Publication Year: within 1 Year and within 25 Years

2651. Bridges and Tunnels of Ukrainian Oblasts: Sacred Symbols in the Story of a Failing War

Author:: Michael Vlahos
Publication Date:: 03-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Brown Journal of World Affairs
Institution:: Brown Journal of World Affairs
Abstract:: In war, the story seems as important as the actual fight itself.1 Does a trium- phal war narrative not sustain and renew faith in ultimate victory? Hence, a war’s story is as integral as combat action to the path of victory. Yet military strategy, at its bloody heart, can only be about the defeat, if not the total destruction, of the enemy forces. No narrative can replace what is decided by force of arms, a brutal bottom-line forgotten by the regime in Kyiv, its Wash- ington handlers, and a gaggle of Alliance acolytes. In the Ukraine War, the “Democracies” confused story with strategy, where a reified narrative came to define the NATO proxy war against Russia. Narrative then came to drive the very course of operations. Yet, the Ukraine War did originally have concrete objectives, crafted by Washington in 2014. As President Biden blurted out in a speech at the Royal Castle in Warsaw on 26 March 2022, foremost among them was the over- throw of President Putin and the debilitation of Russia as a great power.2 Sotto Voce, a proxy war with Russia would also reassert the American overlordship in Europe. The European Union, frightened by war and unable to defend itself, would be forever dependent on U.S. power. Furthermore, knee-capping Russian gas (Nord Stream) would force EU states to plead for U.S. LNG (liq- uefied natural gas), which would send an imperious, if not wickedly satisfy- ing, warning to China: Do not mess with the United States in East Asia! Even with Ukraine as NATO proxy, provoking a war with Russia over nakedly venal great power objectives would not sit well with U.S. and Euro- pean electorates. Righteous and democratically minded peoples, however, are highly susceptible to primordial narratives of good and evil. They were thus easily ensnared and then enchanted by a story from the Washington imperial court: a frame-for-frame rerun of the 1930s, only with Russia as the Nazis. Evil again had risen, so we must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine. Yet, how could they secure total commitment to such a war?
Topic:: NATO, Infrastructure, Regional Security, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:: Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

2652. The Fight Against Tax Havens, Bank Secrecy, and Base Erosion: Adaptation and Evolution of the Swiss System

Author:: Jacques Pitteloud and Xavier Oberson
Publication Date:: 03-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Brown Journal of World Affairs
Institution:: Brown Journal of World Affairs
Abstract:: For decades, the Swiss international tax policy regarding the exchange of information has been governed by strict rules that uphold banking secrecy. In a nutshell, tax authorities could not have direct access to the bank’s figures of account holders unless a criminal tax case was at stake. International exchange of information in tax matters was only possible to claim the benefits of a double taxation convention (DTC)—under the so-called “limited interna- tional administrative assistance” rule. Beginning in the 2000s, the situation started to evolve dramatically, so that Switzerland had to drastically modify its policy. Two decades later, it appears that Switzerland has totally adapted its legislation and international tax policy, both in favor of transparency and to address the concerns of “base erosion and profits shifting” (BEPS) of “multi-national enterprises” (MNE). Switzerland is nowadays actively participating in all major international forums, such as the OECD, the Inclusive Frame- work, the United Nations (UN), and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to continue adapting its legal system in accordance with accepted standards. Despite this paradigm shift, it seems that this situation has not been fairly ap- praised everywhere in the world. The purpose of this article is thus both to respond to some of the criti- cisms that are often still heard, to try to analyze and describe the evolution of the Swiss system in favor of global tax transparency, and to address BEPS concerns of MNE. We believe that the importance of the efforts, develop- ments, and works accomplished by Switzerland, sometimes in emergency, but always under sound constitutional and democratic processes, deserve a fair and balanced perspective.
Topic:: Multinational Corporations, Tax Systems, Banking, and Tax Havens
Political Geography:: Europe, Switzerland, and Global Focus

2653. Neglected Tropical Diseases: Success in Achieving Development Gains for the Poorest

Author:: David Molyneux, Simon Bush, Phillip Downs, and Sarah Bartlett
Publication Date:: 03-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Brown Journal of World Affairs
Institution:: Brown Journal of World Affairs
Abstract:: Neglected tropical diseases are a group of diseases that share common features despite having varied causes for their resulting clinical conditions. They affect one to two billion individuals worldwide, exacerbating existing societal ineq- uities by primarily affecting impoverished and politically marginalized groups in tropical and sub-tropical regions.2 These diseases lead to stigma, disability, and social isolation that make accessing appropriate healthcare, including mental health treatment, increasingly difficult. Advocacy efforts concerning the impact of NTDs on populations and the economic benefits of interventions have led to their inclusion in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). NTD interventions have well-defined economic rates of return, due to effective partnerships, proven successes, and generous pharmaceutical donations.3 While research on NTDs remains limited, effective strategies exist for their control, mitigation, or eradication—if prioritized by governments and donors. This essay aims to raise awareness of NTDs among policymakers, em- phasizing their significant yet overlooked impact on global health policy, as well as the successes and challenges of NTD programs thus far. It details the effective and sustained collaboration between endemic countries, bilateral and philanthropic donors, international organizations, non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs), pharmaceutical donors, and academic institutions. Most importantly it argues for the importance of investing in NTDs within the context of poverty alleviation and development.
Topic:: Public Health, Policymaking, Sustainable Development, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTD)
Political Geography:: Global Focus

