwillingness to publicly apologize will demystify the situation and the rakyat will be well-informed of the behavioral and psychological reasons behind the non-apology.2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00http://www.sign-ific-ance.co.uk/index.php/JOPWA/article/view/48Reflections of The Organization of The Islamic Conference Meetings During The Bosnia-Herzegovina War to The Turkish Press2014-03-19T18:23:17+00:00Volkan Tatarvtatar@istanbul.edu.trNuri Gokhan Toprakngtoprak@istanbul.edu.trThe right of self-determination that includes ‘the secession’ of the federated states which constitute the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) is placed on a legal basis in the prologue part of the SFRY Constitution. In this constitutional context, with the plebiscite held on March 1st 1992, the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina had declared its independence by secession. Upon the worldwide recognition of the independence declaration in April 1992, the conflicts in Bosnia-Herzegovina about establishing full sovereignty on its own territory had turned into a war within short time. Since the Bosnia-Herzegovina War had been perceived as a religious conflict by international public opinion, the meetings of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) were followed from a different point of view by the participating countries’ public opinions. Turkey has been in this process since its early beginning due to both its historical and regional connection to the territory. It is important to investigate to what extent the statements of Turkish leaders in the OIC summits that presented by the Turkish printed media to the public opinion, had contributed to the peaceful settlement of the Bosnia and Herzegovina War in an urgent way within the framework of international law.2012-02-24T00:00:00+00:00