A young boy in the US and a young boy in China grow up under similar surveillance systems, hear similar promises of prosperity and absorb similar judgements about nations on the other side of the world. The former grows up in a system socially accepted as patriotic, while treating its mirror image suspiciously. … Continue readingRAGS TO RICHES ON DEMAND: THE BLIND SPOT OF CHANGING NARRATIVES IN WESTERN MEDIA
The notion of security seems to holds an amplified status in our political and societal dialogues. Security can effectively elevate a problem from a low political priority to an existential issue that requires disproportionate action. These risks are greatest for developing countries, which are already are often unable to provide enough funds to all sectors of their economy, creating an obstacle to long-term economic growth and prosperity. … Continue readingThe Price of Security
Commercial airlines do far more than transport people or make profits. They actively represent their home country on the international stage and forge links between regions. Commercial passenger aviation is therefore a space where power, reputation and diplomatic struggles for influence play out from the tarmac to the high skies. … Continue readingHow Flag Carrier Airlines Are Rebranding Nation-States
From Dubai Bling to Dubai Chocolate, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has dominated entertainment media and tourism since the discovery of oil in the late 1960s, launching them as a key player in the global trade hierarchy due to soft power influences. However, the UAE’s ‘elite’ status is one upheld by modern slavery systems under the guise of cheap labour. For as tall as the buildings are, equally as long are the shadows they cast; ones of oppressiveness, human rights abuses and exploitation. … Continue reading“Habibi, don’t come to Dubai”: Investigating Modern Day Slavery in the UAE
The DRC sits at the precipice of two rising menaces — resource nationalism and resource conflict. As critical minerals grow in value during the global energy transition, a key question has arisen. What is international contract law’s capacity to protect private persons attempting to trade from the trenches of mounting geopolitical tides, breeding embargo and war? … Continue readingSo you want to contract in the Congo? Force majeure clauses and resource nationalism
Too poor to afford a house, not enough space in the market to get a job; governments hiring modern-day mercenaries, committing unspeakable acts without any form of punishment; and, in our pockets, goods, made from the suffering of the bruised, bloodied, and broken.
We are living through an insecurity crisis, a global crisis that few are safe from. While there are many factors that have helped sculpt this issue, the hand of exploitation has been a principal architect of this state we find ourselves in.
… Continue readingCost-of-Living Crisis, Contract Killers, and Cobalt Kings: The Global Architecture of Insecurity
Thrifting is often celebrated as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. Purchasing clothes that otherwise would have ended up in landfill, thereby promoting a circular economy. While there is no denying that thrifting is beneficial for the environment, without challenging the consumption narrative and placing corporate responsibility on fast fashion brands, thrifting alone will never solve our overconsumption and overproduction problems. … Continue readingWhy thrifting is not the answer to our global overconsumption problem: The Case for Corporate Responsibility
Behind the glitz and the glamour of an annual 300-billion-dollar industry lies a troubling reality. From alleged human rights abuses to multilateral pitfalls, it appears diamonds aren’t the only thing you find when you dig below the surface. In November 2025, the Kimberley Process, a process designed to reduce the production of conflict diamonds, failed to reach consensus for the third year in a row. … Continue readingReforming the Kimberley Process: Are blood diamonds truly a girl’s best friend?
In order to show true commitment to the rights of women and girls everywhere, the day must come where a worldwide ban on FGM and associated practices is possible. Unfortunately, there remain a number of obstacles in the way which must be addressed before we will see that day. … Continue readingThe Cut: Female Genital Mutilation and its Persistence in the Modern World
China’s rise over the last several decades has at times been accompanied by turbulent relations with other states and the multilateral system more broadly.
As Owen Robinson writes, this has led to several efforts by the Chinese Government to transform its image on the global stage and with individuals on a smaller scale. … Continue readingThe Emperor’s New Groove? China’s Reimagined Image