2654. 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

2655. Economía azul ante el reto demográfico y de género (ECALRED)

Author:: Asunción Bernárdez, Álvaro Berrocosa, María Gálvez del Castillo, Dina Garzón, and Jesús Marcos Gamero
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: Este informe de la Fundación Alternativas centra su análisis en la intersección crítica de la economía azul con el reto demográfico y la perspectiva de género en España. A lo largo de sus capítulos, se examina el alcance e impacto de las transformaciones demográficas –envejecimiento, despoblación rural, dinámicas costeras y sus efectos diferenciados por género– y su interrelación con la crisis climática. Se exploran las estrategias y modelos innovadores que la economía azul ofrece como vector para un desarrollo sostenible, la revitalización comunitaria y la generación de empleo inclusivo y de calidad, desde la pesca y el turismo hasta las energías marinas y la biotecnología, subrayando la necesidad de que su implementación se base en la innovación tecnológica, la sostenibilidad ambiental, la justicia social y una igualdad de género efectiva. El informe identifica como aspectos clave para el éxito de estas estrategias la necesidad de una acción coordinada y multifocal. Esto requiere potenciar una digitalización inclusiva, invertir en formación que responda a las nuevas realidades productivas de la economía azul y promueva la igualdad de oportunidades, y fomentar un marco de gobernanza adaptativo, participativo y con sensibilidad de género. Se destaca el rol del liderazgo femenino como catalizador de innovación y cohesión en este ámbito y la urgencia de integrar la sostenibilidad ambiental en todas las políticas. En conjunto, se aboga por un nuevo pacto territorial y social que, reconociendo el papel central de la economía azul y la superación de las brechas de género, garantice la equidad y la calidad de vida en toda España.
Topic:: Climate Change, Demographics, Crisis Management, and Blue Economy
Political Geography:: Europe and Spain

2656. Responsabilidad y coordinación en la implementación de la RAP en España

Author:: Ricardo Luis Izquierdo, Julio López Rubio, Alodia Pérez, Ignacio Aguilar, and Rubén Esteban
Publication Date:: 07-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: La Responsabilidad Ampliada del Productor (RAP) representa un pilar fundamental en la gestión moderna de residuos y en la transición hacia una economía circular. Este concepto traslada la responsabilidad de la gestión de los productos al final de su vida útil desde las administraciones públicas y los consumidores hacia los propios fabricantes y distribuidores. La idea central es que los productores deben asumir un papel activo en la gestión de los residuos que generan, lo que incentiva el diseño de productos más duraderos, reutilizables y reciclables, así como la implementación de sistemas eficientes de recolección y reciclaje. Este enfoque no es meramente una modificación regulatoria; se trata de una reconceptualización profunda de la actividad económica. Al fomentar el ecodiseño y la reducción de residuos en vertederos, la RAP impulsa un modelo de economía circular, distanciándose del tradicional modelo lineal de «tomar-hacer-desechar». Esta transformación sistémica implica que las consideraciones ambientales se integran desde las primeras etapas del diseño del producto, pasando de soluciones de «fin de tubería» a un pensamiento de ciclo de vida completo. La RAP no solo minimiza la generación de residuos no aprovechables, sino que también estimula la innovación en técnicas de reciclaje y remanufactura, prácticas esenciales para la circularidad.
Topic:: Climate Change, Natural Resources, Economy, Sustainability, and Industry
Political Geography:: Europe and Spain

2657. Informe Iberoamérica 2025: IV Cumbre UE-CELAC en Colombia: retos y promesas

Author:: Maria Victoria Alvarez, Bruno Theodoro Luciano, César Niño, Vicente Palacio, and Lennys Rivera
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: La IVª cumbre Unión Europea-CELAC, que tendrá lugar en Santa Marta (Colombia), los días 9 y 10 de noviembre de 2025, dará continuidad al diálogo político de alto nivel que se recuperó con motivo de la IIIª cumbre celebrada en 2023, y que dejó atrás unas relaciones interregionales paralizadas en esta escala durante más de un lustro. Transcurridos poco más de dos años, la cumbre de 2025 se producirá tras un intenso ciclo electoral tanto en América Latina como en la UE, y tras profundos cambios en el orden internacional que abren interrogantes en torno a las implicaciones que tendrá para las propias relaciones euro-latinoamericanas y caribeñas. Para alimentar los debates previos a este encuentro entre sesenta mandatarios de ambas orillas del Atlántico, el Informe Iberoamérica 2025 de Fundación Alternativas aborda, a lo largo de sus siete capítulos, distintos ángulos (medio ambiente, seguridad, inversión, comercio, cooperación, diálogo político) de una relación birregional de carácter estratégico llamada a relanzarse.
Topic:: Climate Change, Elections, European Union, and Political Science
Political Geography:: Colombia, Latin America, and Spain

2658. Asean y la UE. Estrategias y oportunidades para Indonesia y España

Author:: Dayu Nirma Amurwanti and Alodia Pérez
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: Este documento analiza el potencial de fortalecer las relaciones entre la Unión Europea (UE) y la ASEAN, destacando el rol estratégico de España e Indonesia. Ambos bloques comparten valores como el multilateralismo y enfrentan desafíos comunes como el cambio climático, la tensión entre EE. UU. y China, y la necesidad de integración comercial. España e Indonesia, potencias marítimas y economías emergentes, pueden liderar iniciativas en defensa, comercio, digitalización, educación e innovación. Se propone revitalizar la cooperación bilateral, avanzar en nuevos acuerdos de defensa y vigilancia marítima. Además, se destaca la urgencia de concluir el Acuerdo de Asociación Económica UE-Indonesia, promoviendo el comercio y la inversión verde. En educación y cultura, se plantea intensificar los intercambios universitarios e investigaciones conjuntas. Finalmente, se sugiere elevar la relación bilateral a una Asociación Estratégica y fomentar una agenda común en foros multilaterales para un orden global más justo y cooperativo.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Climate Change, European Union, Geopolitics, Economy, Multilateralism, and Industry
Political Geography:: China, Europe, Asia, Spain, United States of America, and ASEAN

2659. Asean and the EU. Strategic opportunities for Indonesia and Spain

Author:: Dayu Nirma Amurwanti and Oviedo Pérez
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: This document analyzes the potential for strengthening relations between the European Union (EU) and ASEAN, highlighting the strategic role of Spain and Indonesia. Both blocs share values such as multilateralism and face common challenges, including climate change, tensions between the U.S. and China, and the need for trade integration. Spain and Indonesia, as maritime powers and emerging economies, can lead initiatives in defense, trade, digitalization, education, and innovation. The document proposes revitalizing bilateral cooperation and advancing new agreements in defense and maritime surveillance. It also emphasizes the urgency of concluding the EU-Indonesia Economic Partnership Agreement to promote trade and green investment. In the fields of education and culture, it suggests intensifying university exchanges and joint research. Finally, it recommends elevating the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership and promoting a shared agenda in multilateral forums for a more just and cooperative global order.
Topic:: Climate Change, Geopolitics, Economy, Multilateralism, Industry, ASEAN, and Strategic Partnerships
Political Geography:: Europe, Indonesia, Asia, Spain, Southeast Asia, and ASEAN

