Aqeel Ahmad

  Recognition of States      Under International Law, recognition of a State can be defined as: A state acknowledgment or acceptance as an international personality by the existing State of the international community. The declaration to fulfill certain essential conditions of Statehood as required by International Law. Essentials of Recognition of a State Population; Territory; Government; Sovereignty; Control should tend towards permanency. If these conditions are fulfilled, then the State can be recognized. Kelson’s view on the recognition of states For a state to be recognized the following conditions must be fulfilled- Must be politically organised. Have control over definite territory. Must be permanent. Must be independent. Process of Recognition State is not only an institution with international legal standing but they are the primary subjects of International Law and possess the greatest range of rights and obligations. Mixture of fact and law and the estab...

  Definition and concept of International Law            Every society, irrespective of its population, makes a legal framework (law) under which it functions and develops. It is permissive in nature as it allows individuals to form legal relations with rights and duties and restrictive in nature as it punishes the wrong-doers. These laws are referred to as Municipal laws. The world today requires a framework through which interstate relations can be developed. International Laws fill the gap for this. The term ‘International law’, also referred to as Laws of Nations was first coined by Jeramy Bentham in 1780. Every country is referred to as ‘state’ in International Law. Meaning      The modern international law system is a product of only the past four hundred years bearing witness to the influence of various writers and jurists of sixteen to the eighteenth century, who formulated some of its most fundamental principles.  Internati...

By Aqeel Ahmad        To further your understanding of critical thinking, let’s examine three responses to the sugar tax on the soft drinks industry. The UK Government introduced this tax in April 2018 to combat obesity. The See Also section contains the UK Government’s news story Soft Drinks Industry Levy comes into effect. Below are three consumers’ responses to this tax. Read each response and consider the level of critical thinking each demonstrates. Feedback is provided after each example highlighting where elements of critical thinking are shown in these responses and why. Response 1 “Not another tax! I’m already paying so much on shopping. Sugar tax is just another way to make me spend more. I can’t believe they’re taxing sugar as shopping will be even more expensive now. Besides, what’s wrong with a can of coke or a chocolate bar? Why does the government intervene in our personal choices?” Feedback This response shows  limited critical thinking . It...

  What is critical thinking? And what does it mean to be a critical thinker? Critical thinking doesn't just mean thinking a lot about something. It is a deliberate process of applying logic and reasoning to our thinking. Critical thinking means not accepting everything we read, see, and hear as an indisputable fact. Critical thinkers are curious and questioning about the world. They are not just guided by their own experiences and emotions, but actively seek evidence and knowledge to inform their thinking. They are willing to change their minds and even their long-held beliefs in the face of new, compelling evidence. To better understand what is meant by critical thinking, let's envisage a world without it. Imagine going to the dentist and being told that your toothache is being caused by worms that are living inside your teeth. Pretty unpleasant, right? In the past, despite no rigorous evidence, it was widely believed that small worms inside the teeth caused cavities. In Engla...

  You now have a good understanding of what critical thinking is and how you can approach it using a critical thinking model. Let’s focus on what critical thinking means in a university context. As you have explored, thinking critically is an important skill. Without it, you would not make important social, economic and technological advances. This is why, at university, developing your critical thinking skills is a key aspect of any degree programme. Universities look for innovative solutions to global problems. As a student you are part of this exciting research community. While academics are experts in their fields, it is important to remember that you are not a passive learner who is just there to listen and absorb everything the academic says. An enjoyable and key part of university is being an active learner, and a significant part of this involves thinking critically. Critical thinking does not mean just having a negative viewpoint or always disagreeing. Thinking critically ...

  Timeline of critical thinking at university This timeline provides examples of how critical thinking develops from Year 1 to 3 at university. Year 1 Year 1 at university provides core modules that create the building blocks for your learning. You will be introduced to the core concepts in your discipline and build a broad knowledge base. Level 1 During Year 1 you will be working at Level 1 to: have an accurate and thorough grasp of key ideas, theories and ways of investigating your subject-area make good use of reading and other materials suggested by your tutor; ask questions and evaluate the material that you are working with exercise some independence as a learner – planning and undertaking your studies without close direction from tutors. Example 1 A biology student may be introduced to immunology, microbiology, genetics and cell biology. They may have the opportunity to develop critical thinking undertaking experimental techniques, data collection, analysis and interpretati...