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International Relations

November 19, 2025

Why rare earths are central to US-China relations

Mariam Mumladze From F-35 jets to Tesla batteries, Washington’s reliance on rare earth elements (REEs) runs deep. China, which refines more than 99% of the world’s heavy REEs and supplies 70% of US imports, has repeatedly played this ace in times of tension. Yet, writes Mariam Mumladze, deep interdependence and limited alternatives complicate the standoff Read more
November 18, 2025

☢️ Nuclear deterrence or nuclear collapse?

Rhys Lewis-Jones A nuclear war between great powers would mean the collapse of human civilisation – and could lead to the irreversible breakdown of global society. Rhys Lewis-Jones argues that humanity faces an existential nuclear threat that demands deliberate and urgent action Read more
November 14, 2025

What Americans really think when European allies don’t cooperate 

Osman Sabri Kiratli NATO recently agreed to a historic 5% defence spending target. But Osman Sabri Kiratli presents new experimental evidence revealing that what Americans truly care about goes far beyond the numbers. In fact, democratic allies may have more leeway than they realise Read more
November 12, 2025

☢️ Moscow brandishes threats, Beijing clings to caution

Mariam Mumladze China and Russia march in unison on the global stage. Behind the choreography, however, lies a partnership of limits and unequal leverage. United in criticising Washington and trading weapons, the two countries diverge sharply on nuclear doctrine. Mariam Mumladze shows how shared opposition to the West conceals deeper strategic differences, exposing the limits of their so-called 'no-limits' partnership  Read more
November 10, 2025

Diplomatic resilience: what is it, and how can states achieve it?

John Karlsrud How do small and medium-sized states safeguard their sovereignty and national interests amid intensifying great-power rivalry and a fragmented international order? To answer this question, John Karlsrud, Maryna Rabinovych, and Marianne Riddervold introduce the concept of diplomatic resilience Read more
November 6, 2025

PR firms are working for brutal regimes, and getting away with it

Alexander Dukalskis Many PR firms work for brutal regimes — polishing their image, attacking critics, and helping dictators cling to power. Alexander Dukalskis, Christian Gläßel, and Adam Scharpf ask: why does this happen, and what can democratic societies do to stop it? Read more
November 5, 2025

☢️ Using emerging technology for escalation management

Jamie Withorne Technology is not a cure-all. But it can help reduce the risk of nuclear weapons crises. Jamie Withorne shows how increasingly accessible information can harness transparency and 'fact check' the credibility of nuclear threats Read more
October 31, 2025

Penelope’s web and the politics of patience

Serena Fraiese Penelope, wife of Odysseus in Homer’s Odyssey, who spent twenty years weaving and unweaving a shroud to delay remarriage and preserve her household, has come to symbolise fidelity, cunning, and endurance. Serena Fraiese argues that her story reveals characteristics that have become central to diplomacy in an age of uncertainty Read more

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THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM FOR POLITICAL RESEARCH
Advancing Political Science
© 2026 European Consortium for Political Research. The ECPR is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) number 1167403 ECPR, Harbour House, 6-8 Hythe Quay, Colchester, CO2 8JF, United Kingdom.
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