Introduction Wars do not only destroy cities and human lives. They also test the institutions that claim to protect humanity. When political mechanisms appear unable to prevent suffering, people often search for other sources of hope and moral guidance. During the 2026 war between Iran, the United States and Israel, an unusual form of communication…
In 2025–2026, Pakistan’s economic crisis has begun to take on characteristics far deeper than those of a conventional fiscal collapse. Behind the negotiations for new bailout packages from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a silent yet highly consequential institutional struggle is unfolding over the future direction of the country’s economic governance. State-owned enterprises, energy facilities,…
The idea of “compassionate AI” in warfare appears paradoxical at first glance, yet it becomes analytically meaningful when defined with precision. For the purpose of this article, “compassionate AI” refers not to emotional sensitivity or moral intuition, but to the technical capacity of an autonomous weapon to apply the central principles of international humanitarian law…
Earth Day 2026 carried the theme “Our Power, Our Planet.” Yet from a Global South feminist perspective, Earth Day cannot remain a symbolic exercise of tree planting, corporate sustainability campaigns, or institutional self-congratulation. It must become a day of reckoning. The climate crisis is not merely environmental. It is deeply connected to histories of colonial…
Book review by Kerstin Leitner We are currently experiencing a series of gruesome wars, and an increasing number of violent attacks on civilians both in war and in non-war situations. It seems a contagious toxin is spreading, and we don’t know how to contain and eliminate it. Now a book was published with the title…
At a time when criticism of the UN is constantly resurfacing, and a state that claims to rule the world is striving to dismantle it, I believe it is timely to defend the imperative of global governance. The contemporary international order is the result of a long process that took root in the 17th century…
The 28 February 2026 US-Israel attack on Iran and the subsequent spat between US President Trump and Pope Leo, including the salvo by Vice President Vance on Christian “just war” doctrine, brought back to the fore an ages-old debate about the respective roles of “Church and State” or religious and civic/political authorities. In Western liberal…
Earlier this month, the U.S. lifted sanctions that were imposed on interim President Delcy Rodriguez since 2018. This means she will be able to engage directly with U.S. financial entities and multilateral organizations such as the IMF. This paves the way for increased foreign investment in the country and the renegotiation of its external debt….
The United States and Israel’s war on Iran will undoubtedly have serious consequences for Russia –Tehran’s strategic partner – especially if the Islamic Republic falls. Still, the country expected to suffer the most if Washington achieves its geostrategic goals in the Middle East is not the Russian Federation, but China. Russia – unable to achieve…
Some positive signs… After years of poor performance bordering on irrelevance vis-à-vis many of the challenges facing the world, especially in the peace and security field, the United Nations has recently been getting a boost to its standing, from expected and unexpected places. No surprise that small and middle powers of the South and the…