Jenny O’Connor
I am an international relations graduate with a keen interest in politics, a passion for writing and a strong social conscience.
This website is a collection of my published written work.
Roundup: Colombia’s Agent Orange?
By Jenny O’Connor ~ CounterPunch ~ Published: 31st October 2012 A core element of U.S. anti-drugs policy in Colombia has been the destruction of coca fields by aerial chemical fumigation thus impacting the cocaine trade at its source. The continuation of this policy is based on three core myths: (1) That fumigation can target coca … Read more
The US War on Communism, Drugs, and Terrorism in Colombia
By Jenny O’Connor ~ Irish Foreign affairs (Vol.5 No.3) ~ Published: September 2012; Dissident Voice ~ Published: October 31st 2012 On Thursday 6th September the President of Colombia – Juan Manuel Santos – rejected a proposed bilateral ceasefire by FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels aimed at bringing an end to Colombia’s armed conflict. … Read more
Austerity, Growth and Germany’s Europe Policy
By Jenny O’Connor ~ CounterPunch ~ Published: July 5th 2012. A major qualm many have with the Fiscal Compact is the implication underlying it that sensible and frugal wealthy European countries such as Germany must get the irresponsible and spendthrift indebted countries to sign up to a set of guarantees before handing them more money. … Read more
What Happens if Ireland Votes No?
By Jenny O’Connor ~ Irish Left Review ~ Published: May 29th 2012. Would Ireland be able to secure a second bailout? The Yes campaign claim that, in the event of a No vote, Ireland would be denied EU funding should she require a second bailout. The No campaign claim that a second bailout could be … Read more
The Fiscal Compact Treaty; a sheep in wolf’s clothing?
By Jenny O’Connor ~ Politico ~ Published: May 17th 2012; Irish Left Review ~ Published: May 22nd 2012 The debate on the Fiscal Compact Treaty in Ireland has been dominated by duel scaremongering arguments; the threat of institutionalised austerity on one side and the threat of discontinued ECB funding on the other. The result has … Read more
“NGO”: The Guise of Innocence
By Jenny O’Connor ~ Irish Foreign Affairs (Vol 5, No. 1) ~ Published: March 2012; Dissident Voice ~ Published: April 7th 2012; Centre for Research on Globalisation ~ Published: April 8th 2012; New Left Project (the slightly altered version that appears below) ~ Published: April 15th 2012 In December Egyptian prosecutors and police raided 17 offices … Read more
Jeffrey Sachs’ Bid for the World Bank: Lessons for the Future
By Jenny O’Connor ~ Dissident Voice ~ Published: April 9th, 2012. Jeffrey Sachs’ bid for the Presidency of the World Bank was backed by progressive publications from the Huffington Post to the Guardian and by the governments of a number of developing countries. This support is understandable given his current positions on financial assistance and … Read more
The shadowy world of Egypt’s NGOs
By Jenny O’Connor ~ The New Statesman Blog ~ Published: March 17th 2012. Ever since the Egyptian authorities raided the offices of a number of Western “non-profit organisations” in December, there has been consternation in the Western press. The 43 people accused of failing to register with the government and of financing the 6 April … Read more
