October 2025

A military coup is the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group of military officers. It is a distinct and different process from a revolution, which involves mass popular action for fundamental social and economic change. The key prerequisite for a successful coup is control of the armed forces, police, and […]

Global democracy is a global normative ideal in which citizens are guaranteed an equal democratic stake in governing institutions that shape world life. Proponents often invoke cosmopolitan or liberal values such as inclusiveness, equality, popular control, transparency, accountability, deliberation, and human rights. These values, they argue, should guide a global democracy in an ongoing process […]

The Alliance aims to preserve peace and protect the citizens of NATO Allies by denying aggression, deterring conflict, preserving freedom of action and decision, defending principles and values like human rights and democracy, and supporting the rules-based international order. It achieves its objectives by collective strength, backed by an effective transatlantic defence and deterrence posture […]

Political unrest is a state of dissatisfaction and agitation among the population that leads to protests or rioting. This often reflects a sense of injustice and frustration with government actions or policies. This can be caused by poverty, economic instability, corruption and oppression. Historically, political unrest has led to wars and revolutions, but in recent […]

Authoritarian rule is on the rise around the world, and it must be confronted. It manifests itself in a range of ways, from denial of election results to attacks on core freedoms to escalating political violence. Yet, despite the many forms it takes, it tends to follow clear and consistent patterns. By understanding these seven […]

Whether used to punish a regime, deter aggression or encourage democracy, economic sanctions are one of the most powerful international tools at a nation’s disposal. Nevertheless, these coercive measures are not without their costs and must be weighed carefully before being imposed. The use of sanctions can be traced back to ancient times—the Athenians imposed […]

Global security encompasses many issues, from terrorism and armed conflict to human trafficking and global natural disasters. These issues are complex and require collaboration at the international level to address. Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, gray-zone warfare actions and the emerging AI arms race, new risks are on the horizon. These new threats require leaders to […]

Territorial dispute, or border conflict, occurs when a nation disputes the legal ownership of land, water or airspace. It often arises from a disagreement over natural resources such as rivers, fertile farmland, or mineral or petroleum reserves. In addition, it can be caused by vague and unclear language in a treaty that set up the […]

Economic inequality is the gap between average incomes in a country. It’s measured with the Gini coefficient, which divides a nation’s incomes by their population and then compares them to each other. A lower Gini coefficient indicates less inequality. Economic inequality can have many causes. The rise in inequality since 1980 is due to businesses […]

The study of international relations (IR) offers a unique, multifaceted lens through which to understand how governments and societies engage with one another, negotiate agreements, resolve conflicts, and address global challenges. It draws from academic fields such as political science, history, economics, law, sociology, anthropology, and philosophy. IR scholars examine both formal diplomatic ties among […]