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.

Although women represent half of the world’s population, gender inequality runs rampant. Gender inequality dismisses human development, while women’s empowerment has spurred productivity and economic growth. In October 2024, governments released statements centered around government interference in women’s autonomy in Afghanistan, Turkey, and Pakistan. News about the government and women’s autonomy in these countries has highlighted cases of gender inequality. Social media has become a major tool in spreading news of the government's mistreatment of women to an international audience. At the same time, each country has a separate response to address its violation of human rights. As the UN Secretary-General has called gender inequality the “unfinished business of our time,” governments must address the violence that has hindered women’s success to maintain legitimacy. 

The proposal of an "Asian NATO" has gained prevalence in Japanese politics as a potential security relationship for the Indo-Pacific and Asia. Driven by concerns over the nuclear status in China, North Korea, and Russia, Japanese leaders, including Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, recently proposed a defense agreement with East Asian allies to stabilize regional tensions. While the proposal is inclusive and not directed at any specific nation, it has faced skepticism from the U.S., which favors strengthening existing alliances, and China, which perceives it as a threat to its regional influence. Though not an imminent priority, this initiative reflects shifting regional security dynamics and the need for global cooperation in addressing emerging threats.

This brief examines the UK’s move towards energy independence in response to the Russian-Ukrainian war. Once a net energy exporter, the UK is now focused on reducing foreign oil reliance. The British Energy Security Strategy, launched by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, emphasizes renewable energy investments and job creation. Current Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues this focus on offshore wind, hydrogen, and nuclear power. The shift aims to enhance national security, stimulate economic growth, and support the UK’s climate commitments, positioning it as a leader in global climate action.

With the new Ishiba administration in Japan starting to take hold, it is about time to talk about Japan's maritime capabilities. Tensions between Japan and China only seem to be increasing, one part being an incident where China flew a plane into Japanese airspace. Japan itself navigated the Taiwan Strait for the first time, proclaiming the need for freedom of navigation within international waters. Under Shigeru Ishiba, Japan's navy does not seem set to expand, but rather to improve, and to increase its range of actions by revising the Status of Forces Agreement with the US. While ministers he has appointed, such as Foreign Minister Iwaya and Defense Minister Gen, are both former defense ministers, they both may clash with Ishiba's own vision, showing a steady, yet possibly uncertain future for Japan's Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) and its maritime capabilities.

Child marriage is a violation of human rights that occurs worldwide. An estimated 640 million women today were married as children. Child marriage can occur in countries with high poverty, deeply set cultural practices, and social expectations which young girls face with no other alternative. Malawi is a country in Southeastern Africa, a region that is home to 50 million child brides. The United Nations Population Fund of Malawi states that 47% of women in the country are married before the age of 18. However, the Marriage Act of Malawi in 2017, which protects young girls from underage marriage, was passed due to the work of civil society. The country displays hope in preventing child marriage within the country through intervention that other countries can display in efforts to solve this major human rights violation. 

The contentious political environment surrounding the 2024 American Presidential Election between Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump provides the golden opportunity for America’s adversaries to interfere in the election. Chief among these adversaries is the government of Iran. Continuing their history of American presidential election interference, the Iranian government and its agents are seeking to sow distrust and create chaos in the electoral process and democratic systems of the United States. They are attempting to achieve this aim through the coordinated compromising of critical computer accounts, distributing stolen restricted information, and the dissemination of disinformation through social media and news websites. Additionally, the Iranian government stokes fears of political violence through the ongoing threat to the life of Former President Trump. This multi-pronged interference campaign against the 2024 presidential election is the most serious threat ever posed by the Iranian government in an election. By sowing distrust in the American democratic electoral system, the Iranian government is seeking to make the United States less stable and secure.