2660. Reconstrucción social y económica de Ucrania desde la perspectiva de la Europa Social

Author:: Zakhar Popovych and Vicente Palacio
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: Este documento de trabajo examina la reconstrucción social y económica de Ucrania desde la perspectiva de la Europa Social, en relación a las necesidades críticas derivadas de la guerra en curso y las aspiraciones de Ucrania de integrarse en la UE. El documento analiza la legislación ucraniana, los retos económicos y el impacto de la guerra en las estructuras sociales. Se destaca el potencial de Ucrania para alinearse con las normas de la UE, haciendo hincapié en los derechos laborales, el bienestar social y la modernización económica. Se analizan áreas clave como la reforma judicial, las normas del mercado laboral, la educación, la sanidad y los sistemas de protección social, en base a ejes como la justicia social, la solidaridad y el desarrollo sostenible. El documento pretende trazar las necesidades de Ucrania y facilitar su camino hacia la adhesión a la UE, subrayando la importancia de un componente social en el proceso de reconstrucción. Adicionalmente, se sugieren algunas vías posibles de apoyo por parte de España y la UE en esa tarea.
Topic:: Russia-Ukraine War, Reconstruction, Economy, Crisis Management, Human Rights, European Union, and Industry
Political Geography:: Europe, Russia, and Ukraine

2661. The Social and Economic Reconstruction of Ukraine from a Social Europe Perspective

Author:: Zakhar Popovych, Mykhailo Samsonenko, Oleksandr Skyba, Mariia Sokolova, and Oleksandr Kovalenko
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: This working paper examines the social and economic reconstruction of Ukraine from a Social Europe perspective. It addresses the critical needs arising from the ongoing war and Ukraine’s aspirations for EU integration. The document analyzes Ukrainian legislation, economic challenges, and the impact of war on social structures. It highlights the potential for Ukraine to align with EU standards, emphasizing labor rights, social welfare, and economic modernization. The paper explores the role of corruption, neoliberalism, and the window of opportunity created by the war for transformative change. It discusses Ukraine’s economic needs, international aid, and Spain’s commitment to post-war support. Key areas such as judicial reform, labor market standards, education, healthcare, and social protection systems are analyzed. The document aims to map Ukraine’s needs and facilitate its path to EU membership, stressing the importance of a social component in the reconstruction process.
Topic:: Foreign Aid, Reconstruction, European Union, Economy, Labor Rights, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:: Russia, Europe, Ukraine, and Spain

2662. Informe África 2025: África Occidental y Europa: Perspectivas

Author:: Saiba Bayo, Marta Summers, Beatriz de León, Jérôme Pigné, and El Hadj Djitteye
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:: La región de África Occidental se caracteriza por su gran complejidad por las numerosas realidades políticas, sociales y económicas que engloba. En los últimos años ha sufrido profundos cambios en sus dinámicas internas en las que destaca la salida de Mali, Níger y Burkina Faso de la Comunidad Económica de Estados de África Occidental (CEDEAO). Al mismo tiempo los países se enfrentan a desafíos comunes como el auge del yihadismo en la región o la migración, lo que implica adoptar estrategias multilaterales. En este ámbito, Europa y España tienen la oportunidad de jugar un papel clave y estrechar los lazos de colaboración con los Estados de la región.
Topic:: Climate Change, Human Rights, European Union, Geopolitics, Inequality, Economy, and Youth
Political Geography:: Africa, Europe, and West Africa

2663. From the Belt and Road to Make in India: A Comparative Assessment of Global Economic Engagement

Author:: Ferhat Çağrı Aras
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:: China and India have emerged as two of the most influential actors shaping contemporary debates on economic development, governance models, and global economic transformation. As leading emerging economies facing similar structural pressures yet pursuing markedly different development paths, their experiences provide valuable insights into alternative strategies of growth, regional development, and global economic integration. Within this context, this study aims to explore how China and India differ in their development strategies with particular attention to governance structures, regional development policies, and modes of global economic engagement. Drawing on a qualitative comparative research design, the analysis is based on document analysis and qualitative content analysis of official policy documents, development plans, and secondary academic sources. The comparative assessment is structured around three core criteria: governance and planning mechanisms, regional development strategies aimed at managing spatial inequalities, and approaches to global economic integration, with particular emphasis on Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Make in India program. Applying a consistent set of analytical dimensions to both cases allows for a systematic and conceptually balanced comparison. The findings suggest that China’s development strategy is shaped by a centralized, state-led governance model emphasizing long-term planning, large-scale infrastructure investment, and infrastructure-driven global engagement. In contrast, India’s development approach reflects a more decentralized and market-oriented model prioritizing regulatory reform, foreign direct investment, and partnership-based integration into global value chains. Rather than advancing normative evaluations, the study highlights how distinct governance logics produce different strengths and constraints under comparable global conditions. The article contributes to the literature on comparative development by offering a conceptually consistent analysis of China and India that moves beyond descriptive policy narratives. By linking governance structures to regional development strategies and global economic engagement, the study provides original insights into alternative development pathways among emerging economies in the Global South.
Topic:: Development, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Economic Engagement, and Global South
Political Geography:: China, South Asia, and India

2664. Neoclassical Geo-strategic Analysis of Türkiye’s Military Operations in Syria and Iraq Till Assad’s Fall

Author:: Kanan Ahmadzada and Ramazan Safa
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:: This article examines and evaluates the reasons, strategic logic, outcomes, and effectiveness of Türkiye's military operations in northern Syria and Iraq until Assad's fall in 2024 as part of its campaign against Kurdish militant factions, particularly the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Adopting a neoclassical geostrategic framework, paper treats environmental realities and elite perceptions of the threats and opportunities associated with them as central factors explaining elites' strategic decisions. In this way, it explores the evolution of Türkiye’s military confrontation with PKK and associated groups along with Justice and Development Party (JDP) elites' perceptions of threats and opportunities and ideological leanings of neo-Ottomanism and Turkish-Islamic nationalism. Relying on extensive examination of primary and secondary data, the article argues that Türkiye’s operations in Syria and Iraq are mainly a calculated response to an insecure border reality marked by the expansion of PKK, the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and regional instability amid the Arab Spring. Thus, it is argued that these operations are the results of a preventive strategic logic aimed at countering separatism and terrorism threats, under the imperative of "better now than later" in both Syria and Iraq.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Syrian War, Bashar al-Assad, PKK, Neo-Ottomanism, Preventive Measures, Military Operations, and Neoclassical Geostrategy
Political Geography:: Iraq, Turkey, Middle East, and Syria

