Linguistic diversity within the Church: A theological defence

This article argues that linguistic diversity is vital for the health of the Church. Although multilingualism has been crucial to human history, linguistic imperialism has become characteristic of the modern age. The article contends that Christians should defend the right of linguistic minorities to worship in their accustomed (usually native) languages, since linguistic diversity is tied to the health and identity of faith communities. The article uses a case study, the decline of Gaelic in Scottish Presbyterian churches, to show how linguistic imperialism can harm faith communities

Barefoot and Brave: An Autoethnography exploring Performativity in St Andrews

In this paper, second year student, Tara Phillips explores embodied vulnerability by taking a barefoot walk through St Andrews to expose prejudice and explore daily, unnoticed, social hierarchies. Inspired by William Pope L.’s 1979 Times Square crawl and Judith’s Butlers theory of performativity, Phillips frames her action as symbolic and disruptive. The project, using the self as both researcher and subject, invited public reaction which revealed implicit biases inherited in everyday life.&nbsp

“Mission, Race, and Empire: The Episcopal Church in Global Context” by Jennifer C. Snow

Review of Jennifer C. Snow, Mission, Race, and Empire: The Episcopal Church in Global Context (New York: Oxford University Press, 2024), pp. viii + 360, ISBN 978-0197598948. £25.9

Evaluating the Role of International Humanitarian Law in Protecting Women and Girls from Sexual Violence in the Boko Haram Conflict in Northeast Nigeria

The Boko Haram conflict in Northeast Nigeria has caused widespread devastation, with women and girls disproportionately affected by sexual violence. This violence—including abductions, forced marriages, and sexual enslavement—has been well-documented as part of Boko Haram’s strategy to destabilize communities and instil fear according to Amnesty International, 2015. International Humanitarian Law establishes protections for civilians and vulnerable groups during armed conflicts. However, its enforcement in the Boko Haram insurgency, remains limited. Traditional international law frameworks have often been critiqued for their failure to fully account for the lived experiences of marginalized groups, particularly women, in conflict. A feminist approach challenges these traditional priorities by highlighting how gendered harms—are often inadequately addressed in legal discourse. I adopt a critical feminist methodology to critique the gendered dimensions of violence in the Boko Haram conflict and the limitations of IHL in addressing these harms. The feminist perspective argue that traditional legal frameworks often reinforce patriarchal structures, whereas feminist approaches seek to ensure that legal protections reflect the realities of women’s experiences in conflict. Furthermore, while feminist approaches to human rights advocate for more inclusive framework, they may also face challenges when engaging with deeply rooted cultural norms that resist interventions. I structure the paper in three key sections. The first section provides an overview of the Boko Haram insurgency and the forms of gender-based violence used as a weapon of war. The second section critically examines provisions of IHL and traditional human rights framework and evaluates their effectiveness in protecting women and girls in conflict zones through a feminist lens, it highlights the limitations of IHL and human rights in cultural contexts. The last section proposes solutions based on successful strategies implemented in similar conflict-affected regions. This paper will contribute to feminist approaches to international law to provide a more nuanced understanding of gendered harms in conflict and show that addressing sexual violence in conflict requires a gender-sensitive localized approach while navigating the cultural and legal complexities of conflict zones like Northeast Nigeria

A Consideration of the Legality of U.S. Targeted Killings in Pakistan Under International Human Rights Law

In the wake of atrocities, the international system has forged legal frameworks that regulate state action, however, the ever-evolving nuances of the framework make prosecuting difficult. International Humanitarian Law (IHL) protects civilians during an “armed conflict”.[1] If a conflict does not meet IHL’s legal threshold for an “armed conflict”, it is governed by International Human Rights Law (IHRL).[2] State actions to combat terrorism threats, especially in a military counterterrorism model, have more protections under IHRL than IHL.[3] The United State’s justifications for the War on Terror (WOT) challenge the current legal system by arguing that IHL should adapt to allow states to address “new” transnational terrorism threats.[4] When discussing legality, it is important to note that the law is not always moral or effective. This article limits its scope to the execution of the WOT in Pakistan through a legal perspective and highlights the use of drone strikes. I will argue that the use of drone strikes for targeted killings in Pakistan is illegal under IHRL because it does not meet the necessary legal criteria. First, I will illustrate that conflict within Pakistan does not meet the minimum organizational and intensity requirements to be classified as an “armed conflict” and is, therefore, governed by IHRL rather than IHL. Secondly, I will demonstrate that U.S. drone strikes within Pakistan were not legal under IHRL because they have become the default policy, violate Just War principles, and do not seek less lethal means.   [1] International Committee of the Red Cross, “ICRC, IHL and the Challenges of Contemporary Armed Conflicts,” accessed December 16, 2024, https://casebook.icrc.org/case-study/icrc-ihl-and-challenges-contemporary-armed-conflicts. [2] Eric Heinze, “The Evolution of International Law in Light of the ‘Global War on Terror,” Review of International Studies 37, no. 3 (2011): 1069, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210510001014. [3] Yolandi Meyer, “The Legality of Targeted-Killing Operations in Pakistan,” The Comparative and International Law Journal of Southern Africa 47, no. 2 (2014): 234, https://www.jstor.org/stable/24585870. [4] “ICRC, IHL and the Challenges of Contemporary Armed Conflicts,” International Committee of the Red Cross

White Affectivity, Distraction Tactics, And the Crisis of Thought in the Western Classical European Music Industry

In this article I argue that white affective mechanisms within western European classical music (WECM) composition may lead to double-consciousness in the practices of minoritarian composers which ultimately constitutes an act of epistemic self-harm due to the need to assimilate for inclusion in the field. WECM has long been accepted and assumed to be a “universal” art form. This has had negative impacts on minoritarian composers and contributed to their exclusion throughout its history. I offer an investigation of these affective mechanisms in WECM composition and suggest a new compositional method based on minoritarian identification to build a liberatory creative practice free from epistemic self-harm. This method allows for minoritarian composers to think in/through/with their identifications as a form of resistance – rooted in the repair and emancipation of the minoritarian Self. Through this method, I suggest that as creative practitioners we can directly respond to the erosion of democratic values and ever-growing neoliberalism, not only within the WECM field, but more broadly in our local, national, and global communities – helping to reorient how and where we do the making of thought centred on the minoritarian perspective

St Andrews Journal of International and Language Education Forum: Our Voices

This editorial forum piece celebrates the inauguration of the St Andrews Journal of International and Language Education (SAJILE), an open access online journal hosted by the International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute (IELLI), University of St Andrews, co-run by students and academic staff. Five key figures in the genesis of SAJILE explore their hopes for the journal, and celebrate its supportive, inclusive, and developmental mission of promoting research for, of, and as teaching by teachers, teacher educators, and early career researchers