The fall of Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh’s Awami League party is a result of a civilian-led movement that challenged an increasingly authoritarian administration. As the country shifts into a new political era, the question remains “What happens next?”

A European Defense Force is needed to enhance EU autonomy amid geopolitical threats like Russian aggression and terrorism. Coordination challenges, reliance on non-EU suppliers, and diverging national priorities abound. Frameworks like PESCO and EDF can strengthen EU defense, complement NATO, and achieve strategic independence and global influence.

On May 29th, 2024, nearly 16 million South Africans went to the polls and cast their votes in the general election. The results were clear: for the first time in nearly thirty years, the African National Congress (ANC) lost its majority in the National Assembly. With the nation and party facing mounting challenges, including economic hardship, a severe energy crisis, and waning public trust, the ANC was forced to confront a hard reality: it would now have to form a coalition government to remain in power. This election not only reflected deep-seated frustration with the ANC’s governance over the past three decades, but also demonstrated a rising demand for accountability and broader representation in the South African federal government.

Long marked by political and economic tensions, New Caledonia has been the scene of violent conflict since May 2024. A conflict that may well open the archipelago to self-determination, while significantly threatening French sovereignty over this territory. 

In October 2024, North Korea sent troops to be trained in Russia with some already deployed in the new theaters of operations in Ukraine. The arrival of North Korean troops in Europe illustrates the continual internationalization of the conflict as well as its new dynamics, announcing a potential large Russian offensive, but also raises questions on what incentivizes Pyongyang to take action in Ukraine.   

Shifting Sands: Land Legislation and Imperial Strategy in the Macedonian Dynasty examines how Byzantine emperors like Romanos I and Basil II used land laws as tools for social reform, military stability, and control over elite power, reflecting evolving governance priorities.

A challenge to cohesion for a geopolitical vision across Europe and the west is populism. Left-wing populism is unfamiliar in its origins and topicality for those who seek to understand this issue. In Germany, leftist populism has found sureness and lucidity against the liberal world order to the benefit of Russia.

Africa before the era of colonization was a dynamic region with extensive trade routes that connected diverse cultures and economies. When European colonizers arrived, they upended these trade networks, establishing colonial regions whose sole purpose was to export raw materials to Europe for manufacture. These extractive policies rendered African economies woefully underdeveloped when they gained their independence in the mid-20th century. In the 21st century, despite the creation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, tariffs and trade barriers are still stifling growth.

Ten years since the referendum, Scotland still awaits a second chance at independence. The 2016 Brexit decision and subsquent attacks on devolution have increased support for a split from England, but a Labour victory in the recent UK election has signaled that the SNP and independence might have lost some backing - for now.

Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine have had a detrimental impact on the respect of arms control treaties between Russia and the United States. There is a need for the U.S. to formulate a plan to reinstate these agreements in the aftermath of the Ruso-Ukrainian war and eventual leadership change in Russia. To do so, the United States must evaluate Cold-War era efforts to foster communication.

Senegal has served as a shining example of a successful West African democracy, as the country is the only West African nation never to suffer a coup d'etat since gaining independence in 1960 and one of the few to have peaceful transitions of power since the early 1990s. However, during this past election cycle, that tradition came dangerously close to being broken by outgoing incumbent President Macky Sall of the Alliance for the Republic Party (APR). How did this happen and how has the new administration fared?

As the Global South receives greater attention for its rising geopolitical stature, many countries are seeking to gain ground toward that bloc. One of these countries is France; however, its appeal in the Global South varies depending on the region. As a result, some view France as a partner against American hegemony, while others see it as a neo-colonial and imperialistic power. Ever since the Russians invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the word “Global South” seems to have made a resurgence within public discourse, with France being one of them. Aside from these rhetorical statements, does France have an effective policy that appeals to the Global South? The answer is it’s complicated, depending on the issue. 

On January 1st, 2024, Ethiopia officially joined BRICS, after being invited in August 2023. BRICS (named after its founding members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is an intergovernmental organization that can be broadly understood as a political and economic counterweight to Western-dominated organizations like the OECD, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank. What does this mean for Ethiopia and how will this benefit the BRICS nations?

A strained relationship between the European Union and Turkey arrives as a result of political and ideological disagreements between the EU’s governing body and Turkey’s President Erdoğan. Uncertainty between the two must be circumvented to secure peace and prosperity in both Europe and the Middle East. 

Thought tactical and situational causes contribute to an explanation of why Marshal Wellington prevailed at Waterloo, geographic and climatic causes must not be overlooked.

Despite sanctions and efforts to diversify energy sources, Europe has not fully decoupled from Russian gas. Indirect purchases through third-party countries, long-term contracts, and Russia's shadow fleet enable Russian energy to continue flowing into Europe via complex, covert channels.

Instead of reinforcing civic solidarity, the ban on wearing abayas in French public schools based on the principle of lacite undermines civic solidarity as it ends up isolating French Muslims from French society. Instead of cultivating civic solidarity, laicite has created alienation, which has resulted in mass polarization in French culture towards violent unrest. By aspiring to embody cosmopolitan conduct in French social policy, France can develop a genuine foundation for civic solidarity.

Denmark's electricity market is dominated by renewable energy, especially wind power, and a commitment to climate goals. Despite its progress, wind energy's variability challenges grid reliability. To address this, Denmark should expand wind capacity, modernize its grid, invest in energy storage, and collaborate regionally to balance supply and demand, ensuring a sustainable and stable energy future.

The Russia-Ukraine War has strengthened Russia-North Korea ties, leading to military and economic cooperation, mutual sanctions evasion, and heightened concerns about regional security and destabilization of international peace efforts

A far-right wave washing over Europe: Fears of immigration, economic instability, and the erosion of national identity.