In May, Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro visited Moscow to sign a 'strategic association' agreement with Russia. John Chin and Justin Lee argue this is one manifestation of a larger trend of rising sharp power in Latin America, which has major implications for US strategy and autocratisation in the region
Bashar Assad is ousted in Syria; Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis weakened in ongoing conflicts. All this has significantly weakened Iran’s 'axis of resistance'. John Chin and Mary Urso argue that the crisis of Iran’s regional proxies is leading Iran to strengthen cooperation with a global network of autocracies
Since 2024, Slovakia has witnessed democratic backsliding and major political unrest. The future of populist nationalism in Slovakia – and Slovakia’s position in Europe – are at stake. John Chin and Daniel Hayase contextualise this unrest, reviewing the challenges posed by Prime Minister Robert Fico’s efforts to consolidate power and to build a bridge between […]
On 1 January, Hungary's six-month presidency of the EU Council ended and the EU made the unprecedented decision to withhold aid to Hungary over rule-of-law violations. John Chin and Mirren Hibbert put these developments in the context of continuing democratic backsliding in Hungary – and divisions over the future of Europe
On 1 January, Poland took over the rotating EU presidency from Hungary. John Chin and Ellie Kim outline the stakes for Europe, and the imperative of promoting a democratic U-turn in central Europe – and Poland itself – after years of democratic backsliding
Winter is coming to Chișinău. On 1 January, Moscow cut off all gas exports to the former Soviet state of Moldova. John Chin and Noel Overby put this Russian energy embargo in the context of ongoing Moldovan resistance to a protracted Russian sharp power campaign
Georgia is undergoing its most significant mass uprising since the 2003 rose revolution, with the future of democracy in Georgia and Georgia’s future in Europe at stake. John Chin and Anastasia Kim put this unrest in context by reviewing Georgia’s revolutionary history and ongoing challenges posed by Russian sharp power
Romania’s Constitutional Court has annulled the country's recent presidential elections, alleging Russian meddling. John Chin, Mirren Hibbert and Staten Rector argue that its decision raises profound questions about the legacy of Romania’s 1989 revolution, and the future of democracy and Western influence in this frontline state
Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science, Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy & Technology, Carnegie Mellon University
John's first book, an Historical Dictionary of Modern Coups D'état (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022, co-authored with Joseph Wright and David Carter), was named one of the 'Best Historical Materials' published in 2022 or 2023 by the American Library Association.
He has published in the British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, Frontiers in Political Science, International Studies Quarterly, Journal of Chinese Political Science, and Texas National Security Review.
John has also written for general audiences in outlets such as The Conversation, the Journal of Democracy, the Modern War Institute, The National Interest, War on the Rocks, and Washington Post.
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