Institute for Security & Development Policy

North Korean Nationalism: Reading the Paleolithic Text

North Korea, after over seven decades since establishment, continues to be poorly understood. The paucity of knowledge regarding the country is not only a matter of the lack of access to factual data; understanding of the country’s ideological tenets and its denizens’ values and beliefs remains superficial. The implications of this scantiness run deeper: failure to fully understand the cultural and historical frames of reference of North Korea as a state and people leads to stereotypes, misperceptions, and even contributes to confrontation. The purpose of this brief paper is to explore and gain a better grasp of North Korea’s sense of national identity through the lens of Paleolithic archaeology – a dimension largely overlooked in analyses of North Korea, at least in the West.

Xi Jinping Thought: Xi’s Struggle Against Political Decline

One of the latest extensions of Xi Jinping’s influence on Chinese society is the incorporation of ‘Xi Thought’ into elementary and middle school curriculums. Xi is continuing the tradition of Chinese leaders defining their own ideology as guiding principles for the people and the Nation. ‘Xi Thought’, which was added to the CCP’s Constitution during in 2018, sets out a plan to build a ‘moderately prosperous society’ and thus achieve the Chinese Dream of building a great socialist society and rejuvenating China and its role as a central global power. Whether Xi seeks primarily to secure his own position of absolute power, export the Chinese model internationally, or restructure Chinese society remains in the realm of speculation. Yet, Xi Thought emanates from a fear of power decline and presents many contradictions that could weaken the CCP in the medium term.

China and the Nordics: Tracing Trends in Relations

This report is not intended as an end unto itself but seeks to reflect emerging discussions that are unfolding in Europe, China, and elsewhere. The main body of the text is sectioned into four parts. The first section explores the historical backdrop of Sino-Nordic relations and provides a brief overview of the interplay between Chinese domestic developments and diplomacy. This is followed by a discussion in the second section of contemporary facets of relations, including economic ties, security concerns, and political considerations. The third section explores an ideological dimension of relations by examining the impact of Chinese political thought and rhetoric on Nordic politics and society. Finally, the report touches upon the Arctic as a unique intersection of Nordic and Chinese interests. The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, which has made this report possible through its generous support.

AUKUS: Resetting European Thinking on Indo-Pacific?

This special publication brings together a number of experts from Europe and Asia to discuss the implications of AUKUS for Europe. The AUKUS is a critical geopolitical development. It has complex chapters attached to it. Therefore, any assessment of the AUKUS has to be understood from a comprehensive perspective, going beyond just a security partnership. The prime aim of this publication is to discuss the real motives and objectives behind the AUKUS. More importantly, it examines the fallout of the AUKUS on Europe and how it will impact or influence the European future outlook toward the Indo-Pacific.

Latest Publications

North Korean Nationalism: Reading the Paleolithic Text

North Korea, after over seven decades since establishment, continues to be poorly understood. The paucity of knowledge regarding the country is not only a matter of the lack of access […]

Xi Jinping Thought: Xi’s Struggle Against Political Decline

Charlotte Poirier

Abstract One of the latest extensions of Xi Jinping’s influence on Chinese society is the incorporation of ‘Xi Thought’ into elementary and middle school curriculums. Like his predecessors, Xi is […]

China and the Nordics: Tracing Trends in Relations

Julian Tucker and Johannes Nordin

Summary Diplomatic relations between Modern China and the Nordic States grew from different points of departure yet followed roughly congruent paths, adhering closely to Beijing’s domestic and regional priorities. Trade […]

Books

China’s Energy Security

Jingzheng Ren 任竞争

Picture and text were taken from publisher WSPC’s website. China is the second-largest economy in the world yet it faces serious energy security challenges due to the country’s reliance on […]

Books & Monographs September, 2021
Tomhetens filosofi

Lars Vargö

Bild och text tagen från Carlsson Bokförlags hemsida Tomheten definieras på olika sätt. Det kan vara den verklighet, eller icke-verklighet, som existerar, eller inte existerar, bortom det individuella jaget. Det […]

Books & Monographs October, 2021
Korea – en civilisation i kläm

Lars Vargö

Korea är en civilisation som lätt förbises vid jämförelser med Kina och Japan. Men den koreanska kulturen är unik och har haft stort inflytande på sin omvärld. Tryckkonsten med lösa, […]

Books & Monographs October, 2019, pp. 245
Uzbekistan’s New Face

S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell

Uzbekistan, long considered the center of Central Asia, has the region’s largest population and borders every other regional state including Afghanistan. For the first 25 years of its independence, it […]

Books & Monographs October, 2018
The Long Game on the Silk Road: U.S. and EU Strategy for Central Asia and the Caucasus

S. Frederick Starr and Svante E. Cornell

This book argues that American and European policies toward Central Asia and the Caucasus suffer from both conceptual and structural impediments. It traces the framework of Western policies to the […]

Books & Monographs February, 2018
Why Turkey is Authoritarian: From Atatürk to Erdogan

Halil M. Karaveli

For the last century, the Western world has regarded Turkey as a pivotal case of the ‘clash of civilisations’ between Islam and the West. Why Turkey is Authoritarian offers a […]

Books & Monographs June, 2018, Pluto Press