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3151. Drug Trafficking and the Homicide Epidemic in the Caribbean Basin

Author:
Brian Marein
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Cato Institute
Abstract:
Most of the highest homicide rates in the world are found in the Caribbean basin, a region that includes Central America, the islands of the Caribbean Sea, and the northern coast of South America. This region encompasses countries with the top 6 homicide rates in the world and 23 of the top 30, according to data from 2006 to 2021. In extreme cases, such as El Salvador, annual homicide rates have at times been comparable to the carnage of civil war. European overseas territories, American unincorporated territories, and independent republics, regardless of their income levels, are experiencing violence that has reached epidemic proportions. For comparison, the average homicide rate in the United States was 5.4 per 100,000 people between 2007 and 2021, while the median rate was 20.3 among Caribbean countries and territories.
Topic:
Crime, Public Health, Drug Trafficking, and Homicide
Political Geography:
Caribbean and Puerto Rico

3152. Immigration and Inequality in the Next Generation

Author:
Mark Borgschulte, Heepyung Cho, and Darren Lubotsky
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Cato Institute
Abstract:
The United States experienced historic levels of immigration during the latter part of the 20th century. A generation later, immigration remains one of the most contentious social, political, and economic issues in the United States. Scholars still disagree about the impact of immigration on the economy, inequality, and the many choices families must make. Some of the most foundational questions, such as the long-term effects of immigration on the modern economy, remain unanswered due to a lack of data. Given the declining birth rates and shrinking populations in the wealthiest parts of the world, determining the long-term effects of immigration on the receiving population will only become more important.
Topic:
Immigration, Inequality, Social Mobility, and Income
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

3153. The Effects of the 1942 Japanese Exclusion on US Agriculture

Author:
Peter Zhixian Lin and Giovanni Peri
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Cato Institute
Abstract:
The history of US agriculture from 1940 to the end of the 20th century is characterized by remarkable gains in productivity, increased specialization in high-value crops, and rapid technological advancements, particularly in mechanization and automation. These developments significantly reduced the need for manual labor in farming, accelerated the reallocation of workers from agriculture to industry and services, and contributed to substantial growth in income per capita.
Topic:
Agriculture, History, Economy, Displacement, and Farming
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

3154. Social Security and Trends in Wealth Inequality

Author:
Sylvain Catherine, Max Miller, and Natasha Sarin
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Cato Institute
Abstract:
Recent studies have shown that wealth inequality in the United States has risen in the past several decades. However, our research finds that when Social Security benefits are included, the wealth share of the top 1 percent rose from 22 percent in 1989 to slightly under 24 percent in 2019—a much smaller increase than conventional measures suggest. Wealth remains highly concentrated at the top, but not substantially more than in 1989.
Topic:
Economic Inequality, Social Security, and Wealth
Political Geography:
North America and United States of America

3155. Climate-Nature Synergies: From local to global

Author:
Igarapé Institute
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Igarapé Institute
Abstract:
Climate change and biodiversity loss are distinct phenomena, yet deeply interconnected, with mutual impacts. The Amazon Basin is a powerful example of this interdependence, increasingly threatened by deforestation and the direct effects of environmental degradation. The symbiotic relationship between the climate and biodiversity crises affects not only the Amazon but also other regions of the planet, revealing that their impacts — and, above all, their solutions — are inseparable. Addressing both crises requires integrated, coordinated, and systemic measures. It is in this context that the Climate–Nature Synergies Agenda emerges — an effort to promote greater coherence between actions to confront the climate crisis and protect biodiversity, ensuring ecosystem integrity, maximizing benefits, and minimizing trade-offs. This effort is, by definition, multilevel and multidimensional, aimed at protecting people, climate, and nature across different scales — from local to global. In Climate–Nature Synergies: From Local to Global, the Igarapé Institute draws on the Brazilian context and the Amazon Basin to explore the opportunities and challenges of fostering dialogue between the climate and nature agendas. The study maps ongoing programs and policies that already demonstrate integrated approaches to climate and biodiversity, both in Brazil and in other Amazon countries. By mapping these initiatives, we highlight the importance of strengthening synergies at multiple levels — national, regional, and global. We also show how existing efforts can catalyze new technical, political, and financial partnerships, enhancing the robustness of solutions being tested in Brazil and across the Amazon Basin, while promoting the exchange of experiences among Amazonian countries and across basins, amid a growing global mobilization for the conservation of tropical forests.
Topic:
Climate Change, Environment, International Cooperation, Governance, Conservation, Nature, Biodiversity, and Deforestation
Political Geography:
Brazil, South America, and Amazon Basin

