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451. The State and Human Trafficking

Author:
John Cotton Richmond and Isabella Wei
Publication Date:
03-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Brown Journal of World Affairs
Institution:
Brown Journal of World Affairs
Abstract:
John Cotton Richmond is an attorney and diplomat focused on ethical business, human rights, democracy, and rule of law. He currently leads the Libertas Council that works to galvanize global leaders to shape solutions that affirm human dignity by combatting human trafficking. He also serves as the Chief Impact Officer at Atlas Free, working to resource and accelerate organizations fighting human trafficking. Previously, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons from 2018 to 2021. Serving in the nation’s highest-ranking position dedicated to human trafficking, he led U.S. foreign policy related to modern slavery and coordinated the U.S. government’s response to the crime. Ambassador Richmond also served for over a decade as a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit, where he prosecuted numerous victim-centered labor and sex trafficking cases. He also lived in India for three years pioneering International Justice Mission’s slavery work.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, State, Interview, and Human Trafficking
Political Geography:
Global Focus

452. Youth Participation in Global Climate Governance: A Study on Contemporary IGO-NGO Relations

Author:
Buse Mina Tümkaya
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Novus Orbis: Journal of Politics & International Relations
Institution:
Department of International Relations, Karadeniz Technical University
Abstract:
The evolving relationships between youth environmental movements and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) within the framework of global climate governance are complex. Focusing on movements such as Extinction Rebellion (XR), Fridays for Future (FFF), Last Generation (LG), and Just Stop Oil (JSO), this article examines how these groups leverage contemporary tactics and mass mobilization to influence policy and public opinion. Utilizing the theoretical framework of Tana Johnson, this research categorizes and analyzes the intricate relations between these movements and IGOs through the 4Cs Taxonomy. While trying to determine which category these relations fall into (cooperative, co-optative, competitive or conflictual), the study also traces the shifts between categories over time and their reasons.
Topic:
Climate Change, Environment, Governance, Youth, NGOs, Political Movements, and Intergovernmental Organizations
Political Geography:
Global Focus

453. Marking 50 years of the Biological Weapons Convention

Author:
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs and Jean Pascal Zanders
Publication Date:
03-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Abstract:
Fifty years ago, on 26 March 1975, the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction entered into force. The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) was the first multilateral treaty to outlaw a discrete weaponry category comprehensively. No party to the treaty can develop, produce, otherwise acquire, or retain biological and toxin weapons. Nor can state parties use such weapons in any way or under any circumstances. On its 50th anniversary, 188 states are party to the BTWC. Only nine are on the outside. Four signed the convention (between 1972 and 1975), but they must still ratify it: Egypt, Haiti, Somalia and Syria. Five are non-signatories: Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Israel and Kiribati.
Topic:
Arms Control and Proliferation, Treaties and Agreements, Disarmament, Biological Weapons, and Chemical Weapons
Political Geography:
Global Focus

454. Report on Pugwash Chemical and Biological Weapons Working Group meeting

Author:
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Abstract:
On 3 October 2025, the Pugwash Chemical and Biological Weapons Working Group (CBW WG) held its first event, drawing more than 75 persons from all continents, including the Middle East and North Africa, to a virtual meeting. The primary objective was to gather feedback on potential topics for the WG’s development, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of the WG’s specific role in the current academic and civil society landscape. Registrants completed a small questionnaire covering both topics.
Topic:
Treaties and Agreements, Biological Weapons, Chemical Weapons, Civil Society, and Arms Control and Proliferation
Political Geography:
Middle East, North Africa, and Global Focus

455. Women, Peace and Security Survey: Reflections from Women Peacebuilders

Author:
Kristine Baekgaard, Vanessa Rickenbrode, and Jessica M. Smith
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Abstract:
The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS) released results from a global survey of nearly 3,000 women in 121 countries—one of the largest samples of women peacebuilders to date. The Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Survey highlights perspectives of women peacebuilders from around the world: where they find influence and meaning, the challenges they face, and how the international community can better support their critical work. Key findings from the Women, Peace and Security Survey include: Women drive change in their communities, but they have limited influence in formal spaces such as government and international organizations. 62 percent see themselves as able to create change in their households, and 51 percent in their workplaces, but 21 percent report no ability to create change in their national government. While women’s influence at the community level is crucial, we must continue to expand efforts to ensure women’s meaningful—rather than tokenistic—inclusion in all spaces where decisions are made, including formal institutions. Poverty is one of the most pressing challenges shaping women’s experiences of their peace and security work. Women are calling on the international community to provide long-term funding to support their peace and security work. One-­third identify poverty as one of the biggest challenges in their work, highlighting deep interconnections between peace and development. 43 percent identify long-­term funding as an urgent need to accomplish their peace and security goals; 40 percent also report a decrease in funding for their work over the past two years. Responding to this call requires donors to offer funding that is sustained, accessible, and flexible, empowering women-­led organizations to respond to crises, build lasting peace, and strengthen their communities. The most challenging and urgent issues women identify differ by region. Key challenges include, education in South Asia (highlighted as a core challenge by 46 percent of respondents), women’s leadership in the Middle East and North Africa (42 percent), climate-­related security concerns in East Asia and the Pacific (15 percent), and infrastructure deficits in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (26 percent). WPS implementation will be more successful if it is tailored to local needs and priorities, as identified by women in those contexts. Women report that their peace and security work is deeply meaningful, but it comes at great personal costs. 63 percent report gaining new skills through their peace and security work, but 46 percent experience fatigue, and one in four report burnout and worsening mental health as negative consequences of their peace and security efforts, underscoring the strain of sustaining these efforts with limited support. Migrant, refugee, and displaced women are more than twice as likely as women who are not in these groups to perceive more risks associated with their peace and security work. Addressing challenges that endanger women peacebuilders and jeopardize broader progress toward peace and security, such as burnout, financial strain, and exposure to risk, requires interventions that provide sustained protection, resources, and support to women doing this crucial work.
Topic:
Poverty, Women, Peacebuilding, Women, Peace, and and Security (WPS)
Political Geography:
Global Focus

456. Advancing Peace and Security: The Role of Gender Advisors

Author:
Rachel George, Jessica M. Smith, and Carla Koppell
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Abstract:
Among the influential outcomes of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, which helped launch the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in 2000, has been the expansion of dedicated gender advisor positions in governments and multilateral institutions.1 Given women’s persistent underrepresentation in peace and security,2 the gendered impacts of conflict,3 and evidence that addressing these issues increases the likelihood and sustainability of peace and conflict resolution,4 gender advisors emerged as critical roles to help organizations better understand and address the needs of women and girls in their activities, policies, and programs. Sitting within a variety of institutions, these positions provide expert guidance on gender issues across peace and security policy and programming. Their proliferation within organizations that influence peace and development outcomes has been a hallmark of the 25 years since the start of the Agenda. The number of gender advisor positions in relevant national and multilateral fora, as well as within private foundations and civil society, has grown substantially over the past 25 years of multilateral commitments to WPS. But recent political changes have threatened some of these posts, as institutions slash offices, programs, and funds where gender advising was once featured,5 even as organizations increasingly recognize the centrality of gender equality for productive peace,6 sustainable development,7 and economic prosperity.8 With growing evidence of these benefits, many development and security institutions are seeking to maximize how institutional expertise on WPS contributes to effective policies and programs, especially those facing dramatic cuts in resources.
Topic:
Representation, Gender, Women, Peace, and and Security (WPS)
Political Geography:
Global Focus

457. Funding for Women, Peace and Security: Reflections on 25 Years

Author:
Rachel George, Carla Koppell, Jessica Smith, and Ava Kawamura
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Abstract:
Funding for the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda has expanded significantly since UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 was first adopted in 2000. By 2023, nearly half of official development assistance was tagged in part for gender equality, reflecting a partial focus on gender integrated across development efforts. • Yet even at its peak, less than 10 percent of aid made gender equality a primary focus. Funding for women’s organizations in fragile and conflict-affected settings remains especially low at less than one percent, underscoring the chronic under-resourcing of the WPS Agenda. • Current metrics indicate declining support for WPS in the face of rising need, though they fail to capture how funds actually reach women on the frontlines. Improved data collection is urgently needed to quantify the amount of gender-tagged resources that truly reach women in conflict contexts. • Severe cuts to development spending and multilateral financing in 2025 are likely to further erode already limited support for gender equality in conflict prevention and response. Without urgent efforts to close gaps and expand funding, funders risk under-realizing the promise of WPS as a demonstrated pathway for peace.
Topic:
Development, Funding, Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and Gender Equality
Political Geography:
Global Focus

458. Women’s Representation in Security and Diplomacy: Reflections on 25 Years

Author:
Rachel George, Carla Koppell, Jessica Smith, and Ava Kawamura
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Abstract:
Women’s representation in international peace and security has expanded substantially, with rates at least doubling in many leadership and staff roles since the adoption of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in 2000. • The number of women in UN leadership roles has nearly tripled since 2000, accounting for just over half of senior positions today; the number of women ambassadors and peacekeepers is nearly four times higher than in 2000. • Gender parity remains elusive, particularly in the security sector. While numbers have increased, women still represent only 24 percent of ambassadors, 13 percent of defense ministers, and less than 10 percent of peacekeepers. • Women’s persistent underrepresentation in security roles, alongside recent dips in representation in a number of UN and national political roles, warns that progress is fragile. Setbacks underscore the urgent need to invest in women’s participation, especially in the security sector, and to confront the economic, political, and cultural barriers that limit women’s full and meaningful inclusion—a key driver of sustainable peace.
Topic:
Security, Diplomacy, Representation, Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and Gender Equality
Political Geography:
Global Focus

459. Implementing Women, Peace and Security: Reflections on 25 Years

Author:
Rachel George, Carla Koppell, Jessica Smith, and Ava Kawamura
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security (GIWPS)
Abstract:
The adoption of policy instruments to support women in conflict has grown substantially since the creation of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda in 2000. • The expansion of WPS National Action Plans and increased inclusion of gender provisions in peace agreements and peacekeeping mandates have been a hallmark of efforts to institutionalize the Agenda in national and multilateral policy forums. • Peace provisions that acknowledge the specific impact of conflict on women and support their protection and inclusion in peace processes have grown overall, but their frequency has dipped substantially since a peak in 2013, from nearly half of peace agreements to just one in three in 2023. • National Action Plans, which have been adopted by at least 112 UN Member States and some multilateral institutions, have helped develop concrete policies and actions in a number of settings in support of WPS. But paramount is the imperative to effectively resource, implement, and update these instruments, and to make them more responsive to emerging threats and opportunities in the face of reduced funding for the WPS Agenda worldwide.
Topic:
Peacekeeping, Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), and Gender Equality
Political Geography:
Global Focus

460. Future threat landscapes: The impact on intelligence and security services

Author:
Mikael Weissmann
Publication Date:
03-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
This article examines the evolving nature of antagonistic threats in the context of intelligence and security services, with a focus on small and medium-sized countries. It explores the impact of hybrid threats and non-linear warfare in an increasingly blurred security landscape between war and peace. The study aims to understand the emerging dynamics of the grey zone and the new challenges these evolving threats pose to intelligence and security services. The article adopts a qualitative methodology, drawing on global examples and including the strategic use of hybrid warfare by both state and non-state actors. In addition, the study examines technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), to assess their role in shaping modern threats. The article argues that modern antagonistic threats differ from traditional ones in both intensity and complexity. Hybrid threats operate across multiple domains, blending military and non-military tactics while exploiting societal vulnerabilities. The article highlights the growing importance of AI and ML in both offensive and defensive strategies as well as the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements beyond state control. The article concludes that intelligence and security services must adapt to these multi-dimensional threats by embracing flexible integrated strategies. Enhanced international collaboration, advanced technological integration, and a focus on resilience will be the key to countering hybrid threats. The findings underscore the need for intelligence services to operate beyond traditional boundaries to effectively manage the complexities of future security environments.
Topic:
National Security, International Security, Borders, Artificial Intelligence, Hybrid Threats, and Counterintelligence
Political Geography:
Global Focus

461. Lethal empowerment and electronic crime: A focus on radio-frequency interference capabilities

Author:
Tegg Westbrook
Publication Date:
03-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
This article focuses on the capabilities of criminals in using radiofrequency interference (RFI) devices to target systems that use the Global Positioning System (GPS). Surveying over a 22-year period during which GPS has been widely used by many industries, it seeks to understand how the electronic threat has evolved and changed. Focusing on the accessibility, usability, effectiveness, versatility, transportability, and concealability of RFI devices, and utilising a number of sources from engineering disciplines, hacker events, and media pieces, it argues that the more reliant we are on GPS, the more threat actors’ target choices and means, ends, and, indeed, motivations for targeting systems will expand, elevating the risks to GPS users. This article finds that arguably some of the most disagreeable actors have elevated from unsophisticated to semi-sophisticated in the space of 20 years, and can target systems cheaply, easily, and effectively. In the space of two decades, the combination of war, the expansion of digitalisation, the commercialisation of military systems, and the demand and supply that feeds technological innovations, have left us with an entirely different threat picture.
Topic:
Crime, Terrorism, Cybersecurity, GPS, and Radiofrequency Interference (RFI)
Political Geography:
Global Focus

462. Strategic analysis of cyber conflicts: A game-theoretic modelling of global cyber crises in the 2000s

Author:
Esra Merve Çalışkan
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
In the rapidly evolving landscape of international relations, cyberspace has emerged as a new battlefield for interstate competition and conflict. The increasing digitalisation of our world necessitates a thorough understanding of cybersecurity and the strategic dynamics of cyber warfare. The current level of understanding of these issues is limited. This study aims to bridge this gap by employing game theory to analyse significant cyber crises that occurred during the 2000s. By modelling the preferences and strategies of states that have extended their global power struggles into the cyber domain, we seek to develop a framework for predicting systematic crises and conflicts in this arena. Our research examines eight case studies drawn from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. For each case, we define the actors, their strategies, preferences, and potential outcomes, culminating in the identification of Nash equilibria. Through comparative analysis, we highlight the similarities and differences in cyber conflict dynamics across these diverse regions. This study contributes to the literature on cyber conflicts in international relations through its innovative application of game theory modelling and comparative case analysis. We developed a novel analytical framework for explaining state behaviour in cyberspace. Our findings suggest that game theory and strategic analysis can serve as powerful tools for predicting state preferences in the cyber domain. The results indicate that aggressor states often adopt denial strategies, while victim states tend to respond with harsh retaliation. Furthermore, we observed that cyber operations during election periods are attractive to both aggressor and victim countries, but this tendency contributes to global instability. In conclusion, this research argues in support of the utility of game theory and strategic analysis in modelling and forecasting state preferences and behaviours in cyberspace. Our study not only contributes to the existing literature but also proposes methodological approaches for future research. The insights gained from this analysis are valuable for policymakers in formulating effective cybersecurity strategies and for scholars seeking to deepen their understanding of the complex interplay between technology, strategy, and international relations in the digital age.
Topic:
Cybersecurity, Geopolitics, Armed Conflict, Game Theory, and Modeling
Political Geography:
Global Focus

463. Cybersecurity and incident response processes for maintaining operational security and continuity at vocational education institutions

