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SCO Summit: A Boost for Pakistan’s Diplomatic Standing
Muhammad Murad explains why the SCO is significant to Pakistan. He argues that in order to cope with its political and economic challenges, Pakistan needs to improve and strengthen its diplomatic standing. The recently held SCO meeting provided the timely impetus for Pakistan to uplift its diplomatic morale, mainly in the Eurasian region. Therefore, he writes, Islamabad must make the most of this meeting and engage with the member-states bilaterally improving its trade relations, particularly with India and the CARs. This would consequently improve its export base and overcome its energy shortfall. Moreover, the rare visit of the Indian Minister of External Affairs should be considered a blessing in disguise to re-initiate dialogue with its neighboring country. Read the piece by Muhammad Murad here.
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Russia is a systemic threat and Europe must wake up to face it
Anna Wieslander writes on why Europe must adopt a new strategy focused on deterrence, resilience, and defence to deal with Russia. She argues that while traveling in Europe lately, it has become clear there are a couple of widespread beliefs that do not accurately capture the essence of the Russian challenge after its war on Ukraine. These beliefs will not lead to peace, and they will not bring prosperity. On the contrary, they can be devastating for European security. She writes that there is a widespread but mistaken belief that Russia’s war on Ukraine is a local issue, but in reality, Russia poses a broader systemic threat to the international order, not just a regional one. Russia is a systemic threat, demonstrated by its global ambitions, military build-up, hybrid warfare, nuclear rattling, and alignment with China, aiming to challenge the international order beyond Ukraine. Read the full article by Anna Wieslander here.
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The Demographic Deficit: National Security Challenges for Japan and South Korea
Kristian Alexander writes on the rising demographic challenges faced by Japan and South Korea, respectively. He argues that to address their demographic challenges, the governments of Japan and South Korea should implement and expand policies that encourage couples to have children. Key initiatives could include increasing access to affordable childcare, promoting a healthy work-life balance, offering flexible work arrangements, providing tax breaks for college tuition, and enacting laws to ensure pay equality. To help alleviate financial burdens, South Korea has spent more than $270 billion on childcare subsidies since 2006. Such measures are essential to create an environment where raising a family is more feasible and attractive for young couples. In the military, investments in cutting-edge defense technologies are being made to address recruitment shortfalls and the challenges posed by shrinking populations, writes Alexander. He refers to Andrew Oros, Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Washington College, who believes that countries like Japan and South Korea will increasingly depend on labor-saving technologies, such as uncrewed and autonomous systems which are fundamentally altering how wars are fought. Japan has already begun integrating advanced technologies, such as robotics and artificial intelligence, into its defense strategy to compensate for the shrinking workforce. Read this piece by Kristian Alexander here.
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Why the World Can’t Afford to Keep Taiwan Out of Interpol
Brian Iselin writes on how Taiwan’s exclusion from the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) presents a critical gap in the global effort to combat transnational crime. He writes that the push for Taiwan’s inclusion has gained momentum in recent years, with legislative efforts and diplomatic campaigns from countries like the United States, Japan, and members of the European Union. He further writes that the efforts have also focused on revisiting the misuse of UN Resolution 2758, which has often been wrongly interpreted to exclude Taiwan from international organizations. Could correcting this misinterpretation open the door for Taiwan’s participation in specialized agencies like Interpol at the next Interpol General Assembly? Read this policy brief by Brian Iselin here.
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Elevating Democracy via Transatlantic Collaboration
In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Stockholm, the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP) organized a series of conference events from March 11 to 14, 2024, held in various locations including Stockholm, Gothenburg, and a final closed-door roundtable in Luleå with local stakeholders. The goal was to raise awareness and encourage dialogue on the challenges posed by authoritarian regimes exploiting international research collaborations and corporate ownership for illiberal purposes. This special paper comes out of these series of events. Through this paper, ISDP advocates for the creation of a transatlantic platform that brings together scholars, government representatives, and private sector leaders. Such a platform would enable the exchange of experiences and coordination of strategies, recognizing that these challenges demand broad international consensus rather than isolated state-level responses. Read and download this special paper edited by Maud Descamps here.
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China’s Security Engagement with Africa & The “Global South” Narrative
Fatoumata Diallo and Maud Descamps write about the Chinese strategy of strengthening a multipolar world via the narrative of the Global South. They argue, that in recent decades, China has actively sought to position itself as a pivotal partner and emerging leader within the Global South. Despite the lack of clear consensus on the definition of “Global South” or a definitive list of countries it includes, the term holds considerable symbolic value. It embodies a shared sentiment among developing nations, characterized by a “sense of economic or financial disadvantage, frustrations with Western paternalism and neo-colonial attitudes”, and a collective drive for a more equitable global governance architecture. In this, China’s engagement with Africa has emerged as a critical element of its Global South strategy. Fostering stronger ties with African nations aligns with Beijing’s aims to create a multipolar global order and new norms that advance its geostrategic, political, and economic interests, write Diallo and Descamps. China’s strategy has notably evolved to include a more assertive role in shaping Africa’s security architecture. While initially focused on establishing itself as a reliable security partner, Beijing has gradually expanded its normative influence, promoting military governance models based on its Party-military model. These dynamics present strategic implications for the EU, requiring a nuanced understanding of China’s growing role in African security to assess challenges and impacts on EU interests, write Diallo and Descamps. Read the complete piece here.
