On the 3rd of December, the Venezuelan people voted in a consultative referendum on how the country should position herself with regards to the century-long Essequibo Dispute, between Venezuela and Guyana. More specifically, the referendum asked five questions, four of which concerning how the Venezuelan Government should act in relation to the international treaties currently … Continue reading Will Guyana Essequiba become the 21-century Falklands?
Africa at the Crossroads: Democracy’s Decline and the Rise of New Alliances
Introduction The post-independence journey of democratic governance in West Africa is a complex tapestry marked by triumphs and tribulations. Despite commendable efforts within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the struggle for democratic consolidation faces challenges—political instability, economic hardships, corruption, and contested elections. Issues of governance effectiveness and equitable resource distribution persist, overshadowing … Continue reading Africa at the Crossroads: Democracy’s Decline and the Rise of New Alliances
Why Biden’s New Southeast Asia Foreign Policy is Easier Said Than Done?
The high-profile visit of the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to Southeast Asia came to an end. Harris concluded her trip to Singapore and Vietnam with what seemed empty promises and left the international audience somehow bewildered regarding the U.S. administration’s foreign policy for Southeast Asia. Security and defense have traditionally been the main objectives … Continue reading Why Biden’s New Southeast Asia Foreign Policy is Easier Said Than Done?
Promised Land, Crusader State: The Eight Traditions of US Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
As part of my graduate studies, I recently had to read Dr. Walter McDougall’s 1997 book Promised Land, Crusader State: The American Encounter with the World Since 1776. McDougall outlines eight US traditions of diplomacy and foreign policy, which he identified in the process of reviewing previous conceptions of these and the primary source they … Continue reading Promised Land, Crusader State: The Eight Traditions of US Diplomacy and Foreign Policy
Biden’s Foreign Policy and his Afghanistan Decision
President Biden won the 2020 Presidential elections with a campaign strategy that promised a more compassionate foreign affairs policy. His decision to remove all American troops from Afghanistan’s territory, leaving the country completely vulnerable to Taliban intervention, gave a very different impression. The humanitarian catastrophe currently unfolding in Afghanistan suggest that Biden’s concern was directly … Continue reading Biden’s Foreign Policy and his Afghanistan Decision
Reassessing US Grand Strategy – Part 1: The Current State of US Grand Strategy
This is part one of a mini-series attempting to grapple with US grand strategy and the potential need for its re-assessment. The goal of this series is to introduce readers to grand strategy, ideally prompting more to grapple with US grand strategy and grand strategy more broadly. The author is fleshing out their own ideas, … Continue reading Reassessing US Grand Strategy – Part 1: The Current State of US Grand Strategy