Author:
Anna-Liisa Ojala
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:
War Studies University
Abstract:
The presence of cybersecurity in educational institutions, including vocational education and training (VET), plays a vital role in ensuring the overall societal security in an increasing digital world. This study explores how staff of VET institutions respond to suspected cybersecurity incidents, focusing on reporting channels and methods used. The objective is to better understand incident response practices in the under-researched VET context, with special attention given to the human and organisational aspects of cybersecurity. VET institutions operate digital systems that mirror real workplace environments and often handle authentic customer data, exposing them to risks that differ from those of general education settings. A qualitative methodology was employed, consisting of thematic interviews with twenty-seven staff members across three Finnish vocational schools. The analysis was guided by the Situation Awareness in Cybersecurity Incident Response model and the Zone of Proximal Development framework, allowing for a deeper exploration of how staff perceive and act upon potential threats. Although formal reporting procedures exist, staff frequently rely on informal networks and direct contact with IT support. Urgent cases are often communicated via phone, a method perceived as efficient but lacking in documentation and structure, which can hinder post-incident analysis and learning. Improving cybersecurity incident response in VET institutions requires the integration of formal digital tools with flexible, human-centred communication methods. Strengthening these systems is essential, not only for protecting sensitive data, ensuring continuity, and creating safer learning environments, but also for reinforcing the digital resilience of society as a whole.
Topic:
Education, Cybersecurity, Social Security, and Vocational Education
Political Geography:
Global Focus

464. The Scale and Policy Implications of Nonfinancial Business Rents

Author:
Marc Jarsulic
Publication Date:
08-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
The behavior of monopolies has been in the news. A federal judge, for example, recently decided that Google’s monopolistic behavior with respect to its search engine violated antitrust law. The FTC has brought actions against other large businesses, challenging what they allege are illegal attempts to create or enhance monopoly power. Regardless of how these individual legal actions play out, there is abundant evidence that barriers to competition and the market power of firms have increased over time. Since market power allows firms to earn rents – i.e. supra-competitive profits – an empirical measure of aggregate rent can serve as an index of market power. Moreover, when rents are large enough, they affect the distribution of income. This paper estimates rent as a share of gross value added for the nonfinancial business sector (NFB), and for the nonfinancial corporate sector (NFC), using distinct estimation techniques. The results are remarkably similar, and the estimates indicate that rent extraction is an important mechanism by which the income distribution has been skewed upward. Estimated NFB rents, for example, were $1.7 trillion in 2023. The results point to an important policy option: a tax on rents to support important social programs such as Medicare/Medicaid, which will at the same reduce the economic and political power of the largest monopolies and their owners.
Topic:
Finance, Business, Monopoly, Rent, and Antitrust
Political Geography:
Global Focus

465. “Bailouts as Far as the Eyes Can See: A Critique of the “Money View” in the Age of Trumpism”

Author:
Gerald Epstein and Aaron Medlin
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
Monetary and financial relations are changing rapidly around the globe under the contradictory forces of financial and digital globalization on the one hand, and geo-political disruption, disintegration, and re-ordering on the other. These tectonic forces pose enormous challenges for our economy and society in both the North and the Global South. Trump 2.0, his administration’s radical financial de-regulation agenda and their push for crypto asset mainstreaming are adding significantly to the likelihood of a great financial crash and consequent pressures on the Federal Reserve for financial bailouts. We argue that an increasingly popular set of financial analyses that go under the heading of the “Money View”, while extremely useful for understanding the nature and mechanics of global financial markets, is in danger of providing a “seal of approval” for these “lender of last resort” bail-outs that enable the expansion of this socially inefficient and dangerous monetary and financial system. We contend that Northern countries and especially those of the Global South should insulate themselves from these likely upheavals by resisting the siren calls for greater integration into this unregulated, U.S.- dominated global crypto ecosystem.
Topic:
Globalization, Finance, and Cryptocurrencies
Political Geography:
Global Focus

466. Investing in Power: Unequal Exchange in Global Value Chains

Author:
James Heitz and William Milberg
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
The question of how value is distributed within global value chains (GVCs) is one of the central questions in contemporary research on trade and development and an analysis of power is central to understanding this issue. This paper extends existing research on distribution within global value chains by focusing on the issue of power in both product markets and supplier markets. We present a formal model in which lead firms capture a larger share of value-added, either through higher mark-ups – monopoly power – or lower unit costs goods purchased from suppliers – monopsony power. Maintaining or expanding this market power involves costly investments in intangible assets, with the nature of that investment depending on the characteristics of the GVC. This framework provides new insights into the distributive dynamics of value chains, including reputation effects tied to corporate social responsibility. In this way, the paper presents an innovative way of theorizing international trade, inspired by the unequal exchange tradition, that can be extended in future research.
Topic:
Economics, Human Rights, Finance, Macroeconomics, Global Value Chains, and Labor Market
Political Geography:
Global Focus

467. Anchored Inflation With Differential Inflation Benchmarks

Author:
Thomas R. Michl
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
This paper presents a model of inflation and distribution that features a structural difference between the wage Phillips curve and the price Phillips curve. The wage Phillips curve revolves around conditions in the labor market represented by the employment rate while the price Phillips curve revolves around conditions in the product market represented by capacity utilization. Differences in the relative bargaining power of workers and capitalist firms give rise to stabilizing real wage dynamics that lead to normal capacity utilization. Wage and price setting are each benchmarked to a different reference rate of price inflation, and both are anchored by the central bank’s inflation target. Price-setting by capitalist firms requires accurate projections (inflation expectations) of their competitors’ prices while the wage-setting reference rate reflects the delay in keeping up with past inflation that firms impose on workers, so that more anchoring represents the loss of working class bargaining power. Greater anchoring of the wage-setting reference rate relative to the price-setting rate makes real wages vulnerable to erosion from inflation. Capacity constraints also generate inflation that erodes wages. The model sheds some light on the recent post-Covid inflation through these channels.
Topic:
Economics, Employment, Inflation, and Labor Market
Political Geography:
Global Focus

468. Inequality of Opportunity and Stratification Economics: Different Paths, Shared Concerns

Author:
Luis Monroy-Gómez-Franco
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
This paper compares two approaches to the study of inequality that have recently consolidated as distinct fields: the economics of inequality of opportunity (IOp) and stratification economics (SE). IOp examines how circumstances beyond individual control shape inequalities, while SE emphasizes how institutions and group identities reproduce intergroup hierarchies. I argue that, despite distinct origins, the two frameworks can be viewed as complementary. To support this claim, I outline the main features of each theoretical framework and contrast them along several dimensions: their equalisandum, the role of social groups, primary unit of analysis, and their conception of how structural factors influence inequality. The analysis shows that the distance between the two approaches is less significant than often assumed. Their differences enhance their complementarity, positioning SE and IOp not as competitors but as mutually reinforcing frameworks for understanding inequality.
Topic:
Economics, Inequality, Equality of Opportunity, and Stratification Economics
Political Geography:
Global Focus

469. For G20 Food Security Task Force: Food Price Stabilization in an Age of Overlapping Emergencies: The case for multilevel buffer stocks

Author:
Isabella M. Weber, Jayati Ghosh, Sophie van Huellen, Merle Schulken, and Sudeep Jain
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
Abstract:
Food price volatility is increasingly affected by overlapping emergencies including climate change, armed conflicts and trade wars. Buffer stocks can stabilize food prices and contribute towards long-term goals such as food sovereignty and sustainable farming. We propose a regional African food reserve comprising regionally grown and imported grain, to stabilize prices over time and across locations as well as to incentivize more sustainable food cultivation in the region. Additionally, we propose global virtual and physical reserves to stabilize the prices of globally traded commodities and support regional reserves.
Topic:
Agriculture, Food Security, Sustainability, Food Sovereignty, and Price Stabilization
Political Geography:
Global Focus

