Global Social Change
Men Make Wars, Women Pay the Price: Radical Feminist Critiques of the U.S.-Iran Conflict
The global discussion surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict is heavily dominated by strategic calculations, missile capabilities, nuclear negotiations, economic sanctions, and regional balance of power....
Explainer: Zhang Xuefeng’s success is system’s failure
Two years ago, Zhang Xuefeng – China’s most famous social media influencer in the field of education, also called “education-guru,” said: “My life goal...
Networks of Power: How Weaponized Interdependence Hurts Developing States
Rise of Networked Coercion in Global Politics:
The United States in October 2023 expanded, restrictions on advanced Chinese semi-conductors’ exports. This expanding controls not only...
The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power: How States Use Religion in Foreign Policy
Peter Mandaville is exceptionally well positioned to edit The Geopolitics of Religious Soft Power. A professor of international affairs at the Schar School of...
Panregions Reborn: Macro-Geopolitics and the Path to Hegemony
The international system is changing in ways that are often described as the end of globalisation. That diagnosis captures part of the story, but...
Wars Waged by Great Powers are Felt Most by Poor Countries
One of the most disturbing developments in world politics is that the number of interstate wars are increasing, marking an end to an eighty-year...
Meritocracy: Merit, myth or paradox?
British sociologist Michael Young coined the term "meritocracy" in 1958, describing it as the “oligarchy of the future." He used the term as a...
Numeracy is non-negotiable for Africa’s future
Basic mathematics is the quiet engine behind everyday life and opportunity. We might not realise it, but it’s a vital skill needed to participate...
Redefining Empowerment: A Critical Look at Microcredit and Women’s Economic Agency
Introduction
In 1974, Muhammad Yunus began experimenting with an initiative to give small loans to impoverished rural women to foster a sense of empowerment through...
Public Logic Matters: Why Dissent Keeps States Healthy
In several corners of the world lately, the health of democracy within nations is being severely eroded, and the oxygen of civil liberty is...