Orion Forum

The Future of Interpol: Policing International Crime in a Political World

The largest organization facilitating cooperation among police across nations, Interpol was established in Vienna in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission. From the start, the organization was meant to be a practical, non-political entity designed to establish direct means of communication and information exchange among police in the fight against international crime. Re-founded in 1946 as the International Criminal Police Organization, the organization has since steadily expanded its membership, presently counting police from 195 nations.

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The Summit for Democracy as a Platform to Promote the Mendez Principles

The Summit for Democracy will be held this week and “bring together leaders from government, civil society, and the private sector.” Being the first of its kind and held at a time when human rights violations and democratic backsliding have peaked globally, the summit could be an invaluable opportunity for the Biden administration to raise awareness of and find solutions to the burning human-rights issues of  the day.

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The Riddle Over Representation of Kurds in Turkey’s Politics

While there have been numerous failed attempts to resolve the Kurdish issue in Turkey in the past, the Syrian conflict has added new dimensions and complexities to an already challenging matter. The political undertakings occasionally dubbed as “democratic openings” or “resolution processes” have ultimately faltered due to a multitude of political and social dynamics.

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Cyber Evolution of Terrorist Groups

Many real-world crimes have long been replicated in cyberspace. Terrorism and extremism are no different. Today’s terrorist groups exploit the advantages the Internet has to offer. Just like everything else, crime, terrorism, violence, and even war have transformed into cyberspace: online radicalization becomes as significant as face-to-face radicalization, violent groups emerge on online platforms, and states use hacker groups to attack their enemies. In such a context, cyberterrorism is becoming a national security concern.

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