2665. 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

2666. Iran and the Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Vision, Institutionalization, and Offensive Uses Against Israel and the West

Author:: Avi Davidi
Publication Date:: 12-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: The global artificial intelligence revolution has not escaped Iran’s notice. Despite heavy sanctions and an unprecedented economic crisis, Iran is working to develop advanced capabilities in the field and aims to achieve full independence, free of the whims of foreign actors. Public statements in recent years make clear that the Iranian regime understands the significance of this revolution and its implications for Tehran’s security, domestic, and foreign policy. * Alongside attempts to develop strategic capabilities in the field, Iranian offensive-cyber and influence actors[1] are already integrating AI into their operational toolkit to improve the quality of their attacks and operations. These indications may be an early harbinger of malicious Iranian use of AI capabilities and highlight the dangers that may be posed by the development of independent Iranian AI capabilities. This paper reviews the goals the Iranian regime has outlined in the AI domain, the malicious uses already underway, and additional advanced actions that Iran may undertake—or is already undertaking—against its adversaries in general and Israel in particular.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Sanctions, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Economic Crisis
Political Geography:: Iran, Middle East, and Israel

2667. 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

2668. 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

2669. Sulaymaniya conference on chemical weapons

Author:: Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
Abstract:: On 19 April 2025 the Iraq Pugwash Group organized a conference in Sulaymaniya to commemorate the use of chemical weapons against Kurdish Iraqis in 1988 and to discuss the present efforts to ban chemical weapons and their development both internationally and in the Middle East Region. The following report is prepared by Pugwash Council member Dr. Jean Pascal Zanders who participated.
Topic:: Arms Control and Proliferation, Kurds, and Chemical Weapons
Political Geography:: Iraq, Middle East, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), Halabja, and Sulaymaniya

2670. Iran’s Cryptocurrency Economy in Crisis: Financial Implications of Cyberattacks on the Nobitex Exchange

Author:: Avi Davidi
Publication Date:: 09-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: The Iranian regime is currently grappling with an unprecedented economic and energy crisis that is directly impacting its domestic, regional, and international policies. One of the clearest manifestations of this crisis is the severe damage inflicted on the financial system during the war with Israel—particularly in the sphere of cryptocurrencies. Cyberattacks targeted both central banks and Nobitex, Iran’s largest crypto exchange, from which approximately $90 million was stolen in a June 2025 cyberattack. As a result, crypto trading volume in Iran fell by about 70 percent in July 2025 compared to the previous year. In addition, Israeli and U.S. authorities have recently taken measures against Iranian financing infrastructures that rely on cryptocurrencies. In September 2025, Israel’s National Bureau for Counter-Terror Financing (NBCTF) announced the addresses of 187 USDT wallets it had identified as belonging to the IRGC.[1] Following the disclosure, the UK-based compliance firm Elliptic published an analysis showing that these wallets had received $1.5 billion in USDT. The analysis noted, however, that it could not determine whether the funds had in fact been used by the IRGC.[2] At the same time, the U.S. Treasury Department issued designations against a broad Iranian oil-export network that was evading American sanctions. This network employed a wide array of front companies operating in multiple countries to facilitate illicit trade in Iranian oil. According to the announcement, two Iranian nationals played a central role in the scheme by purchasing roughly $100 million worth of cryptocurrencies between 2023 and 2025 as payment to the Iranian government for oil. The network’s cryptocurrency fundraising activity was also used by the regime to transfer money to Hezbollah-linked entities, thereby contributing not only to sanctions evasion but also directly to the financing of terrorism.[3] This paper examines the consequences of the June 2025 cyberattack on Nobitex for Iran’s ability to rely on cryptocurrencies to preserve economic and social stability, as well as to facilitate strategic trade—including in security and military components—at a time of continued international sanctions. The developments in Iran’s crypto sector highlight its growing importance for the Iranian economy—both for those seeking to evade the international sanctions regime, including regime actors such as the IRGC and oil traders, and for ordinary citizens trying to preserve the value of their savings. At the same time, they underscore the vulnerabilities and problems inherent in relying on cryptocurrencies, as well as the importance of U.S. and Israeli efforts to address this system in order to prevent its illicit use by the regime and to undermine it.
Topic:: Cybersecurity, Economy, Cryptocurrencies, Economic Crisis, and Energy Crisis
Political Geography:: Iran, Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and United States of America

2671. From the “Iron Wall” to “Peace Through Strength”

Author:: Gabi Siboni and Erez Winner
Publication Date:: 07-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: Israel’s security doctrine must rest on Jabotinsky’s Iron Wall, alongside economic resilience, intelligence, and innovation—rejecting containment in favor of decisive action, aggressive enforcement, and a sustainable, long-term approach to national defense
Topic:: Security, Defense Policy, Intelligence, Economy, Innovation, and Resilience
Political Geography:: Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

2672. A Mediterranean Partnership: A Faded Idea Israel Should Put Back on Its Diplomatic Agenda

Author:: Eran Lerman
Publication Date:: 10-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: With Brussels reviving the Union for the Mediterranean, Israel cannot afford to stand aside; engagement is vital to prevent marginalization and secure its role in trade, energy, and security
Topic:: Security, Diplomacy, European Union, Partnerships, Trade, Marginalization, and Energy
Political Geography:: Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

2673. A Case of Multi-Dimensional Chess: The Power Game in Syria and the Role of Israel

Author:: Eran Lerman
Publication Date:: 05-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: Israel’s strategy in Syria requires a delicate balance: bolstering security, supporting allies, countering Turkish expansion, and exploiting shifting dynamics to weaken Hezbollah
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Syrian War, Hezbollah, and Regional Security
Political Geography:: Turkey, Middle East, Israel, Palestine, and Syria

