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Armed Groups, Illicit Extraction, and Human Exploitation in the DRC’s Cocoa Supply Chain
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Reinforcing U.S. Power in the Horn of Africa: The Case for a Base in Somaliland
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The US and China Looking for a Way Out of the Tariff Wars
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Gulf Arab Engagement with Russia
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Why Does Saudi Arabia Welcome Nuclear Talks?
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Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

Africa

May 20 , 2025

Policy Brief

Armed Groups, Illicit Extraction, and Human Exploitation in the DRC’s Cocoa Supply Chain

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is exceptionally rich in natural resources. It has 200 million acres of cultivable land and the world’s second-largest rainforest. It is home to an immensely diverse flora and fauna, and – as is notoriously known – is also rich in mineral resources. However, the

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Defense & Security, Africa

May 16 , 2025

Policy Brief

Reinforcing U.S. Power in the Horn of Africa: The Case for a Base in Somaliland

Amidst threats to U.S. interests in the Red Sea and competition for regional influence, the United States must reassess its military posture in the Horn of Africa. The Horn of Africa, which includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, sits at the junction of global trade and strategic competition, commanding access

READ MORE

Americas, Indo – Pacific

May 14 , 2025

Policy Brief

The US and China Looking for a Way Out of the Tariff Wars

The trade war between the United States and China has reached a turning point after April 2025. Beginning in April with the US imposing tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods and China responding with 125% duties on American products, trade among the world’s two top economies has de

READ MORE

Middle East

May 12 , 2025

Policy Brief

Gulf Arab Engagement with Russia

Last month, the Emir of Qatar and the Sultan of Oman visited Moscow, where they met with President Vladimir Putin. These visits to the Kremlin highlight Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members’ efforts to deepen ties with Russia across geopolitical, security, energy, economic, and diplomatic fronts. Such engagements affirm Moscow’s enduring

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Africa

May 6 , 2025

Policy Brief

Sudan’s Civil War and the Gulf Chessboard

Similar to other current global crises – such as those in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo – the conflict in Sudan appears difficult to resolve through negotiations. There are two main factors contributing to this difficulty. First, both parties view the conflict through a zero-sum

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Middle East

May 5 , 2025

Policy Brief

Why Does Saudi Arabia Welcome Nuclear Talks?

In 2002, when the People’s Mojahedin Organization, the exiled opposition group of the Islamic Republic of Iran, revealed the hidden aspects of Iran’s nuclear industry development in a hotel in Washington, the international community, including the Arab countries of the region and the Persian Gulf monarchies, felt fear and vulnerability

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Cyber Security & Info Technologies

Apr 25 , 2025

Policy Brief

An Analysis of ATM and Point-of-Sale Skimming

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ATM and POS skimming is a recurring societal problem, especially with the changing technological world. Recently, police discovered ATM skimming devices at convenience stores in York County and Lancaster County[1]. In Philadelphia, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were compromised due to skimming devices[2]. Although these are three macro-level events,

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Crime & Justice, Americas

Apr 21 , 2025

Podcast

Nicholas Barnes: Criminalized Governance in Rio’s Neighborhoods

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Dr Nicholas Barnes on criminalized governance inside some of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. After sharing the process that led him to focus his research on political violence and non-state governance as observed in some of Rio’s neighborhoods, Dr Barnes

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Latest Research

Africa

May 20 , 2025

Policy Brief

Armed Groups, Illicit Extraction, and Human Exploitation in the DRC’s Cocoa Supply Chain

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is exceptionally rich in natural resources. It has 200 million acres of cultivable land and the world’s second-largest rainforest. It is home to an immensely diverse flora and fauna, and – as is notoriously known – is also rich in mineral resources. However, the

READ MORE

Defense & Security, Africa

May 16 , 2025

Policy Brief

Reinforcing U.S. Power in the Horn of Africa: The Case for a Base in Somaliland

Amidst threats to U.S. interests in the Red Sea and competition for regional influence, the United States must reassess its military posture in the Horn of Africa. The Horn of Africa, which includes Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia, sits at the junction of global trade and strategic competition, commanding access

READ MORE

Americas, Indo – Pacific

May 14 , 2025

Policy Brief

The US and China Looking for a Way Out of the Tariff Wars

The trade war between the United States and China has reached a turning point after April 2025. Beginning in April with the US imposing tariffs as high as 145% on Chinese goods and China responding with 125% duties on American products, trade among the world’s two top economies has de

READ MORE

Middle East

May 12 , 2025

Policy Brief

Gulf Arab Engagement with Russia

Last month, the Emir of Qatar and the Sultan of Oman visited Moscow, where they met with President Vladimir Putin. These visits to the Kremlin highlight Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) members’ efforts to deepen ties with Russia across geopolitical, security, energy, economic, and diplomatic fronts. Such engagements affirm Moscow’s enduring

READ MORE

Africa

May 6 , 2025

Policy Brief

Sudan’s Civil War and the Gulf Chessboard

Similar to other current global crises – such as those in Ukraine, the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo – the conflict in Sudan appears difficult to resolve through negotiations. There are two main factors contributing to this difficulty. First, both parties view the conflict through a zero-sum

READ MORE

Middle East

May 5 , 2025

Policy Brief

Why Does Saudi Arabia Welcome Nuclear Talks?

In 2002, when the People’s Mojahedin Organization, the exiled opposition group of the Islamic Republic of Iran, revealed the hidden aspects of Iran’s nuclear industry development in a hotel in Washington, the international community, including the Arab countries of the region and the Persian Gulf monarchies, felt fear and vulnerability

READ MORE

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