Our publications

By Olivia Michielsen While military intervention and economic sanctions remain important tools of statecraft, culture and legitimacy have become central to how power operates internationally. States influence populations and countries to maintain dominance in the international system without confrontation. One important dimension of this influence is cultural soft power, which works through media, entertainment, tourism, and national branding. Through these channels, cultural

By Aleksandr Crusellas Grishina While waters rise, the world’s most vulnerable drown in debt. Climate change is publicly acknowledged by the international community as one of, if not the most severe, crisis occurring during the 21st century. The majority of states cooperate year after year, on what is considered to be equal footing, to mitigate the risks posed by global warming and other environmental hazards however, some nations seem more equal than others. Since the break

By Albert Pampalona Lisnenko Can something abundant coexist with something there is less of? In fact, if it has the power to eliminate its less pervasive counterpart, would it even consider it? The relationship between majoritarian and minority cultures often verges on the idea of inevitable collision, frequently leading to the genesis of “cultures of resilience”, i.e., when resilience to foreign power becomes a defining key feature of the cultural identity and its historical

By Sophie Martinez Rossignol In a world increasingly shaped by the global race for AI dominance and accelerating ecological destruction, political ideology and policy priorities play a major role in the extent to which environmental considerations shape technological innovation regulations. Yet, the massive ecological footprint that comes with AI development remains overlooked. Understanding how countries with different political systems address this challenge reveals contras

By Amina Shoukry A $10 shirt is never just $10; there’s always something greater behind it, someone paying a much higher price. As Gen Z gets older, our inclination to buy fast fashion continues to evolve. Fast fashion has rebranded exploitation as convenience. What we don’t see are the political reasoning, environmental consequences, and the people affected by this process. At first glance, fast fashion appears affordable, but when we take a closer look, we see that behind i

By Albert Pampalona Lisnenko Can strong labour protections and rapid economic growth go hand in hand? This article challenges the neoliberal consensus by examining how pro-worker policies from job security guarantees to working week reductions can strengthen domestic consumption, sustain productivity, and build more resilient economies. Drawing on the cases of Spain, China, and broader OECD research, the data suggests that pro-worker policies and growing economy are not mutu

Founded in 1868 as a textile mill in Nagpur, the Tata Group today generates over $180 billion in annual revenue, employs more than one million people, and operates across 100+ countries — making it one of the world's most strategically significant conglomerates. In this joint publication, IPEA and the Esade Student Finance Society examine the domestic and global reach of India's Tata Empire through four of its most consequential subsidiaries: Tata Motors, TATA Advanced System

By Carola Di Giansante Less than two-thirds of a healthy weight, too frail to sit upright, nine-month-old Ahmed represents what one in two Yemeni children are currently facing. Since 2015, Yemen has been caught in a civil war involving the Yemeni government, Houthi armed groups and a Saudi-led coalition supporting the government. By 2018, the United Nations had described the situation as the worst humanitarian crisis the world has seen. Today, over 17 million civilians are

Has the UN shifted from a legal principle of self-determination to a political notion of ‘realistic solutions’ in Western Sahara? By: Sophie Martínez Rossignol Western Sahara remains one of the most enduring decolonisation disputes in international law. Although the UN and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have repeatedly affirmed the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination, recent UN practice reveals growing contradictions in its own doctrines and past rulings. R

By: Aleksandr Crusellas Grishina Aleksandr Crusellas Grishina During September 2025, heightened US military activity within the South Caribbean has been formally and informally associated with unusual spikes in civilian deaths, angering their South American neighbours, especially Maduro’s office. Furthermore, the presumed disdain from some American cabinet members towards “leftist” leaders, especially Maduro, only exacerbates the animosity caused by the event.

What if much of what we call “Arab” history in North Africa and Iberia was actually Amazigh all along? Tracing thousands of years of perseverance, this article reveals how the Amazigh people have survived conquest, misnaming, and marginalisation to reclaim their language, culture, and place in modern North African identity. By: Tibor Harter

Sudan is currently experiencing one of the most severe humanitarian crises in modern history, driven by a prolonged power struggle that has resulted in mass displacement, widespread food insecurity, and the collapse of essential services. What began as a political conflict has evolved into a nationwide catastrophe, leaving over half of the population in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. By: Ádam Szabó

Gen Z, long dismissed as politically apathetic, is redefining activism through leaderless, digitally powered movements that can mobilise millions and destabilise governments almost overnight. From Nepal to Peru and Madagascar, this new form of online-offline resistance shows how a hyperconnected generation is reshaping political power in ways states are struggling to control. By: Carola Di Giasante

Peru’s mining sector stands at a crucial juncture in its development journey: its vast mineral wealth has fueled economic growth and offers great potential for green energy transition. However, pervasive illegal mining and institutional weaknesses pose significant challenges to sustainable and inclusive development. Achieving lasting progress requires urgent reforms and coordinated efforts to harness mining as a foundation for resilient, equitable growth that benefits both co

Despite education being a universal human right, millions of displaced children are denied the chance to learn, grow, and shape their...

With new members and varying ambitions, BRICS seeks to reshape the traditional global order. However, can it overcome internal tensions...

South Korea’s foreign policy faces an increasingly difficult balancing act between its security alliance with the United States and its...

Indonesia’s middle class is shrinking amid President Prabowo Sibianto’s sweeping budget cuts and economic reforms. Tensions are rising as...

Despite repeated international intervention, Haiti is facing an escalating humanitarian crisis shaped by extreme gang violence, famine,...

China’s growing investments in the Balkans, from infrastructure megaprojects to strategic acquisitions, are reshaping the region’s...