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.

Bangladesh’s history since independence in 1971 has changed the global sphere. United by one language, Bangla, Bangladesh serves as a story of a people’s self-determination, but also persistence of the long-term fight for democracy. Despite Sheikh Mujibur Rahman being revered as the “Father of Nation,” his enactment of a quota system became the trigger to a long standing struggle of human rights violations facilitated by his daughter, the longest serving Prime Minister in Bangladesh. From July to August 2024, the protests led by university students led a mass movement to dethrone an authoritarian government in favor of democracy and human rights.

Chinese government subsidies to the country’s industry have been among the most aggravating and contentious points in the US-China relationship over the past 15 years. To deal with the issue of China's unfair trade practices, the US has tried several approaches, including tariffing Chinese goods and creating legal hurdles to investment. By examining recent developments in the US-China trade relationship and China's internal political and economic pressures, this article attempts to explain why such US efforts are unlikely to see much success.

The Op-Ed compares Trump 2.0 to the Danish fairytale 'The Emperor's New Clothes' by examining the impact of President Trump's conduct concerning the war in Gaza and his meetings with heads of state so far.

The growing trade deficit is often cited as a leading example of America’s industrial decline, but this view is problematic. However, the continued framing of industrial health as a trade issues has had various negative consequences. This article seeks to address said consequences and highlight alternative proposals for bolstering American manufacturing.

While Ishiba's diplomatic outlook has been different than the views of his predecessors, this could be used to the advantage of the US. Ishiba has been more pro-Chinese than his predecessors and seems willing to work together with China on common issues. With US leadership in question throughout the world, and a possible Japan-US fallout looming over tariffs, now is the time to see what impact Ishiba's diplomatic strategy would have on the US' latticework strategy to unite the Indo-Pacific through a multitude of agreements between nations and whether it is possible to incorporate Ishiba's diplomacy into the US' strategy.

With recent developments painting an increasingly stark picture for the security of Europe, there have been increased pushes for the European Union to defend itself independent of the United States. This article briefly explores critical legal and geopolitical challenges with such a policy to understand the potential ramifications of a European Union army.

This article looks at the history of US interest in Greenland, focusing on the changing motives behind its strategic importance over time. Recent comments from the Trump Administration have brought a spotlight to the historic trends of involvement with Greenland, shifting as a result of geopolitical, economic, and military priorities. From resource-driven interest to strategic involvement, this paper looks at the fluctuation of interest through administrations and foreign policy doctrines. Greenland has remained an important point of interest in the region.

While protectionism has been prominent for the past couple of decades in the realm of international affairs, nations have different ways of applying it. In the instances of 7-Eleven and US Steel, these two companies have been subjected to protectionist policies from foreign companies that wish to take them over, but these processes have diverged greatly. The takeover of 7-Eleven has been a standard process which provides security and reassurance to both sides, while the takeover of US Steel has been fraught with tension and challenges that have brought strain to the Japan-US relationship.

The bromance between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi has been well documented through their compliments and the rallies they throw for each other. During Mr. Trump's first term, despite the clash over trade and tariffs, the two leaders signed security deals and Mr. Trump helped Mr. Modi out with consistent non-interference in Indian affairs. Now, President Trump returns to the White House with an unapologetically “America First” agenda. India’s role in the Quad has certainly caught his attention but so has its engagement with BRICS and its trade deficit with the US. Today, US-India relations are more uncertain than ever before.

The People's Power Revolution against the rule of the dictator of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos that brought about the return to democracy in the Philippines occurred only a few decades ago. Following the strongman rule of President Rodrigo Duterte, Filipinos voted to elect President Ferdinand "Bong Bong" Marcos Jr. into the presidency in 2022. With Marcos' dictatorial pedigree and the dangerous precedents of Duterte, the future of Filipino democracy is gravely at risk and the potential for a new rise in authoritarianism in the Philippines is on the horizon.

Since 2009, BRICS, originally comprising of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has evolved from a bloc of 10 of the world’s largest developing economies to a growing adversary of the West. With the recent inclusion of 5 new countries—Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the UAE, and Indonesia, BRICS now accounts for a quarter of the global economy and nearly half of the world’s population. This article explores BRICS’ progress towards its two primary goals—reducing global reliance on the US dollar and challenging Western hegemony and the US-dominated global order.

