Insights

Many governance systems in Asia are not suitable for reshaping cities to be more climate-resilient, says a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) governance advisor. The region is seeing trends such as democratic backsliding and shrinking civic space, which hinder efforts to improve urban governance. The lack of integrity, transparency, and citizen engagement undermines trust and limits private sector participation. The advisor emphasizes the need for governments in Asia to align on key principles to advance the governance of cities. The impacts of political instability and undemocratic regimes in Southeast Asia are also highlighted.
Mongolia, Singapore | Financial services
Democratic backsliding hindering climate resilience of Asian cities: UNDP governance advisor
The report by Mario Draghi on the future of competitiveness in the EU highlights the need for social investment to unlock untapped potential for economic progress and social well-being. The report emphasizes the importance of productivity through knowledge and skills, shifting away from a focus on cost-competitiveness. It argues that a robust welfare state is essential for economic prosperity, supporting productivity and employment. However, the report lacks clarity on how to mobilize those who need to be involved and is limited in addressing governance issues. The article suggests that inclusive employment, greater autonomy for dual-earner households, and better work-life balance are critical for a more competitive and prosperous EU.
Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Poland, Slovakia, Spain | Financial services
Why social investment holds the key to delivering on the Draghi report
India's Oxford College has won first prize at the Kaleidoscope academic conference for their research on AI support for stroke survivors. The research proposes an AI-driven tilt sensor to monitor the movement of a drinking glass and provide real-time feedback. Second prize went to researchers from India and Japan for a proposed wellness companion for the elderly, while third prize was awarded to researchers from India and South Africa for an educational Android application called Alpha-Bit. The conference aims to highlight emerging research trends and their implications for international standardization.
Research advances AI applications for well-being and education
Tulsi Gabbard, RFK Jr., and Sahra Wagenknecht have all shifted their political affiliations, raising questions about opportunism or deeper ideological divides. The horseshoe theory suggests that extreme positions on the left and right can converge in their opposition to liberalism, but this may only hold at a theoretical level. Wagenknecht's journey seems to be based on comprehensive anti-liberalism, while Gabbard and Kennedy's moves are centered around specific issues. Coat-switching politicians often explain their shifts by claiming corruption or lack of alignment with former allies. Ultimately, these shifts demonstrate how an issue of utmost importance can lead to a change in political alliances.
From Left to Right and Beyond: The Strange Migration of Political Mavericks
India's national identity plays a crucial role in its approach to the Quad. Contrary to conventional wisdom, India's identity is not tied to democratic legitimacy but rather influenced by a mix of non-alignment, post-imperial ideology, Hindu nationalism, and Indian exceptionalism. India's perception of China and the US shapes its attitude towards the Quad, with the Quad being more geopolitical than driven by shared democratic norms. The article highlights historical events that have shaped India's national identity, including its relationship with ex-imperial Western powers and China. The fatal clash with China in 2020 was seen as a turning point for India's perception of China and its role in Asia.
India
Why is India a “Wild Card” in Quad 2.0? A Study of India’s National Identity
AI and data science are revolutionizing public policy by enabling data-driven governance. This special issue examines the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into public policy, emphasizing the need for fairness, human judgment, and democratic accountability. The contributions explore how AI can enhance decision-making in areas like healthcare and public services, providing a roadmap for responsible use that serves the public good and upholds democratic values.
AI and Data Science for Public Policy
ProPublica's coverage of the 2024 election has focused on various key issues. They initially examined the Biden administration's handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, finding policy missteps and on-the-ground miscalculations. However, other issues ultimately played a larger role in the campaign. ProPublica's investigative reporting has also delved into topics such as gerrymandering and the Republican Party's split in Ohio during the 2016 election. Additionally, they have explored the likely policies of a second Trump administration through Project 2025, obtaining training videos that reveal strategies and goals. Overall, ProPublica aims to contribute to voters' understanding of the election and highlight the issues that matter to them.
How ProPublica Has Covered Abortion Bans, Immigration and More Issues at Stake in the 2024 Election
Several biotech startups are using artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate protein design. The recent Nobel Prize in chemistry, awarded for work in protein structure prediction and design, highlights the growing interest in this field. AI-powered protein design has the potential to create new proteins that can perform various functions, such as therapeutic antibodies, enzymes, and gene-editing systems. These startups are successfully raising significant capital and securing billion-dollar deals, indicating the increasing mainstream adoption of AI in protein design.
7 companies to watch in AI protein design
Ambiguity can be a powerful strategic tool in creating social impact, according to the article "The Strategic Art of Ambiguity." Many times, social innovators face obstacles from power structures that prefer the status quo. In such environments, generating new ideas, working hard, and surrounding oneself with great people may not be enough. Embracing ambiguity can give individuals an upper hand, allowing them to succeed despite the odds stacked against them. Ambiguity allows for the adoption of multiple interpretations, enabling individuals to navigate difficult environments and make successful moves. By holding multiple readings of a situation, social sector leaders can break free from narrow options and transform their approach to work.
