Latest Articles about Domestic/Social

Scandal Exposes Technocracy, Nepotism, and Control Among PRC Elite
Executive Summary: Elite privilege and lack of transparent checks and balances mean that corruption scandals are a feature of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) system of governance. As Beijing seeks to manage rising public discontent and technocratic continuity, it faces a delicate balancing act between... MORE

Moscow Uses Force to Get More Soldiers from North Caucasus
Executive Summary: Moscow is facing greater resistance to its military draft in the North Caucasus because of increasing quotas and the disproportionate impact of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine on the region. The Russian government is applying more repressive pressure on North Caucasians... MORE

Russian Soldiers in Ukraine Use Smartphone Videos for Protest at Home
Executive Summary: Russian soldiers fighting against Ukraine are making and sending home video protests to their local governments about a wide variety of issues, boosting the profile of opposition causes. Video protests from soldiers are increasing because commanders are unwilling to spark more anger in... MORE

Explainer: How Xi’s ‘New National System’ Centralizes Innovation to Counter Tech Containment
Executive Summary: Since 2019, the Party has promoted the construction of a “new national system”—a centrally directed, institutionalized framework for mobilizing state and market resources to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies vital to national power and security. Beijing sees this system as already delivering results... MORE

Putin Turns to Linguistics Like Dictators Before Him
Executive Summary: Russian President Vladimir Putin has made knowledge and use of the Russian language central to his understanding of Russian identity, the basis of links between the Russian population and his regime, and a key part of his foreign policy. Putin has also declared... MORE

Some Russians Claim FSB Failed to Block Ukrainian Drone Attacks Due to Focus on LGBT+ Repression
Executive Summary: Some Russians are claiming on social networks that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) failed to anticipate and block Ukraine’s Operation Spider’s Web attacks because it is preoccupied with suppressing LGBT+ groups and individuals instead of working to neutralize military threats. This criticism... MORE

Kazakhstan Increases Railway Capacity Along Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
Executive Summary: Kazakhstan is expanding rail cargo capacity on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), which uses Kazakhstan to bypass Russian infrastructure between the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Europe. Major investments, including a second Dostyk-Moiynty rail track and over 1,300 miles of new... MORE

Russia Cannot Find Peace While Operating as an Empire
Executive Summary: The breakdown of Russian-Ukrainian peace negotiations in Istanbul highlights Moscow’s uncompromising demand to annex four Ukrainian regions. Despite lacking full control, Russia insists on its complete annexation, demonstrating its imperial pursuit of territorial expansion. Russia’s disregard for Ukrainian sovereignty and international agreements signals... MORE

Kremlin Attacks Unwittingly Generate Non-Russian Nationalism
Executive Summary: Moscow’s attacks on non-Russian nationalism are unintentionally having the opposite effect than the Kremlin intends by causing those attacked to dig in to defend themselves and prompting others to do the same lest they become victims. While some attacks on non-Russian communities are... MORE

Taiwan’s Lai Risks DPP Factional Infighting in Bid for Control
Executive Summary: Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has jettisoned a Tsai Ing-wen era formula designed to keep peace between factions within the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and has actively advanced his own New Tide faction. Lai’s more control-oriented approach has given the president increased leverage over... MORE