Author: hopkinspofa

Thousands of people are joining protests across China focused on challenging the “zero-Covid” policy. The ongoing demonstrations display rare solidarity between class, region, and even ethnicity. Will Jiang Zemin’s death further galvanize protesters? What are the exit options for the party state? Dr. Sheena Chestnut Greitens, associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs … Continue reading Zero-Covid Protests in the Chinese Surveillance State

The Biden administration released its National Defense Strategy in late October that laid out how the Department of Defense will implement the President’s National Security Strategy. The concept of “integrated deterrence” is at the core of the 2022 National Defense Strategy. What is integrated deterrence? Can it work to address increasingly complex security challenges faced … Continue reading Can Integrated Deterrence Work?

Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-serving monarch, died at Balmoral Castle on Sept. 8, 2022, at age 96, after ruling for seventy years. Following her death, thousands worldwide paid tribute in an elaborate ten-day mourning sequence called Operation London Bridge. King Charles III now inherits a pandemic-torn nation fraught with inflation. What comes next for Britain? … Continue reading Understanding Queen Elizabeth II’s Reign and What Comes Next

In 2015, The United States, China, France, Russia, Britain, and the EU signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and agreed to lift sanctions on Iran. In exchange, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear program. Under the JCPOA, Iran was prohibited from enriching uranium with a concentration of over 3.67% of uranium 235, which … Continue reading Explaining Israel’s Protest to Iran Nuclear Negotiations

Beginning mid-June and ending late August year, the monsoonal rainfall poured ceaselessly over Pakistan, submerging one-third of the country, particularly the southern provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. It was the wettest August has been since 1961 with almost 15 inches of rain a day, displacing over 33 million people, killing around 1,700 individuals, and wrecking … Continue reading Deadly Floods in Pakistan

The death of a 22-year-old Iranian woman sparked widespread youth and women-led protests in Iran. In this episode, we will discuss how protests have evolved and how governments around the world have responded. Vali Nasr, Professor of International Affairs and Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins SAIS, joins us today to discuss the demonstrations in … Continue reading Young Iranians Go to the Streets

The 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party was held from October 16 to October 22, 2022. Xi Jinping officially secured his third term in office and cemented his power over the communist party state. Neil Thomas, senior analyst at the Eurasia Group, joins us today to discuss the party of General Secretary Xi. … Continue reading The Party of General Secretary Xi

Semiconductors, the “brain” of modern electronics, are essential to industrial, commercial, and military systems in an increasingly digitized global economy. Last month, the Biden administration announced sweeping new restrictions on semiconductor technology exports to China. Dr. James Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International … Continue reading Blocking Chips to China

President Biden announced the “U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa” on August 8, 2022. In this episode, we examine the goals of this strategy and how it differs from how previous administrations have approached U.S. relations with Africa. What tangible actions will ensure the success of the administration’s strategy? What does the realization of this vision … Continue reading Biden’s Africa Strategy

South Korea is an emerging player in the global arms market at a time when the demand for military equipment is rising around the world. South Korean defense exports are expected to reach $10 billion in 2022, nearly tripling the figure from 2020. Will “k-defense” emerge as a major item in an already long list … Continue reading The Rise of the k-Defense Industry