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BRICS: Evolving into a Vehicle for Inclusive Multilateralism?
This backgrounder covers how by opting for horizontal expansion, BRICS has partly eschewed deeper vertical integration, signaling a different growth and cohesion strategy compared to the G7. BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is a group of major emerging economies that seeks to reform global governance and foster alternatives to established financial institutions. First convened in 2009, BRICS has gradually expanded its cooperation areas beyond economics to include various new sectors, such as security, energy, infrastructure, science, technology, digital economy, healthcare, and green development. BRICS operates as a flexible intergovernmental organization without a permanent secretariat or founding charter, and functions through consensus-based decision-making, guided by implicit, semi-codified internal rules. While the five original members share common goals, diverging ambitions exist for the direction and role for BRICS as an organization. In 2023, BRICS invited six new members – Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – further growing its share of global GDP, international markets, and natural resources. Read and download this ISDP backgrounder here.
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India’s BRICS Balancing Act
Leaders of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) will meet in Kazan, Russia from October 22-24 for the 16th BRICS Summit. BRICS will welcome its five new members (Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates), with at least 24 other prospective members joining the summit. As BRICS expands and looks to become a more influential player in world affairs, India faces the increasingly complicated task of continuing to deepen ties with the United States and play a leading role in Russian- and Chinese-dominant global forums, like BRICS. Jagannath Panda, head of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Institute for Security and Development Policy, discusses India’s views on BRICS expansion, what its membership in the grouping says about India’s foreign policy, and how it impacts ties with the U.S. Read this expert take by Jagannath Panda at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington DC.
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First Stockholm Forum on Himalaya calls for Greater Collaboration between India, the EU & the US
The first-ever Stockholm Forum on Himalaya held on 17 October 2024 called for stronger collaboration between India, the EU, Japan, and Nordic countries, focusing on soft infrastructure, renewable energy, and regional connectivity. Organized by the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs in Stockholm, the event focused on the implications of China’s expanding influence in the Himalayas. Titled “Mapping China’s Himalayan Hustle,” the forum probed the intricacies of China’s role as a neo-revisionist power in the region, exploring how its infrastructure development, military strategies, and diplomatic initiatives were reshaping the geopolitical landscape. In the context of growing tensions and strategic competition in Asia, particularly in the Himalayas, the conference aimed to foster dialogue among scholars, and experts from India, Europe, East Asia, and the U.S. on the broader ramifications of China’s ambitions. The discussion emphasized the importance of regional integration in South Asia, with India playing a pivotal role, especially in addressing climate-related challenges. However, differing views emerged on how to engage with China, with some advocating for accountability and others for cooperation on climate leadership. Additionally, the future of Tibet, particularly in the post-Dalai Lama era, was highlighted as a key issue requiring greater EU-India cooperation and structured dialogue. Read more details on the Forum on Himalaya here.
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SCO Summit: A Boost for Pakistan’s Diplomatic Standing
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Russia is a systemic threat and Europe must wake up to face it
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The Demographic Deficit: National Security Challenges for Japan and South Korea
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Why the World Can’t Afford to Keep Taiwan Out of Interpol
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Elevating Democracy via Transatlantic Collaboration
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China’s Security Engagement with Africa & The “Global South” Narrative
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BRICS: Evolving into a Vehicle for Inclusive Multilateralism?
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India’s BRICS Balancing Act
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First Stockholm Forum on Himalaya calls for Greater Collaboration between India, the EU & the US
Latest Publications
BRICS: Evolving into a Vehicle for Inclusive Multilateralism?
Summary BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) is a group of major emerging economies that seeks to reform global governance and foster alternatives to established financial institutions. First […]
India’s BRICS Balancing Act
KEY TAKEAWAYS For India, BRICS is an avenue to promote its global leadership, strategic autonomy and multipolar vision. India’s relations with anti-U.S. BRICS states like Russia and Iran complicate U.S.-India […]
First Stockholm Forum on Himalaya calls for Greater Collaboration between India, the EU & the US
China’s role as a revisionist power in the region needs to be addressed Urgency of tackling both environmental and geopolitical issues in the Himalayas October 17, 2024: The first-ever Stockholm […]
Books
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The US and EU, and the Emerging Supply Chain Network: Politics, Prospects, and Allies
The Global Supply Chains have evolved from simply logistical achievements to being the bedrock of the global economy. Driven by technological advances and geopolitical shifts, this transformation underscores the critical […]
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IN DEFENSE OF THE LIBERAL INTERNATIONAL ORDER
In recent years, the geopolitical fight for global economic, diplomatic, and institutional control has acutely intensified, accentuating the crisis in the existing post-World War II Liberal International Order (LIO), championed […]
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Quad Plus and Indo-Pacific: The Changing Profile of International Relations
This book explores how the Quad Plus mechanism is set to reshape the global multilateral economic and security co-operations between Quad partner countries and the rest of the world. With […]
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Obeständigt – Kontraster i japansk kultur
In Japanese culture, contrasts have always been a key factor. This culture has fascinated the outside world for hundreds, if not thousands of years. But Japan is a country largely […]
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Towards a Sustainable Arctic: International Security, Climate Change and Green Shipping
The Arctic’s environment, economics, and politics are changing rapidly, and the conflicting interests among stakeholders mean that it lacks sustainable political and military cooperation. States bordering the Arctic — Russia, […]