Best of the fortnight - 8 September 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. After the unexpected passing of Professor Christopher Coker, we have listed some of his recent research here. The LSE have created a dedicated space to share messages in memory of Christopher.
Christopher Coker
Most recent book: Why War? (Hurst, 2021)
LSE Ideas Strategic Updates: Facing a strategic endgame? The US and the ambiguities of strategic thinking (2021)
UK and Europe
Poverty in Britain is firmly linked to the country’s mountain of private wealth – Labour must address this growing inequality. Stewart Lansley for The Conversation
Don’t look there: how politicians divert our attention from climate protesters’ claims. Daniel Garcia-Jaramillo for The Conversation
Russia and Ukraine
Ukraine war: two good reasons the world should worry about Russia’s arms purchases from North Korea. Daniel Salisbury for The Conversation
Ukraine war: the implications of Moscow moving tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. Veronika Poniscjakova for The Conversation
Ukraine war: Australian-made cardboard drones used to attack Russian airfield show how innovation is key to modern warfare. Paul Cureton for The Conversation
Will Prigozhin's death make any difference to the war in Ukraine? Paul Rogers for openDemocracy
USA
How Elon Musk is using X to fuel right-wing hate in the US. Chrissy Stroop for openDemocracy
America’s Digital Achilles’ Heel: The United States’ Reliance on Sensitive Technology Leaves It Vulnerable to Attacks. Erica Lonergan and Jacquelyn Schneider for Foreign Affairs
Hawks Want Biden To Take The Fight With Russia Global. Daniel Larison for Responsible Statecraft
Foreign Money Helps These GOP Candidates Pay The Bills. Eli Clifton for Responsible Statecraft
Latin America
Ecuador faces economic dilemma after vote to ban oil drilling in the Amazon. Francesc Badia I Dalmases for openDemocracy
Guatemala's Fragile Democratic Opening. Adriana Beltrán for Responsible Statecraft
China
China is switching away from its aggressive ‘wolf warrior’ foreign policy – here’s why. Tom Harper for The Conversation
The Last Minarets of Yunnan: China’s Hui Muslims in the Cross Hairs of Xi’s New Nationalism. Haiyun Ma and I-wei Jennifer Chang for Foreign Affairs
The End of China’s Economic Miracle. Adam S. Posen for Foreign Affairs
Podcast: Upping arms: the new three-way nuclear race. The Intelligence by The Economist
Asia
South Korean president’s anti-communist taunts are opening up deep divisions as country ponders alliance with Japan and US. Kevin Gray for The Conversation
India has landed on the Moon: here’s what the political and economic gains are. Christopher Newman for The Conversation
The Perils of a Renewed North Korea-Russia Relationship. Scott A. Snyder for Council on Foreign Relations
Taiwan Announced a Record Defense Budget: But Is It Enough to Deter China? David Sacks for Council on Foreign Relations
Thailand’s Turbulence: Implications for the Region and the World. Joshua Kurlantzick for Council on Foreign Relations
Middle East
‘My home city was destroyed by war but I will not lose hope’ – how modern warfare turns neighbourhoods into battlefields. Ammar Azzouz for The Conversation
Iran’s New Patrons: Why China and Russia Are Stepping Up Their Support. Reuel Marc Gerecht and Ray Takeyh for Foreign Affairs
Podcast: How has Iran changed after Mahsa Amini’s death? Independent Thinking from Chatham House
Iranian-Saudi deal: They didn't do it for love. Giorgio Cafiero for Responsible Statecraft
Africa
Coup in Gabon: Ali Bongo the eighth west African leader to be ousted by military in two years. Folahanmi Aina for The Conversation
Wagner Group: what Yevgeny Prigozhin’s death means for stability in Africa. Olumba E. Ezenwa and Idris Mohammed for The Conversation
The Real Meaning of Niger’s Coup: Will Anger at the West Entrench a New Authoritarian Order? Ebenezer Obadare for Foreign Affairs
Navigating the regionalization of Ethiopia’s Tigray conflict. Abel Abate Demissie for Chatham House
Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash