South and Southeast Asia are on the front lines of the democracy-autocracy showdown

Report Sep 30, 2025

Turkey in the changing transatlantic trade environment

By Charles Lichfield

Exploring Turkey’s position in the changing global trade order and analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing the country.
Economy & Business European Union
South and Southeast Asia are on the front lines of the democracy-autocracy showdown

Issue Brief Sep 30, 2025

As Europe’s neutral states shift closer to NATO, Ireland approaches a turning point for its security

By Maeve Drury and Jason C. Moyer

Ireland spends the least of any EU country on defense. Taoiseach Micheál Martin wants to change that. With military neutrality deeply rooted in the country’s history of violent civil conflict, what will re-armament take?
Europe & Eurasia Maritime Security
South and Southeast Asia are on the front lines of the democracy-autocracy showdown

Issue Brief Sep 29, 2025

How to dismantle a reserve currency

By Daniel McDowell

For the economic tumult that the dollar has faced over the last eighty years, its political foundations have remained steadfast—until now. As the political order on which the dollar system rests grows creaky, dollar preeminence is also looking wobbly.
Economy & Business Europe & Eurasia

Content

Issue Brief

Oct 16, 2025

South and Southeast Asia are on the front lines of the democracy-autocracy showdown

By Prakhar Sharma and Gauri Kaushik

How do democracies die? Not with a dramatic coup, but through quiet, intentional dismantling—rules bent just slightly, laws rewritten, oppositions discredited and then disarmed. This warning from political scientists has proven prophetic across South and Southeast Asia, where the past decade has witnessed steady democratic erosion.

Democratic Transitions East Asia

Report

Oct 15, 2025

What Taiwan can learn from China’s gray-zone actions against the Philippines

By Chung-Yu Chou

China uses different tactics for different aims: slow but persistent maritime incursions off the coast of the Philippines and high-speed aerial harassment in Taiwanese airspace. But Manila’s responses offer useful lessons for Taipei. A new study of the Philippines’ experience shows what Taiwan can do to create limits on Chinese action without triggering open conflict.

Conflict Crisis Management

Report

Oct 15, 2025

How the US and Europe can deter and respond to Russia’s chemical, biological, and nuclear threats

By Philippe Dickinson, Ryan Arick, Natasha Lander Finch

A willingness to use chemical weapons has long been a feature of Russian aggression, on the battlefield in Ukraine and on the streets of Europe. Will Russia escalate to the use of biological weapons? And what about the country’s nuclear saber-rattling? An in-depth study of how Russia uses these threats calls for a strong NATO response.

Conflict Crisis Management

Report

Oct 14, 2025

Responsible stewardship models can transform Africa’s mineral wealth into prosperity

By Mamadou Fall Kane

As investors race to secure access to Africa’s supplies of critical minerals, African nations should invest some of the proceeds in sovereign wealth funds that can manage mineral revenue transparently, protect African economies from price volatility, and secure the benefits of finite resources in a sustainable way.

Africa Economy & Business

Report

Oct 9, 2025

The imperative for hypersonic strike weapons and counterhypersonic defenses

By Michael E. White

A new report based on dozens of discussions with defense policymakers and industry representatives takes stock of how the United States military should handle the challenge posed by missiles capable of flying more than five times the speed of sound.

Defense Industry Defense Technologies

Issue Brief

Oct 9, 2025

Critical minerals in crisis: Stress testing US supply chains against shocks

By Reed Blakemore, Alexis Harmon, Peter Engelke

How can policymakers prepare for shocks to critical mineral supply chains and create mineral security amid a wide range of threats and challenges?

Energy & Environment Geopolitics & Energy Security

Issue Brief

Oct 6, 2025

Chinese mining in West Africa: Responding to the environmental and social impacts

By Abosede Omowumi Babatunde, Richard Asante, Joseph Asunka, Joshua Eisenman, Fancies Egu Lansana, Sanusha Naidu, Igwe Ogbonnaya, Youmanli Ouoba, and Boukary Sangare

Chinese entities are expanding legal and illegal mining for minerals in West Africa.

Africa China

Issue Brief

Oct 6, 2025

Chinese demand for timber and wildlife in West Africa: Responding to the environmental and social impacts

By Ebagnerin Jérôme Tondoh, Roland Balgah, Caroline Costello, Moses Fayiah, Jean-Luc Kouassi, and Christine A. I. Nougbodé Ouinsavi

West Africa’s forests are vital for climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation, and economic growth.

China Climate Change & Climate Action

Issue Brief

Oct 6, 2025

Chinese fishing in West Africa: Responding to the environmental and social impacts

By Ebimboere Seiyafa, Awa Niang Fall, Ellis Adjei Adams, Kadidia Kane, Isa Elegbebe Olalekan, Kodjo N’Souvi, and Salamatu Joana Tannor

Chinese companies have rapidly expanded into West Africa’s fishing sector, often operating illegally in prohibited coastal waters.

China Climate Change & Climate Action

Issue Brief

Oct 3, 2025

Dissolving the fence: Improving utility privatization for defense installations’ resiliency

By Benjamin Byboth, Ariel Coreth, Travis Nels

US bases depend on increasingly vulnerable electricity systems. Utility privatization offers a key tool to ensure military installations' energy resilience.

Energy & Environment Renewables & Advanced Energy
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