Munisa Djumanova examines why Central Asia's post-Soviet states have resisted democratization while their Eastern European counterparts embraced democratic transitions. Through comparative analysis, she argues that domestic elite cohesion combined with strategic support from Russia and China creates a resilient authoritarian system that withstands both internal protests and external democratizing pressures.
Read MoreIn the wake of the 2024 collapse of Synapse Financial Technologies, Rafael Morales-Guzman argues for a Basel-style international regulatory framework that would establish minimum standards for digital banking intermediaries.
Read MoreExamining the systematic exclusion of women from Somalia's security forces, Louise Liebing argues this undermines operational effectiveness against al-Shabaab while perpetuating the gender-based violence that affects 93 percent of reported victims in the country.
Read MoreIbrahim Mustafayev and Orkhan Akbarov argue that Western nations have ceded global nuclear energy leadership to state-backed competitors like China and Russia not due to technological inferiority, but from three structural failures: prioritizing bespoke design innovation over standardized replication, lacking sustained state financial backing, and allowing decades-long construction gaps that eroded critical industrial capabilities.
Read MoreHas modern multilateralism become a vehicle for normalizing autocracies rather than defending democratic principles? Marian Vidaurri tackles this question by analyzing how democratic governance has prioritized diplomatic inclusion over accountability for authoritarian regimes.
Read MoreAnkita Singh Gujjar traces the 4B movement's emergence from Korea's gendered political economy and its rapid digital diffusion to the United States following Trump's re-election.
Read MoreDrawing on a survey of local respondents across flood-affected regions in South Sudan, James Maker Atem reveals how weak governance structures fail to address violent conflicts stemming from climate change.
Read MoreAre new financial instruments effective in tackling the climate crisis? Shreya Bajaj and Amit Sheoran examine the case study of debt-for-nature swaps in Ecuador.
Read MoreJesús Napoleón Guerrero Ruíz examines why Latin America remains the only geopolitically significant region lacking professional intelligence services with external espionage and counterintelligence capabilities. He traces this deficit to Cold War legacies that oriented intelligence toward domestic surveillance rather than strategic statecraft.
Read MoreMoon Hwan Lee reveals how North Korea exploits rare earth mineral trade and financial loopholes to evade sanctions. Highlighting cases like DHID, he calls for stronger enforcement through financial crime frameworks, traceability tools, and trade controls to protect global security and reinforce the effectiveness of international sanctions regimes.
Read MoreIn this piece, Viola Fur shows that Uzbekistan must enact targeted reforms to escape the middle-income trap. It calls for stronger support for small businesses, modernized education aligned with labor market needs, and investment in clean energy—key steps to boost productivity and secure sustainable, inclusive growth by 2030.
Read MoreHaiti’s collapse demands international action, Martin Rodriguez argues, as he proposes a UN-backed conservatorship to restore stability, citing past models like Timor-Leste and Cambodia. He believes that only external administration can rebuild institutions and enable Haiti’s long-term path to self-governance.
Read MoreSumesh Shiwakoty explores how Trump’s presidency affected the U.S. dollar’s global reserve status, particularly how Trump’s trade policies, political rhetoric, and skepticism toward international institutions weakened confidence in the dollar.
Read MoreAlexander Sarti argues that the CHIPS Act alone will not secure U.S. semiconductor leadership. Despite major investments, reliance on foreign supply remains high. He calls for bold innovation and new manufacturing models to overcome labor, cost, and talent barriers in order to achieve real technological independence and long-term competitiveness.
Read MoreThis article argues that the CBP-One application violates international law and human rights principles, specifically non-refoulement. The author suggests that the United States, as a global leader, must prevent such violations to protect asylum in the States and set the precedent for other countries.
Read MoreClaire Spangler investigates the catalyst for the large-scale mobilization of pro-union Catalans in 2017. She analyzes social media trends, particularly on Twitter, to assess the intersection between resource mobilization and threat framing.
Read MoreThis article explores whether China engaged in information warfare in the 2024 Taiwan presidential elections. It suggests methods deployed by China, the key demographics impacted, and the larger implications of information warfare on elections around the world.
Read MoreThis piece argues that the ICC's impartiality and effectiveness, largely due to its failure to investigate alleged war crimes in Iraq in 2003 and the ongoing status of investigations in Afghanistan, has come into question. The authors challenge the ICC navigate great power dynamics in a more effective manner to preserve its credibility.
Read MoreSalar Ghahramani argues that while the United States does not currently have a sovereign wealth fund, it would be a great economic tool and a formidable foreign policy instrument. The fund could act as a catalyst for growth, peace, and stronger alliances.
Read MoreThe article explores Theodore Roosevelt's naval diplomacy, highlighting two key examples: the preemptive strike in Manila Bay during the Spanish-American War and the peaceful yet powerful Great White Fleet voyage. Both of these incidents demonstrate how strategic military preparedness and assertive yet patient diplomacy can prevent conflicts.
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