Politics
How International Sanctions Work: Tools, Targets and Track Records
Sanctions are the West's go-to tool short of war, from Russia to Iran. The instruments, who wields them, and the fiercely debated…
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Politics
What Is Soft Power? How Countries Win Influence Without Armies
Soft power is influence through attraction: culture, values and legitimate policy. Who wields it best, how it converts to influence, and where…
Politics
The Indo-Pacific Explained: The Geopolitical Concept Reshaping Asia
The Indo-Pacific now frames 21st-century geopolitics, from Malacca to the Pacific islands. Where the concept came from, why it matters and the…
Politics
The Taiwan Question Explained: History, Status Quo and Global Stakes
Taiwan's 23 million people sit at the world's most dangerous flashpoint. The history of Beijing's claim, the ambiguity preserving peace, and the…
Politics
The South China Sea Dispute Explained: Claims, Rulings and the Standoff
Six governments claim the South China Sea; a 2016 tribunal ruled China's claims illegal, yet Beijing's artificial islands stand. Claims, law and…
Politics
The Israel-Palestine Conflict Explained: A Century of History in Brief
From the Balfour Declaration to the Gaza war: a century of clashing national movements over the same land. The wars, the failed…
Politics
The Russia-Ukraine War Explained: Origins, Stakes and Global Fallout
Russia's 2022 invasion became Europe's largest war since 1945. Its origins in 2014 and NATO disputes, how the fighting evolved, and the…
Politics
The Kashmir Dispute Explained: India, Pakistan and the Line of Control
Kashmir is the world's most dangerous territorial dispute, dividing two nuclear rivals. Its 1947 origins, the Line of Control, and why it…
Politics
Nuclear Deterrence Explained: How Nuclear Powers Keep the Peace
Nuclear deterrence has prevented atomic war since 1945 through fear of retaliation. How the doctrine works, its near-misses, and the forces eroding…
Politics
Arms Control Treaties Explained: From the NPT to New START
Arms control capped the world's deadliest weapons for 50 years. How the NPT and US-Soviet treaties worked, why the system is collapsing,…