470. Women, Peace and Security and Technology Futures: What World Are We Building?

Author:
Sahana Dharmapuri and Jolynn Shoemaker
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Our Secure Future
Abstract:
This report explores the links between technology, women's participation and security, and seeks to improve strategic decisions regarding technology norms and policies through the application of Women, Peace and Security principles. Technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and future innovations, is reshaping the world, with profound effects on peace and security. The preoccupation in policymaking on short-term, strategic advantages often leads to long-term, unintended consequences – especially for civilians and those disproportionately affected by instability, particularly women and girls. The growing intersection between government defense sector and the technology industry is, furthermore, squeezing out civil society voices and de-prioritizing human rights and humanitarian law. In this context, the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda provides a necessary framework through which to assess the emerging technology landscape, identify existing policy blind spots and inform decision-making within both the defense and technology sectors. This white paper is a first step in integrating WPS into technology and security decisions. It explores the links between technology, women's participation and security, and seeks to improve strategic decisions regarding technology norms and policies by examining three critical blind spots in the development of technology and AI through the lens of the WPS framework.
Topic:
Security, Science and Technology, Women, Artificial Intelligence, Norms, Instability, Women, Peace, and and Security (WPS)
Political Geography:
Global Focus

471. Shocks & Shifts: Impact of Major Donor Funding Cuts on LGBTI Intermediary Infrastructure – Summary Report

Author:
Global Philanthropy Project (GPP)
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Global Philanthropy Project (GPP)
Abstract:
Global LGBTI intermediary funders—key organizations that channel resources, strengthen local movements, and sustain essential infrastructure—are facing a period of acute instability. In July 2025, GPP surveyed 29 of the leading LGBTI intermediary funders. Their responses, combined with trends from the 2021–2022 Global Resources Report, reveal the profound and immediate effects of major donor withdrawals, particularly the rapid elimination of U.S. Government support. In the last Global Resources Report (for years 2021–2022), the 29 participating intermediary funders accounted for more than half (54%) of the number of grants awarded for work focused on LGBTI communities in the Global South and East (GSE). Given this, the key findings in this report map the tectonic shifts in ODA and philanthropy that are influencing the global LGBTI funding ecosystem. This report is a snapshot in time and provides the clearest picture yet of what intermediaries are experiencing in 2025, based on self-reported data. Through a range of upcoming research, GPP will continue to monitor and update on the shifting of the LGBTI funding landscape.
Topic:
Infrastructure, LGBT+, Donors, Funding, and Instability
Political Geography:
Global Focus

472. The Role of the Private Sector in Advancing Women, Peace and Security

Author:
Our Secure Future
Publication Date:
05-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Our Secure Future
Abstract:
This policy brief examines the vital importance of the private sector's engagement with the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Exploring the intersection of WPS and the private sector, this publication highlights policy frameworks for private sector engagement, women’s contributions to economic development, and the potential to achieve a greater global GDP when women fully participate in their nations' economies. The brief examines lessons learned and best practices for private sector participation and provides recommendations for private institutions on how to effectively collaborate with governments, civil society, and international organizations on an operational and strategic level to advance WPS.
Topic:
Economy, Private Sector, Participation, Women, Peace, and and Security (WPS)
Political Geography:
Global Focus

473. A Global Policy Perspective on Offensive Cyberspace Operations

Author:
Gazmend Huskaj
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP)
Abstract:
Over the past decade, offensive cyberspace operations have expanded rapidly and reshaped international security. Once limited to a few major powers, currently dozens of states and some non-state actors possess these capabilities, reflecting the normalisation of cyberspace offensive capacity across the international system. This diffusion erodes the boundary between peace and conflict and complicates deterrence by introducing ambiguity, shortened decision cycles, and a higher risk of miscalculation. At a time of increasing geopolitical competition, understanding how to manage the global spread of offensive cyberspace capabilities is vital to sustaining strategic stability and preventing the escalation of cyberspace-related crises. This policy brief therefore asks how states can reduce the risks of miscalculation and escalation while preserving stability and international norms in cyberspace. It argues that stability can be strengthened through greater transparency, stronger legal and normative frameworks, and practical multistakeholder cooperation. The brief proceeds by tracing the diffusion of offensive cyberspace operations, analysing escalation dynamics, examining policy and legal gaps, and concluding with recommendations for global cooperation.
Topic:
Defense Policy, Geopolitics, Norms, Strategic Competition, and Cyberspace
Political Geography:
Global Focus

474. Under-utilised Plants as Future Food – Transforming Food Systems to Enhance Food Security

Author:
Paul Teng
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Commentary and Analysis
Institution:
Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
Abstract:
Under-utilised plants have great potential to be the “future food” that transforms food systems to make them more resilient to climate change and supply chain disruptions. What would it take to mainstream them?
Topic:
Climate Change, Food Security, Supply Chains, and Food Systems
Political Geography:
Asia, Southeast Asia, and Global Focus

475. Disinformation Actors Already Targeting AI

Author:
Tomasz Wójtowicz
Publication Date:
06-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM)
Abstract:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is already widely used by spreaders of disinformation. While initially the greatest concern was the use of deepfakes, a growing threat is the manipulation of generative AI models, including by tampering with the datasets on which they are trained to get them to publish false or misleading content. Key to building resilience is securing datasets, strengthening moderation, and adapting EU and national regulations to new challenges.
Topic:
European Union, Artificial Intelligence, Resilience, Disinformation, and Generative Models
Political Geography:
Europe and Global Focus

476. Transparency portals in development cooperation: more effectiveness and better communication?

Author:
Heiner Janus and Tim Röthel
Publication Date:
01-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:
Transparency portals in development cooperation serve two main functions: accountability to a specialist audience and communication with the wider public. In this policy brief, we conduct an international comparison to demonstrate how transparency portals could better fulfill these requirements. As part of a broader effectiveness agenda, donors are pursuing the goal of greater transparency. In line with this international agenda, transparency is intended to promote learning and improve predictability for partner countries, as well as combatting corruption and fulfilling accountability requirements. Taken together, these factors can contribute to greater development effectiveness. Donors also hope that their work will receive greater public support. By providing detailed information, experts will be better able to assess the quality of development projects. The aim is to initiate a process of learning and improvement, and to convince the general public that taxpayers' money is being used effectively. Citizens can use the portals to understand project content and develop their own views. However, current debates suggest a more complex dynamic. The “Bike Lanes in Peru” project caused a scandal in Germany. Against the backdrop of the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), individual projects became politicized. Accordingly, transparency portals can also have unintended consequences. For example, information can be taken out of context, leading to misunderstandings and legitimate criticism of individual projects going unanswered. Donors can mitigate these negative effects by redesigning transparency portals. In times of declining approval ratings and cuts to development budgets, they should use the portals to communicate in a targeted manner and demonstrate a greater willingness to engage in honest debate. The following recommendations could help with this: • Even greater transparency of impact data: Although progress is being made in transparent reporting on project content and financial data, detailed project data on impact measurement and results, as set out in logical frameworks (logframes), is lacking. Increasing transparency in this area could improve development effectiveness. • Additional investment in communication: Information that is provided in accordance with internationally comparable standards must be translated for a lay audience. In many donor countries, a large proportion of the population has no fixed positive or negative attitude towards development cooperation. Targeted, group-oriented communication should appeal to these people more directly. • Openness to criticism and discourse: Development policy actors often resist critical examination of their work in public debate. They tend to respond defensively to criticism, whether general or specific. However, informed discussions based on project data from the portals offer an opportunity to openly discuss ineffective projects and, if necessary, replace them with effective ones.
Topic:
Development, International Cooperation, and Transparency
Political Geography:
Global Focus

