Linus Höller,Northwestern University[1] First published 2023 June 7 Abstract Landlocked, mountainous countries, although scattered around the globe, share a unifying set of geographical features and are impacted by climate change in similar ways. Yet the concerns of mountain countries find relatively little international recognition, including in international environmental and climate change negotiations, owing in part…
For the first time in 42 years, a U.S. nuclear-armed submarine has arrived in South Korea. Pyongyang has fired missiles in anger but more importantly, the South has backed down from developing its own nukes – for now.
By Linus Höller The foreign ministers of traditionally neutral Austria and Switzerland officially declared their intent to join the German-led “Sky Shield” air defense alliance Friday. The move has reignited debates about what it means to maintain neutrality and is likely to draw criticism from France and Italy for its reliance on American — rather…
Severe storms swept across much of the central United States on March 31st, killing at least 33 people, injuring over 211 more and causing significant property damage, including leaving over 766,000 customers without electricity. While outbreaks of this sort are not unheard of, some scientists are warning that it could be a symptom of broader trends in severe weather – including more tornadoes in the Chicago area – as human-induced climate change upsets global weather patterns.
Linus Höller, Northwestern University[1] First published March 13, 2022 Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has fundamentally changed the security architecture of Europe and shown that wars of aggression are not a thing of a bygone era but continue to be a possibility in the modern, nuclear world. Along with the repercussions for international relations, however, the…
This fall promises to be crucial for the future of Bosnia, a country torn by ethnic tensions, a breakaway republic and rampant corruption. Ahead of general elections and an important United Nations vote, I visited this country at the heart of the Balkans to learn more about the struggles it faces – and how the…
When Yugoslavia disintegrated, it left behind one of the most unusual states in the world. Bosnia and Herzegovina not only consists of two and a half “countries within the country,” but also has three simultaneous presidents, fourteen parliaments and a supreme leader appointed by the U.S. and EU. In this explainer, we take a deep…
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a crime not just against Ukraine, but against civility and the Russian people themselves, says Dimitri Androssow, a Russian oppositional politician with PARNAS. Read TWU’s striking interview here.
North Korea uses its diplomats around the world to circumvent international sanctions and make money for the Kim regime. TWU’s investigation reveals a global North Korean business empire based in Malaysia.
Spies, sanctions and sketchy sales all play a role in this fascinating story.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was by no stretch of the imagination inevitable, but the factors that culminated in Putin eventually giving his troops the “go” were a long time in the making and include old territorial grievances, more recent Russian concerns about NATO and a healthy dose of authoritarianism. Let’s break down some key facts underlying the invasion.