2674. The Japan, China, Iran Triangle: Strategic Implications for Israel

Author:: Eyal Ben-Ari
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: As Japan balances between Iran and the West and China deepens its ties to Tehran, Israel faces a shifting landscape demanding new regional approaches
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, International Cooperation, and Strategic Competition
Political Geography:: Japan, China, Iran, Middle East, and Asia

2675. Qatar Positions Itself as Washington’s Preferred Mediator

Author:: Ariel Admoni
Publication Date:: 08-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: From Congo to Gaza, Doha positions itself as indispensable to U.S. policy, even as it sustains ties to terrorist organizations
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Terrorism, and Mediation
Political Geography:: Middle East, North America, Qatar, and United States of America

2676. The Tehran–Moscow–Beijing Triangle

Author:: Yaakov Lappin
Publication Date:: 11-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: The revisionist bloc reshaping global power balances—and the dangers it poses for Israel and the West.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Arms Control and Proliferation, Diplomacy, Sanctions, and Weapons
Political Geography:: Russia, China, Iran, Middle East, Israel, Asia, and Palestine

2677. Diplomacy Has Never Prevented Nuclear Proliferation

Author:: Emmanuel Navon
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
Abstract:: Contrary to European conventional wisdom, only the use—or threat—of force has stopped states from going nuclear
Topic:: Arms Control and Proliferation, Diplomacy, and Nuclear Weapons
Political Geography:: Europe

2678. 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

2679. Democracy at a Crossroads: How Americans View Trump’s First 100 Days in Office

Author:: PRRI Staff
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: PRRI: Public Religion Research Institute
Abstract:: Executive Summary Relatively few voters regret their decision in November; however, three in ten non-voters regret not turning out to vote last fall. Nearly all Americans who voted for Kamala Harris (95%) and Donald Trump (92%) are satisfied with their decision to vote or how they voted, as well as 85% of those who voted for another candidate. Thirty-one percent of non-voting Americans say they regret their decision not to vote, compared with 56% who say they are satisfied. Just around four in ten Americans (43%) approve of the job that Trump is doing as president. Roughly four in ten Americans (43%) approve of the job that Trump is doing as president, while a majority (54%) disapprove. White Christian groups are the most likely to approve of the job that Trump is doing as president, including three in four white evangelical Protestants (76%), compared with one-third or fewer of other religious Americans. While Trump gets slightly higher marks for his handling of immigration (48% of Americans approve), just four in ten approve of his handling of the economy (41%) and Russia’s war with Ukraine (40%). White Christian groups are significantly more likely than Christians of color, non-Christians, and unaffiliated Americans to approve of the job that Trump is doing handling immigration, including most white evangelical Protestants (78%), Latter-day Saints (65%), white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (64%), and white Catholics (63%). While just four in ten Americans have favorable views of Trump, fewer view either Vice President JD Vance or presidential advisor Elon Musk favorably. Four in ten Americans (40%) express favorable views of Trump, including 83% of Republicans, 35% of independents, and 8% of Democrats. White Americans, men, older generations, and those who do not have a four-year degree hold significantly more favorable views of Trump than non-white Americans, women, millennials, Gen Zers, and those who are college-educated. Roughly one-third of Americans have a favorable view of Vance (35%), compared with half of those who hold an unfavorable opinion (50%). Most Americans (58%) view Musk unfavorably. Musk holds less favorable views among Republicans than Trump, 71% vs. 83%. Americans are more likely to view Trump as a dangerous dictator than a strong leader restoring America’s greatness, although such views are polarized along partisan and religious lines. A majority of Americans agree that “President Trump is a dangerous dictator whose power should be limited before he destroys American democracy” (52%), compared with 44% who agree that “President Trump is a strong leader who should be given the power he needs to restore America’s greatness.” Most Democrats (87%) agree with the first statement, while most Republicans (81%) agree with the second statement. Around seven in ten Christian nationalism Adherents (73%) and Sympathizers (70%) view Trump as a strong leader who should be given the power to restore America’s greatness, compared with 46% of Christian nationalism Skeptics and just 15% of Rejecters. Among Americans who voted for Trump and regret their decision, 55% agree that Trump is a dangerous dictator; agreement that Trump is a dangerous dictator is even higher among non-voters who regret their decision not to vote (68%).
Topic:: Public Opinion, Authoritarianism, Democracy, Domestic Politics, Voting, and Donald Trump
Political Geography:: North America and United States of America

2680. 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

2681. 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

2682. 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

2683. 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

2684. Abortion Views Across All 50 States: Key Insights from PRRI’s 2024 American Values Atlas

Author:: PRRI Staff
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: PRRI: Public Religion Research Institute
Abstract:: In 2024, PRRI interviewed more than 22,000 adults as part of its American Values Atlas, offering a detailed analysis of Americans’ views on the legality of abortion. The report also explores the relationship between religiosity and abortion laws across states.
Topic:: Religion, Law, Public Opinion, Domestic Politics, and Abortion
Political Geography:: North America and United States of America

