On October 6, 2025, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned less than 24 hours after forming a government and less than a month after his appointment. This marks the shortest government since the establishment of the Fifth Republic. Lecornu's resignation follows an emerging trend in French Politics, in which the government is frequently collapsing. This is sending France into a national crisis while undermining the legitimacy of French President Emmanuel Macron.

Rebellion has long shaped human societies. Throughout history, individuals and groups have opposed institutions, regimes, leaders, and each other. The underlying motivations for rebellion and the factors that unite individuals in resistance remain subjects of scholarly inquiry. This article examines the primary motivations for rebellion and presents several prominent historical examples. Furthermore, it underscores the significance of understanding rebellion for contemporary global stability.

The Japanese Liberal Democratic Party is in crisis. After the resignation of Ishiba, the LDP must analyze its past in order to understand how best to move forward and reform. Without factions, internal divisions have increased while ideological consistency has decreased. On top of this, control over junior lawmakers through the distribution of funds is nearly non existent, meaning that a new system must be created as the old was implicated in a financial scandal. Without structural reforms that please both junior and senior lawmakers, the LDP will eventually fall.

On July 20th, the people of Japan decided to keep the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) in power albeit with populist reservations. After a series of scandals, the LDP was in dire straits, but managed to keep a plurality of seats alongside its coalition partner the Komeito. Populist parties such as the Democratic Party for the People (DPP) and the Sanseito made strides in the polls while traditional opposition parties such as the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) and the Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) stalled. The Sanseito however was mired by a scandal just days before the election, having a candidate participate in an interview with Russian-owned media outlet Sputnik without party authorization. Russia was also shown to have been interfering with the election through social media as well. How Japan navigates these issues will ultimately determine the future of the LDP, CDP, JCP, and other parties' futures.

The U.S. under Donald Trump has mainstreamed a CEO-style, highly transactional diplomacy in the Americas: define the problem plainly, set a concrete ask, trade quick concessions, move on. In a global age of institutional fatigue, personal ties are the glue that keeps policy moving – the United States’ CEO-style approach to diplomacy can find a home in Latin America.

Iraq's Development Road aims to transform the Middle Eastern country into a crucial trade corridor on the Eurasian continent, reducing dependence on oil by the country. Stretching from the Gulf of Persia to Turkey, this megaproject promises regional connectivity and economic/job stimulation for many. Despite this, political fragmentation and chronic corruption threaten the success of such an ambitious initiative. This brief examine both the project's economic promises and downfalls, arguing that without correction from within the Development Road will never materialize.

North America’s trade arteries are clogged, not with goods but with inefficiency, duplication, and gaps in enforcement that smugglers exploit every day. The United States and Mexico run separate customs regimes, each with its own bureaucracy, inspection standards, and data systems. That fragmentation slows legitimate trade and leaves exploitable cracks in border security. In a continent where contraband can move from a remote checkpoint to a major U.S. city in hours, the cost of those cracks is measured in both money and lives. Recent ad-hoc U.S. and Mexican coordination on border security policies have proven to slow down fentanyl trade. However, coordination under two siloed customs systems is slow, inconsistent, and reactive. This article will present a brief case for a single, binational joint customs agency.

"China is not an enemy". That was the title of an open letter published in the Washington Post in 2019. This article seeks to reinforce this idea in the new Trump administration, especially with its fearmongering and hawkishness towards China. It also provides more insight into the environment surrounding the discourse on China and how other actors, specifically think tanks, are amplifying this hawkishness and fearmongering that is unnecessary, unwarranted, and even dangerous.

Child marriage is one of the world’s most pressing issues for young children today. According to the United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 640 million girls worldwide were married in childhood. India is home to the largest percentage of child brides in the world. India’s percentage of child brides implies a lack of resources for young girls to develop economically or socially in their country. Implementing stronger emphasis on education for young women can potentially shift cultural norms in communities.

The article is more of an opinion piece that reflects on Bukele's government and how other countries in Latin America (such as Ecuador) are inspired by his security measures.

India, long recognized for its demographic and developmental complexities, has made significant strides toward a more sustainable future despite post-colonial challenges and rapid industrialization. This article highlights the particular case of Uttar Pradesh, a northern state of India. Historically, this state has been known for its low levels of development, particularly in comparison to some states in the South. However, over the past few years, UP has made commendable progress in sustainability through its organizational and employment policies, as well as social perspectives.

