Cold Rush: Resource Competition and Environmental Challenges in the Arctic
The Arctic, once a remote and largely untouched expanse of frozen wilderness, has increasingly become a focal point of international competition. The first part of this article highlights how the rapid melting of polar ice caps, driven by climate change, has opened up new opportunities for resource extraction, trade and strategic military positioning. This transformation...
The Geopolitical and Environmental Implications of China’s Brahmaputra Dam Project
The Yarlung Zangbo-Brahmaputra River is a vital transboundary river system, sustaining over 114 million people across China, India and Bangladesh and supporting agriculture, fisheries, hydropower and drinking water. Originating in the Tibetan Plateau, the river holds immense ecological, economic and cultural significance. However, it has also become a source of geopolitical tension, reflecting broader South...
The Contemporary Fight for Indigenous Sovereignty in New Zealand and Beyond
This article advocates for moving beyond the binary framing of ‘Indigenous’ versus ‘settler’ populations to explore the deeper societal forces driving Indigenous struggles for sovereignty. Through the lens of devletist theory, it explores how historical injustices, cultural suppression, resource conflicts and systemic inequities shape Indigenous resistance and self-determination movements. Using the Māori experience in New...
Taiwan’s Semiconductor Supremacy: A Double-Edged Sword in the Face of Modern Energy Challenges
Taiwan, a relatively small island nation with a nominal Gross Domestic Product (hereinafter: GDP) of approximately $800 billion and a population of around 23,7 million people, occupies a crucial position in the global technology industry, with its semiconductor sector serving as the basis for many of the electronic devices that power today’s society. The island...
Yaba: The Drug That Is Shaping Geopolitics In Southeast Asia
In 2023, a record 190 tons of methamphetamine was seized in Southeast Asia, according to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (hereinafter: UNODC). This methamphetamine-based stimulant, known as the “madness drug” or “Nazi speed,” has swept through Southeast Asia like wildfire, leaving a trail of addiction, crime, and political turmoil...
The South China Sea: A Strategic Powder Keg
The South China Sea stands as a critical nexus of global trade, natural resources and geopolitical tension. This vital maritime corridor facilitates over 3$ trillion in annual trade while harbouring vast untapped reserves of oil and natural gas. Estimates from the University of Leipzig suggest up to 11 billion barrels of oil and 190 trillion...
