The Middle East is entering a phase of recalibration. As Gulf powers prioritise stability and de-escalation, says Nadeem Ahmed Moonakal, they are also positioning themselves to play a leading role in global AI, which is likely to have a profound influence on the regional geopolitical landscape
This new phase in the Science of Democracy series – 2.0 – opens space for multiple democratic practices and concepts that defy a single definition. Yet, can plurality alone unsettle colonial knowledge structures? Paul Emiljanowicz explores the project’s decolonial aspirations. Here, he warns that epistemic justice requires transforming infrastructures of knowledge, not merely expanding the archive of democracy
Romania’s recent elections didn’t just happen at the ballot box. They unfolded across TikTok, Facebook, X, and other similar platforms on which nationalism, conspiracy, and algorithmic propaganda turned fringe voices into front-page politics. Madalina Botan argues that this digital battleground expanded beyond borders, as Romanians abroad became powerful co-authors of a polarised political story
The Russia-Ukraine war forced the EU to speak the language of power, but it didn’t turn the EU into a state. Veronica Anghel argues that EU geopolitics looks different: dense ties, not just hard power. Enlargement is the EU’s prime relational technology – binding security to markets, institutions, and publics
Four years after it cut all ties with Afghanistan, the Indian government’s strategy towards the Taliban regime is undergoing a transformation. Sonia Sarkar argues that India’s deteriorating relationship with Pakistan appears to have prompted this, and suggests it damages India’s pluralist reputation
Next year’s UN study on Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones offers non-nuclear states a rare chance to reshape the global disarmament agenda. Jorge Alberto López Lechuga says they must use this moment to strengthen, connect, and expand NWFZs — turning regional commitments into a coherent global force against nuclear proliferation
Luca Verzichelli explores the crisis of democratic representation and the shrinking space for citizen-institution engagement. Launching a series on 'democratic disconnect', he calls for a new democratic pedagogy, fresh analytical tools, and innovative solutions to reconnect actors, strengthen institutions, and adapt democracy to twenty first-century challenges – before it's too late
To kickstart a new round of blogs in the Gendering Democracy series, Paloma Caravantes, Laura Eigenmann and Francesca Feo recap the discussion so far, explaining why we need to keep gender at the centre of research on the politics of our time – and where we should go next
Discussions about democracy have never been more vibrant. Yet, debates often unfold in a highly simplistic or unreflective way. Dimitris Kastritis joins the Science of Democracy 2.0 to argue for the necessity to continue raising new questions in democratic theory
African states have long championed nuclear disarmament, from resisting colonial-era testing to advancing the Pelindaba and Prohibition Treaties. Yet frustration is growing over the slow pace of progress and exclusion from global forums. Robin Möser argues that African experiences offer lessons to revitalise inclusivity ahead of the 2026 Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) Review Conference
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
