History and Case studies
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC : civil war and Russian predation
Why do the Seleka and anti-Balaka fight each other? What is Russia doing in CAR? Is the civil war still on? How are the UN and the EU trying to stop it?
History and Case studies
ARMENIA and AZERBAIJAN: the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
Why did Stalin give Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan? What was the evolution of the conflict since 1992? What role does Russia play there?
History and Case studies
A short History of the IRAN-US relationship
How was the Iranian regime before/after 1979 ? Who was the Ayatollah Khomeini ? How did the US-Iran relationship evolve ? What is the Iranian nuclear deal ?
History and Case studies
MALI and France’s counter-terrorist operations
Why and how did France intervene? What were its motivations? Does the recent French withdrawal from Mali represent a defeat? What role are Russians playing?
History and Case studies
Conflicts in YUGOSLAVIA in the 1990s
Background information since WW1, summaries of the wars in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosovo, and explanations on how crimes were judged in the aftermath of the wars.
Essays Politics
How does RESEMBLING THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT lead to a better Defence of their Interests?
How does passive representation lead to active representation? How does it work in bureaucracies? Are quotas really useful in politics?
Essays Politics
Can PUBLIC OPINION really impact Public Policy?
How can public opinion impact public policies? When can it do so? Is it the most important public policy determinant?
Research
The EUROPEAN UNION: how does it work ?
What is the history of the EU? Why didn’t the UK adopt the euro? How do EU institutions work? What challenges does the EU face?
Essays Politics
What is Wrong with ANTI-CORRUPTION policies?
Why does corruption persist? Is it a principal-agent or a collective action problem? Are there solutions to eradicate it? Can corruption actually be beneficial?
Essays Politics
The Role of States in MARKETS’ Development
What role did states play in the emergence of markets? How and why does capitalism push for state non-intervention? Are states necessary for markets’ survival?
Essays Politics
Can Street-level BUREAUCRATS improve Policies?
When and how can they improve public policies? Is their discretion always a good thing? How to hold them accountable? Can technology help them improve policies?
Essays Politics
Should Politicians Listen to PUBLIC OPINION?
Why does public opinion matter in democracy? What are the drawbacks of basing decisions on public opinion? When does public opinion really matter?
Essays Politics
[French] Renforcer le Lien ARMÉE-NATION en France
Qu’est ce que le lien armée-nation? Comment s’est-il manifesté depuis 1789? Quel rôle joue la réserve? Quelles politiques pour renforcer le lien armée-nation?
Essays Politics
Why do POLICIES seem to go WRONG so Often?
How are policy failures constructed? What role do the media play? How do political promises mislead citizens? What are the shortcomings of our bureaucracies?
History and Case studies
SOUTH-EAST ASIA in the Middle of a Superpower Rivalry
Has the US achieved its “Pivot to Asia” ? How does China expand its influence ? Is the ASEAN a united bloc ? Will it align itself with one side or the other?
Essays Geopolitics
The USA: after Trump, a Return to Normal ?
Will Joe Biden make everything return to normal ? Is he returning to multilateralism ? Multilateralism to counter China ? Can Biden bring together the US ?
Essays Politics
Are we Moving Away from NEOLIBERALISM?
What is neoliberalism? How did we adopt this model? Are we witnessing its end? What role did covid-19 play? What would replace neoliberalism?
History and Case studies
[Part 3] Why did the US fail in AFGHANISTAN (2001-2021)
What military and diplomatic strategies did the US adopt? What mistakes did they make? Who is in good terms with the Taliban? How will they govern?
History and Case studies
[Part 2] The War in AFGHANISTAN (2001-2021)
Why and how did the US intervene in Afghanistan? How was Osama bin Laden killed? What role did Pakistan play? Why did the US leave in 2021?
History and Case studies
[Part 1] Wars in AFGHANISTAN (1979-2001)
What happened during the Soviet-Afghan war and the ensuing civil wars?
What was Pakistan’s role? Who are the mujahideen? Who are the Taliban?