Scott Williamson
When citizens develop grievances, autocrats try to deflect blame to retain popular support. Scott Williamson argues that regime type influences strategies and success rates of autocrats shifting blame when confronted by popular discontent. The more personalist an autocracy, the more damaging blame attribution can be for autocratic survival in office Read more
Aleksandra Spalińska
Many leftists have been reluctant to support Ukraine against the Russian invasion. They might take an ‘anti-imperialist’ position against the US; or they may have ties to Russia through political sponsorship. Aleksandra Spalińska believes the Marxist/leftist position has deeper roots. She argues that leftists' perspective on world politics is determined by a phenomenon she calls 'methodological externalism' Read more
Lena Surzhko-Harned
The Kosovo war helped consolidate the Responsibility to Protect norm. But Lena Surzhko-Harned and Jiří Nykodým argue that it also created the 'Kosovo precedent' used to undermine international law. Russia has often exploited this narrative to justify its current war in Ukraine Read more
Albrecht Rothacher
Albrecht Rothacher argues that an end to hostilities in Ukraine in the context of a Peace Plan is not unforeseeable. It is in the interest of all sides. He identifies the steps that need to be taken and the people likely to be involved Read more
Albrecht Rothacher
President Putin has been clear in his intentions to use all force necessary, including nuclear weapons, to achieve his goals. This, argues Albrecht Rothacher, is a bluff, but its very use has hugely damaging consequences for international relations Read more
Albrecht Rothacher
Albrecht Rothacher assesses the impact of sanctions on the Russian economy. He argues that, in the short-term, sanctions will have little impact – except on the peoples of Europe whose governments are imposing them. Yet, the long-term implications for the Russian economy could be more far-reaching, if not devastating Read more
Nikola Mikovic
Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian critical energy infrastructure have forced Kyiv to ask Israel for help. According to Nikola Mikovic, the Jewish State could eventually start providing weapons to Ukraine, although Israeli officials will unlikely publicly confirm it Read more
Cindy Regnier
Renewed tensions between Russia and the West amid war in Ukraine have focused attention on the ‘Suwałki gap’. According to Cindy Regnier, this corridor along the Lithuanian-Polish border has been increasingly securitised. Still, any attempt to seize control over it would gain the Russians little Read more