The Strategic Art of Ambiguity (SSIR)
The new EU Commission is adapting to become more agile and reactive in response to recent crises. Geopolitical rivalries and the pursuit of competitiveness shape the Commission's economic, foreign, and security policies, as well as climate and energy. Domestic disagreements and the rise of far-right parties impact policies on asylum, migration, enlargement, and institutional reform. While short-term challenges are prioritized, tensions can arise with long-standing policy objectives. The EU must effectively respond to current developments while ensuring consistency with its long-term vision and values.
Priorities of the new EU Commission | FIIA
Russian sabotage and hybrid war campaigns are on the rise across Europe, targeting NATO countries to erode support for Ukraine and damage Western cohesion. Intelligence agencies have reported an increase in acts of espionage and sabotage, including arson attacks, drone flights, and disruptive actions. Russia's hybrid war strategy also includes cyberattacks, disinformation campaigns, and weaponizing immigration to destabilize neighboring countries. While there has been a surge in sabotage activities, the West has been reluctant to respond forcefully due to fear of escalation. Calls have been made for a more vigorous response and the establishment of a pan-European intelligence agency.
Russian Federation
How and why Russia is conducting sabotage and hybrid-war offensive
Existing international relations theories may not be sufficient to fully understand the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on geopolitics. While these theories provide valuable frameworks for analyzing traditional state behavior, the complexities of AI require new perspectives. The rapid advancement of AI technology and its global implications necessitate a more interdisciplinary approach that includes fields such as computer science and ethics. By incorporating these additional perspectives, policymakers can better plan for the challenges and opportunities that AI presents in the realm of international relations.
Do We Really Need International Relations Theories to Plan for AI?
Recent advancements in AI, machine learning, and robotics have led to the development of autonomous pipeline inspection robots. These robots are equipped to handle the challenges of underground environments, such as winding pipes and limited visibility. This special issue on pipeline inspection robots explores various aspects of autonomous robot tasks in pipe networks, including robot localization, environmental adaptation mechanisms, and safety in collaborative robotics. The issue includes four papers that discuss the state-of-the-art research and potential solutions for pipeline inspection robots. The articles cover topics such as inspection methods, modular robot structures, vision-based navigation systems, and efficient control for pipe inspection. The findings from this research topic can have broader applications in robotics development, and the issue highlights the importance of computational efficiency and resource optimization for these robots.
Editorial: Pipeline inspection robots
The editor's note introduces Issue 5 of the RUSI Journal in 2024, written by Dr. Emma De Angelis, the Director of Special Projects.
Russian Federation
Editor’s Note: RUSI Journal, Issue 5, 2024
Green trade barriers, such as Green Technical Barriers to Trade (GTBTs), have a significant negative impact on the green technological innovation (GTI) of Chinese export enterprises. However, the low-carbon city pilot policy (LCCPP) mitigates this negative impact by supporting export enterprises in optimizing their green innovation resource structure. The moderating effect of the LCCPP is particularly pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises, general trade enterprises, and enterprises exporting to high-income countries. The use of market-based policy instruments under high policy intensity has the strongest moderating effect. These findings provide guidance for policymakers in expanding the scope of low-carbon cities and support sustainable foreign trade growth.
Effect of green trade barriers on export enterprise green technological innovation from the perspective of the low-carbon city pilot policy
The article introduces the topic of the relationship between international relations and the geopolitics of artificial intelligence (AI) and previews a special section in the RUSI Journal that explores this subject.
International Relations and the Geopolitics of AI: An Introduction
North Korea has entered the Russia-Ukraine war on the side of Russia, significantly altering the dynamics of the conflict and making it global. North Korean troops, estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000, have been sent to participate in the war. This move provides Russia with an additional source of manpower and reduces domestic political risks. Moreover, it allows Russia to significantly decrease the costs of paying military personnel. The involvement of North Korea in the war against Ukraine is not a sudden decision but something that Russia has been trying to arrange since March 2022. This development raises concerns not only about the escalation of the conflict but also about Russia turning into a North Korea-like state.
Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Ukraine
North Korea Enters the Fray: Must Ukraine Win a Third World War on its Own?
AI has the potential to significantly impact international relations and geopolitics. Existing theories of international relations are examined to understand the implications of AI in these areas.
On the Transformative Power of AI in/for International Relations
The article explores the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on geopolitics and questions whether existing theories of international relations can provide insights into this emerging field. The author, Professor Kenneth Payne, discusses the potential implications of AI on global power dynamics.
The Geopolitics of AI
Existing theories of international relations are being questioned in their ability to provide insights into the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on geopolitics. The necessity of moving between disciplines is emphasized as experts discuss the need for a multidisciplinary approach to understand AI's effects.
Theories of AI and the Necessity of Moving Between Disciplines

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