Political Affairs

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Post-Raisi Iran: President Pezeshkian’s Reform Ambitions

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Post-Raisi Iran: President Pezeshkian’s Reform Ambitions

The results of the July 2024 presidential elections in Iran marked a departure from almost two decades of conservative dominance. This has sparked hope for potential change within the Islamic Republic. This article explores the underlying reasons behind the demand for change and assesses whether meaningful reform is achievable. It provides the historical context surrounding the creation of the Islamic Republic in 1979, examines how the political system functions, and considers the background of President Pezeshkian and the goals he has set to achieve.

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Bolivia’s Political Turmoil

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Bolivia’s Political Turmoil

This article examines the persistent political instability in Bolivia and underscores the critical need to address its deep conflicts stemming from the profound division of the ruling party and the political polarisation. By analisyng key events and prominent figures, the article seeks to offer a thorough understanding of the ongoing turmoil and the governance challenges it presents.

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Untangling the Gordian Knot: War-themed Video Games and Society’s Militarisation in the US

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Untangling the Gordian Knot: War-themed Video Games and Society’s Militarisation in the US

After closing the curtains of a hectic day, feeling the soft veil of tranquillity embracing your weary body on a warm afternoon, your fingers gently touch the little smartphone in your pocket: instinctively, they seek a temporary refuge from the fast-paced reality for their owner. It all happens automatically, and, without giving it a second thought, you soon find yourself immersed in the intricate universe of video games. What if you were being told instead that behind your war-themed game lies a strategic message from the US Army, aiming to encourage you to see this simulation as the only viable option for tackling international crises?

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Harmonies of Influence: Exploring the Political Dimension of Eurovision

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Harmonies of Influence: Exploring the Political Dimension of Eurovision

The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is a cultural phenomenon that, since its creation in 1956, has transcended its original purpose of a European Song Contest, becoming a platform for soft power politics, diplomacy and ideological messages. The increase in complexity in Europe and the Middle East, along with the growing audience of the ESC, has made this century's edition increasingly political. The ban on Belarus in 2021 and Russia in 2022 are two recent examples of the politicisation of the competition, and controversy currently surrounds Israel's participation in this year's edition (2024). Given the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, it is likely that the Swedish edition of the ESC will feature a higher number of political messages on the stage and an increase in strategically using points for diplomatic purposes.

Pakistan’s Political Crisis - A Country in Transformation

Pakistan’s Political Crisis - A Country in Transformation

Political instability at the core of the Pakistani state threatens the intricate, yet delicate, domestic power balance that has worked to sustain the volatile nation. Imran Khan’s challenge against the Pakistani political establishment that followed the ex-cricketer’s ousting last year followed by his arrest this month is indicative of both the deep political structures of the state but also reflects a new testing of this status quo. Furthermore, the transitional government that overtook Khan has experienced persistent shock and tragedy in its first year of power. With the turbulent context surrounding Khan, the lead up to the upcoming general elections in November could prove to be one of the most consequential periods of the country’s recent history.

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Indonesia as a Middle Power: Navigating the Regional Stage

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Indonesia as a Middle Power: Navigating the Regional Stage

With the onset of Joko Widodo's presidency, expectations arose among scholars and analysts regarding Indonesia's ascent as a middle power in the region. The nation has actively pursued a foreign policy encompassing bilateral relations and multilateral engagement through international forums. Noteworthy milestones in this trajectory include the adoption of the 'ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific' and Indonesia's hosting of international summits as the chair of the G20 in 2022 and ASEAN in 2023. Nevertheless, the country's domestic politics and leadership styles influence specific foreign policy outcomes. Nonetheless, Indonesia has demonstrated progress in its pursuit of regional leadership, building upon the initiatives of previous administrations.

