Regional Program Research

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Balancing Act: The EU’s Deforestation Regulation and Its Global Economic Impact

The EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) aims to reduce global deforestation by restricting imports and exports of goods linked to forest degradation. The regulation has sparked concerns from trade partners in South America and Southeast Asia who argue that it imposes heavy burdens on small producers and could disrupt global trade. The balancing act of economic and environmental impacts is critical as the EU prepares for the EUDR’s full implementation in December.

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The Istanbul Convention: Turkey's Withdrawal from Its Own Women's Rights Legacy

Turkey's controversial withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention raises questions about the nation's stance on women's rights and combating domestic violence. While the government claims to be prioritizing its interpretation of family values and social norms, critics argue this may be a political maneuver. The decision highlights the tension between international human rights standards and national sovereignty, revealing the complexities of implementing global agreements within diverse cultural contexts. 

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Pax Africana: Italy's Ambitious plan for Africa

Meloni, hosting this year’s G7, wanted attending nations to turn south towards Africa. Meloni cleverly leveraged her role as host to sweeten Western economies’ taste of her grand strategy for Africa: The Mattei plan.

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France’s Rise of the Right

France’s far-right National Rally (RN) has captured widespread attention after winning a decisive 31.4% of the vote in the European parliamentary elections.

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Drones in Ukraine: A Revolution in Warfare

In the initial phase of the Ukraine war, combat consisted of uncoordinated skirmishes with limited strategic use of technology. However, as the conflict has progressed, it has evolved into a battleground for intricate and sophisticated drone dogfights.

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90 Seconds to Midnight

In early 2024, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight, marking the closest approach to nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis. The world is on a precipice, and we must remain vigilant.

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Italy and Turkey in the Changing Mediterranean Order

As the US and EU focus elsewhere, Italy and Turkey have increased cooperation in the Mediterranean. Despite differing foreign policy objectives, they share common interests in stabilizing Libya and playing a more active role in the Mediterranean’s security.

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Upcoming Elections in Africa

In 2024, the global political landscape is marked by pivotal elections; the anticipated rematch between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the United Kingdom's general election, and India's general election. Africa is also hosting a number of elections this year, which will likely play a seminal role in shaping regional and international politics. Let’s take a closer look at three of the most important elections happening this year on the continent: elections in Ghana, Senegal, and South Africa.

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Russia: Estonia’s Biggest Security Threat

Russia is Estonia’s greatest security threat to Estonia, as driven by its geographical proximity, societal integration challenges with Estonia’s Russian minority, and rising cyber threats.

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The Implementation of Protection and Prevention pillars of UNSCR 1325 on Gender-Based Violence in Conflict-Affected Areas

In the 23 years since the declaration of the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (the WPS Agenda), national and international implementations have had both successes and failures in upholding the agenda. By evaluating the progress that has been made, we can better understand how to move forward with better solutions for the future.

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An Overview of Censorship in Germany

Following Germany’s unification in 1871, censorship legislation has shifted significantly. What has been the effect of Germany’s censorship laws on Germany’s modern understanding of free speech?

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Wang Huning - from Shanghai Scholar to China’s Top Policymaker

On September 11th, Wang Huning, a Politburo standing committee member and the CCP's leading ideologist, was appointed as the chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification (CCPPNR). The appointment of Wang has given spectators a good opportunity to poke into the organizational structure of the CCP’s central subdivisions and personal backgrounds of a Politburo member who is one of the most powerful politicians in China.

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The Threat of Mining within Panamá

PANAMA — “We have unanimously decided to declare the entire law 406 unconditional,” said the Supreme Court president Maria Eugenia Lopez. After months of endless protest, Central America’s Largest open-pit copper mine has finally closed. How did Panamá get here? There is a complex and politically draining history regarding mining in Panamá. Operated by First Quantum Minerals, a Canadian-owned mining company contracted at the Cobre Panamá Mine had established roots in the Spring of 2013. Establishing itself in the Colon Province, the Canadian 34,000-acre project (bigger than the city of Manhattan) progressed in 2017 and was soon deemed unconstitutional by Panama’s Supreme Court. To uphold this ruling a fresh draft was made and passed through the Panamanian government as Law 406 on October 20th, 2023 marking the final step in revisiting the legal structure for the Cobre Panama Mine.

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Caribbean Youth against Heat Waves: Climate Justice, and Energy Restructuring

With global temperatures rising to unseen levels, the Caribbean lies at the center of the impact and the center of youth agency for climate change action. The summer of 2023 in the Northern Hemisphere broke historic heat levels and set itself as the hottest summer on record,[1] underscoring the Caribbean's susceptibility to climate challenges. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the region as ‘ground zero’ for the international climate emergency.[2] Due to extreme climate conditions, students protested in Puerto Rico for air conditioning during heat waves. This civic engagement highlighted the responsibility of that “climate resilience” effort from younger generations to restructure approaches using schools to claim climate justice by refurbishing policies.

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