Category: International Relations & Diplomacy
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An American and an Arab Plan for the Gaza Strip
What do these two plans entail, and what do they mean for the future of Palestine and its citizens? The two proposals for Gaza—Trump’s vision of transforming it into a luxury resort and Egypt’s reconstruction plan—offer different plans for the future of the Palestinian territory. In contrast, the Egyptian-led proposal prioritises the rebuilding of critical…
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Mediators, Militias, and Minerals
1.What are the strategic interests of key actors in the DRC? 2. To understand the regional dimensions of the conflict in the DRC, it is important to examine the interests of countries beyond just Rwanda. 3. The conflict is highly complex and multidimensional, resisting simplistic narratives of a bilateral rivalry between Rwanda/M23 and the DRC.
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The Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Deal – Final Reset Under Way?
1.What are the main obstacles to the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal, and how do regional and international dynamics impact the process? 2.The peace deal’s delay stems from Azerbaijan’s demand for constitutional changes in Armenia, border tensions, and the call to dissolve the Minsk Group. Regional factors, such as Türkiye’s conditions and Russia’s shifting focus, hinder swift…
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In Search of a New World Order
How can governments uphold democracy in a fragmented, multipolar world while avoiding authoritarianism? The greatest threat to Western democracies is internal—censorship and suppression of dissenting opinions erode trust and weaken democratic values. To safeguard democracy, leaders must either eliminate censorship or admit democracy no longer exists in its purest form. The choice is between civil…
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The impact of the Houthis’ FTO designation
• On January 22, President Trump re-designated Houthi as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). ● It’s marking a specific U.S. approach to foreign policy. ● Yemen’s economy and humanitarian aid efforts face severe disruption under the Houthis’ FTO designation ● While Houthi leadership may not be directly affected, the Yemeni population and humanitarian organisations will…
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Venezuela Elections: What’s Next?
Despite claims of stealing the 2024 presidential elections, Maduro was inaugurated in January as Venezuela’s president for a third time, effectively extending his time in power to 18 years. As the opposition continues to pushback and the international community holds back on recognising Maduro, what’s next for Venezuela?
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German Foreign Policy is Becoming More Autonomous
1. What is the effect of the 2025 Bundestagswahl on German foreign policy. 2. The AfD and CDU commonly express growing discontent with Germany’s alliance system. 3. The results of the 2025 Bundestagswahl suggest that the idea of a more autonomous German foreign policy increasingly resonates with German voters.
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Beach, Sun, Sangria … Think Tanks?
The School for ThinkTankers 2025, organized by ‘On Think Tanks,’ was a five-day workshop designed to equip young professionals with skills for think tank leadership. The program covered governance, fundraising, policy influence, and communications, with insights from experts. Key lessons included the importance of adaptability, strategic foresight, and informal exchanges in strengthening think tank impact,…
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Remembering Singapore
Has the 2025 Munich Security Conference changed the assessment of the US alliance in Australia? Yes, there has been a shift, but historical memory of the Fall of Singapore has shaped it. Australia still feels safer in ANZUS, but only because it is so insecure in its perception of its position
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Great Ambitions
What can the history of the EU strategic autonomy debate teach us about the recent calls for European unity and defense integration? The EU strategic autonomy debate has been ongoing for three decades, yet the EU member states have repeatedly failed to turn its ambitions into concrete policy changes. Unless European leaders provide strategies for…