Politics & Government
There’s Still Hope for Poland
By Michael Purzycki |
Liberal democracy does not defend itself. It relies on people who value it to keep it alive. Poland deserves close attention; if democratization can be undone in the land of Solidarity, where is it safe?
Pyongyang’s Princess: The Rise of Kim Yo-Jong
By Benjamin Zimmer |
Although Kim Yo-jong has taken on a prominent role within the North Korean regime, she is not poised to be a successor to Kim Jung-un.
Reviving NATO under a Biden Presidency
By Kathryn Urban |
The election of President-elect Joe Biden has raised hopes for a reinvigoration of transatlantic relations. But the specter of US isolationism as well as economic pressures from Covid-19 will continue to limit NATO engagement.
IDS International CEO: Biden’s Foreign Policy Will Seek To Undo Damage To Alliances, Institutions
By Jonathan Stutte |
Charged Affairs Staff Writer interviewed IDS International CEO Nick Dowling -- an acknowledged expert in the foreign policy and security spaces -- on what President-Elect Biden's foreign policy will look like.
Belarus: Master of the Art of Fence-Sitting
By Kathryn Urban |
Amid popular protests demanding his resignation, will Belarusian President Lukashenko continue to balance relations with both Russia and NATO, or will economic and political realities force him to finally choose a side?
Why Montenegro’s Recent Elections Could Spell Trouble for Europe
By Nick Lokker |
After a surprisingly poor showing in Montenegro’s recent parliamentary elections, the ruling pro-Western Democratic Party of Socialists could lose control of the government for the first time in three decades. A potential coalition led by the opposition Democratic Front party would seek closer ties with Russia and Serbia, undermining the geopolitical stability of the region.
Just or Unjust? Securitisation of COVID-19 and Police Brutality in Africa
By Dorsina Dwamena-Aboagye |
The trade-off between restricting rights and freedoms and ensuring state security within the COVID-19 context has given rise to extrajudicial killings and brutality against civilians in Africa.
Why the West Must Remain Engaged in Bosnia
By Michael Purzycki |
Twenty-five years after its devastating war, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains deeply divided by religion and ethnicity. Young Bosnians, however, are more likely to cross divides. Membership in NATO and the European Union would buttress their efforts.
What’s Next for Hong Kong Protests? Geopolitics Will Drive China’s Response
By Kathryn Urban |
This summer marks one full year of continuous protests in Hong Kong against encroachment by mainland China. While Beijing will prioritize indirect means of controlling Hong Kong, military force may be on the horizon if China finds appropriate justification.
Qaboos to Haitham: Oman’s Uncharacteristically Smooth Transition of Power
By Omar Abdellatif |
Oman’s recent transition of power was surprisingly peaceful thanks to a few key factors and limited expectations for the new Sultan.
Review of Noah Feldman’s The Arab Winter: A Tragedy
By Kathryn Urban |
Building on a renowned body of work on legal and political theory, Noah Feldman’s "The Arab Winter: A Tragedy" deftly weaves together three case studies: Egypt, Syria, and Tunisia to examine political self-determination during the Arab spring and subsequent Arab winter.
A Liberal Defense of Nationalism
By Michael Purzycki |
Identification with one’s nation has often been a liberating force. It is vital to distinguish between those forms of nationalism that are compatible with liberal values, and those that are not.
A Proposed Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap Intensifies Europe’s Integration Challenges
By Nick Lokker |
In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, Kosovo’s government has fallen, leaving an uncertain future for the Western Balkan region. Within this context, the lack of clear U.S. opposition to a proposed Kosovo-Serbia land swap opens the door to potentially disastrous consequences for Europe as a whole.
COVID-19: How the West was Closed
By Jonathan Stutte |
If Western countries had pursued the elimination strategies to fighting COVID-19 as East Asian countries had, they could be avoiding lengthy shutdowns and high death tolls. Until western countries begin seriously adopting eradication strategies, they’ll find themselves isolated from international travel until they find a vaccine or adopt better strategies.
It’s Time to Hold Hungary Accountable
By Nick Lokker |
While Europe struggles to confront the coronavirus pandemic, Hungary’s government has exploited the crisis to indefinitely increase its own power. The European Union must punish Hungary for this democratic backsliding, or else risk losing its legitimacy as a community of values.
COVID-19 Is Currently Winning The Adaptability Race
By Robert Shines |
Regardless of initial missteps, the most critical thing for governments and the international community to do in the fight against COVID-19 is to adapt quickly. While some states weigh the impacts of quarantine measures on the economy, some have identified strategies that balance public health with economic health.
Peaceful Polling: A Case for African Union Action in General Elections
By Kathryn Urban |
2020 is an important election year for Africa, with citizens voting on important leadership questions in countries as diverse as Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Tanzania. Even as Somalia holds what will be the first election in fifty years, other states, notably Ethiopia and Burundi are already showing signs of an election season marred by violence.…
Are We Witnessing an African Spring?
By Kathryn Urban |
Anti-Kagame protests are sweeping Rwanda just weeks before the 2024 general election. Taken in conjunction with movements in Uganda and Zimbabwe, Rwandan activism represents the latest iteration of a regional rejection of dictatorial rule.
No Peace for Afghanistan
By Dylan Johnson |
Summary: The 2020 U.S.-Taliban agreement and subsequent U.S. troop withdrawal established conditions for a lasting war between the Taliban and Afghan government. Both too weak to dominate, there is no end in sight.
Bernie Vs. the Blob
By Olivier Weiss |
President Bernie Sanders is trying to jettison the US empire. Washington will only follow begrudgingly. The Sanders administration must urgently articulate a clear strategy.