As Leviathan enters its third year of production, I wish to extend a warm welcome to our readers, new and old. Leviathan aims to shed light on the crucial yet sometimes overlooked issues of our political environment, stimulating thought-provoking analysis and debate. We examine today’s issues through a variety of themes in an effort to offer new perspectives. The theme of this issue is “The Environment”.

As a generation, we face unprecedented obstacles. We face mounting debt, social unrest, and environmental decline, among a multitude of other quandaries. This issue of Leviathan features articles on topics from climate change to energy harvesting, the global food crisis to humanitarian development. On such a vast scale, it is dif cult to gauge our role as individuals—how much power do we have, both independently and collectively, to affect positive change? Is our generation to blame? Re-usable shopping bags and eco-bulbs may not change the world, but they have clearly contributed to a trend. Businesses nd increasing incentives to “go green”, but at which point do commercial interests and the environment come into con ict? Can we achieve economic prosperity without causing environmental degradation? And how do resources and environmental policies gure in the grand scheme of geopolitics and power?

With a constant focus on the international sphere, this issue includes discussions on solar energy in Europe, pollution in China, the presidential election and energy policy in the US, water scarcity in South Asia, and more. We invite you to read, ponder, and offer critique by sending your feedback to leviathanjournal@gmail.com.

As each issue is put together solely by Edinburgh University students, many thanks are due to the hardworking and tireless efforts of Leviathan’s writers, editors, illustrators, fundraisers, and production team members, without whom this journal would not exist. Leviathan is generously supported by the University’s Politics and International Relations Department, who have enabled us to pursue professionalism and quality, and to whom we owe boundless gratitude. The Politics Society has also been a steadfast foundation for our work, and continues to offer enlightening political discussion though its many events during the year. Finally, my personal appreciation goes out to Uday Jain and Ryan Jacobs, my predecessors, who through unwavering dedication founded and built this journal.

Cheers, and enjoy.

Natasha Turak Editor in Chief

Welcome to all students, staff and interested readers. To those reading Leviathan for the rst time, a short introduction is in order. This is a student-run journal which aims to provide reasoned debate and analysis on pressing yet sometimes overlooked issues in politics and current affairs. In order
to address a topic as comprehensively as possible, each issue focusses on a speci c theme and the theme for this issue is “Euro-vision”.

“Euro-vision” aims to assess the future of the European project, be it in the short, medium or long- term. Re ecting the precarious place that Europe seems to nd itself currently; our submissions have been fascinatingly diverse and in-depth. Articles include discussions on Turkey’s bid for mem- bership, critiques of the common security and defence policy, and analyses of the economic situa- tion and the inadequate efforts by policy-makers to respond to the Great Recession.

Before concluding, we must acknowledge those who made this issue possible. The Europa Institute at the University of Edinburgh has generously sponsored this issue while the paternal support of the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Politics Society is also much appreciated.

However, the most immediate and essential contribution has been from our writers and tremendous- ly diligent staff without whom this issue would simply not have been possible. Production for this issue was indeed an inter-continental effort, and the staff adeptly and ef ciently took on the chal- lenge of multiple time zones and other simultaneous summer commitments. I cannot thank them enough for their sterling work.

As always, we urge you to critically analyse and respond to the articles by sending in your thoughts. Letters to the editor are welcome and should be sent to leviathanjournal@gmail.com.

Thank you for your time and I hope you enjoy the issue.

Uday Jain
Leviathan Editor-in-Chief

Dear Reader,

Welcome to the second installment of Leviathan. This release retains the broadness of our rst issue whilst exploring a new theme, the sacred cow. In the simplest terms a sacred cow is a subject seen by stakeholders as beyond criticism. Some topics covered in the following pages may not seem like sacred cows, yet, identifying a sacred cow is a subjective undertaking, in which the “sacredness” of a matter is in the eyes of the beholder. Thus, while some recognize Ronald Reagan as an ideological gure beyond reproach, his “sacredness” is questioned by others. In exploring the potentially undeserved reverence given to political institutions and individuals, we aim to generate a critical and normative approach to many politically relevant issues.

This release could not have come about without generous support from the Politics Society and its sponsors, the Department of Politics and International Relations and the Latin American Development and Cultural Apprecia- tion Society. However, while money may make the world go round, the most important contribution comes from Leviathan’s writers, and our hardworking staff, whose efforts have been instrumental. As always we urge readers to critically analyze the articles to follow by offering your opinions, concerns and comments. Letters to the editor may be sent to leviathan@eupolsoc.org.uk .

Thank you for your time and enjoy the read!

Ryan Jacobs

Leviathan Editor-in-Chief

Leviathan’s success is in no small part a result of the hard work and dedication of the editorial team. Special thanks goes to Ryan Jacobs, Leviathan Editor-in-Chief, who did much of the initial spade work and laboured tirelessly to get the journal up and running. It seems like it was only yesterday that I was pushing for the Politics Society to launch its own journal, when I ran for Politics Society President. Since then the idea has grown and taken shape, thanks to Ryan’s hard work, and to the encouragement and help received from Professor Mark Aspinwall, head of the Department of Politics and International Relations.

With its second release, I trust that Leviathan will continue as the Society’s publication for many years to come and that it will go from strength to strength.

Jonathan Couto
President, Edinburgh University Politics Society

As this is Leviathan’s initial foray into the public sphere, a short introduction is in order. Our journal is student-run, focusing on politics and current affair issues from the presently chilly yet beautiful Scotland, to further and perhaps sunnier corners of the world. We seek to fill the void of reasoned political debate and analysis from students such as you. Although the pieces to follow may adopt certain ideological perspectives, Leviathan does not endorse these views as right or wrong. Following in the footsteps of John Stuart Mill, the ‘collision’ of ideas and opinions is what Leviathan seeks, for only with reasoned and frank debate can certain truths be deciphered. In this spirit we humbly ask readers to reply to what you have read here. Are the authors not con- vincing, have they missed something, or why do you disagree with their opinion or analysis?

This issue’s articles are loosely or directly tied to the theme of ‘Good and Evil’, thus entail- ing a degree of broadness in the opinions and analysis to follow. Strictly defining either term is uncalled for. However, generally we can say that groups or policies branded ‘evil’ are those which individuals and societies often would rather not associate with or implement. In contrast, policy or groups associated with normative and beneficial ‘good’, are pursued by individuals and socie- ties when given the opportunity, or so we hope. Identifying “Good and Evil’ is also context specif- ic, although certain norms may influence our definition, those norms do not have to be universal, and as individuals we make up our own definition. Consequently in the following pages some authors prescribe analysis as a way of rectifying a ‘flaw’ or ‘evil’. Others simply analyse a situation or phenomenon, leaving it up to the reader to decide what is ‘good’ and what is ‘evil’.

Most importantly, at a time of year when exams, essays and job or further study applica- tions are high on the agenda, I am sincerely indebted to all those who have involved themselves in getting Leviathan off the ground. To our sponsors in the Politics Society and Edinburgh Univer- sity Department of Politics and International Relations, Leviathan would not have been possible without your financial and advisory support. To the writers, artists and unsung heroes in our production, editorial, publishing and advertising staff my thanks cannot be expressed in words. The success of this release is most notably yours!

Now go forth. Debate, ponder and criticize our first instalment, but most of all enjoy! Cheers,

Ryan Jacobs
Leviathan Editor-in-Chief