Increase of Anti-LGBT Prosecution and Laws Throughout Africa: LGBT Rights Continue to Stumble Across Africa

In May 2023, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni signed into law one of the most harmful LGBT laws globally. With the exception of South Africa, the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association (ILGA) has found that most African nations have anti-LGBT laws or policies and often don’t provide fundamental rights for nonconforming individuals. On an LGBT rights scale, Africa is steadily behind other continents, threatening LGBT individuals and access to global funding.

AfricaBy Isabel ChambersOctober 6, 2023human rights, LGBT rights, policy, regional politics, Uganda, Museveni, religion

How Would Scottish Independence Complicate Global Security

Scotland and England have a long history, and have spent the last 300 years united under one government. With Scottish nationalism and want for independence on the rise, the potential negative effects of Scotland’s independence loom over the heads of not just Scotland and England, but the West as well.

EuropeBy Alex GrzybowskiOctober 6, 2023Scotland, Brexit, Scottish independence, EEZs, SLOCs, NATO, Russia, UK, economy, security

Ruto's Rise to the Top: A Betrayal of Working-Class Kenyans

As riots form throughout Kenya, the contradictory nature of William Ruto's new tax initiatives and their effect on the predominantly impoverished population is scrutinized. Ruto's campaign promise to champion the working class has given way to controversy, as his tax policies worsen existing economic disparities and trigger protests. This raises questions about whether Ruto can fulfill his pledge to bridge Kenya's wealth gap or if his approach using such policies will hinder progress in the country.

AfricaBy Koel Rhea PatelOctober 6, 2023inflation, riots, election, politics, protests, tax hikes

Threats to Chadian Stability in the Sahel

With numerous coups, economic and political distress, and the unraveling of key multilateral security agreements, Africa’s Sahel region is at risk of collapsing. The effects on Chad's progress towards providing regional stability and control of terrorism are certain to cause broader disruption.

AfricaBy Peter BartoOctober 6, 2023regional stability, Terrorism, Chad, Sahel, G5, Coup, Boko Haram, United States, France, Idriss Déby, Military

Forgotten in Fire: The Hidden Aftermath of the Wagner Group’s Mutiny

An analysis of the future of Wagner group and its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin following their mutiny attempt earlier this year. This article analyzes Wagner’s ongoing operations in Africa post-mutiny and the role of Prigozhin in Russian affairs before his death.

Russia & FSUBy Thibaut StussiSeptember 12, 2023wagner group, russia, politics, military

Exploring The Case for a German National Security Council

Germany’s Inaugural National Security Strategy presents a promising shift in foreign policy decision-making, but is it enough to coordinate Germany’s historically bureaucratic governing structure? Mike Dupre explores why the key to sustainable change might lie in a National Security Council, a proven model in many Transatlantic states.

EuropeBy Mike DupreSeptember 12, 2023germany, ukraine, france, artillery, military

Deadly Protests in the Autonomous Region of Karakalpakstan over Changes in the Uzbek Constitution

This article discusses the deadly protests that occurred in the autonomous region of Karakalpakstan in July of 2022, an area that has historically been one of much contention in Uzbekistan. The protests stemmed from Constitutional changes that would’ve prevented Karakalpaks, a Turkic group that has stronger linguistic and cultural ties with Kazakhs, from seceding from the country.

Russia & FSUBy Azima AidarovSeptember 12, 2023uzbekistan, unrest, state of emergency, opposition

A Rundown of Refugee Policies Post-Title 42

After Title 42 border protocols were lifted in May, the Biden Administration announced several new legislative initiatives to help mitigate the increasing number of refugees seeking asylum in America. Although the White House announced the current administration’s commitment to rebuilding the U.S.’s immigration system and especially the refugee infrastructure, its newly implemented policies indicate otherwise. This article examines these new policies under a critical lens, judging whether they advance or minimize the plight of millions escaping poverty, violence, and persecution worldwide.

Lex Tusk Is Not Going to Stop Donald Tusk From Fighting for Democracy

The stakes for this year’s parliamentary elections are higher than ever. A recent rise in the approval ratings of the country’s liberal party - the Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska or PO) - is a beacon of hope in the country’s nearly decade-long battle with the right-wing conservative Law and Justice party (PiS).

Displaced Afghans Face Long Standing Entrance Barriers in U.S. Humanitarian Parole

The struggles of displaced Afghans reveal backlog, unfair application adjudication, and other decades old problems in a key U.S. immigration program.

Earthquakes, Economics, and Elections: Turkey’s Syrian Refugee Population Faces Heightened Uncertainty

Exacerbated by the aftermath of a once in a generation earthquake, refugees in Turkey face increasing public backlash amidst political and economic tensions in Turkey.

Middle EastBy Nathan DuongJune 26, 2023Turkey, Syria, earthquake, Economy

Russia-China Relations Are Defined By One Common Goal: Challenging U.S. Power

At the end of March, a historic visit took place, between Chinese President Xi and Russian President Putin. Although Chinese-Russian relations have had a tumultuous relationship in the past, the two powers can now agree on one thing: they want to confront U.S. and Western dominance.

White Collar Corruption Constricting Voters in Nigeria

With official results showing only approximately 27 percent of registered voters cast their ballot for a presidential candidate in Nigeria, this appallingly low turnout is not unexpected when looking at recent election cycles considering Nigeria’s history with rampant white collar crime. Corruption is by far the most common manifestation of white collar crime in many developing countries.

El Salvador in the Age of the “Mega Prison”

El Salvador ultimately arrested 67,203 people, a population roughly equivalent in size to the town of Haverhill, Massachusetts. And as detainment figures continued to stack up to nearly 2 percent of the adult population, Bukele’s personal war against the gangs eventually arrived at the unveiling of the aforementioned mega prison itself in February of this year.

AmericasBy Will FullerMay 27, 2023El Salvador, prison, mega prison, drugs, violence, gangs, war, rule of law, Americas, Latin America

Sudan’s Need for Hope, Not Division From Foreign Involvement

As the RSF and the Sudanese military make Sudan a warzone, foreign involvement based on nations’ economic interests takes away from the needs of the people of Sudan.

AfricaBy Saanvi ThakurMay 27, 2023Sudan, foreign involvement, RSF, coup, Military, civil war, UAE, Egypt, investment

The U.S. Has a Deep-Rooted Sinophobia Problem

American protectionism against China was born out of, and continues to propagate, an antagonistic relationship that is only further intensified by the U.S.’s longstanding problem with systemic racism, culminating in an unfortunate increase in hate crimes and racism against Asian people in America. The present conflict may be international in nature, but it has serious domestic consequences.

Singapore the Closer

Amid rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and China, many countries around the world find themselves holding their breaths in anticipation of the course that these contentions will take. Amidst this uncertainty, Singapore, a small nation caught between both powers has emerged as a potential mediator of possible conflict.

Will Nigeria’s Infrastructure Gaps Push it Closer to China?

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, challenges to Nigeria’s economic growth is its lack of quality infrastructure. To compete on the global stage and address problems such as poverty and lagging human development, Nigeria needs improved infrastructure to service its economy and development goals.

AfricaBy Tammy DongMay 25, 2023Nigeria, China, Infrastructure, Development, energy, climate, power, BRI, belt and road, sovereign debt

Does Latin American Anti-Americanism Herald the Coming of a New World Order?

AMLO’s various anti-American comments are novel to a modern Mexican leader, as the nation has, for decades, been led by administrations denounced by AMLO as a “neoliberal oligarchy” itself. However, across Latin America, anti-Americanism is something of a time-honored tradition.

New Best Friends? Finland Joins NATO

After applying for membership last year in 2022, Finland has now entered NATO, posing questions for the future of Nordic-Western alliances and the relationship’s potential consequences during international conflicts, such as the Ukraine War. Since 1944, the country’s eastern border with Russia is the second-longest border that Russia has with any country.

EuropeBy Margaret OrtwerthMay 25, 2023Sweden and Finland, Finland, Sweden, Turkey, Hungary, NATO, Europe, Ukraine, Security