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Nicholas Barnes: Criminalized Governance in Rio’s Neighborhoods
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Transnational Repression and the Eritrean Diaspora: The Persistence of State Control
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The Importance of Controlling Bagram Air Base to US Interests in Afghanistan and Surrounding Areas
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David Des Roches: The Trump Administration and Yemen -2
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Eliminating the Department of Education: The Likelihood of Future Criminality and Its Economic Cost
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Promoting Evidence-based Policy and Good Governance

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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Democracy & Human Rights, Africa

Apr 15 , 2025

Policy Brief

Transnational Repression and the Eritrean Diaspora: The Persistence of State Control

When states have ceased to uphold democratic principles, diasporic communities become the victims of transnational repression. State surveillance and repression are inherent in many authoritarian states around the world and are used to keep their citizens under control. Eritrea is a case in point, as evidenced by the centrality of

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Middle East

Apr 8 , 2025

Policy Brief

Omani Diplomacy and Prospects for Trump’s Presidency

Oman, an oasis of peace and stability in the turbulent Middle East, largely attributes its foreign policy’s success to its neutrality. Omani diplomacy has the potential to help President Donald J. Trump fulfill his 2024 campaign pledge to become a peacemaker in the Middle East. Omanis stress that their neutrality

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Terrorism & Extremism

Mar 31 , 2025

In the Media

Our Non-Resident Fellow Marta Furlan’s Upcoming Book

We’re excited to announce that our Non-Resident Fellow Marta Furlan’s upcoming book, “Inside Salafi-Jihadist Governance: The Strategies and Characteristics of Islamist Insurgent Rule” is being published by Columbia University Press. In this book, Marta Furlan examines rebels’ experiments in governance, considering issues such as the treatment of minorities, the extent

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Defense & Security, Europe & Central Asia

Mar 27 , 2025

Policy Brief

The Importance of Controlling Bagram Air Base to US Interests in Afghanistan and Surrounding Areas

Recently, the U.S. has expressed the importance of who controls the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. In President Trump’s first cabinet meeting since returning to office, he and Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, discussed the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan and subsequent loss of Bagram Air Base. In the meeting,

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Middle East

Mar 26 , 2025

Podcast

David Des Roches: The Trump Administration and Yemen -2

In this episode of Orion Talks, host Marta Furlan talks with Prof David Des Roches on the recent developments in Yemen as the US revisits its approach to the country under President Trump. Prof Des Roches starts by discussing the US approach to Yemen and the Houthis, over the past

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Americas

Mar 24 , 2025

Op-Ed

Eliminating the Department of Education: The Likelihood of Future Criminality and Its Economic Cost

As proposals to reduce government spending are introduced, it is imperative to thoroughly understand their long-term implications. A significant factor to consider is the potential increase in criminality. While it may seem that criminal behavior and the elimination of the DeO (DoE) are disconnected, the reality is that this decision

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Europe & Central Asia

Mar 21 , 2025

Policy Brief

Iran’s Foreign Affairs in the Caucasus

Iran has different foreign policy goals for various parts of its geographical periphery. The Caucasus is a matter of national security, internal stability, and international trade. Iran is not the only country with strategic interests in the Caucasus: Turkey and Russia seek to have an established presence in the region.

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Latest Research

Africa

Dec 12 , 2024

Policy Brief

Trump 2.0 Africa

Donald Trump’s victory has inevitably prompted a general reflection on how his administration will affect American foreign policy and global dynamics. Most of the discussion are focusing on the possible scenarios in the two active conflicts, Ukraine and the Middle East. However, there is no lack of thoughts on other

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Terrorism & Extremism

Dec 4 , 2024

Research

Terrorist Use of Drones

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, commonly known as drones) have proved to be game changers in modern warfare and violent conflicts. Their deployment in the war between Ukraine and Russia, the Karabakh conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the Libyan Civil War has demonstrated their effectiveness in high-definition surveillance, precision strikes,

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Democracy & Human Rights, Middle East

Dec 3 , 2024

Policy Brief

Domestic and Regional Politics in Turkey’s Proposed Kurdish Peace Process

A supposed Kurdish peace initiative that was floated in Turkey presents an intricate strategic landscape, promising to shape regional and domestic political dynamics. While Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan consolidates power domestically across the judiciary, media, and government institutions, often at the expense of democratic freedoms, former U.S. President Donald

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Cyber Security & Info Technologies

Nov 21 , 2024

Policy Brief

AI Policy Under Trump 2.0: Continuities and Curveballs from Trump to Biden and Back Again

Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an object of serious policy interest. Unlike other policy challenges on Americans’ plates, however, AI is lucky to have thus far avoided significant politicization. The dispassion is to its benefit. Indeed, a degradation of general political discourse hides a surprising fact: the first Trump and

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Sudanese women protesting

Democracy & Human Rights

Oct 1 , 2024

Research

Women and War in Sudan: Gendering of the 2023 Sudanese Civil War

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Sudan’s modern history has been marked by protracted civil wars and non-democratic governance systems. Behind the conflicts between armed groups and militaristic rules, women and children have borne the brunt. Yet another conflict over the control of the state erupted in April 2023, leading to the largest refugee and displacement

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Middle East

Sep 16 , 2024

Policy Brief

Shifting Tides: Egypt’s Strategic Deployment to Somalia and Its Regional Implications

At the end of August, Egypt began sending equipment, ammunition and a small number of soldiers to Somalia, with the aim of reaching ten thousand troops in the coming months. Egypt intends to be the main force in the peacekeeping mission announced by the African Union to replace the current

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