477. Social acceptance of social transfer policies: the role of climate vulnerabilities and policy design

Author:
Stefanie Roost
Publication Date:
01-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:
This paper examines how citizens in a large middle-income country evaluate the design of cash transfer programs, and whether these preferences shift when vulnerability is framed as climate-induced. Using a pre-registered online survey in Brazil, we combined a multi-attribute conjoint experiment with a climate information treatment. Respondents evaluated programs varying in benefit level, eligibility, conditionalities, implementing actor, payment schedule and financing. Support depends strongly on perceived fairness and financing choices. Expanding eligibility from extreme poverty to poverty substantially increases approval, while further expansion yields no additional gains. Conditionalities (in particular, empowering ones, such as financial training or health check-ups) increase support, whereas work requirements have heterogeneous effects across different social groups. Financing through personal income tax or cuts to existing programs enjoys lower levels of approval, while corporate taxation and subsidy reductions are more acceptable. Climate information modestly increases solidarity attitudes but does not eliminate underlying ideological divides. This study highlights how citizens update not only the extent but also the preferred form of redistribution under climate stress.
Topic:
Climate Change, Development, Poverty, and Cash Transfers
Political Geography:
Brazil, South America, and Global Focus

478. Can official development assistance be saved? The general reduction in funding means that we need to redefine our objectives

Author:
Louis Caudron
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Robert Schuman Foundation (RSF)
Abstract:
Official development assistance (ODA) is in trouble. It is in crisis. In the United States, Donald Trump decided, one month after returning to the White House, to abolish the USAID programme, which managed US ODA amounting to $64 billion in 2023. While the European Union and its Member States remain the main providers of official development assistance worldwide, the European Commission is planning to reduce the funds allocated to the least developed countries by 35% for the period 2025-2027, compared to the period 2021-2024. There is no indication that the situation will improve in the new multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034 currently being prepared. A large proportion of these funds has been redirected to Ukraine over the past three years. Some Member States, such as the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and Sweden, have also reduced their budgets for this aid. In France, President Emmanuel Macron, who had pledged in 2017 to increase it to 0.55% of GDP, has allowed his budget to be cut by a third in 2025. More than forty years ago, all countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) committed to devoting 0.7% of their GDP to official development assistance. At the time, this was seen as a duty of solidarity and a means of reducing the gap between developed and developing countries. Only a few countries have honoured the 0.7% of GDP commitment, but donors were at least trying to maintain their aid. Recent cuts show that they no longer believe in it. The most worrying thing is that these cuts in funding are hardly provoking any response from public opinion. Perceived as a simple ‘gift’ to developing countries, official development assistance has now been relegated to second place behind new or more urgent funding priorities such as European defence, innovation and climate transition. This indifference could be fatal for official development assistance, while its abolition would seriously damage our relations with the rest of the world. This is particularly true of our relations with Africa, which are so important for our future.
Topic:
Public Opinion, OECD, Development Assistance, and Funding Cuts
Political Geography:
Global Focus

479. Online Leisure Activity and Digital Platforms in an Open Economy

Author:
Jiheum Yeon and Xiaohan Zhang
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
Abstract:
Digital platforms have become central to modern economies, as consumers increasingly spend leisure time online and platform firms transform user engagement into economic value. This study develops a multi-country, multi-industry open economy general equilibrium model to analyze how web traffic—measured as visits to platform domains—can be converted into “data capital” through big data and AI algorithms and then used as a non-rival input for production and innovation. To ground the analysis, we construct a new dataset that links domain-level web traffic to corporate ownership across countries. The evidence reveals sharp cross country differences in the geographic origin of users. U.S. platforms attract a strongly international audience, with domestic users accounting for less than one-third of visits on average. Chinese platforms are more domestically concentrated, though TikTok stands out as a global exception with a highly international user base. Korean platforms, by contrast, rely overwhelmingly on domestic users, with less than ten percent of traffic originating abroad. Comparing these patterns with international service trade statistics, we find that countries with higher shares of foreign users are systematically more active in exporting online services. Qualitative analysis provides further insight into user behavior. Consumers allocate more time to a platform when they experience greater content satisfaction, which depends on both technological quality and country-specific content preferences. When the quality of foreign platform content improves, consumers reallocate time away from domestic platforms toward foreign ones. The extent of this shift is influenced by the elasticity of leisure demand, the substitutability across platforms, and the share of time already devoted to foreign platforms. The general equilibrium model allows us to simulate counterfactual scenarios and evaluate policy-relevant outcomes. Reducing cross-border frictions to foreign content raises welfare in all countries, primarily through the expansion of content variety and the reallocation of consumer time, while leaving the broader industrial structure largely unchanged. Lowering barriers faced by foreign platforms, such as discriminatory digital services taxes, increases platform revenues, encourages consumers to spend more leisure time online, and strengthens investment incentives for domestic platforms. Although the immediate welfare gains are modest, the longer-run effects on intangible investment and innovation are more significant. Enhancing the productivity of platform R&D generates asymmetric effects by expanding platform activity in the innovating country and reducing it in the non innovating country, yet global welfare increases because users everywhere benefit from improved content quality and diversity. Taken together, the findings highlight that the accumulation of web-traffic-based data capital is a central driver of platform growth. Policies that improve access to foreign content, the taxation of digital services, and foster innovation in platform R&D directly influence how consumer time is allocated and how platform firms invest in data-driven growth. For policymakers, the results suggest that lowering barriers to cross-border online activity can deliver substantial welfare gains, that digital taxation should be carefully designed to balance fiscal and innovation objectives, and that investment in platform R&D is essential for competitiveness in the global digital economy. In sum, this study demonstrates that digital platforms thrive not only on technological progress but also on the ability to accumulate and deploy data capital derived from web traffic. Recognizing the economic role of data capital is crucial for designing effective policies in the digital era, where market access, taxation, and innovation shape the international competitiveness of platform industries.
Topic:
Economy, Leisure, and Digital Platforms
Political Geography:
Global Focus

480. Trade and Growth with Digital Data

Author:
Kyu Yub Lee
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
Abstract:
This paper introduces a newly developed model that examines the interplay between trade, growth, and digital data, emphasizing data’s dual role as both a driver of growth and a source of privacy concerns. Departing from existing trade and growth models that have largely overlooked digital data’s unique characteristics, this paper provides the first comprehensive analysis of how data influences growth through data flows and knowledge diffusion, while simultaneously introducing associated privacy trade-offs. A key novelty of this model lies in its clear distinction between digital data and traditional “ideas.” Both concepts share the characteristics of non-rivalry and stocklike accumulation, meaning they are cumulative and can be used by multiple entities with negligible additional cost. However, ideas are generally understood to produce only positive externalities, whereas digital data uniquely generates both positive and negative externalities simultaneously, including privacy and cybersecurity concerns for consumers. The model is built within a dynamic general equilibrium framework that incorporates international trade and endogenous technological change, extending the work of Rivera-Batiz and Romer (1991) by integrating the evolution of digital data. Consumption activities, both domestic and a portion of foreign consumption, actively contribute to a country’s evolving data stock. This generated data then acts as a negative externality in the utility function of privacy-conscious consumers, reducing their welfare, even as it serves as a primary input for the R&D sector, fueling the growth engine. Key findings from this new model highlight significant impacts: First, (economic growth) the model shows that unrestricted cross-border data flows are a significant stimulant for economic growth. This positive effect is further magnified by stronger knowledge spillovers and an increased number of trading partners. Conversely, stricter restrictions on data flows directly impede economic growth. The paper notes that trade liberalization alone, without the diffusion of ideas or data flows, only generates a level effect and does not affect long-term economic growth. Second, (trade-off with individual welfare) another central finding is the inherent trade-off between economic growth and individual welfare. While open data flows promote economic expansion, they simultaneously intensify privacy concerns, leading to a reduction in individual welfare. This conflict is particularly pronounced in scenarios with limited or inefficient knowledge diffusion. Conversely, the model indicates that stricter data regulations, while hindering growth, can enhance individual welfare by mitigating these privacy risks. To navigate the identified trade-off between growth and privacy, the paper advocates against data localization and strongly supports the implementation of deep digital trade agreements. These agreements are proposed as crucial mechanisms to facilitate freer data flows and knowledge sharing, thereby mitigating the inherent conflict and unlocking the full potential of the digital economy.
Topic:
Development, International Trade and Finance, Economic Growth, and Digital Trade
Political Geography:
Global Focus

