TED Community » Lillian Bogonko

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I'm passionate about

Politics, leadership, mentoring, environment, sustainable development,

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• A reply on Conversation: Why is the international community reluctant to declare the situation in Syria a civil war?

  Aug 28 2012: I agree that no government should be forced out of office, but where do we draw the line? Until half the population is gone? Why are some situations ok to intervene or label civil wars and not others.
  
  From what i have read, labeling a situation a civil wars has implications. It means that the perpetrators can be charged for war crimes and crimes against humanity. That the combatants on both ends are recognizable. But this is not always the case.
  
  Yes interests and all come into play, but am more concerned about international law at this particular point. The laws are so grey that its tough to apply them uniformly. So who do we blame for the situation in Syria having understood all the dimensions?

• A reply on Conversation: What is the role of Africa (if any) in shaping International Relations theory?

  Aug 16 2012: Thanks Reisner

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: Owning what America has already owned....does that include its position in the international system?

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: Not quite Ahmed. China has penetrated Latin America and Africa and is working it`s way in Asia. So am sure even if the US stopped, they`d reinvent themselves. One thing we need to understand, China mostly manufactures for export. Imagine if they concentrated homegrown with the i billion people they have. I think they are sitting on a Goldmine.

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: Orchestrated by who....states always act in their own national interest. It`ll take China lobbying any states to have gotten to where they are which is simply unrealistic. The international system is self driven by other factors. No one orchestrates anything. Unless this is a new conspiracy theory that i have not hear of

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: My dear, they beat you to that....China holds US treasury bills, notes and bonds for America`s debt. The strategy is not to beat them but join them, because many countries are turning East...

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: David, just a general question. Since the US to you is no longer a super power with what is has, what made it a super power when it was one in your thinking?

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: David, Kenyans should invest in Kenya...but no one country is an island. You need to look at the data showing who has bought the luxury houses in America. They are Saudi`s and Chinese .....not many Americans. The financial meltdown allowed for foreigners who had money to come and invest in the US. Even in this big companies who has really invested in them...look and find out .
  
  All am saying , the days of protectionism are over. Even China knows that. Countries have no choice but to open up their markets. Who has bought America`s bonds? You think Americans own their economy....talk to the Chinese they`ll tell you a different story. That is why trade with China is so precious to America even though they sell cheap goods.

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: The US will remain a player because of how it`s principles have penetrated many institutions and countries. The liberal ideology that is synonymous with the West (America) will be hard to change. China will have to find it`s way within the system as it will be impossible to change it and China knows this.
  
  They have shown they can adapt to it by joining WTO and other institutions but above all by embracing capitalism ...to some degree. I think what we`re witnessing is a new type of governance structure in the international system that is multi-polar, where many powerful states are balancing each other out.

• A reply on Conversation: Can China really become a super power, or will it remain a great power among other great powers?

  Aug 16 2012: Thank you for your response Alex. I agree with you. China rise (at least how its portrayed) rides on the waves of its big cities. Little attention is given to the hinterlands as you put it more so because of the controls the government has placed on its people and various outlets including the media. But social media, as we have witnessed is changing all that. The question then becomes can a state become a super power with a majority poor.
  
  China offers great challenges. The population is so big that the poor can form a continent by themselves. This makes the GDP per capita less than the developed nations. But am sure if we were to remove the poor, China will surpass many of the richest country, but this is only a wish mentality because in rel life you can`t do that.