The Pakistani Taliban is reinventing itself

Written by Amira Jadoon and Abdul Sayed

The TTP leadership views the Afghan Taliban victory as a win for jihadists in general and has been emboldened by it. This is reflected in its messages directed to its members, who are encouraged to continue their fight against Pakistan for a similar victory there.

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Three hawks and a dove: Defence issues and the 2021 LDP election

Written by Corey Wallace

Kishida’s increasingly muscular security stances also reflect toughening attitudes towards China within Japan’s political elites and public opinion throughout the spectrum. Ultimately, it is very likely that the Chinese government will be disappointed that Kishida is not a sheep in wolf’ clothing.


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Extreme green: How China and Germany manoeuvre through climate extremes

Written by Julia Teebken

We must understand how social routines and changed daily practices interrelate with population vulnerability, how they can foster resilience and be supported by state institutions (e.g., flexible adjustment of working hours and clothes during periods of extreme heat).

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Heating up: An arms race on the Korean Peninsula

Written by Joe Varner

North Korea, on the other hand, has in the last month made clear it is going nowhere. It is bound and determined to hold Washington’s feet to the fire, holding its bases in the region, US cities and their populations hostage now and for the foreseeable future.

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Afghanistan continues to pose a traditional and non-traditional security threat

Written by Nilofar Sakhi

As the Taliban increases its stronghold and gains more territory and power, it will become a serious transnational threat. Radicalisation, the emergence of new terrorist groups, and arms trafficking will likely increase, adding to local security threats.

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Militaries need to get their act together on the climate crisis

Written by Dhanasree Jayaram and Radhika Ajayan

It is high time that militaries, especially major ones, are brought under the ambit of the Paris Agreement. Without making these massive institutions accountable, the window for preventing the worst effects of climate change will likely close.

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In Conversation: Michael Schuman on his latest book "Superpower Interrupted"

While Xi wishes to change the world order, he has yet to elucidate an attractive and comprehensive vision for an alternative. Xi’s entire conception of foreign affairs is to strip them of values (or at least liberal ones), rendering his worldview vacant of ideas that would woo others.

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The future of South Korea’s feminist movement

Written by Shan-Jan Sarah Liu

Gendered expectations of women in South Korea are long-established and thus make the current feminist breakthrough even more significant than it might be in western societies. Recent developments illustrate that feminism can be an empowering tool for young South Korean women to stand in solidarity with one another in fighting misogyny.

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Subnational diplomacy dynamics between India and Sri Lanka: A Sri Lankan perspective

Written by Bhagya Senaratne

As Tamil Nadu does not recognise their fishermen are engaged in illegal activity, the lack of a clear solution between India and Sri Lanka that reconciles with the independent state influence of Tamil Nadu will be an issue in the years to come.

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Nobel Peace Prize: How Dmitry Muratov built Russia’s ‘bravest’ newspaper, Novaya Gazeta

Written by Ilya Yablokov

This portrait of Muratov does not fully capture the scope of his important role in Russian media. Muratov uses his influence and connections not to enrich himself, but to sustain the powerhouse last shelter of investigative journalism inside Russia.

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Breaking the deadlock: The Japan-South Korea ‘comfort women’ dispute

Written by Wichuta Teeratanabodee

Events, such as the ROK reversing its decision to end the military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan due to threats from the North, have shown that the two countries can put aside their bitter relations to focus on regional threats.

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Can Russia become China’s strategic mercenary?

Written by Artyom Lukin

In a nutshell, Russia could become a giant military contractor — a twenty-first-century condottiero state, and a nuclear-armed one at that. A broke but still militarily strong and audacious country that does the bidding of a rich superpower — for remuneration.

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Why is Antarctica Missing In Action in the Indo-Pacific Concept?

Written by Bec Strating and Elizabeth Buchanan

Haphazard inclusion of the Southern Ocean and Antarctica to the Indo-Pacific construct will ultimately bolster Chinese efforts to undermine and erode the ‘rules-based order’ that all Indo-Pacific like-minded partners appear so committed to upholding.

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After AUKUS comes the deluge

Written by Jeremy Maxie

Given the shifting regional balance of power and the trajectory of China’s remarkable military and naval modernisation, the optimal strategy for Paris to secure and advance its particular regional interests is to more closely align with the US, thereby indirectly preventing Chinese hegemony in Asia.

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India and the BRICS: Confused signalling on China

Written by Jabin T Jacob

Under the circumstances, third countries with no skin in the game but possessing a crucial vote in the UN General Assembly or asked to make a choice might be forgiven for not taking India seriously when it complains about China.

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Murky waters: What next for the AUKUS nations and their allies?

Written by Martin Thorley

One can build a strong case in favour of creating AUKUS, but a wider strategy that doesn’t address the transnational challenges of corruption, illicit finance, and corporate complicity, risks reinforcing the castle walls as the throne at the centre rots.

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