2685. A Tale of Three Rights? Understanding How Republicans Are Changing under Trump

Author:: Thibault Muzergues
Publication Date:: 04-2025
Content Type:: Commentary and Analysis
Institution:: Istituto Affari Internazionali
Abstract:: Donald Trump has reshaped the Republican Party – and more generally US conservatism – to an extent and in ways that were unthinkable in 2015, when he first emerged as a serious candidate for the presidential primaries. To understand that, we only have to get back to 2012, when the Republican consensus on issues like free trade and immigration was literally opposite to what it is now. Back then, the party supported free trade without reservations and recognised a need for (controlled) immigration. Meanwhile, the Bush family held significant sway, with Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida and son and brother of the last two Republican presidents, considered a frontrunner for the 2016 presidential nomination. Fast forward to the present, and the Republican Party has undergone a dramatic shift under Trump’s influence. Today, being pro-free trade or pro-immigration is almost unthinkable for a Republican candidate in any primary. In the same way, the foreign-policy outlook of the party has drastically changed: dominated by hawks and neo-conservatives in the past, it is now much more influenced by isolationist and inward-looking imperialist elements (those have always existed within the party, but had been marginal in the past, in particular during the George W. Bush years in the early 2000s). Much like it previously did with the Bush family, the party now aligns more closely with Trump’s vision and family influence – exemplified by the personal loyalty tests that are now required for any would-be candidate for office to subscribe to in order to have the president’s support. This is not to say that everything has changed. The Republican Party remains socially conservative, advocating for example anti-abortion policies and low direct taxes. Seen from this angle, the litmus test of what makes (or does not make) one a conservative has not changed. However, Trump has reshaped the party’s priorities and values in significant ways, and will continue to do so. The Republican Party that emerged from the 2024 elections is distinct from the one that lost in 2020 or won the trifecta – presidency, Senate and House – in 2016. To outsiders, especially Europeans, Trumpism may appear as a monolithic structure, an image Trump has sometimes reinforced. However, the US president’s success (and popularity) lies in managing a coalition of diverse interests and ideologies. Trump’s coalition includes disparate groups like tech entrepreneurs from Silicon Valley looking forward to a bright future and former steel workers in Youngstown Ohio, looking back with nostalgia to a past that they would like to re-create. Some members of this coalition are organising and seek to apply an ideological lens to Trump’s instincts, in order to define the future of Trumpism beyond the current presidency. It is therefore extremely important to understand how the current Trumpian coalition functions – if we then want to understand where it is headed. Currently, the coalition ruling the party can be divided into three main groups: MAGA-World, the tech-libertarians, and the Country-Club Republicans.
Topic:: Donald Trump, Political Parties, Domestic Policy, and Republican Party
Political Geography:: North America and United States of America

2686. China’s De-dollarisation Initiatives: Strategies and Constraints

Author:: Zongyuan Zoe Liu
Publication Date:: 08-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Istituto Affari Internazionali
Abstract:: A decade ago, renminbi internationalisation was a hot topic; today, it’s part of a broader, more strategic push toward de-dollarisation – accelerated by Western sanctions on Russia. While China’s efforts to globalise its currency began earlier, the risk of financial exclusion has intensified its urgency. Beijing’s approach is pragmatic and multi-pronged: it is deepening engagement with regional and non-Western partners developing renminbi-based infrastructure for cross-border payments, and leveraging its dominance in clean energy supply chains to promote renminbi pricing in key commodities. These strategies aim to enhance the renminbi’s role in trade and settlement while persistent structural factors – shallow capital markets and limited investor confidence – remain stumbling blocks for China’s currency becoming a global store of value. That may just be fine with Beijing, at least in the near to medium term. No evidence suggests China plans to dethrone the US dollar or replace the US dollar with the renminbi as the global dominant currency. China’s immediate goal is to insulate itself from financial sanctions in the dollar-based system. In a world where access to American banks and US dollar can be weaponised, China regards a functional alternative for cross-border settlement as a strategic necessity. With a trade-dependent economy and a leadership wary of volatility, China’s priority is currency stability, not supremacy.
Topic:: Political Economy, Governance, Currency, and Financial Services
Political Geography:: Russia, China, and Asia

2687. Austrian Hijab Ban Survey: What Muslim Women Think

Author:: Farid Hafez
Publication Date:: 10-2025
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
Abstract:: The Austrian Hijab Ban Survey sheds light on how Muslim women and girls in Austria view the government’s proposed legislation banning the hijab in schools up to the 8th grade. Conducted shortly after the bill’s announcement on 10 September 2025, the survey collected responses from almost 1,000 Muslim women in Austria, offering a rare insight into the voices most directly affected. The findings are striking: 93% of respondents oppose the ban. The results further challenge claims that the hijab negatively impacts education or personal development, with overwhelming majorities disputing such arguments. Also, Muslim women who do not wear the hijab expressed strong opposition to the law. Politically, most respondents supported the Social Democrats (SPÖ), despite the party’s participation in the coalition pushing the ban, while many also favored smaller parties, but clearly rejected the two most vocal parties supporting the bill, the Conservatives (ÖVP) and the Liberals (NEOS), polling with only 1 percent each. Overall, the survey highlights both the broad rejection of the hijab ban among Muslim women and the gap between political rhetoric and the lived experiences of Austria’s Muslim community.
Topic:: Women, Discrimination, Legislation, Survey, Muslims, and Hijab
Political Geography:: Australia

2688. The Italian Job: Navigating between the UK, the EU and Trump

Author:: Luca Cinciripini
Publication Date:: 05-2025
Content Type:: Commentary and Analysis
Institution:: Istituto Affari Internazionali
Abstract:: Amid the transatlantic rift in the first months of the second Trump administration, Italy and the United Kingdom are seeking to position themselves as ‘transatlantic bridges’, drawing either on long-standing alliances or ideological affinities, to keep channels of dialogue open on shared challenges. However, this balancing act carries significant risks, particularly for Italy. The UK, no longer bound by European Union membership, enjoys greater autonomy in its dealings with the United States, although it risks undermining efforts to reset its relationship with the EU. Rome’s more ambiguous positioning between Washington and Brussels, by contrast, could weaken the EU’s unity at the negotiating table, eroding the coherence of its external action and contributing to internal fragmentation. Ultimately, bilateral initiatives by London and Rome may well serve to reinforce transatlantic cohesion – or to deepen its divisions and weaken the foundations of the EU.
Topic:: International Relations, Foreign Policy, Bilateral Relations, European Union, and Transatlantic Relations
Political Geography:: United Kingdom, Europe, and Italy

2689. Can South Africa’s G20 Moment Consolidate Efforts on Just Mineral Supply Chains?

Author:: Margherita Bianchi
Publication Date:: 07-2025
Content Type:: Commentary and Analysis
Institution:: Istituto Affari Internazionali
Abstract:: To assert greater agency over its vast resources and critical minerals (CRMs) – crucial for the world’s energy and digital transitions – African countries look at the first African-led G20 as a big opportunity before the US takes over the presidency next year. In the words of its president Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa looks for a “grand bargain” that promotes value addition to critical minerals for inclusive growth and development.[1] Despite current global turbulences, the country offers a solid foundation for sustaining multifaceted diplomatic relationships across (very) diverse international partners,[2] thus hopes for a fruitful G20 are high. Canada’s parallel G7 presidency can be of help, as the strengthening of critical mineral supply chains is on top of the agenda[3] and likely one of the few topics where some progress is possible.
Topic:: Climate Change, Natural Resources, G20, G7, Supply Chains, and Critical Minerals
Political Geography:: Africa and South Africa

