US-Cuba Sanctions: Are They Working Yet?
It’s easy to take a look at the array of economic and diplomatic punitive policies that the sanctions-happy Trump administration has slapped on individuals and countries from Argentina to Iran…
By Inventing Military Threats, Lukashenka Is Playing with Fire
Having failed to swiftly translate popular support into tangible political achievements, there are signs the protests against the fraudulent presidential election in Belarus may be losing momentum in the face…
Why the Mali Coup Should Matter to the UK
The coup in Mali is not a putsch by disgruntled soldiers in a distant land. It is an extended European neighbourhood and matters to Britain. The UK already has three…
Market Rally Contains Hopeful Message for the Economy
Among the many unusual features of the pandemic-induced downturn is the disconnect between depressed real economies and buoyant financial markets. This is particularly evident in the US, where output fell…
Can the International Criminal Court Help Belarus?
Making the case The recent election results in Belarus have triggered revolution in yet another post-Soviet country and Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s response has been devastatingly brutal. However, the Belarusian people’s resilience…
Lessons from COVID-19: A Catalyst for Improving Sanctions?
If sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, the EU, or states unilaterally, are not sufficiently targeted, and do not include adequate safeguards for humanitarian action, they can adversely affect…
Rage Against the Algorithm: the Risks of Overestimating Military Artificial Intelligence
AI holds the potential to replace humans for tactical tasks in military operations beyond current applications such as navigation assistance. For example, in the US, the Defense Advanced Research Projects…
Has the Dollar Started Its Long Decline?
One of the features of financial markets since early summer has been a decline in the value of the dollar against many currencies, and with it, an especially interesting acceleration…
E3 Cooperation Beyond Brexit: Challenging but Necessary
As the UK’s post-Brexit foreign policy takes shape, it is increasingly clear that joint cooperation with France and Germany will be of key importance. The current dispute with the US…
US Electorate Shows Distrust of the Realities of Foreign Policy
Whoever occupies the White House after the election, it is evident the emphasis will be on ‘America First’, and that only characteristics and approaches will differ. If Donald Trump is…
Seven Ways the West Can Help Belarus
1. Acknowledge the new reality A huge number of Belarusians across all levels of society simply no longer recognize Lukashenka as their legitimate president. The unprecedented size and persistence of…
Formal Representation for Young People Enhances Politics for All
According to UN Youth, people aged 15-24 make up one-sixth of the world’s population but, in roughly one-third of countries, the eligibility for parliamentarians begins at 25 years old and…
Novichok Poisons Germany’s Relations with Russia
When Chancellor Angela Merkel offered to provide medical care for Navalny in Germany after he fell ill from suspected poisoning in Russia, she could have hardly expected her humanitarian gesture…
Is the Juba Peace Agreement a Turning Point for Sudan?
Although there is a long road ahead to achieve sustainable peace and formidable challenges remain, the hope is Sudan can turn the page on decades of war that has left…
Picking Up the Broken Pieces of UK Foreign Policy
Does the UK have a foreign policy? The failures in Iraq and Afghanistan curbed our Blairite appetite for intervention. Then the Brexit referendum and the advent of Donald Trump as…