Best of the fortnight - 5 May 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.

Global Issues

The Age of Energy Insecurity. Jason Bordoff and Meghan L. O’Sullivan for Foreign Affairs

Crumbling nuclear order needs leadership and commitment. Marion Messmer and Julia Cournoyer for Chatham House

Podcast: Long shots: the complex nature of civil wars. The Intelligence from The Economist

UK and Europe

Illegal migration bill: can the government ignore the European court of human rights? Kanstantsin Dzehtsiarou for The Conversation

Home Office breaks promise to find homes for Afghan refugees. Adam Bychawski for openDemocracy

Brexit didn’t trigger the mass exodus from the EU that was once feared – but nor did it leave Europeans wanting more from their union. Catherine de Vries for The Conversation

The EU must prevent a human rights emergency in Nagorno-Karabakh. Naira Sultanyan for openDemocracy

Russia and Ukraine

Ukraine war: Russia scales back May 9 Victory Day celebrations amid fear of popular protests. Dina Fainberg for The Conversation

Ukraine war: as Kyiv prepares counteroffensive it needs to convince allies it is up for the fight. Christopher Morris for The Conversation

Western anger over China’s ambiguity on Ukraine cannot hide growing divisions in EU over support for Kyiv. Stefan Wolff for The Conversation

Russian ‘spy ship’ in North Sea raises concerns about the vulnerability of key maritime infrastructure. Christian Bueger for The Conversation

Ukraine’s workers are fighting an internal threat, too. They need support. Hanna Perekhoda for openDemocracy

Putin the Pariah. Alexander Baunov for Foreign Affairs

USA

US-Korea summit: Joe Biden’s ‘American Pie’ won’t include stationing nuclear weapons on the peninsula. Christoph Bluth for The Conversation

Why a Biden-Harris reelection ticket makes sense for the Democrats in 2024. Dafydd Townley for The Conversation

In Washington, China is a four-letter word and the excuse for everything. Blaise Malley for Responsible Statecraft

Latin America

Why the Situation in Cuba Is Deteriorating. Will Freeman for Council on Foreign Relations

Stopping Illegal Gun Trafficking Through South Florida. Will Freeman for Council on Foreign Relations

China

Ukraine war: what China gains from acting as peacemaker. Stefan Wolff and Tetyana Malyarenko

Pentagon leaks suggest China developing ways to attack satellites – here’s how they might work. Ian Whittaker for The Conversation

Xi Jinping Can’t Handle an Aging China. Carl Minzner for Foreign Affairs

Why China Hasn’t Come to Russia’s Rescue. Agathe Demarais for Foreign Affairs

Asia

America’s Bad Bet on India. Ashley J Tellis for Foreign Affairs

The Washington Declaration: Expanding the Nuclear Dimension of the U.S.-South Korean Alliance Response. Scott A Snyder for Council on Foreign Relations

Should Japan Defend Taiwan? Kiyoshi Sugawa for Responsible Statecraft

Podcast: Can India Become the Next Global Superpower? The Daily from The New York Times

Middle East

Non-Syrian refugees refused assistance in Jordan. Hanna Davis for openDemocracy

Assad plays a strong hand in diplomatic poker with Arab neighbors. James M Dorsey for Responsible Statecraft

No, Afghanistan has not become a ‘staging ground for terrorists’. Robert Wright for Responsible Statecraft

The fragile, renewed ties between Qatar and Bahrain. Alexander Langlois and Giorgio Cafiero for Responsible Statecraft

Africa

I was evacuated from South Sudan in 2013 - here’s what I learned. Naomi Ruth Pendle for The Conversation

Sudan: questions about Wagner Group involvement as another African country falls prey to Russian mercenaries. Kristian Gustafson, Dan Lomas, Neveen S Abdalla and Steven Wagner for The Conversation

Sudan: violence between army and militia is a symptom of an old disease that is destroying Africa. Paul Jackson for The Conversation

A resources grab is likely in post-conflict Sudan. But democracy isn’t. Paul Rogers for openDemocracy

Sudan’s Generals Are Dragging the Country Toward Disaster. Mai Hassan and Ahmed Kodouda for Foreign Affairs

Wagner Group accused of plotting a ‘confederation of states’ in Africa. Alex Thurston for Responsible Statecraft

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