Best of the fortnight - 21 April 2023

Guest Editor Louis Newstead has scoured the internet for IR-related content that might interest you. Here he brings you the past fortnight's best readings and podcasts to keep you up to date with what's happening around the world.

UK and Europe

• War crimes trial of Hashim Thaçi, the ‘George Washington of Kosovo’, will do little to reduce tensions in the Balkans. Janine Natalya Clark for The Conversation
• How racism and inequality affect even ‘desirable’ EU migrants in the UK. Simone Varriale for The Conversation
• Good Friday Agreement: 25 years on, the British government is seeking to undo key terms of the peace deal. Anna Bryson for The Conversation
• Good Friday Agreement: the early 1990s back-channel between the IRA and British government that made peace possible. Niall Ó Dochartaigh for The Conversation
• Yes, the Good Friday Agreement ended violence. But it didn’t bring peace. Emma DeSouza for openDemocracy

Russia and Ukraine

• Why democratic countries around the world are not prepared to support Ukraine – and some are shifting closer to Russia. Jose Caballero for The Conversation
• Ukraine war: the devastating effects of conflict on infant mortality rates – new research. M. Rodwan Abouharb for The Conversation
• Ukraine war: Pentagon leaks paint gloomy picture of long war that can’t be won but must not be lost. Stefan Wolff for The Conversation
• The risk of nuclear war over Ukraine is real. We need diplomacy now. Paul Rogers for openDemocracy
• Kyrgyzstan was a safe haven for anti-war Russians. Then things got hostile. Kamila Eshalieva for openDemocracy
• The World Beyond Ukraine. David Miliband for Foreign Affairs
• Rethinking Western policy towards Belarus. Ryhor Astapenia for Chatham House

USA

• Joe Biden’s historic visit to Ireland comes during turbulent times. Liam Kennedy for The Conversation
• Why America Still Needs Europe. Michael J. Mazarr for Foreign Affairs
• Podcast: What we’re learning from the leaked military documents. The Daily by the New York Times

Latin America

• Podcast: Silencing the Messenger: Global Threats to Press Freedom. Why it matters by Council on Foreign Relations
• Back to the Future in U.S.-Mexican Relations. Elliott Abrams for Council on Foreign Relations

China

• The Rise and Fall of the BRI. Nadia Clark for Council on Foreign Relations
• For Russia-China, multipolarity is all about (usurping) the Benjamins. Ted Snider for Responsible Statecraft
• The new battle for the compact states. Edward Hunt for Responsible Statecraft
• China and Taiwan: A Torrid Backstory. The Daily by the New York Times

Asia

• South Korea’s Nuclear Options. Jennifer Lind and Daryl G. Press for Foreign Affairs
• Is India’s Rise Inevitable?: The Roots of New Delhi’s Dysfunction. Milan Vaishnav for Foreign Affairs
• Thailand’s Elections Are a Critical Moment for the Kingdom—and the Region. Joshua Kurlantzick for Council on Foreign Relations

Middle East

• The Taliban is not playing straight with the west over easing of sanctions – and women and girls are paying much of the price. Kambaiz Rafi for The Conversation
• Will reconciliation across the Middle East bring lasting change? Sanam Vakil and Neil Quilliam for Chatham House

Africa

• What the US gets wrong in its response to growing insecurity in the Sahel. Paul Rogers for openDemocracy
• A critical juncture for Sudan’s democratic transition. Rosalind Marsden for Chatham House
• Sudan on fire: a tortuous transition and power struggle fueled by outsiders. Khalil al-Anani for Responsible Statecraft
• Podcast: A tough transition: unrest in Sudan. The Intelligence by The Economist

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