Latest Articles about politics
Belarus Updates Key Strategic Doctrines
Executive Summary: Belarus is updating its National Security Concept and military doctrine amid increasing tensions in Eastern Europe brought on by Russia’s war against Ukraine Drafts of both documents emphasize that Minsk’s best course to preserving national security emerges from better relations with Europe, despite... MORE
Tbilisi’s Goals in Strategic Partnership With Yerevan Remain Unclear
Executive Summary: On January 26, Armenia and Georgia signed a joint agreement establishing a strategic partnership between the two countries. Armenia seeks to reduce its dependency on Russia with the new declaration and become more active in regional transit activities, while Georgia may hope to... MORE
China Serves as Economic Lifeline to Sanctioned Russia
Executive Summary: China has become Russia’s primary economic partner in helping the Kremlin circumvent Western sanctions, with bilateral trade turnover reaching $225 billion in 2023. Beijing’s supply of dual-use components and critical electronic equipment enhances Moscow’s defense production capabilities. Chinese banks play a key role... MORE
Addressing Common Misconceptions About Belarus
Executive Summary: The new law granting Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka life-long immunity was necessary to avoid future political retribution that could destabilize Belarus. Western misconceptions of official Minsk’s actions greatly hamper any chances of reversing Belarus’s growing economic dependence on Russia. Positive change in Belarus... MORE
Moscow Defends Serbia’s Government Against Opposition Protests
Executive summary: The Kremlin views Serbia as a strategic asset in the Balkans that expands Russia’s geopolitical reach, weakens Western cohesion, and undermines transatlantic institutions. The Serbian government benefits from its alliance with Moscow by having an advocate on the UN Security Council to block... MORE
Georgia Gears Up for Billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili’s ‘Third Comeback’
Executive Summary: The recent election of Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili as honorary chairman of the Georgian Dream party has set off speculation about what his return to Georgian politics means for the country. Members of the ruling party claim that Ivanishvili felt the need to... MORE
Some Neighbors Look at Georgia’s Europeanization With Hope, Others With Suspicion
On December 14, 2023, the European Union granted official candidate status to Georgia (Twitter.com/CharlesMichel,December 14, 2023; European Commission, accessed January 2). The decision will presumably have a significant impact on the geopolitics of the South Caucasus. Inspired by Brussels’ pronouncement, Georgia intends to overtake Ukraine... MORE
CCP Ideological Indoctrination, Part 2: The New Plan for Training Party Cadres
Author’s note: This is the second article in a two-part series focused on recent initiatives taken by the Chinese Communist Party to implement ideological indoctrination programs intended to reinforce the Party’s ruling position, as well as the current official ideology of “Xi Jinping Thought.” The... MORE
Taiwan’s Offshore Islands: Assessments Of Support For Integration
Kinmen County (金门县) and Lienchiang County (连江县; also referred to as Matsu (马祖)) are a crucial site of activity for cross-Strait relations. Over the last year, Beijing has renewed its calls for using the islands to promote “cross-Strait integrated development (两岸融合发展)” (Taiwan Affairs Office, September... MORE
Poland’s New Government Looks to Adapt Foreign Policy Approach
On October 15, after eight years in power, the Law and Justice (PiS) government in Poland lost its absolute parliamentary majority. While PiS technically won a plurality of the vote, it was unable to form a coalition government. On December 11, the Sejm (lower house... MORE