Since World War 2, US leadership has shaped global cooperation through soft power, trade, and military alliances. Recent policy shifts, such as tariffs, reduced international engagement, and the closure of essential diplomatic institutions, have weakened that influence. Allies are reevaluating their reliance on US defense and economic relations, turning to regional alternatives. These developments reflect a possible transition to a multipolar world order and a diminishment of the US in global standing if these actions continue.

This brief examines how energy infrastructure has historically been targeted as a tool of asymmetric warfare and why Mexico’s fragile electrical system is now dangerously exposed to similar threats. With cartel violence escalating and the potential for a renewed war on drugs, the brief explores the structural vulnerabilities of Mexico’s energy infastructure, which remains underfunded and ill-equipped to withstand deliberate attacks. Given that Mexico imports roughly 60% of its natural gas from the United States, any disruption to its grid poses serious risks not only to domestic stability, but to the U.S. energy market and cross-border cooperation. Recognizing this interdependence, the brief outlines actionable solutions from physical fortification strategies modeled on Ukraine’s wartime grid defense, to financing mechanisms through the North American Development Bank (NADBank).

The issue brief examines the intensified digital repression during the recent "12-day war" between Israel and Iran, exploring how the Islamic Republic of Iran exploits cyber threats to justify internet blackouts and digital censorship. The article explores the development of the "Halal Internet," authoritarian partnerships, and online disinformation campaigns to dispel dissent. The article also underscores how international involvement and funding is needed to help promote digital freedom in Iran.

Africa has long been central to the development of world and intercontinental trade as we know it; yet for centuries, it has been a major player in global economic development without being officially included in world economic forums and trade agreements. Since its decolonization in the late 20th century, African countries have worked restlessly to develop themselves, but face the continued obstacle of not being allowed to make decisions about their own economic fates. However, as the world has moved into the 21st century, African leaders have refused to be left behind economically, having signed the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement to conduct international and intercontinental trade on their own terms. 

This article looks at how immigration policy has emerged as a major issue in European politics, contributing to government instability, the rise of right-wing populism, and shifts in mainstream party platforms. Focusing on the UK, Denmark, and the EU, it highlights the tension between economic needs, public sentiment, and human rights, and argues that coherent, cooperative reform is essential to address growing political divides.

President Claudia Sheinbaum faces growing challenges balancing domestic security priorities with US relations under the renewed Trump administration. Inheriting AMLO's failed "hugs, not bullets" anti-cartel strategies, Sheinbaum has pursued Mexican intelligence centralization and cautious, limited cooperation with Washington. However, tensions have escalated over migration enforcement and economic policies, including new tariffs on Mexican goods and taxes on remittances. Despite reporting reduced fentanyl trafficking, Sheinbaum must continue to navigate these complex diplomatic pressures while maintaining Mexico's socioeconomic interests and as the US-Mexico relationship faces a new era.

This article focuses on the Japanese Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) faction called the Kōchikai (Big Pond Society) and how it has changed from more cooperative and collaborative stances to more dividing and antagonistic stances. It then shows how, while the majority of LDP factions are dissolved, these groupings can still be valuable to determine the possible policy stances a politician may take in the future.

Ongoing conflict between the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda has exacerbated gender based violence cases in the DRC. The most recent ceasefire from July to August 2024 initiated peace agreements between Rwanda, DRC, and M23, a Rwanda-backed group in the Congo. However, M23 has captured the city of Goma and is pushing deeper into the DRC despite international calls for ceasefire. With more than 800,000 people already living in displacement camps in Goma, conditions worsen for women in the Congo. Permanent ceasefire must be implemented in order to provide security for women in the region.

The Japanese economy and its trade are very complicated subjects with numerous aspects to it, but one way to look at them is through the lens of key figures. By analyzing the Japanese Prime Minister, Governor of the Bank of Japan, and the Minister of the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry, it shows how they focus on different areas of the economy and how they can influence Japanese economic and trade policies. Through their individual qualities, it is possible to see how these figures compliment and contrast each other in their attempts to rejuvenate the Japanese economy.