ISDP Voices

In the rapidly evolving landscapes of geopolitics and technology, global powerhouses are making substantial strides to secure their dominance in these emerging technologies. Amidst the intense U.S.-China competition to become leaders in science and technology, South Korea has heavily invested in strategic technologies, driven by the government’s ambition to become a ‘global pivotal state’ in […]

Between June 6-9, 373 million voters across 27 member-states will head to the polls to elect 720 lawmakers to the European Parliament. In turn, those lawmakers will vote for the next EU Commission for the coming five years. Having announced her candidacy in February, incumbent Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (VDL) is vying for […]

On May 16, 2024, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping set a new record by concluding their 43rd meeting, marking the 75-year anniversary of China-Russia diplomatic relations. The meeting witnessed affirmation of the ‘comprehensive partnership’ and ‘strategic cooperation’ between the two sides and a reiteration of their mutual contempt for “closed-door military and political alliances” led […]

Introduction UNCTAD’s Global Investment Trends Monitor published in January 2024 indicates that over the years, global capital flows in FDI have been experiencing an uncomfortable buoyancy. Global economic uncertainty and vulnerability accentuated by a changing geopolitical landscape have resurfaced the need to diversify concentrated country risk, particularly in global supply chains. Countries across the globe […]

Since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, a pivotal event that has significantly influenced global politics, the world has witnessed a notable shift in the relationship between Kim Jong Un’s North Korea and Vladimir Putin’s Russia. The more on-and-off relationship has turned into a much more stable interaction. The year 2023 […]

The return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan in October 2023 from self-exile in London raised many expectations. However, neither did Nawaz Sharif become the Prime Minister after the general elections in February 2024, though his party leads the government, nor has Pakistan left any stone unturned in raising the Kashmir issue—something that […]

Semiconductors are indisputably strategic commodities today and serve as the foundation for an array of both critical and emerging technologies. Semiconductors pose a dilemma between economic gain and security risk due to their importance in both civilian and military products. Semiconductor Global Value Chains (GVCs) are dominated by the U.S., Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Europe, […]

The foreign policy perspective of Pakistan has consistently been a topic of rigorous examination and evaluation, particularly within the context of domestic political instability. Following the general elections held on February 8, the newly formed coalition government under the premiership of Shehbaz Sharif faces many significant foreign policy matters to address. Given the fact that […]

The sea remains troubled by bad actors.  Piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing, among others, continue to threaten our seas.  Some criminals have no affiliation with nation-states, while others operate with the permission of, if not outright affiliation with, various governments who find such criminality a means to further their political interests.  The recent attacks by […]

Tourism and culture are interconnected and boost the social, cultural and economic growth of a country, playing a major role for building a soft power influence in terms of the rich history and dynamic culture of a country. It strengthens public diplomacy, paving the way for the exchange of cultures, social interactions and sharing ideas […]