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October 7, 2025

Why the resurgence of power politics favours informal governance

Steve Biedermann From Ukraine to global finance, informal organisations are stepping into gaps left by traditional institutions at a time of great power competition. With speed, flexibility, and a lack of constraining rules, these informal bodies are quietly reshaping international order write Steve Biedermann and Matthew Stephen Read more
September 26, 2025

The Sustainable Development Goals at 10: how global governance is undermining progress

Benjamin Faude This month marks ten years since the adoption of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Yet there is little cause for celebration: progress has been dismal. Benjamin Faude and Jack Taggart argue that the governance of the goals has undermined progress. They warn that rather than achieving transformative change, such governance risks entrenching the beleaguered status quo Read more
April 29, 2025

☢️ Disarming deterrence and abolishing nuclear weapons

Ray Acheson Ray Acheson highlights the work of states, scientists, activists, and affected communities to challenge nuclear deterrence and abolish nuclear weapons. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, they argue, is the best place for tangible action to change the world’s current trajectory away from annihilation, and towards peace and justice Read more
December 11, 2024

Displaced again: forced mobility from Lebanon to Syria

Maissam Nimer The spectacular fall of the Syrian regime comes with high expectations on refugee return. But we should meet such expectations with caution. Only a week ago, secondary displacement from Lebanon to Syria was being framed – wrongly – as 'voluntary return'. Maissam Nimer and Nora Stel warn that uncertain times lie ahead for displaced Syrians. Read more
August 15, 2024

UN collusion with the Taliban is betraying Afghan women

Priscyll Anctil Avoine Once again, the world has failed Afghan women and girls. 15 August 2024 marks three years of devastating attacks on women's rights, and freedom of movement under the gender-apartheid Taliban regime. Lida Ahmad and Priscyll Anctil Avoine argue that, during the Doha meeting in June, the UN has failed to uphold the principles enshrined in its charter Read more
July 22, 2024

A first step, but a long road ahead for Ukraine’s peace process

Davide Genini Switzerland held the first Ukraine Peace Summit in June 2024. After several peace proposals, the Summit marked the first significant diplomatic step towards a 'comprehensive, just and lasting' peace in Ukraine. Davide Genini examines the main results of the Summit, placing them in the context of an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape Read more
June 17, 2024

What the Council of Europe’s new treaty tells us about global AI governance

Mahmoud Javadi The Council of Europe’s treaty on Artificial Intelligence marks a significant achievement in multilateral AI governance. Nonetheless, Mahmoud Javadi suggests that it could foreshadow potential challenges, if not failure, for similar UN efforts Read more
February 7, 2024

BRICS expansion: another sign of the world's de-westernisation?

Bernardo Jurema Bernardo Jurema places the recent BRICS expansion into appropriate historical context. It is, he argues, a project to de-westernise the world, opening up new possibilities, including de-colonialisation along the lines of previous historical attempts. It may not be everything that is needed, but it is a significant step forwards Read more

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Advancing Political Science
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