Main takeaways:   The COVID pandemic has sparked an infodemic – a whirlwind of mis- and dis-information, spanning traditional media platforms, social media, and countries across the world. A key component of the infodemic has been the mushrooming of conspiracy theories, which have aided extremist groups and foreign actors in their efforts to undermine democratic governments…

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Main takeaways:   The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), headquartered in New York, and currently active in twenty countries, coordinates the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in crisis areas. OCHA cannot deliver its mandate without the support of its donors and therefore receives voluntary contributions from a diverse…

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By Colin Wolfgang September 1945 signaled the end of the deadliest war in history and ushered in a Western world order. The collapse of the Soviet Union decades later resulted in numerous political scientists positing on “the end of history” and what the future might hold. However, once again, the world is witnessing an unprovoked…

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Main takeaways: Short definition of Artificial Intelligence: “[t]he theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages” [Mary B: 2018] Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used in different stages of a conflict, prevention, mediation and rebuilding. It can help…

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Main takeaways:  Before COP leaders raise emissions ambition to narrow the gap to 1.5C & agree  to a global finance package to support it.  The window of opportunity to limit the permanent temperature increase of 1.5  Degrees is closing and the COP in Glasgow is the moment when countries  update their plans for reducing emissions.…

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By Junko Nozawa Civil society actors—communities, victims’ rights groups, religious, and other authorities that follow traditional customs—have long been recognized as valuable partners in violence prevention and conflict resolution efforts. Recognition for their contributions to the field of preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) and terrorism has been more muted, despite the critical role that…

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By Bethan Saunders and Courtney Bale Dunlevie During this global public health crisis, leaders have used conflict-based language to describe the COVID-19 pandemic. From President Trump’s declaration of becoming a “wartime president” to Xi Jinping’s “people’s war,” they have cast the coronavirus as a metaphorical foe to be vanquished. Rhetorical flourishes aside, this public health…

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By Jennifer Zhang The foreign policy community puts out thousands of reports and position papers each year. Yet, these publications often receive little attention outside of diplomatic circles and vanish into a vortex of briefings and communiqués whose recommendations are rarely carried out.  Reasons for low engagement This lack of interest can potentially be traced to the steep…

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