481. Using Peace Operations to Help Prevent Mass Atrocities: Results from Interviews with Experienced Practitioners

Author:
Tallan Donine, Mohammad Khan, Ashleigh Landau, Daniel Solomon, and Lawerence Woocher
Publication Date:
05-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Abstract:
As part of our “Lessons Learned in Preventing and Responding to Mass Atrocities” project, the Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide conducted semi-structured interviews with individuals who have substantial experience working on peace operations in the US government, offices at UN headquarters in New York, in peacekeeping missions, and in UN field offices. Peace operations refer to missions of “military and/or civilian personnel deployed by one or more third-party states, frequently but not necessarily under the auspices of a global or regional organization” that deploy to mitigate hostilities, restore state authority, prevent the recurrence of civil war, and/or achieve humanitarian goals, including the protection of civilians.1 These interviews aimed to summarize experiential knowledge about the use of peace operations to help prevent mass atrocities, as a complement to our survey of the research literature. We interviewed 13 people, including officials with military or policy experience at the US Department of State, US Department of Defense, and several UN agencies, including the Office of the UN Secretary-General and Department of Peace Operations. Respondents had an average of 11 years of experience working on peace operations in the US government or at the United Nations and more than 5 years working on peace operations outside of these institutions. Collectively, participants with experience in the US government worked in every US presidential administration from George H.W. Bush through Joe Biden and in three US federal agencies. Participants with experience working in the United Nations worked under every SecretaryGeneral from Boutros Boutros-Ghali to António Guterres and in several UN departments and field missions
Topic:
United Nations, Peacekeeping, Interview, and Atrocity Prevention
Political Geography:
Global Focus

482. Generative AI, Mass Atrocities, and Atrocity Prevention

Author:
Brittain Heller
Publication Date:
04-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Abstract:
This white paper investigates the complex role of GAI in mass atrocities and atrocity prevention, exploring how advancements in these technologies may both prevent and exacerbate risks in conflict-prone environments. With the capability to create persuasive, synthetic content at scale, GAI presents dual possibilities: while it holds potential to support early warning systems, counter misinformation, and enhance crisis response, it also bears risks of misinformation, incitement, and the spread of exclusionary ideologies that can destabilize regions. This duality requires careful consideration of GAI’s potential to aid atrocity prevention versus its capacity to intensify conflict. The white paper offers a roadmap for stakeholders, focusing on several core themes: 1. GAI’S TECHNICAL BACKGROUND AND RISKS. An overview of GAI’s fundamental technology and its specific risks in atrocity contexts, including misinformation, manipulation, and incitement. 2. OPPORTUNITIES FOR PREVENTION. An overview of atrocities prevention theory and an exploration of GAI’s potential applications in early warning systems, public education, counter-messaging, and humanitarian response. 3. RESEARCH AGENDA. Proposals for future studies to further understand GAI’s impact on atrocity prevention and to inform best practices. 4. POLICY AND ETHICAL IMPLICATIONS. A discussion on the need for regulatory frameworks that support ethical GAI use in sensitive environments. Through a structured analysis, this paper provides insights to help policymakers, academics, and human rights practitioners navigate the complexities of GAI’s role in atrocity prevention, encouraging collaboration to ensure GAI is responsibly harnessed for global stability and human rights protection.
Topic:
Science and Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Atrocity Prevention, and Generative Models
Political Geography:
Global Focus

483. Birth Control and Growth: The Role of Culture

Author:
Minhyeon Jeong, Nam Seok Kim, and Wongi Kim
Publication Date:
08-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP)
Abstract:
This paper examines how culture influences the success of fertility-control policies. In the 1970s, many developing countries implemented birth-control measures grounded in the quality-quantity trade-off, yet their outcomes diverged, e.g., Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea achieved rapid fertility declines, while Pakistan, India, and Brazil did not. We propose that societal conformity—the degree to which individuals adhere to norms such as a government-endorsed ideal family size— determines how effectively policy incentives translate into behavior. Using a unified theoretical framework, we show that higher conformity amplifies the impact of birth-control policies on both reducing fertility and increasing investment in children’s education. Under empirically plausible conditions, this strengthened quality-quantity trade-off not only boosts short-run economic growth but also accelerates the shift from agriculture to manufacturing—measured by manufacturing’s employment share—even when manufacturing is more capital-intensive and benefits from human-capital-driven, labor-saving technologies. Finally, we validate these predictions with cross-country empirical evidence, underscoring the pivotal role of culture in shaping demographic change and economic development.
Topic:
Development, Culture, Economic Growth, Human Capital, Industry, and Birth Control
Political Geography:
Global Focus

484. Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) report 2025

Author:
Mike Pearson, Fran Girling-Morris, and Suzanna Nelson-Pollard
Publication Date:
06-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
The Global Humanitarian Assistance (GHA) report is the world-leading annual assessment of the state of international humanitarian financing. Produced by Development Initiatives for 25 years and now by the ALNAP Network, the GHA report provides a critical body of evidence to inform the sector about its financial size, how its finances are distributed, and what key trends require our focus if we want to protect and improve the funding response to crisis. Global humanitarian assistance is defined as the total international financial resources available for humanitarian action and comprises public funding from government donors alongside private funding from sources such as philanthropy and individual giving. The GHA Report 2025 sets out the scale and nature of disruption affecting humanitarian funding, providing a critical tool for navigating an unprecedented moment of political and economic change. Humanitarian action faces a “crisis of legitimacy, morale and funding”. Escalating geopolitical tensions, economic stagnation and rising debt mean the humanitarian responsibilities that once received wide support are being abandoned, as many countries prioritise security and competition over multilateralism and shared norms. Meanwhile, low- and middle-income countries seek equitable partnerships, rejecting outdated paternalistic models of aid, and crises fuelled by conflict, climate emergencies and economic instability continue unabated. Against this backdrop, the humanitarian sector has entered a period of high turmoil, with calls for a humanitarian reset and related reforms to respond to this moment with a new vision and approach.
Topic:
Finance, Donors, Philanthropy, and Humanitarian Assistance
Political Geography:
Global Focus

485. Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies into Common Operating Picture and Course of Action Development

Author:
C. Anthony Pfaff and Christopher John Hickey
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Book
Institution:
The Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College
Abstract:
Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Technologies into Common Operating Picture and Course of Action Development explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to revolutionize military planning processes by enhancing situational awareness and expediting course of action development within the Joint planning process. The study delves into technical, organizational, and resource considerations that are critical for AI integration. In addition, the study highlights the importance of clean, structured data in training AI systems, addresses challenges in data collection across varying formats and classifications, and emphasizes the need for AI-friendly infrastructure. By automating processes like common operational picture generation and leveraging AI for course of action analysis, military planners can achieve greater efficiency and decision-making speed. Furthermore, this publication underscores the challenges of ethical implementation, resource sustainability, and organizational adaptation, including upskilling personnel and integrating commercial vendors. Case studies, such as the Maven Smart System and STORMBREAKER, demonstrate AI’s ability to enhance data fusion, improve battlefield awareness, and streamline operational planning. This research provides a robust framework for overcoming barriers to AI adoption, enabling the US military to harness AI technologies for enhanced planning, decision making, and operational success.
Topic:
Security, Defense Policy, Science and Technology, Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, and Machine Learning
Political Geography:
Global Focus and United States of America

486. Adapting the OECD criteria for the evaluation of humanitarian action

Author:
ALNAP
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
This guide updates the ALNAP guide Evaluating humanitarian action using the OECD DAC criteria, first published in 2006 to help evaluation professionals better understand and apply evaluation criteria in humanitarian settings (ALNAP, 2006). While this edition retains the same seven evaluation criteria, we have updated, expanded and clarified the definitions to reflect changes in evaluation practice, shifts in the humanitarian system and feedback from evaluation practitioners. The updates also incorporate revisions made by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD DAC) in 2019 (OECD, 2019, 2021). This guide provides practical and accessible support on how to use and interpret the OECD evaluation criteria in EHA. It complements the OECD guidance on using evaluation criteria, in recognition of the multitude of ways of ‘doing’ evaluations. Primarily, it is intended for evaluators of humanitarian action and those involved in commissioning, designing and managing EHA. It is also a key resource for training courses on EHA. And it is a reference for humanitarian evaluation users, from practitioners to policy-makers.
Topic:
Development, OECD, and Humanitarian Assistance
Political Geography:
Global Focus

487. Explain: Artificial intelligence in the humanitarian sector

Author:
Linda Raftree and Quito Tsui
Publication Date:
05-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
ALNAP: Active Learning Network for Accountability and Performance
Abstract:
Hyped for its potential, generative AI promises faster analysis and better feedback in humanitarian response. But evidence of real impact is still thin. This Explain briefing explores what AI can - and can’t - do for the sector, unpacking risks like bias, privacy, and over-reliance, and outlines what humanitarians need to know before adopting it.
Topic:
Privacy, Artificial Intelligence, Bias, and Humanitarian Assistance
Political Geography:
Global Focus

488. Decentralization, Assets and Privacy in the Twenty-First Digital Century

Author:
Andreas Veneris
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:
This paper examines the evolving landscape of digital privacy, decentralization and digital assets in the twenty-first century. It explores the transformative impact of those technologies — driven by the exponential growth of semiconductors — in the past decades on the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and blockchain today. The analysis highlights how these advancements challenge traditional regulatory frameworks and reshape social, economic and governance structures both domestically and internationally. It emphasizes the rise of centralized digital oligarchies and the implications of decentralized finance and central bank digital currencies on financial stability, privacy and monetary sovereignty. The brief also provides a geopolitical perspective on privacy, security and digital assets by emphasizing the strategic role of cryptography. It concludes with policy recommendations for Canada and reflects on the need for a “Digital Bretton Woods” to ensure financial stability and social welfare in the digital age.
Topic:
Privacy, Decentralization, Assets, and Digital Technologies
Political Geography:
Canada, North America, and Global Focus

489. How Can Stablecoins Work in a Tariff World?

Author:
Sharat Chandra
Publication Date:
08-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:
As a growing number of countries face rising tariffs in 2025, stablecoins may be the answer to geoeconomic fragmentation by providing solutions that enhance trade efficiency in response to protectionist policies and regional alliances. While the United States leverages stablecoins to reinforce global US dollar dominance, rising tariffs and de-dollarization trends are boosting demand for gold and other non-dollar-denominated and commodity-backed stablecoins. This trend is especially prominent among BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) nations that are wary of US monetary policy. Euro-backed stablecoins are also gaining strength and, together with the digital euro, may pose a threat to US dollar hegemony.
Topic:
Digital Economy, Tariffs, Trade, Stablecoins, and Financial Governance
Political Geography:
Global Focus and United States of America

490. AI Governance and the Geopolitics of Extraction

Author:
Samantha Bradshaw and Kate Munro
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:
The infrastructure of artificial intelligence (AI) depends on critical minerals and rare earth elements, making their supply chains a central factor in national security, economic stability, and global technology competition and governance. Overreliance on supply chains characterized by limited geographic diversification exposes AI commercial and defence industries to trade disruptions, cyber sabotage and strategic leverage. Diversifying supply chains requires international cooperation that accounts for sustainability, labour standards and transparency to balance national security with environmental and human security concerns.
Topic:
Human Rights, National Security, Governance, Geopolitics, Artificial Intelligence, and Strategic Competition
Political Geography:
Global Focus

491. Platform Governance and the Political Economy of Global AI Regulation

Author:
Sabhanaz Rashid Diya
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:
The Centre for International Governance Innovation convened a virtual workshop last year, bringing together global experts across policy, media, academia and civil society. Through this discussion, the workshop aimed to inform current and future discourse on global AI governance, identifying best practices and regulatory gaps. This paper builds on key takeaways from the discussion on the intertwined nature of platform and AI governance with an emphasis on the need to introduce a multilevel rights framework, unpack inequalities in the global AI supply chain and address the lack of regulatory capacity in the Global Majority.
Topic:
Economy, Artificial Intelligence, Supply Chains, Digital Platforms, and Digital Governance
Political Geography:
Global Focus

492. The Quadripolar World: Understanding Twenty-First-Century Geopolitics

Author:
S. Yash Kalash
Publication Date:
06-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
Abstract:
The current geopolitical environment is defined by constantly changing dynamics among countries: long-standing partnerships are disintegrating while other alliances are strengthening. To better understand a world in flux, this special report presents the quadripolar geopolitical framework (QGF) in which four powers — the United States, China, India and Russia — serve as autonomous strategic poles. The framework seeks to capture the fluid, multidimensional nature of twenty-first-century geopolitics, where states simultaneously compete, cooperate and hedge across domains. Drawing on game theory, the QGF maps bilateral relationships across two axes: ideological alignment versus strategic autonomy, and systemic rivalry versus economic interdependence. Through case studies, the special report illustrates how contemporary power dynamics defy linear alliances and demand new interpretive tools.
Topic:
International Cooperation, Geopolitics, Economy, and Strategic Autonomy
Political Geography:
Russia, China, India, Global Focus, and United States of America

493. Revisiting Alexis de Tocqueville's Civil Society Concept from a PoliticalEconomic Perspective

Author:
Ali Erdem Başçoban
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
The Rest: Journal of Politics and Development
Institution:
Centre for Strategic Research and Analysis (CESRAN)
Abstract:
This study aims to re-examine the civil and political associations of Alexis de Tocqueville, who is seen as one of the founders of the concept of civil society in the modern sense. With a historical approach to Alexis de Tocqueville's conceptualization of civil society, it is claimed that there is a cleavage between his views on civil society then and civil society in the modern sense and by employing this historical perspective, the study aims to demonstrate the separation between political - civil associations and the state coincides with the distinction of the political and economic spheres. To make the paper's central argument clear, it is argued that the concept of civil society contributed to regulating the political sphere in the political-economic distinction created by capitalism. Through this regulation, it is claimed that the specific understanding of civil society was in harmony with the social conditions from which American capitalism emerged. The study argues that civil society cannot be seen as separate from the state, politics and economy by reading the civil society debates on the axis of Alexis de Tocqueville and capitalism.
Topic:
Civil Society, Economics, Politics, Capitalism, and Alexis de Tocqueville
Political Geography:
Global Focus

494. Child safety in faith communities: Moving from words to actions

Author:
Selina Palm
Publication Date:
01-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)
Abstract:
This learning brief forms part of SVRI’s Community of Practice on Faith and Gender-based violence. Its insights emerge from discussions with 30 participants within a newly designed three-month virtual course – Faith and Helping Children Thrive without Violence. This course was co-designed and piloted as a main activity of its 325-member working group from over 60 countries in 6 continents1 . It centres the lived experiences, stories and practice-based knowledge of selected working group members through structured learning dialogues in early 2025 between participants around 32 short audio-visual contributions which focused specifically on faith and violence against children, and which were provided by other working group members. This brief draws on their voices and insights from diverse faith traditions and countries around the world as well as offering access to videos (5-10 minutes each) from just four of the course contributors that formed the course backbone. Whilst many faith institutions are developing child safeguarding policies, practitioners insist that more work needs to be done to ensure these paper policies translate into practice through building a shared culture of safeguarding if faith institutions are to move from words alone to action.
Topic:
Children, Gender Based Violence, Faith, and Safeguarding
Political Geography:
Global Focus

