Reaching a deal on the Korean Peninsula Soon after the 2018 Winter Olympics, South Korea is once again in the international spotlight. On 27 April, it hosted a long-anticipated inter-Korean summit on its territory for the first time in history. The highly choreographed meeting was held between the two lead actors almost exactly as scripted. Nonetheless, many impromptu moments of …

The end of the dollar hegemony? In its efforts to make the Chinese currency yuan, or reminbi, more international and to break the US dollar’s global dominance, China has launched its own petro currency: Petro-yuan. With a step that is likely to upend, and reshape, the global oil market, the Shanghai International Energy Exchange launched the first crude futures contracts …

The wealth we must tap Our economic relationship with the ocean is once again evolving in important ways. As a setting for global trade and commerce, and as a significant source of food and energy, the ocean’s contribution is already important. This century, it is likely to become an economic force. The drivers are many and varied, but have their …

After some two years of extreme and ever-rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, a mini-rapprochement between South Korea and North Korea has been seen. On February 09, the 2018 Winter Olympics began in PyeongChang, a county in Gangwon Province of South Korea. The PyeongChang Olympic Stadium welcomed all 92 countries boasting nearly 3,000 athletes, with all eyes on the sight …

Are they the future of money? The rapid rise in the price of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies during the recent weeks has attracted the attention of investors, financial companies, regulators, and the media alike. Today, bitcoin is everywhere — in the news, in conversations, in the money market, even in ATMs. The cryptocurrency has gained so much attention that even …

“Being defiant can be a good thing sometimes. Defiance is like marijuana – it is not a bad thing when it is used right.” _Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Purple Hibiscus Since independence, the major objectives of Pakistan’s foreign policy have remained fluctuating. Although there are some constants such as efforts to keep close cooperation with the US, deep security assurances for …

  Exploring the linkages “What happens to the foreign policies of states when they acquire nuclear weapons?” This question has grown in importance as new nuclear powers have emerged and some other states have moved closer to joining the nuclear club. Indeed, determining the costs the world should be prepared to pay to prevent nuclear proliferation hinges on assessing how …

Looking at the global political landscape over the recent months, two trends are becoming more apparent. The infamous military and economic power at America’s disposal is declining, whereas in the multipolar field, acceleration has occurred in the creation of a series of infrastructures, mechanisms and procedures to contain and limit the negative effects of America’s declining unipolar moment. One of …

Throughout the course of human history, we have witnessed a number of events that proved to be a source of pain and shame for people across the world. The removal and relocation of Native people in North America, the Second World War, and the ethnic cleansing in Rwanda during the early 1990s are only a few examples. But, while each …

Emmanuel Macron’s resounding victory in the French presidential election has elicited a sigh of relief not just in France, but also in other countries. Macron not only stopped his country from sliding into the hands of far-right but also showed that the anti-establishment momentum that powered the victories of the Brexit camp in the UK and Donald Trump in the …