Toward an Ethical World Order: Reining in Personal‑Wealth‑Driven Great‑Power Bargaining – Buchanan (2026) Executive summary Informal great‑power signalling and deniable diplomacy, illustrated by Fiona Hill’s 2019 description of a Russian “very strange swap” linking Venezuela and Ukraine, demonstrate how state actors can attempt reciprocal bargains through media, proxies and back channels. Resurfacing of that testimony in 2026 amid continued Russian aggression in Ukraine and U.S. actions in Latin America underscores risks that opaque diplomacy coupled with private wealth incentives corrodes public accountability and global stability. This short policy paper recommends domestic and international reforms to reduce personal‑wealth‑driven foreign influence, strengthen oversight and restore ethical norms in interstate conduct. Background and evidence synthesis Fiona Hill testimony: On 21 November 2019, former White House Russia expert Fiona Hill testified to the Hou...
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The Terminology of Artificial Intelligence: A Critical Examination Mike Buchanan 2025 Abstract The term "Artificial Intelligence" has been widely used in the field of computer science and beyond. However, its implications and connotations have been subject to debate. This paper examines the terminology of Artificial Intelligence, its evolution, and its implications. Introduction The term "Artificial Intelligence" was coined in 1956 by John McCarthy, a computer and cognitive scientist. It was meant to describe a field of research that focused on creating machines that could emulate human intelligence. The term was chosen to emphasise the goal of creating machines that could think and learn like humans. However, over time, the term "Artificial Intelligence" has taken on a different connotation. It has been used to imply that machines have achieved a level of intelligence that is comparable to, or even surpassed, human intelligence. This...
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Human Time Awareness and Natural Circadian Rhythms: From Pre‑Neolithic Patterns to Modern Calendars Mike Buchanan 2025 Abstract This essay traces human temporal organisation from ecological timing in pre‑Neolithic societies through the emergence of agricultural, religious and civil calendars to contemporary practices such as daylight-saving time (DST). It examines circadian biology, lifespan changes in chronotype, environmental modulators (light, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, altitude), the physiological consequences of social‑clock misalignment, and policy and practical responses. The paper argues that replacing stable civil calendars with a single climatological calendar is neither feasible nor desirable; instead, a layered approach — retaining predictable civil time while deploying local, physiology‑aware overlays and targeted interventions — best balances societal coordination and human well‑being. Evidence is cited in APA format with DOIs/URLs wher...
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The Erosion of Global Cooperation and the Rise of Authoritarianism: A Threat to World Peace Buchanan 2025 The fate of humanity is not determined by the triumph of power, but by the triumph of empathy; for it is in the depths of our shared humanity that we find the strength to overcome the darkness of our differences, to forge a world where the pursuit of peace, justice and freedom is not a distant dream, but a living reality - Abstract The world is facing a crisis of global cooperation and a rise in authoritarianism, which threatens to undermine the foundations of international peace and stability. This paper examines the current state of global affairs, including the decline of liberal democratic values, the rise of nationalist and authoritarian ideologies, and the erosion of international institutions. I discuss the implications of these trends for global peace, stability and argue that a fundamental transformation in the way that nations inte...