The Paralysis of the Past: An Evaluation of President Arévalo’s Aspirations to Combat Historic Impunity and Indigenous Oppression in Guatemala

For decades, the Guatemalan military has cooperated with foreign and domestic elites to stymie public efforts at combating racial and social inequalities. State repression is so embedded into the Guatemalan political system that corruption has been made contingent for the state to function. Nevertheless, various transitional justice initiatives which emerged at the end of the Civil War, such as the Equipulus I and II agreements and the REHMI and CEH reports, carried positive changes to the modern Guatemalan state. The strategies used in this time can inform the Semilla party in its anti-corruption mission.

Melting Permafrost in Siberia is Threatening Russia’s Energy Industry

Russia’s reliance on Arctic resources is increasingly threatened by the rapid thawing of the permafrost, causing infrastructure collapse, the release of greenhouse gases, and increasing global temperatures. As climate change accelerates, Russia is facing mounting economic and geopolitical strain, compounded by shifting global markets and Western sanctions. With other Arctic nations expanding their presence in the region and Russia’s diminishing influence, the Kremlin must decide whether to adapt to the crisis or risk further economic and geopolitical decline.

Russia & FSUBy Cassandra BrownMarch 29, 2025russia, Climate Change, permafrost, siberia, energy, energy crisis

Transnistrian Energy Crisis Implications on Moldovan bid to join European Union

On January 1, 2025, Russia cut off natural gas supply to Transnistria, a breakaway region of the Republic of Moldova. Russia hopes to strengthen its control in the region and inhibit Moldova from joining the European Union. The Russian decision to eliminate its supply of natural gas to Transnistria will influence the upcoming parliamentary elections, where Moldova and Transnistria will decide whether to retain the current pro-EU parliament.

The Weaponization of Sexual Violence in the Russian-Ukraine War and its Implications

Russian soldiers weaponize sexual violence to demoralize and inflict harm on the Ukrainian people during the Russo-Ukraine war.

Russia & FSUBy Grace HalepisMarch 29, 2025russia, ukraine, usa, War, war crimes, ICC

Cambodia’s Economy: A Battleground of Chinese Investments and American Exports

While the rate of Cambodia’s growth may be uncertain, its rising geopolitical and economic presence within Southeast Asia cannot be downplayed, and its rising allegiance with China will likely mark it as the first of many countries to turn to China as a more reliable economic partner in the face of internal American turmoil.

AsiaBy Andrew LayMarch 24, 2025Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Trump, tariffs, ASEAN, economy, BRI

Between Brussels and Washington: Italy’s Sticky Spot between the EU and the U.S.

Rising as a stable leader within the European Union, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has fostered close ties with both EU and foreign leaders. With President Trump’s return to the White House, Meloni hopes to form the transatlantic bridge between the EU and the U.S. Yet with recent negotiations between the U.S. and Russia excluding the EU and Ukraine, Meloni has tough decisions to make regarding her alliances.

EuropeBy Isabel ChambersMarch 23, 2025Italy, Meloni, USA, Ukraine, Trump, EU, Tariffs

South Korea in Crisis: Martial Law and the Fight for Democracy

On Dec. 3, 2024, chaos erupted in South Korea as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law, citing ‘anti-state’ threats. Within hours, the National Assembly overturned his decree, setting the stage for his impeachment and arrest. The crisis exposed deep political fractures but also reaffirmed the strength of South Korea’s democratic institutions. As the Constitutional Court weighs Yoon’s fate, the nation stands at a crossroads— between the threat of authoritarianism and the resilience of its democracy.

Looking at the past and future when dealing with South Africa’s expropriation laws

The issue of South African wealth inequality, the highest in the world, stemming from Apartheid, has haunted the Rainbow Nation for decades. However, the government has recently imposed the controversial Expropriation Act of 2024, which allows for expropriation without compensation. The question is whether these laws will help the country, based on previous failed expropriation without compensation measures by other African countries such as Zimbabwe, as well as, South Africa having to deal with vital US aid being cut off by President Donald Trump who opposes these laws.

USAID’s Rollback Threatens Ethiopia’s Healthcare System

Soon after returning to office for a second term, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that halted international spending for ninety days, a primary target being USAID. As one of the largest recipients of USAID, Ethiopia heavily relied on the agency’s funding for critical healthcare initiatives, many of which have since ended. As Ethiopia seeks alternative funding, the sudden loss of aid threatens to destabilize the healthcare system and leave millions vulnerable.

How Morena Broke Mexico’s Glass Ceiling

On October 1st, 2024, Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first female president. Her Morena party won thumping majorities in both chambers of the legislature as well, laying the groundwork for radical socio-economic change. Mexico’s previous president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), was the architect for this electoral movement. By uplifting the poor through broad state spending, Morena has become the most popular party in Mexico’s modern history. President Sheinbaum’s meteoric rise proves that populist economics can coexist with democratic governance.