2690. Europe’s Nuclear Alternatives: A Time of Reckoning Autori

Author:: Polina Sinovets and Adérito Vicente
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Istituto Affari Internazionali
Abstract:: Europe faces an increasingly urgent need to reconsider its dependence on US extended nuclear deterrence, particularly in the context of Russia’s war in Ukraine and the United States’ strategic shift towards the Indo-Pacific. Europe’s potential to build credible deterrent capabilities of its own is limited to three alternatives: the strengthening of France’s force de frappe as a European pillar, the creation of an Anglo-French nuclear umbrella and the establishment of a European Multilateral Nuclear Force within NATO. The best course of action for Europe is to follow a balanced approach that enhances European autonomy while safeguarding transatlantic cohesion, with NATO establishing a structured dialogue on Europe’s nuclear future.
Topic:: Defense Policy, NATO, Nuclear Weapons, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Deterrence
Political Geography:: Russia, United Kingdom, Europe, Ukraine, France, United States of America, and Indo-Pacific

2691. China-EU@50: Assessing the Ups and Downs of the Relationship

Author:: Nicola Casarini
Publication Date:: 10-2025
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Istituto Affari Internazionali
Abstract:: In Europe there co-exist concurrent, and often contradictory, images of China, which explains why Sino-European economic relations continue to thrive notwithstanding the political coldness of the last years. While the EU’s leadership views Xi Jinping’s China as a ‘systemic rival’ and the main enabler of Russia’s war against Ukraine, Beijing continues to be seen also as an opportunity by EU companies, universities and civil society groups. China’s dual image – that of a daunting challenge and a formidable opportunity – has characterised the Sino-European relationship since the mid-1970s.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Bilateral Relations, European Union, and Economy
Political Geography:: China, Europe, and Asia

2692. The Tragic Irony of the E3’s Snapback Move on Iran

Author:: Riccardo Alcaro
Publication Date:: 09-2025
Content Type:: Commentary and Analysis
Institution:: Istituto Affari Internazionali
Abstract:: France, Germany and the UK have triggered the snapback mechanism to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, citing Tehran’s violations of the 2015 nuclear deal or JCPOA. Iran rejects their authority to do so, arguing that the Europeans themselves breached the JCPOA by adhering to US sanctions and all but supporting Israel’s June 2025 war. Lacking a diplomatic understanding by end September, Iran could leave the NPT, Israel resort to new strikes, and Russia and China refuse to recognise the sanctions, weakening the UNSC’s authority.
Topic:: Diplomacy, Nuclear Weapons, Sanctions, Disarmament, Nonproliferation, and JCPOA
Political Geography:: United Kingdom, Europe, Iran, Middle East, France, and Germany

2693. Birdwatchers on social media: The mediatisation of intelligence organisations

Author:: Peter Schrijver, Lotte Nietzman, and Peter B.M.J. Pijpers
Publication Date:: 03-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:: War Studies University
Abstract:: War has always affected the physical and cognitive dimensions of life; however, recent developments in Ukraine and Gaza have increased the emphasis on warfare making use of the virtual realm. Military actions now extend beyond traditional battlefields, significantly impacting virtual and cognitive dimensions through cyberspace and social media. This study examines how intelligence and security services in Ukraine, Israel, and the United Kingdom employ mediatisation—the process whereby mass media shapes public discourse—to achieve their objectives in modern warfare. Through comparative analysis of these three intelligence landscapes, the research explores how these organisations, despite being part of larger national security systems, pursue their own organisational interests. The study reveals that intelligence services use mediatisation for multiple purposes: engaging citizens, justifying operations, and projecting strength to domestic and international audiences. The results show a marked shift from secretive practices to open, public-facing communication strategies. The UK Defence Intelligence provides daily situational updates, the Israel Defence Forces Spokesperson’s Unit releases sensitive intelligence to shape narratives, and Ukrainian military intelligence publishes intercepted communications to undermine adversaries. This selective disclosure via social media represents a significant departure from conventional secrecy, reflecting the growing importance of information warfare. While this approach offers benefits in shaping narratives and countering adversaries, it poses risks to operational security. The study underscores the complex balance that intelligence agencies must strike between transparency and protecting sources and methods in the digital age, highlighting how communication serves as a tool for informing the public, justifying actions and discrediting adversaries.
Topic:: Intelligence, International Security, Transparency, Russia-Ukraine War, and 2023 Gaza War
Political Geography:: Russia, United Kingdom, Europe, Ukraine, Middle East, and Israel

2694. The new power model and United States national defence agility

Author:: Stephen Willis
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:: War Studies University
Abstract:: This scholarly article provides a comprehensive analysis of how Heimans and Timms’s (Heimans, J. and Timms, H. (2018) New power: How power works in our hyperconnected world—and how to make it work for you. New York, NY: Doubleday) principles of “new power” can be applied to enhance the agility and effectiveness of United States national defence strategies and policies. The analysis underscores the critical importance of fostering collective intelligence, adaptability, flexibility, transparency, and inclusion within the operations and decision-making processes of the US military, emphasising transparency and inclusion is crucial in promoting open source and open information exchange that involves service members and defence leaders at all levels in decision-making. This study presents compelling examples of how embracing new power dynamics can improve the agility of US national security efforts in terms of strategies and policies. Improved agility will potentially save lives and provide a competitive advantage over our adversaries. Additionally, the article highlights the significance of adaptability and flexibility in navigating the rapidly changing global landscape, underscoring the need for the US military to adapt to shifting power dynamics and embrace agility as a critical element in achieving success in the face of modern security challenges. Finally, this research delves into two critical areas: First, we explore a new power model for enhancing the agility of US national defence. Second, we discuss how the new power model can facilitate agile decisionmaking for US intelligence, specifically through the practice of open-source Intelligence. We conclude that making American national defence agile in its policies and strategies requires not only the application of new power principles and concepts, as Heimans and Timms (2018) understand them, but also the ability to apply new power in nuanced, incremental, and thoughtful ways that will allow for transformation of the defence and policy-making apparatus in a way that will be accepted and understood by policymakers and service members and leaders themselves.
Topic:: Defense Policy, Intelligence, International Security, and Artificial Intelligence
Political Geography:: North America and United States of America

