One To Watch: Spain’s new PM Pedro Sanchez
July 2, 2018 6 min. read

Given the seemingly relentless flow of news over the last several months, a perception no doubt augmented by the whiplash nature of today’s 280-character policy making process, the recent events in Spain have generally been relegated to the sidelines of political and foreign affairs discussions. Impending trade wars, immigration crises on multiple continents, and a […]

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On South Africa
June 28, 2018 4 min. read

I first visited South Africa in 2008, when Thabo Mbeki was being outmaneuvered by Jacob Zuma, who forced out Mbeki and ascended to the presidency in spite of sexual assault and corruption charges. No one then understood how catastrophic Zuma’s eight years in power would be—but a report the other weekend demonstrates how he undermined critical democratic […]

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Iraqi lawyer calls for establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel
June 26, 2018 9 min. read

  In an exclusive interview, Iraqi lawyer Ammar Al Hamadani stated: “I love and support the State of Israel as well as the Jewish people across the world. I congratulate both the American and Israeli governments for transferring the US Embassy to Israel’s eternal capital city of Jerusalem. In addition, I ask for the establishment […]

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More Bold, Risk-Assuming, Presidential Pragmatism on DPRK Needed
June 19, 2018 5 min. read

The president’s instincts, to which he alone is privy, are responsible for cutting through endless reams of Washington analysis paralysis and contributing to the start of (hopefully) results-based diplomacy.

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Oh Charlie Brown… Insights on North Korea
June 18, 2018 5 min. read

“Oh Charlie Brownnnnn…” Year after year, Lucy tricks Charlie Brown to kick a football she inevitably pulls away. Each time it’s a new creative argument. Lucy promises the world and the temptation is so great that Charlie Brown overlooks history and everything else except kicking that ball. Drawn in, surely this time Lucy will hold […]

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Russia’s World Cup Foreign Policy
June 14, 2018 3 min. read

Not long ago the international community was celebrating the end of the Sochi Olympics in Russia. This was before Russia’s involvement in the Middle East, before the conflict in Crimea as well as before the downing of Malaysian Airlines flight over a contested part of the Ukraine. The beginning of Russia’s added military involvement started […]

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National cynicism and foreign outcry overshadow Lebanese elections
June 12, 2018 6 min. read

Having postponed elections twice, Lebanon now has a new parliament after nine years. The results of the elections raise questions about the internal and external issues that threaten Lebanon’s stability and prosperity.   Lebanon’s convoluted political alliances News headlines announced the victory of Hezbollah in the Lebanese elections. They warned of Iran’s enhanced presence in the country […]

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Buying friends through dollar diplomacy
June 8, 2018 7 min. read

May was a tough month for Taiwan’s international presence. The troubles began on 1 May when the Dominican Republic ended its alliance with Taipei in favor of Beijing, then doubled on 26 May as Burkina Faso followed suit. Despite its successful self-governance, the Chinese-claimed territory struggles to maintain international support and acknowledgement as an independent […]

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China’s ZTE Hires Former Trump Aide to Lobby U.S. Government
June 7, 2018 4 min. read

Sanctioned Chinese telecommunications company ZTE has hired former Donald Trump campaign aide Bryan Lanza and his firm, Mercury Public Affairs, to lobby the U.S. government on its behalf. ZTE is paying Mercury $75,000 per month for its services through Washington DC law firm Hogan Lovells, according to a filing with the U.S. Justice Department under the […]

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Voting on the Application of Justice in Colombia
May 31, 2018 3 min. read

It can be disheartening when looking back on compromises in the past that gave way to peace when justice for victims is ignored for what was seen at the time as the greater good. The US Civil War itself is seen as a fight between good and evil in most American textbooks today, but the […]

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Will Brexit be the backdoor to a united Ireland?
May 30, 2018 5 min. read

Amid doubts over whether Theresa May can deliver a Brexit deal that avoids a hard Irish border, Winthrop Rodgers assesses whether the result will be a renewed push for a united Ireland. The imposition of a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic by a seemingly callous Tory government would risk angering the youth […]

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