ISDP Voices

In Middle Eastern geopolitics, the relationship between Iran and Hezbollah is emblematic of the intricacies of regional power dynamics. Rooted in a shared ideology, this alliance has burgeoned into a formidable partnership, wherein Iran has adeptly harnessed Hezbollah as an extension of its strategic interests, pushing its influence beyond its borders without direct military engagements. […]

China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) met for the respective annual sessions during March 5-10. While much of the work done was routine and without any surprise, there was a lot to read between the lines, particularly at the NPC. Some of these issues and priority areas for […]

With the war of words back between the Philippines and China owing to the simultaneous outbreak of tensions in Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, another regional flashpoint, Taiwan, appears to be spilling over into the bilateral relations of both countries. The Philippines’ One China Policy was once again in […]

‘What is the Global South?’ Joseph Nye raises this critical question in a recent article where he argues that the phrase is more geographic than political, and that there are too many conflicts among states in the Global South for the countries to have a unified voice. A Carnegie paper takes this point further, stating […]

As Hungary finally approved the Swedish application to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), over 200 years of formal neutrality and non-alignment has come to an end. With this, the last major hurdle for Swedish aspirations to join the military alliance has been overcome as Hungary was dragging out the process, much to the confusion […]

“No More Bets” (孤注一掷) is a Chinese movie released on August 8, 2023 and has to date earned USD540.5 million at the box office. The movie portrays the adventure of a Chinese programmer and a Chinese model lured overseas by the prospect of a high-paying job and trafficked into a fraudulent online call scheme in […]

Amidst the Houthi attacks near the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, eyes are turning once again towards the waters of the Middle East. The U.S. has for decades led an international coalition committed to keeping regional waters safe. That order is being questioned due to the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in regional waters. […]

China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) and the meeting of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), popularly known as the two sessions, are going to take place from the 5th of March. Traditionally the NPC has been called a “rubber stamp parliament” which has little authority over decision making. However, irrespective […]

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel and the consequent Israeli war on Gaza has reignited the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, bringing it to the fore of Middle East and international politics. The recurrence of violent events keeps the Middle East on the boil forcing the regional and external powers to respond to the immediate issues […]

Since the 1979 Iranian revolution, regional geopolitics in the Middle East has been significantly influenced by Iran’s actions and interventions. Iran has strategically developed “anti-U.S.” alliances, often fostering relationships with non-state actors despite differing ideologies, such as seen with Hamas. This complex dynamic highlights Iran’s multifaceted approach to regional influence that seeks to challenge the […]