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High Stakes at the Horizon: Türkiye General Elections 2023

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High Stakes at the Horizon: Türkiye General Elections 2023

Türkiye’s upcoming elections in June will be the most consequential in the country’s recent history. The country continues to suffer from pressures that threaten to tear apart the Turkish republic. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has continued to mould the political landscape around increasingly greater authoritarian leanings following the failed 2016 Coup. Furthermore, rampant inflation has decimated much of the country’s middle and working classes, even threatening currency collapse. The disastrous earthquake of 2023 and the government’s subsequent response has decimated one of the country’s most insecure regions, impacting the upcoming election. The outcome of the election will ultimately prove to be decisive in determining the future direction of one of NATO’s most critical members.

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Russian Inroads in Africa: Responsible Power Projection or Regional Instability Preservation

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Russian Inroads in Africa: Responsible Power Projection or Regional Instability Preservation

The African continent has never received significant political attention from Russia’s government, Russian economic investments, or tight trade ties. The peculiarity of Russian-African relations is the specific role of private but indeed state-connected military actors in ensuring Russian presence on the continent. One of the illustrative examples of such a presence is the activity of Prigozhin’s “Company” network, which includes the military organization called “Wagner group”. 

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Putin "cannot remain in power" – Were Biden’s words a blunder or intentional?

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Putin "cannot remain in power" – Were Biden’s words a blunder or intentional?

On the 26th of March 2022, the President of the United States of America (USA), Joe Biden, visited Warsaw to rally North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries in support of Ukraine [1]. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the end of February, the Western world had started sanctioning the aggressor rather than getting involved militarily [2]. Biden addressed the US allies in a very long speech that contained words described as surprising by some and alarming by others. This article aims at providing an alternative view of the two main narratives that address Biden’s statement that Putin cannot remain in power.

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Antigypsyism: the taboo story of Europe

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Antigypsyism: the taboo story of Europe

The European Commission has finally put out its word on the decades-old phenomenon of antigypsyism. From physical attacks in the East to dormant systematic discrimination in the West, Roma people are the taboo story of Europe. Despite the recent efforts of the European institution for inclusion, anti-Roma sentiment is deeply rooted, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only amplified the problem.

Political violence: three reasons education matters

Political violence: three reasons education matters

This article examines the phenomenon of political violence through the lens of education. It is based on a macro-analysis of political violence and discusses the importance of education for peace, democracy, and stability. It concludes that when studying the phenomenon of political violence, education matters because it instils citizenship values in the new generation, shapes the perception of social identities, and can cultivate a culture of peace or violence.

Emirati Rain Enhancement Projects: A Legal Analysis

Emirati Rain Enhancement Projects: A Legal Analysis

The United Arab Emirates leads the Arabian Peninsula in the implementation of rain-enhancement techniques in a region increasingly challenged by water scarcity. Although cloud seeding is an ancient field of study, it is still poorly understood and controlled, leaving numerous questions unanswered. What are the benefits and limits of these techniques, especially regarding their militarization? To what extent does the state have a right to water contained in the clouds? This article explores the new electrical shock method of cloud seeding of the United Arab Emirates, which compensates for the limitations of older methods, and questions the international regulation of environmental modifications techniques.

Culture Wars – How the Kremlin Securitizes Youth Culture

Culture Wars – How the Kremlin Securitizes Youth Culture

Since the 2010s youth popular culture has become an object of close attention and management on the part of political actors and institutions in Russia, with substantial funds being diverted towards young people via a national project of patriotic education (Kukulin, 2020) (Hemment, 2015, p 7). From school curriculums that discourage critical thinking to the formation of youth groups such as the infamous Nashi (Ours), the Kremlin has sought to imbue the Russian youth with the “correct” moral values. This article explores how youth culture is firstly securitized and then leveraged, to justify the expansion of further security measures into wider parts of society.

Я, Силовик. Rosgvardiya: The Emperor's New Guards?

Я, Силовик. Rosgvardiya: The Emperor's New Guards?

The final instalment in this series will explore Rosgvardiya the newly formed National Guard in Russia. From its creation and the roles it fulfils, to its leadership and its future uses, the National Guard of the Russian Federation is a force to be reckoned with. This article will delve into all of these themes and underline how Rosgvardiya fits into the security apparatus of the Russian Federation. Readers should ask themselves the following throughout: Is Rosgvardiya a new and improved method of maintaining the internal security, or is the National Guard the personal police of the Russian President?