Gaza has suffered an intense humanitarian crisis. Forced displacement orders by Israel require people to flee to already overcrowded and often unsafe areas, overwhelming already strained resources like food, water, and medical care. The price to escape through the Rafah border is expensive for Palestinians who are displaced from their homes, so they turn to TikTok to seek help from the international community. As Palestinians face a severe absence of basic human needs and no safe measure of escape. On October 15, 2024, Israel blocked nearly all food aid from entering northern Gaza leaving some 400,000 Palestinians to either starve or move to the south where there is no guarantee of shelters for the displaced. As children make up almost half of Gaza’s population, they are the main targets of this catastrophe. Despite this dangerous environment, Palestinians remain resilient as seen in their unique dedication to education. 

The article challenges Western perceptions of African women and their leadership, revealing the strength, resilience, and ingenuity of women leaders across Africa. Raised with predominantly negative stereotypes about Africa, the author shares her transformation after studying "Women and Leadership in Africa." She highlights impactful examples of African women's leadership beyond formal education, such as the Murang’a County Women SACCO in Kenya, who collectively funded housing projects for students, demonstrating economic autonomy and community support. Programs like CARE Niger's Mata Masu Dubara also illustrate how women achieve economic security and support their communities through local knowledge and mutual aid. Iconic leaders like Wangarĩ Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement, championed environmental conservation and women’s empowerment by connecting with and mobilizing local women. The article underscores the necessity of African women's representation in decision-making, arguing that leaders like Maathai succeeded because of their relatability and deep understanding of community needs. It calls for more inclusive leadership frameworks that empower African women to shape solutions for their communities, emphasizing that representation and genuine understanding of local issues are critical for sustainable change.

Over the past two administrations in the White House, the United States has increasingly moved away from the principle of strategic ambiguity that is supposed to shape U.S. foreign and defense policy toward the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China. This piece examines the origins of strategic ambiguity as a policy, reviews its effectiveness, and argues that there is a need for the U.S. to actively restart abiding by the constraints of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 and the principles enshrined therein.

With Russia's invasion of Ukraine stretching out far past its beginning phase, Russia has now reached out to other actors for assistance. Without a general mobilization, Russia cannot keep its current manpower in the field, so it has reached out to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for manpower and weapons. It has also reached out to China for weapons and munitions, most notably creating a drone lab within China to produce new types of drones for the frontline. These new diplomatic relations are seemingly forming Russia's diplomatic relations into a new hub and spokes type system, very reminiscent of the United States in Asia, creating a new, more decentralized threat which the US must be very cautious to interact with.

While extensive, Western aid has had many shortcomings within its framework of multilateral lending, leading to debt burdens and inefficiencies. Meanwhile, China, through its Belt and Road Initiative, offers infrastructure-centric investments without the strings attached, making it an attractive alternative to the West’s offerings. The paper concludes by giving recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness of Western aid while competing with China's growing influence in global development.

The Lithuanian Social Democratic Party's decided to anoint the highly controversial and antisemitic Dawn of Nemunas party as their coalition partner in a three-party coalition agreement. The article reviews why the LSDP took this measure, how it would be done and what the Dawn of Nemunas party receives in exchange, as well as the interactions from the international community and its effect on Lithuania's international relations, particularly with Germany and Israel.

This brief looks at Germany’s current political and economic challenges, focusing on the country’s economic recession in 2023. This is compounded by the internal divisions within the governing coalition. Discourse between fiscal policies led to the firing of the Finance Minister Christian Linder and the crumbling of the ruling coalition with the withdrawal of the Free Democratic Party has caused grumblings of a lack of confidence in the coalition government. This has caused the current coalition to be ruling in the minority. This is the most recent issue that has propelled the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party which has gained significant support over the last few election cycles. They have capitalized on issues such as high energy prices, immigration, and the economic strain of green energy transition policies. The party’s populist message, largely surrounding anti-immigration and against Germany’s EU contributions, has resonated with citizens in economically struggling regions such as Thuringia. The paper examines the implications of the AfD’s rise, what it means for democracy, how to address the issues, and the challenges that occur that have caused the lack of trust in the government to not serve the interests of the people.

This analysis provides a brief overview of the gang violence crisis in Haiti in 2024, derived from political instability, poverty, and a lack of government control. Armed gangs now control significant parts of the country, committing mass violence and challenging the state’s authority. The breakdown of political institutions and systemic corruption have allowed gangs to thrive. Despite international peacekeeping efforts, the situation worsens, with civilians trapped in violence and instability. A sustainable solution requires not only immediate peacekeeping but also long-term political reform and economic support to address the root causes of violence, poverty, and a lack of opportunities.