China is applying Mahan's geopolitical theory to enhance its maritime dominance, notably through strategic port developments and asserting control over critical maritime chokepoints. It's expanding influence across strategic island chains in the Pacific highlights its efforts to strengthen naval capabilities and economic leverage in the region.

This week in Australian foreign affairs:New Zealand PM Luxon in Australia; Marles announces the continuation of agreements with AUKUS; Adelaide to host the Australia-China High Level Dialogue this week; recipients of the Australian Cultural Diplomacy Grants Program announced, and more.

This book analyzes the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan post-2021, examining how the group's governance strategies and international relationships have evolved. It offers a comprehensive look at the Taliban's interaction with global and regional powers and the implications for Afghanistan's future.

The question of how South Africa regulates its multiple Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) and how effective that regulation is has recently come into question with the discovery of illegal military training camps Mpumalanga. Bolstering the efficiency of inter-agency cooperation to ensure such activities stay within the law has become a new and urgent requirement.

Efforts in Japan to develop memory preservation, infrastructure reinforcement, and community involvement have helped to build more resilient societies in responding to disasters. As coutnries in the Indo-Pacific continue to grapple with climate and disaster events, the lessons learned in Japan provide a framework for preparing for an effective response. 

Parliamentary systems foster stronger, more inclusive institutions which contribute to better economic performance and stability. Evidence suggests that presidential systems, by contrast, tend to exhibit lower GDP growth rates, higher income inequality, and greater economic instability.

Language in politics is a potent instrument for shaping public opinion and framing political narratives, highlighting its role in influencing perceptions and policy outcomes. From the identity politics in Ukraine to the “English-Only” movements in the US, language manipulation can significantly impact national unity and individual political agendas, underlining the need for critical engagement with how language is used in the political sphere.

President Joe Biden’s late withdrawal from the election has given Democratic nominee Kamala Harris limited time to impact the election. There are some crucial numbers in key areas, however, that give her a fighting chance.

The war between Russia and Ukraine emphasises that the outcome hinges not just on military engagements but also on the willpower and economic capacities of both nations. Broader geopolitical and internal pressures within Russia will likely impact the war's duration and outcome, with much also depending on Western support for Ukraine.

The view that Russian aggression towards Ukraine is driven solely by the goal of maintaining its neutrality as a buffer state must ignore certain realities. Its most important omission is that Russia's military actions and the genocidal tactics employed against Ukrainians align with a broader historical narrative of reasserting dominance over regions seen as integral to Russian identity.