2695. Public intelligence as a strategic tool: The role of real-time intelligence disclosure in the Ukraine War

Author:: Alfred Marleku
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:: War Studies University
Abstract:: This paper aims to analyse the role of public intelligence as a strategic tool in modern conflicts, focusing on its use during the Russo- Ukrainian war. It employs a qualitative research design, combining comparative case analysis and document analysis to examine the role of public intelligence as a strategic tool in the Ukraine War. The primary data sources include declassified intelligence reports, official government statements, media coverage, and academic literature on intelligence disclosure and strategic communication. The findings of this study indicate that public intelligence disclosure in the Ukraine War has been highly effective in countering Russian disinformation and strengthening diplomatic cohesion among Western allies. Unlike previous conflicts, intelligence transparency played a crucial role in shaping global narratives and mobilising international support. However, its deterrence value remains uncertain, as intelligence disclosures did not prevent Russia’s full-scale invasion. The findings of this paper highlight how intelligence dissemination has shifted from classified circles to a public tool of strategic statecraft. The Ukraine War marked a departure from traditional intelligence practices, as the United States and the United Kingdom used real-time declassification to counter Russian disinformation, unify allies, and shape global opinion. This shift underscores both opportunities and limitations, as intelligence transparency did not deter Russia’s invasion. Public intelligence disclosures proved effective in neutralising misinformation and influencing diplomatic responses. Intelligence disclosure also had diplomatic ramifications. While it helped rally allies, initial scepticism from Germany and France revealed lingering distrust due to past intelligence failures.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Intelligence, International Security, Transparency, Russia-Ukraine War, and Strategic Disclosure
Political Geography:: Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

2696. Experiences of Finnish Defence Forces personnel on equality related to remote work— Career development opportunities and remote work agreements

Author:: Tiina Kähkönen
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:: War Studies University
Abstract:: This study investigates equality issues related to remote work, career development, and remote work agreements within the Finnish Defence Forces. A total of 868 employees participated in the study. A quantitative approach was used, and t-tests (n = 868) were conducted to assess statistically significant differences in experiences of equality concerning personnel promotion opportunities, job rotation opportunities, and the ability to accept work regardless of location as well as suitable remote work agreements. The comparison groups were hybrid workers versus on-site workers, soldiers versus civilians, and men versus women. The study found that the personnel do not generally think that on-site workers have better promotion opportunities than hybrid workers. Remote work was seen as promoting equal job rotation opportunities among personnel. Remote workers agreed with this opinion more than on-site workers, and the difference in opinion between both groups was highly significant. The majority of respondents, particularly hybrid workers, agreed that equality would be better achieved through individual agreements on remote work. However, on-site women workers was the only group with the opinion that strictly limited remote workdays promoted equality better than individual agreements. Hybrid workers were less supportive of the current limits, and significant differences were found between them and on-site workers. This study highlights the need for more flexible, individualised remote work policies to enhance workplace equality. The findings can inform the development of management strategies and remote work practices in organisations. Future research could explore the international and organisational variation of these effects and provide deeper insights into employees’ perceptions of equality in remote work environments by integrating qualitative and quantitative methods.
Topic:: Armed Forces, Equality, Career, Remote Work, and Finnish Defence Forces
Political Geography:: Europe and Finland

2697. 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

2698. Humanitarian aspects of overcoming the social crisis caused by Russian military aggression in Ukraine

Author:: Aleksander Kuczabski
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:: War Studies University
Abstract:: This paper analyses the humanitarian aspects of social security restoration in Ukraine. The integral social security level indicator was developed for this study. The state of social welfare in Ukraine in the pre-war period was investigated according to the author’s methodology. The losses of the social sphere in Ukraine as a result of Russia’s military aggression were also assessed according to the author’s approach. Further, Ukraine’s need for emergency humanitarian aid was discussed. Finally, the mechanisms for ensuring the humanitarian component of social security during the war were analysed. The article’s hypothesis starts with the consideration that even though the war is not over yet, some lessons can be identified, and those lessons should be considered in response to social security issues in the conditions of war and in the future post-war social reconstruction of Ukraine. Analysis of open information sources enables claims that the situation in the field of social security is catastrophic in the Ukrainian society. This is due to the war-related damages caused to the residential stock and social infrastructure facilities, the environmental consequences of the damages, and the risk of starvation. This article launches a global discussion on the role and place of humanitarian aspects in the provision of social security in a state affected by armed aggression. The study promotes the idea of overcoming the humanitarian crisis jointly by the united international community. Therefore, this paper is vital for a better understanding of the actual level of social security and its prognostication in post-war Ukraine.
Topic:: Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation, War, Social Security, and Russia-Ukraine War
Political Geography:: Russia, Europe, and Ukraine

2699. Hellenic airspace violations: An updating note

Author:: Vasileios Symeonidis
Publication Date:: 06-2025
Content Type:: Journal Article
Journal:: Security and Defence Quarterly
Institution:: War Studies University
Abstract:: This is a note to update an earlier published paper, which focused on forecasting Hellenic flight information region violations by Turkish aircraft. The update became necessary following certain geopolitical and economic developments in the Mediterranean, mainly the Athens Agreement. The least-squares best fit model for the 2009–2019 data set for Hellenic airspace violations was used, accompanied by additional ordinary least squares estimates and forecasts. We showed that the pattern of pressure on the Hellenic sovereignty described in the above-mentioned paper is now different in terms of the methods exercised; it is also cheaper. However, it is equally, if not more, effective. We interpret this shift by arguing that Turkey is a Political Realism follower, focusing on the importance of power, security, and national interest in shaping its actions, regardless of the ideological or ethical implications of such actions. This explains its preference for exerting pressure in the form of sea border violations and massive forced emigration from Turkey to the European Union via Greece. This note concludes that the pattern of pressure on the Hellenic sovereignty in the Aegean involving Hellenic airspace violations by Turkish aircraft has been modified. Turkey now prefers cheaper but equally effective methods, such as sea border violations and, in most cases, hybrid warfare tactics, like massive forced emigration.
Topic:: Security, Migration, Borders, Emigration, and Airspace
Political Geography:: Europe, Turkey, and Greece

2700. 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

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COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS