Essays Politics Research
Thoughts on POWER (Alain)
Summary of “Propos sur le Pouvoir” by the French philosopher, journalist and professor Alain (1868-1951). Themes addressed include: political leadership, corruption, and democracy.
Research
On the ABOLITION of all POLITICAL PARTIES
Summary of Simone Weil’s note on the abolition of all political parties. She regards them as makers of collective passions, impediments to critical thinking, and power-hungry machines. She presents her ideal vision of what the political scene should look like.
Essays Politics
TRUTH and POLITICS by Hannah Arendt
Summary of Hannah Arendt’s essay written in 1967. She gives a compelling description of the relationship between lying and power in totalitarian regimes. Her work resonates with current challenges posed by the post-truth era.
History and Case studies Research
RUSSIA-CHINA: friends to enemies?
The Sino-Russian relation is too often mistaken for a strategic alliance. However, its asymetry stands as its main vulnerability. Will it turn “friends without limits” into foes?
Essays Politics Research
TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE and TERRORISM in Africa and the Middle East
Perpetrator, victim or both at the same time? This question is a core difficulty faced by societies in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East when dealing with people affected by terrorism. In order to tackle terrorism, including its manifestations and root causes, and heal from it, States may choose to Read more…
Research
Lying in Politics – Reflections on the PENTAGON PAPERS
Summary of Hannah Arendt’s essay written in 1972. She takes the episode of the Pentagon Papers during the Vietnam war to reflect upon the subject of lying in politics.
Essays Geopolitics
Should we FOLLOW or FREEZE THE MONEY when fighting terrorism and organised crime?
What are the advantages and drawbacks of each strategy? Is one more efficient than the other? When should one be favoured over the other?
Essays Politics
[French] L’Afrique a-t-elle vraiment besoin d’institutions fortes ?
Comment améliorer la gouvernance en Afrique? Par le haut, en renforçant les institutions étatiques déjà (trop) fortes? La voie populaire, par le bas, est-elle alors à privilégier?
History and Case studies
The COLOUR REVOLUTIONS in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan
What sparked the Colour revolutions? Did they bring democracy and the rule of law? What role did the US play? How did it impact relations with Russia?
History and Case studies
Administrating IMPERIAL TERRITORIES between the 1880s and 1939
How was political, economic and cultural domination organised? What were the different modes of colonial administration? How was the colonial system challenged both in the metropole and in the colonies?
History and Case studies
IMPERIAL HIERARCHIES between the 1880s and the 1990s
How were racial hierarchies justified and implemented? Why was there also a hierarchy among colonised populations? How did colonial conquests fuel imperial rivalries?
Research
International Humanitarian Law (jus in bello)
What are the Geneva and La Haye conventions? What are the three components of the Law of Armed Conflicts? Are human rights law and humanitarian law the same? What are the 5 core principles of the LOAC?
Essays Politics
What is a NATION ?
What are the two tenets on which rests the concept of nation? Are nations eternal? Are they linked to notions of race, language, religion, interest or geography?
History and Case studies
A Short History of RUSSIA
Twelve centuries of Russian history to discover how Russia has built its identity under the Mongols, Ivan the Terrible, the Romanov, the Soviet Union and now Vladimir Putin.
Research
HUMILIATION in International Relations
How can globalisation and Western modernity be both desired and rejected? What are the humiliating ways in which the West sustains its global domination? How does humiliation fuel national narratives? How have wars changed in a way that humiliation has become systematic?
Research
CHINA in AFRICA, a “shared future”?
Is it a “win-win” relation? Does China help Africa develop? Does it use “debt-trap diplomacy”? How does China play the big brother? What challenges will it face?
Research
RUSSIA, a predator in AFRICA
What is Russia’s strategy in Africa? How does it use the Wagner group? What’s happening in CAR, Mali, Sudan and SAF? What can limit Russia’s influence?
History and Case studies
From Clinton to Biden: a look back on 30 years of US LEADERSHIP
Delve into Bill Clinton’s pragmatic Wilsonianism, George W. Bush’s “America First”, Barack Obama’s smart power, Donald Trump’s unilateralism and Joe Biden’s Cold War mentality…
Research
TURKEY and RUSSIA : a strategic alliance ?
Do past rivalries impact their relations? Why is Turkey annoying NATO? How complementary are their economies? How compartmentalised are their interests?
History and Case studies
UGANDA: the “Pearl of Africa”
Presentation of Uganda’s History, culture, politics, economy, security situation and so much more !