In recent years, there has been increasing evidence in support of cash transfers, both conditional and unconditional. In fact, there are organizations whose sole purpose is to give cash directly to the poor. While the evidence suggests that cash transfers can ... More »
Common measurements of the likelihood of success of military or national security endeavors tend to be quantitative factors such as budget size, number of personnel, level of technological advancement, or functionality of equipment. However, sociological facto... More »
Negotiating peace is difficult. However, an equally difficult challenge arises when implementing peace where multiple non-state actors compete for territorial dominance. In “Killing Social Leaders for Territorial Control: The Unintended Consequences of Peace,”... More »
Over the past few decades, an increasing number of countries have established gender quotas for elected positions. Typically, these quotas are enacted to address underrepresentation of women in political offices. According to data collected by the United Natio... More »
German Christmas markets, French concert venues, British stadiums, and Tunisian beach fronts draw thousands of visitors from across the world. In the last five years, all of these sites have also been visited by tragedy when terrorists staged attacks designed ... More »
Although observers and experts alike have been struggling to define the exact nature of the current U.S. administration’s strategy, its emphasis on unilateralism and occasional dismissal of multilateralism is apparent. In fact, a common idea suggests that reso... More »
Recent election results around the world reflect political polarization that is straining the fabric of democracy. Voting patterns indicate a preference for authoritarian leaders who promise closed borders and promote nationalism as an ideal. In a world where ... More »
Existing policy research cites domestic and systemic factors as primary explanations for political underdevelopment, ignoring the potential impact of international relations and foreign interference. As a result, many foreign policy strategies fail to address ... More »
The “rise of China” has been one of the most popular headlines of the 21st century. Books like Destined For War: Can America and China Escape Thucydides’s Trap? and Easternization: Asia’s Rise and America’s Decline have topped best-seller lists. Authors of the... More »
Discussion surrounding covert action and “hybrid” warfare has recently become a topic of intense interest in academic and policy circles. Russian influence on the 2016 U.S. elections, the increased use of special forces, and the proliferation of cyberwarfare a... More »
Infrastructure projects are often seen as an important vehicle for economic growth. One of the largest ever attempts at such a project, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has allotted massive resources to building infrastructure. Costing an estimated one ... More »
In 2017, foreign aid from official donors totaled over $146.6 billion. The bulk of this aid went to decentralizing or decentralized countries, in which regional or local governments are granted powers and resources. Localized governments are believed to be mor... More »