3156. A Pacific Eyes intelligence-sharing agreement

Author:
Mihai Sora
Publication Date:
10-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:
The Pacific Islands face converging transnational and geopolitical threats that exceed the capacity of any single country to address. Organised crime, illegal fishing, cyberattacks, political instability, and climate shocks are compounding and being increasingly exploited by external powers, creating systemic vulnerabilities across the region. Existing intelligence exchanges are fragmented and inadequate to meet the scale of these challenges. Current bilateral channels and ad hoc networks leave critical blind spots in regional awareness, undermining the ability of Pacific Island governments, and Australia and New Zealand as principal partners, to anticipate and respond to “strategic surprises”. A dedicated intelligence-sharing framework — a “Pacific Eyes” agreement — would transform regional security cooperation. By embedding structured, continuous intelligence collaboration between Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Fiji, the initiative would build capacity, deepen trust, and lay the foundations for a resilient Pacific Islands security community.
Topic:
Regional Cooperation, Geopolitics, Regional Security, and Transnational Threats
Political Geography:
Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Pacific Islands

3157. How to scale up Australia’s investment in Pacific climate adaptation

Author:
Roland Rajah, Riley Duke, and Georgia Hammersley
Publication Date:
08-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:
Pacific Island countries are among the most climate vulnerable in the world and require substantial additional adaptation investment. It is in Australia’s interest to help meet this need. Australian investment in Pacific adaptation infrastructure is scaling up but has almost run out of concessional financing firepower. Directing more of Australia’s aid to this is smart development and smart diplomacy. Australia can fund this most effectively by reducing some of its current heavy use of technical advisers, shifting its aid to enable increased adaptation infrastructure investment, and linking this to partner country governance and reforms. Doing so could dramatically increase Australia’s adaptation infrastructure investment in the Pacific to almost half a billion dollars annually and form the basis for a major new initiative.
Topic:
Climate Change, Infrastructure, Investment, and Adaptation
Political Geography:
Australia and Pacific Islands

3158. Bougainville’s future: A roadmap for development

Author:
Oliver Nobetau
Publication Date:
09-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Lowy Institute for International Policy
Abstract:
The Bougainville Peace Agreement established a roadmap towards autonomy and independence. Now, a new agreement is needed to guide socio-economic development and redefine the relationship between the Autonomous Bougainville Government and the Papua New Guinea Government. The Autonomous Bougainville Government should consider establishing a special independent authority responsible for implementing development projects. Capacity-building must take place within the Bougainville Public Service. The Bougainville and PNG governments need to further prescribe the process for the transfer of powers to clarify their roles in the partnership.
Topic:
Development, Politics, Autonomy, and Independence
Political Geography:
Australia/Pacific, Papua New Guinea, and Bougainville

3159. African Transitions Tracker

Author:
Bobuin Jr. Valery and Gemandze Oben
Publication Date:
12-2025
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
Abstract:
Since the beginning of 2025, African political discourse has increasingly centred on militarism, especially among the youth and across diverse social media platforms. The reference point of conversation has been Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of the Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration, the military coalition that has been leading Burkina Faso since 2022. His popularity has risen considerably, helped by a surge in popular social media accounts reporting on numerous 'massive developmental projects' and 'rapid socio-economic transformation' under his guidance, amid other reports of the country attaining self-sufficiency and rejecting all foreign aid. However, these reports have mostly been false, and it is unclear what the motive for this recent surge is or where these reports originate. Nonetheless, be they disinformation or misinformation, they highlight the impact of social media in changing public perceptions about military governments, with many African youth hoping for the continuity of the post-2022 governance transition and the spread of militarism. These sentiments reflect the gradual decline of democracy as the favoured model of governance. In a similar vein, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formally withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) as they officialised their confederation, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Significant developments were recently witnessed in Gabon, which ended its governance transition following recent military takeovers by holding presidential elections on 12 April 2025, ushering in a new civilian government. Transition leader General Brice Oligui Nguema secured an overwhelming victory with an absolute majority of the votes. The elections came at a time when some states under transition governments like Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali continue to postpone elections. Meanwhile, Sudan's civil war rages on amid a worsening humanitarian crisis that has seen nearly 13 million people displaced and 24.6 million people (which is almost half of the country's population) without enough food. This is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. In neighbouring South Sudan, tensions have been rising following the arrest of Vice President Riek Machar as ordered by President Salva Kiir Mayardit. The official response was that the arrest was made to stall attacks on government infrastructure and to safeguard the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS).
Topic:
Civil War, Politics, Governance, Coup, Humanitarian Crisis, and Political Transition
Political Geography:
Africa, Sudan, Mali, South Sudan, Niger, Gabon, and Burkina Faso

3160. Active Public Participation: The Key to Effective Climate Action at the Municipal Level

Author:
Jasmina Brankovic
Publication Date:
11-2025
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
Abstract:
The people most affected by climate change are the ones who best understand the problems they face. They see solutions that experts living outside their communities might not – what will work, what will not, and why. At the municipal level, affected communities are essential to developing effective policies and actions to deal with climate impacts. Their active participation in mapping the local situation and designing, planning, implementing and monitoring the response leads to more effective climate action. This brief recommends structures and procedures that municipal councils and administrations can adopt to ensure a participatory approach to climate change responses in South Africa. They include, among others, collaborative assessments, establishment of representative advisory councils and community-based committees, participatory design and budgeting, and capacity building measures. Municipalities that ensure active participation can benefit not only from the expertise of local communities but also from their increased buy-in and support.
Topic:
Climate Change, Municipalities, and Public Participation
Political Geography:
Global Focus