Я, Силовик - To Serve and Protect The Regime: The MVD & The OMON Riot Police

Я, Силовик - To Serve and Protect The Regime: The MVD & The OMON Riot Police

In modern-day Russia, policing is one of the most employed professions, with one police officer for every seventy-five people [1]. Considering the legacy of the Soviet Union, this should come as no surprise. In recent times, public order assets have been greatly revamped under President Vladimir Putin. This article explores the development of policing in Russia since the collapse of the USSR, fundamentally analysing the role of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Ministerstvo vnutrennikh del, MVD) and the importance – and controversies – of Russia’s riot police, the Special Purpose Mobile Unit (Otryad Mobil'nyy Osobogo Naznacheniya, OMON).

Я, Силовик - A Bad Crime Novel? Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)

Я, Силовик - A Bad Crime Novel? Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR)

The Sluzhba vneshney razvedki (SVR) or Foreign Intelligence Service continues to be an extremely potent organisation and key component of Russia’s Security Council in implementing the foreign policy aims of the Kremlin. Accusations of election interference, social-manipulation and widespread cyber attacks have put a spotlight on this branch of the Russian intelligence services. This article will provide an overview of the SVR, outlining its origins from the 1990s and how it operates in relation to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. It will then detail the SVR’s utilisation of active measures (aktivnye meropriyatiya) in the Kremlin’s continuing conflict with the West.

Я, Силовик. The GRU

Я, Силовик. The GRU

The Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - (Главное Разведывательное Управление/Glavnoe Razvedyvatel'noe Upravlenie) - or ‘GRU’ is one of the most inconspicuous organisations imaginable. Even among the generally taciturn cohort of Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU has been remarkable in its pursuit of secrecy. Whereas an endless stream of horror stories emanated from the Lubyanka, from the Aquarium - the GRU’s headquarters built atop a mass grave - there was only ever silence. This article will explore this most secretive and dangerous of organisations, offering a detailed assessment by comparing its Cold War past and its modern identity.

Я, Силовик. The FSB: The Sword and Shield of the Federation

Я, Силовик. The FSB: The Sword and Shield of the Federation

Any talk of the Soviet Union or the Cold War inevitably includes the Soviet Committee for State Security (KGB). Just as the Russian Federation succeeded the Soviet Union, so too did a number of organisations and agencies succeed the KGB. This first article will explore one of these institutions, the Federal Security Service (FSB). Beginning with the history and how the service came to be in modern Russia, this piece will go on to explore the nominal role and functions of the FSB. It will also shine a light on the actual role played by the Federal Security Service in Russian politics and society today, as well as touch on some of the controversy that surrounds this organisation. The purpose of this article is to illuminate the FSB as a service and inspire readers to dig a little deeper into the world of the security services of Russia.

The Russian Disinformation Campaign in the Western Balkans

The Russian Disinformation Campaign in the Western Balkans

After the 2014 annexation of Crimea and the EU- and US-imposed sanctions on Russia, the Kremlin employed a counter-strategy: disinformation and propaganda. The Western Balkans, a key strategic partner to the EU and NATO, became a fertile ground for Russian disinformation campaigns. Capitalizing on ethnic divides, weak institutions, and the deteriorating freedom of media, the Kremlin inserted itself into the region. Using Serbia as a launch site for disinformation, Russia established a regional base for the Sputnik news agency in Belgrade.

Exploring the Legality of US Humanitarian Assistance to Venezuela

Exploring the Legality of US Humanitarian Assistance to Venezuela

For years Venezuela has been affected by mass displacement and famine, caused by natural disasters and a significant economic crisis. At the beginning of 2019, the United States sent food and medicines to the population of Venezuela to help mitigate the situation. President Nicolás Maduro— sworn in for a second term in January of the same year — refused to accept the help of the United States and ordered the barricade of the bridge where the American aid was supposed to be transported.