495. Preventing violence early: Evidence from school-based programmes in low and middle-income countries

Author:
Cassandra Carels, Kelly Gemmell, Stefani du Tolt, Anushka Nair, and Yushra Dinnie
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Sexual Violence Research Initiative (SVRI)
Abstract:
This research brief, developed by a research team from the Institute for Life Course Health Research at Stellenbosch University, summarises the results of a systematic review and evidence gap map on school-based GBV prevention programmes in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). This will strengthen evidence-based policymaking around school-based prevention of GBV in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other LMICs.
Topic:
Development, Gender Based Violence, Policymaking, and Middle-Income Countries
Political Geography:
Global Focus

496. The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims with Khaled Beydoun (Episode 43)

Author:
Khaled A. Beydoun and Sahar Aziz
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Video
Institution:
Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:
Islamophobia functions as a transnational political strategy weaponized by both democratic and authoritarian regimes worldwide. The American War on Terror has served as a crucial catalyst, amplifying and connecting anti-Muslim campaigns across continents—from Europe and Asia to the Middle East and beyond. There are striking parallels between seemingly disparate anti-Muslim policies in different countries, exposing how these measures share common ideological foundations despite emerging from vastly different political systems. This comprehensive global perspective shifts understanding of Islamophobia from isolated incidents to a coordinated, worldwide phenomenon with profound implications for international relations, human rights, and Muslim communities. This episode explores the systematic targeting of Muslim populations across diverse geopolitical contexts, with an analysis of how Islamophobia manifests differently across cultural and political landscapes. In his dialogue with Professor Sahar Aziz, Khaled Beydoun unpacks the complex historical, legal, and social dimensions that have enabled anti-Muslim sentiment to become institutionalized in diverse societies. His examination goes beyond theoretical frameworks to reveal the lived experiences of Muslims facing discrimination, surveillance, and violence worldwide. His work challenges conventional understandings of religious freedom and state power while offering insights into resistance strategies emerging within affected communities. Join Sahar Aziz and Khaled Beydoun for a conversation about one of the most pressing human rights issues of our time, as they explore both the troubling scope of global Islamophobia and potential paths toward countering its influence.
Topic:
Genocide, Human Rights, Islamophobia, and Muslims
Political Geography:
Israel, Palestine, Gaza, and Global Focus

497. Securing America’s Critical Minerals Supply

Author:
Allan Bentley and Jonas Goldman
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Abstract:
U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has prioritized building a secure critical minerals supply chain to create economic prosperity and geopolitical leverage. This strategy centers on streamlined permitting, legislative support via the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and protective tariffs, including a planned 50 percent tariff on copper announced for summer 2025. However, a purely domestic approach will face severe constraints. First, the United States does not have the necessary critical minerals reserves in all cases. This creates fundamental limits to supply that cannot be resolved through domestic policy measures alone. While international agreements, such as the minerals deal with Ukraine, offer potential solutions, mining development requires long lead times, which makes these efforts inherently long-term projects. In addition, there is a tension between domestic mining goals and broader manufacturing competitiveness. Our analysis shows that even under the most optimistic scenarios, by 2035 U.S. domestic production would be able to meet projected demand only for zinc and molybdenum. Even a substantial domestic minerals boom would leave the country requiring substantial imports of copper, graphite, lithium, silver, nickel, and manganese to support industrial expansion and grid modernization. But greater minerals extraction is only half the picture, as a corresponding scaleup of U.S. smelting capacity would also be required. Current policy measures under the OBBBA provide mixed support. While the legislation allocates $2 billion for National Defense Stockpile purchases, $5 billion for the Industrial Base Fund, and $500 million for defense credit programs, it simultaneously phases out the Inflation Reduction Act’s permanent 10 percent production tax credit in 2034. These changes fail to address the structural weaknesses in U.S. mining competitiveness. This analysis identifies two critical pathways. First, a comprehensive domestic industrial strategy must address the entire mining ecosystem—from streamlined permitting and modern equipment to efficient logistics networks and processing economies of scale. Second, a coordinated friendshoring approach must leverage partnerships with allies and developing economies to diversify supply chains away from Chinese dominance. The United States must support value-added processing in these jurisdictions, so that all countries can benefit from a global mining diversification push. One specific policy mechanism is likely to prove crucial. Guaranteed price contracts with miners and processors—modeled on the recent MP Materials rare earths arrangement—could provide investment certainty through shared upside mechanisms rather than blanket import restrictions. Success requires strategically coordinated domestic and international efforts. Tariffs alone will fail. Innovation support, technology standards, and infrastructure development must be integrated in a comprehensive industrial strategy. A balanced approach that strengthens domestic capabilities while securing reliable international partnerships offers the best path toward critical minerals security that enables rather than constrains American manufacturing competitiveness.
Topic:
Development, Natural Resources, Mining, Supply Chains, Offshoring, Critical Minerals, and Onshoring
Political Geography:
North America, Global Focus, and United States of America

498. Leveraging the competencies of people and non-system entities during disaster and rescue operations

Author:
Robert Piec, Antoni Morawski, and Mateusz Banaś
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Nowa Polityka Wschodnia
Institution:
Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń
Abstract:
A disaster is an event that has a negative impact on people and the environment on such a scale that its effects cannot be controlled by the resources of the local community. Managing rescue operations during disasters and major accidents is a major challenge due to their complexity. A flexible and effective rescue system is essential to minimise the effects of a disaster. Based on considerations regarding the complexity of rescue systems, analyses of scientific articles, legal acts, documents of authorities responsible for crisis management and press reports, the research problem can be formulated as follows: whether or how the use of non-system competences during rescue operations will affect the effectiveness of the crisis management process when rescuing people or the environment. The Key Performance Indicators method was used to evaluate rescue operations. The analysis shows that non-systemic competences had a significant impact on improving the effectiveness of rescue operations, particularly in terms of response time and coordination. The greater the support from international experts, non-governmental organisations and technology, the better the results in terms of flexibility, safety and availability of resources.
Topic:
Security, Disaster Relief, Search and Rescue, and Resource Operations
Political Geography:
Global Focus

499. Discrimination spillovers, glass ceilings and pay gaps

Author:
Gianni De Fraja and József Sákovics
Publication Date:
07-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Nottingham Interdisciplinary Centre for Economic and Political Research (NICEP)
Abstract:
This paper is a theoretical analysis of the consequences of workplace discrimination. We prove that discrimination against a group at lower levels of the hierarchy affects the pay of members of the same group at higher levels, leading to a “pay gap” relative to non-discriminated workers. These spillovers in turn induce firms to alter the match between workers and jobs for the discriminated group, potentially leading to a “glass ceiling”. The phenomenon can occur even in firms where “equal pay for equal jobs” appears to be adhered to. The explanation is based on the standard participation and incentive constraints: the need to compensate workers for the direct discrimination they suffer, to induce them to work, and the need to maintain pay differentials between job levels, to provide effort incentives. We end the paper showing that neither competition among workers, nor competition among firms for workers eliminates these spillovers.
Topic:
Business, Discrimination, Glass Ceiling, and Competition
Political Geography:
Global Focus

500. Fault, Responsibility, and Justice: Ethical Solutions to Economic Losses in the Energy Transition

Author:
Preston Ferraiuolo, Mikhail Perminov, Kate Voltz, and Joyce Yang
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, Princeton University
Abstract:
The final brief widens the lens on climate policy by examining the ethical obligations owed to workers and communities disproportionately harmed by decarbonization. Drawing on distributive, recognition, and procedural justice, the authors develop a roadmap for equitable climate action that strengthens democratic legitimacy rather than eroding it.
Topic:
Climate Change, Economics, Democracy, Ethics, Legitimacy, and Energy Transition
Political Geography:
Global Focus