Pressing Questions

About the Book

Terrorism, financial crisis, the abuse of human rights - the world faces many vital issues and responses by governments and international organisations are often confused, ineffective or misguided. Pressing Questions is an examination of these concerns, containing six compositions by authors ranging from politicians such as Malcolm Sinclair, the Earl of Caithness, economists, lawyers and academics.

There is a strong emphasis on not only recognising and identifying issues such as national security, financial regulation and human rights, but also on suggesting solutions and stimulating reasoned debate.

Topics covered include the monetary system, financial regulation and banking; causes of, and responses to, terrorism; the legality of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre; human rights in Hong Kong; and the impact of cultural relativism on human rights in a post-colonial world.

About the Author

John Tomlinson practiced as a stockbroker with Thomson & McKinnon, a member of the New York Stock Exchange. Having studied the effect of debt on national economies, he set up, and is Chairman of, Oxford Research and Development Corporation Limited which explores the use of equity instruments and the development of equity markets.

Malcolm Sinclair, Earl of Caithness, joined the Thatcher government in 1984. He started as a Whip and Lord in Waiting to The Queen before progressing to Minister of State at, successively, the Home Office, Department of the Environment, the Treasury, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the Department of Transport. He was created a Privy Councillor to Her Majesty The Queen in 1990. As a hereditary peer he still takes an active part in politics in Parliament.

Frederick Motson studied Law & Politics at the University of Buckingham, where he achieved the Edgar Palamountain Award for Excellence. A member of Grays Inn, he was called to the Bar in October 2008. He currently teaches Law at the University of Westminster.

After serving for many years in the Royal Navy, Anthony Davies turned his attention to academia; completing his law degree, a Masters in commercial and international law and undertaking the Legal Practice Course. Currently, he is working at a major Oxford-based law firm.

Matthew Proud is an international law specialist who primarily focuses on Human Rights issues in Hong Kong. After completing his Bachelor degree he went on to complete a Masters degree in Law, undertaking empirical research in Hong Kong.

Dinesh Rajp achieved his bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in law at the University of Buckingham. He is currently a lecturer in law at the University of Westminster. His research specialisations lie in human rights and international law.