Global powers and Global Shifts: An Ongoing Telenovela

In a world increasingly defined by superpower rivalry, Latin America is no longer content playing the supporting role. Drawing on the drama and self-discovery of the classic telenovela, this piece reframes the evolution from the Non-Aligned Movement to today’s doctrine of active non-alignment as a story of autonomy, identity, and strategic reinvention. As global power shifts toward blocs like BRICS and leaders such as Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva pursue diplomatic flexibility amid rising tensions, Latin America is redefining its place in the international order, and this time, it is not as a pawn in great-power competition, but an author of its own script.

Measuring What Matters: Bhutan and the Politics of Happiness

What if national success were measured not in dollars or military strength, but in the well-being of ordinary people? High in the Himalayas, Bhutan has built its governance model around Gross National Happiness, embedding psychological health, cultural preservation, and environmental stewardship into public policy. In doing so, the small kingdom has transformed happiness from a philosophical ideal into a measurable political framework—quietly challenging the global dominance of GDP and redefining what power can look like in the modern world.

Deception and Exploitation in Russia’s Search for Soldiers

As the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues into its fourth year, high casualty rates and low enlistment numbers have forced the Kremlin to turn to alternate methods of recruitment– namely, the conscription of foreigners. Kenya in particular has taken issue with the enlistment of its nationals into the Russian military, accusing Russian recruiters of employing illegal recruitment tactics that constitute human trafficking. Whether or not such allegations are entirely accurate remains uncertain, although emerging intelligence reports suggest that many Kenyans were enlisted into the Russian war effort under questionable circumstances.

Leading From the Shadows: The Increasing Influence of the Korean Unification Church

The increasing influence of the Unification Church became highly visible following intense criticism and allegations of corruption from the South Korean and Japanese governments. As more is discovered in the investigations, the broad reach the church holds across the world grows clearer.

Power Projection in the Dark: Iran’s Status Anxiety and Digital Repression

As Iran faces its largest wave of protests in years, the government has responded with deadly repression and a sweeping internet blackout. Beyond domestic control, these actions reflect a deeper status anxiety: an effort to project strength and legitimacy at home and abroad, even at significant economic and political cost.

The United States of Europe: Why Greenland is a Wake-Up Call for European Federalization

Why has Europe demonstrated a splintered foreign policy response to the Greenland crisis despite its supposed cohesion as the European Union? This article examines how Trump exploits structural EU weaknesses and argues that Europe must federalize to contend with contemporary threats from superpowers like the United States.

EuropeAndrei VolicMarch 17, 2026Greenland, Federalization, US-EU relations, US, EU

Historical and Legal Basis of Japan’s Territorial Disputes

Although Japan’s imperial expansion concluded at the end of World War II, its colonial legacy continues to fuel regional instability. Critically, unresolved disputes between Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan over the Takeshima and Senkaku islands remain at a stalemate. Rooted in Japan’s annexation of the islands in the late 1890s to 1910s, the legal conflict over rightful ownership has evolved from territorial disagreements into significant threats to regional security.

AsiaOwen WuMarch 17, 2026Island, Territorial Dispute, Japan, China, Korea, Sovereignty

From Merkel to Meloni: The Shifting Landscape of European Migration Policy

From Germany to Italy to Poland, anti-immigration rhetoric has reshaped Europe’s political mainstream. As far-right parties capitalize on institutional weaknesses in the EU’s asylum system, migration has become both a policy failure and a political weapon. The question now is not whether Europe will reform its migration framework, but whether it will do so without abandoning its humanitarian foundations.

Ad HocSana MaheshMarch 17, 2026Immigration, Europe, Far-right Politics, Migration policy

How Environmentalists Are Winning Lawsuits by Invoking Human Rights

EuropeSabrina BenedettiMarch 17, 2026

Vance in the South Caucasus: A Demonstration of U.S. Commitment in the Region

U.S. involvement in the South Caucasus has slowly and gradually intensified after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the newly independent states became strategically important due to their location between the significant energy resources in Russia, Iran, and Türkiye. The region is referred to as the Middle Corridor, and one that could become critical as a way to circumvent Russia in overland trade with Asia.

Russia & FSUSonia ChornodolskyMarch 16, 2026Azerbaijan, TRIPP, Eurasia, U.S., South Caucasus

The Mother of all Deals: What the EU-India Free Trade Agreement Means for Trade, Security, and Strategic Autonomy

After nearly two decades of negotiations, India and the EU have finalized their landmark Free Trade Agreement, designed to deepen economic and strategic ties. Expected to slash tariffs by 99 percent on both sides, this FTA also strengthens cooperation in defense, cybersecurity, and maritime security, reducing India’s dependence on the U.S., Russia, and China. Positioning both parties as counterweights to growing Chinese regional influence, the FTA can reshape Asia’s trade landscape and set a new framework for emerging markets.

Right foot forward, Left foot back: The Power of Music in Colombian Protests

The article explores the relationship between music and politics through a Latin American lens, examining how music and dance have become powerful tools of resistance in the Colombian political landscape. Through the Colombian historical period of “La Violencia” to tax reforms and social changes, Colombian politics have inspired several works of music, such as salsa lyrics denouncing class-based racism by Joe Arroyo. In response to political movements, including former President Ivan Duque’s reforms in 2021, the article highlights how mass demonstrations can be reflected through a collective lyrical shout of resistance and through the mass movement of musical beats and rhythm. Music in Colombia reveals the way communities transform rhythm into protest and how the country establishes a powerful identity founded on political dialogue, and resistance.

Somaliland, Israel, and Geopolitics in the Horn of Africa

Israel’s recent diplomatic recognition of Somaliland, a de facto state operating within greater Somalia, marks a turning point in the territory’s long pursuit of sovereignty. Although Israel claims that this move was made in support of Somaliland’s right to self-determination, analysts suggest that there are deeper motivations at play, including Israeli strategic interests in the Red Sea region. Still, whether this move was based on principle or strategy, it represents a significant step toward the possibility of an independent Somaliland.

Gaza’s Board of Peace: A Betrayal by the Middle Eastern and Muslim States?

Gaza’s Board of Peace, a joint multilateral unity of nations to secure peace and reconstruction in Gaza, is considered a betrayal by citizens of Middle Eastern and Muslim countries, because it is seen as an extension of neo-colonialism, granting President Trump sweeping powers, and limiting Palestinian participation and right to self-determination.

Spain’s Bet on the Future: Embracing Immigration in an Increasingly Restrictive Europe

As much of Europe and the West moves toward restrictive migration policies, Spain is charting a different course, granting legal status to hundreds of thousands migrants. This approach highlights a widening ideological divide over immigration policy across the West and carries significant implications for the future of transatlantic alliances.

A Nation at the Water’s Edge

From turquoise lagoons to luxury resorts, the Maldives has long sold an image of untouched paradise. Yet rising seas, mounting debt, and global power imbalances now threaten the nation’s survival. Climate change reshapes coastlines and communities alike, while dependence on foreign investment and tourism forces difficult trade-offs. A nation celebrated for its beauty must now confront difficult choices about who controls its future and how it will endure.

Cuba’s Oil Supply Dwindles: U.S. Involvement in Latin America Spurs Backlash

On January 29, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order effectively blocking Cuba from acquiring oil imports. This decision has drawn in multiple international actors, namely the governments of Mexico and Venezuela, Cuba’s other two major oil suppliers. Mexican and Venezuelan presidents, Scheinbaum and Rodriguez respectively, grapple with whether to take a decisive stance against what many deem superfluous, U.S. intervention in the region is wise or catastrophic to more than just economic relations.

Climate Change Threatens Mozambican Agriculture and Trade

Intense flooding, rain and drought, worsened by climate change, have severely impacted Mozambique's agricultural and trade industries. Economic recovery is possible, but will be difficult without worldwide action.

A Century of Unfinished Borders: The Struggle for Peace in the Fergana Valley

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Fergana Valley region – encompassing parts of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – has been plagued by recurring violence rooted in decades of undefined borders. Minor disagreements frequently escalate into full-scale territorial and ethnic clashes, and the absence of regional cooperation has long stalled peace efforts in the Fergana Valley. Yet in March of 2025, the three states signed a historic treaty, offering new hope of easing tensions in the valley.

Safeguarding Global Stability: The EU’s Message to the World at the 80th UNGA

Amid rising global instability, EU foreign policy has sought to defend the current rules-based world order, which protects the security of its member states. At the 80th UN General Assembly, EU leaders attempted to advance this objective by advocating for three key political priorities: supporting Ukraine, advancing climate commitments, and strengthening UN institutions. However, internal divisions due to domestic political changes risk complicating the EU’s ability to achieve these priorities.

EuropeLauren UmlandDecember 11, 2025European Union, UN, 80th UNGA