AmericasBy Josh EmokpaeMarch 7, 2025Mexico, Morena, Claudia Sheinbaum, democracy, femicide, LGBTQ+

The Arab Spring Never Died: The 2019 Protests in Iraq and Lebanon

The 2011 Arab Spring protests were a series of mobilizations across seven states in the region that led to the ousting of former President Ben Ali in Tunisia and former President Mubarak in Egypt. While these two states were successful in their protest aims, protestors in other states, such as Syria and Bahrain, faced violent repression by their respective regimes. In 2019, both Iraq and Lebanon experienced waves of protest movements that mirrored those of the Arab Spring in both objectives and mobilization tactics. Dubbed the “Second Arab Spring,” these uprisings indicate the resilience of popular mobilization in the region.

The Impact of War on Women’s Healthcare in Gaza

As a result of Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip, key healthcare facilities have been destroyed, and critical medicine and supplies have been blocked from reaching the people of Gaza, exacerbating the horrors of war Gazans are facing every day. In particular, the increasing devastation of healthcare can be seen in the horrific effects it is having on women, particularly pre and post natal women and children, as well as menstruating women.

Middle EastBy Caroline DonohueDecember 20, 2024Israel, gaza, Palestine, healthcare, Women's Rights, humanitarian aid

Dokdo: The End of Dispute and Division

For the past 300 years, South Korea and Japan have been engaged in a territorial dispute over the small island of Dokdo. It is about time the ongoing contention comes to an end, for it symbolizes broader tensions and the unresolved history of Japan's occupation of Korea.

The Worldwide Impact of North Korean Troops in Ukraine and the BRICS Summit

Putin attempted to shift global power dynamics after hosting a summit with the intergovernmental organization of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) and receiving aid for the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war from North Korea.

Russia & FSUBy Ella FroemelovaNovember 22, 2024BRICS, Russia-Ukraine, Putin, North Korea, Russia-Ukraine conflict

Austria in the 21st Century Oppenheimer Moment

In modern warfare, a revolutionary and unsettling entity is emerging: Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS). These sophisticated machines are capable of independently selecting and engaging targets without human intervention and have the potential to rewrite the rules of engagement and challenge our understanding of ethics, responsibility, and International Humanitarian Law.

EuropeBy Graham CummingsNovember 20, 2024warfare, arms control, United nations, austria, weapons

Mexico’s Judicial Overhaul: The Divisive Effects of Systematic Change

The Mexican Senate’s decision to abolish the current judicial system and allow citizens to elect judges has had extremely divisive effects, both domestically and internationally. Advocates for the change argue that it gives Mexicans a greater voice and limits graft and nepotism, while opponents worry the decision will slow the country’s economy and signal the end of judicial independence.

President Saied of Tunisia Wins Landslide Victory, Not Without Controversy

On Sunday, October 6, 2024 President Kais Saied of Tunisia won reelection in a landslide victory. The election has drawn significant attention and controversy due to its stark departure from the democratic norms embraced in Tunisia in the decade following the 2011 Tunisian revolution, in which citizens revolted against and ousted ruling dictator Ben Ali.

AfricaBy Tommy ColeNovember 8, 2024Tunisia, Elections, democracy, North Africa

Why a Parliamentary Deadlock in Sofia will only benefit Moscow

In August, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev announced that another election would be conducted on October 27 after a majority failed to be produced in June. This stagnant state of affairs in Bulgaria’s parliament not only creates political fatigue for Bulgarians nationwide but enables a much desired neutrality for Russia in its war in Ukraine.

Russia & FSUBy Joshua MarshNovember 4, 2024Bulgaria, Europe, EU, NATO, Russia, Ukraine, Elections

The Trump Effect: How a Second Term Could Supercharge Europe's Far-Right Surge

In the wake of both the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) and Donald Trump’s first election as U.S. President in 2016, far-right movements have experienced a surge of support in elections across Europe. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze how a potential second Trump administration could affect these movements, highlighting the cases of Italy, Germany, and France.

EuropeBy Luke GialanellaNovember 4, 2024U.S. elections, Europe, European politics, far-right, Germany, Italy, France, Macron, Meloni, AfD, Trump

A Decision of Dreams: Drama Unfolds in Tbilisi Following National Elections

This year’s election to determine the upcoming structure of Georgia’s 150-seat parliament was, to many, a turning point in its path towards integration with the European Union (EU) or further alignment with its northern neighbor—Russia.

Russia & FSUBy Joshua MarshNovember 1, 2024Georgian Dream Party, Georgian parliament, georgia, Elections, russia