Under the banner of martial empiricism, we advance a distinctive set of theoretical and methodological commitments for the study of war. Previous efforts to wrestle with this most recalcitrant of phenomena have sought to ground research upon primary definitions or foundational ontologies of war. By contrast, we propose to embrace war’s incessant becoming, making its creativity, mutability and polyvalence central to our enquiry. Leaving behind the interminable quest for its essence, we embrace war as mystery. We draw on a tradition of radical empiricism to devise a conceptual and contextual mode of enquiry that can follow the processes and operations of war wherever they lead us. Moving beyond the instrumental appropriations of strategic thought and the normative strictures typical of critical approaches, martial empiricism calls for an unbounded investigation into the emergent and generative character of war. Framing the accompanying special issue, we outline three domains around which to orient future research: mobilization, design and encounter. Martial empiricism is no idle exercise in philosophical speculation. It holds the promise of a research agenda apposite to the task of fully contending with the momentous possibilities and dangers of war in our time.

Shah, Nisha. (2011) The Territorial Trap of the Territorial Trap: Global Transformation and the Problem of the State’s Two Territories. International Political Sociology, doi: 10.1111/j.1749‐5687.2011.00144.x
© 2011 International Studies Association This paper argues that attempts by theories of globalization to overcome the “territorial trap” have failed. Describing how the modern state emerged with two interrelated territories—a political concept about bounded jurisdiction and public good that over time is effaced but reinforced as territory is defined as brute, physical terrain—it shows that the assumption in globalization theories that territory is the state’s physical area entrenches the normative defense of the territorial state as the framework of political order. The consequence is that overcoming the territorial trap not only requires uncovering how and why territory becomes an assumed political ideal, but also how and why this trap produces the subsequent trap of understanding territory primarily as the “physical substratum” of the sovereign state. Globalization theories’ analysis of political transformation must therefore focus not only on the “permeability” of territorial borders, but whether and how evolving notions of global space might be providing a different political theory. A preliminary discussion of efforts to uncover how an alternative global spatial principle is reassembling political authority suggests a possible means of escape and way forward.

There has been little, if any, discussion of the issue as of now b. There has been discussion among researchers, but little discussion among policy makers c. There has been discussion among both researchers and policy makers d. I am not sure -or other answer 1.1 In Australia, genomic research would require ethics approval like any other human research. DTP research would also attract the general requirements for approving human research, including minimizing risk and ensuring consent (Chapter 2.1-2.3 National Statement). In addition, there are specific requirements for Genomic Research in the National Statement in Chapter 3.3. Any proposed DTP genomic research would need to comply with the specific requirements of Chapter 3.3 to be satisfactorily addressed for ethical approval. 1.2 The National Health and Medical Research Council has the issue of Direct to Customer Genetic Testing under consideration and has published three relevant information documents. 1 1.3 The Commonwealth Australia Government, Department of Health has issued guidance for the Provision of Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Tests: Guiding Principles for Providers. 2 The Australian Genomics Health Alliance (AGHA) published a news page on Understanding Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing, with information on clinical-grade testing. 3 2. Assume that a researcher in your country wants to conduct DTP genomic research with participants in your country and that such research is subject to IRB/REC review. Please describe the conditions for IRB/ REC approval, if it could be approved at all.

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