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Recent developments in global trade policy are influenced by various factors, including geopolitical changes, technological developments and world economic dynamics. One of the main aspects is the need for countries to adapt to the rapidly changing economic conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries are seeking to strengthen their domestic supply chains to reduce dependence on imported products, which have proven vulnerable. Free trade agreements are increasingly popular in various regions. For example, ASEAN continues to strengthen cooperation through RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership), which includes 15 countries and is the largest free trade agreement in the world. This signals a commitment to increasing intra-regional trade and strengthening market position in Asia-Pacific. Meanwhile, on the other hand, protectionist policies have also re-emerged, especially in countries such as the US and the European Union. Tariffs imposed on imported goods aim to protect domestic industry but can cause trade tensions. For example, the US still imposes high tariffs on goods from China which has implications for trade relations between the two countries as well as the global market as a whole. Digital trade is also a major focus in global trade policy. With the rise of e-commerce during the pandemic, countries are investing in digital infrastructure and taking into account regulations governing online transactions. For example, the European Union is seeking to adopt stricter regulations on digital transactions, targeting consumer data protection and cyber security. Sustainability in trade was also raised as an important issue. Many countries are committed to implementing environmentally friendly trade practices by integrating higher standards for products that address sustainability. For example, the Green Deal initiative in the European Union aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 by prioritizing environmentally based trade. Another important issue is the impact of geopolitical conflicts, such as the Russian-Ukrainian war. These conflicts have affected energy prices and global food supplies, which in turn have impacted trade policies. Countries are shifting focus to alternative sources to overcome this crisis, triggering a shift in global energy markets. Climate change is also an issue that greatly influences trade policy. Countries are starting to implement carbon tariffs on products imported from countries that do not meet emissions standards. This step aims to encourage other countries to improve their environmental policies and reduce the carbon footprint in production activities. Technology trends, including the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain, also play a role in trade policy developments. This technology makes it easier to monitor products, increases transparency and efficiency in the supply chain. Many countries are also starting to explore agreements that allow secure data exchange to improve collaboration in trade and logistics. Against this backdrop, companies operating internationally are expected to be more flexible in responding to these changes. Dynamic global trade policies require them to understand and adapt to increasing regulations, as well as develop agile strategies to remain competitive in a changing market.

The Latest Geopolitical Tensions in the World

Geopolitical tensions in the world are currently increasingly heated, with various issues being interrelated and affecting global stability. One of the main focus points is the conflict in the East Asia region, especially between China and the United States. This competition includes economic, military and technological aspects that have a broad impact on international alliances.

China and the United States

China continues to expand its influence in the South China Sea region, claiming large parts of the territory also claimed by neighboring countries such as the Philippines and Vietnam. The construction of artificial islands and increased military activity has led the US to strengthen its naval presence in the region. In this context, the latest intelligence reports indicate that the possibility of direct confrontation between the two countries is increasing.

Russian-Ukrainian conflict

Meanwhile, the conflict in Ukraine remains a central issue that has a global impact. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has caused an energy crisis in Europe and a spike in food prices worldwide. International sanctions against Russia have put economic pressure, but European countries continue to try to find a balance between supporting Ukraine and maintaining energy stability. Seeing this trend, many experts predict that this conflict will continue until 2024, with domestic political problems in Europe becoming increasingly complicated.

Middle East Tensions

In the Middle East, China’s relations with Arab countries are increasing, especially in economic and investment cooperation. Several Gulf countries are turning their eyes away from the West towards strategic partnerships with China. This not only affects the balance of power in the region, but also signals that Arab countries are starting to look for alternative alliances.

Cyber ​​and Security Issues

Apart from conventional issues, cyber warfare also enters the realm of geopolitical tensions. Cyber ​​attacks that occur between major countries create uncertainty in global markets. Data and infrastructure security is a priority for many countries. The US and its allies are seeking to strengthen their cyber defense systems to counter this challenge, which has the potential to damage the country’s economy.

World News and Multilateralist Diplomacy

In the midst of this tension, diplomatic efforts did not stop. G20 meetings and other international forums are important platforms for discussing these issues. However, the outcome of these meetings was often influenced by conflicting national interests. Creating global stability requires solid cooperation and mutual respect between countries.

Impact on the Global Economy

This geopolitical tension certainly has a significant impact on the global economy. Political uncertainty affects investment, while energy market instability has a direct impact on the prices of goods. Companies around the world are adapting to this situation, and many are looking for opportunities outside countries involved in conflict.

Conclusion

The current geopolitical tensions are a manifestation of changing power dynamics on the world stage. These interrelated issues show that the challenges facing global stability are very complex. By understanding this context, it is hoped that the international community can develop appropriate strategies and actions to face existing challenges.

Proxy war, the use of foreign-backed forces to intervene in an intrastate conflict without deploying its own troops, is a common way for great powers to advance their national interests. Yet such conflicts can be immensely costly and often widen into a general war between the two sides, as demonstrated by the Cold War in Southeast Asia, which saw the United States support South Vietnam against Northern communist forces backed by China and Russia.

Several attendees pointed out that proxy war is an extremely complex policy because it requires the intervening state to balance two types of interest: vital and desirable. The first type relates to security, and the second to the desire for an outcome that supports the intervening state’s worldview or values. For example, an intervening state may be willing to sacrifice the emergence of antidemocratic governments in the name of its vital interests, but it will not be willing to tolerate such dictatorships in order to advance its moral beliefs.

Moreover, the complexity of the policy is compounded by the fact that the intervening state must continuously assess its proxy’s ability to achieve its objectives, its access to resources, and its leadership capability. The policy is also asymmetrical in that the proxies’ interests and impulses differ from their sponsors. As a result, many proxies are corrupt, brutal, and incompetent, and their behavior can damage the reputation of the sponsoring power. This can be especially true if the sponsoring power is itself a gross human-rights violator, such as Iran and Russia.

Drone strikes have become an integral part of modern warfare. They can be used tactically to achieve limited military objectives or strategically as part of a strategy to meet broader political and military goals. They can also be used by both state and non-state actors, including terrorist organizations. While scholars and policymakers have studied drone use from a variety of perspectives, few have addressed how public perceptions of legitimacy shape the way governments employ drones.

Our study examined the patterns of drone strikes that different countries adopt and found that how a strike is framed can have important implications for its perceived legitimacy. The results showed that Americans and French citizens perceive certain patterns of strikes as more legitimate than others, and these perceptions are influenced by how the strike is used and the type of constraint that is applied to it.

In particular, when officials impose a unilateral constraint on drone strikes—such as a “near-certain” standard of no civilian casualties—it raises the perception that the strike is more legitimate than when it is conducted by a multilateral body, such as the United Nations. This finding suggests that if officials want to make drone strikes more legitimate, they should incorporate constraints that are both multilateral and enforceable. This could include augmenting secretive negotiations with intervening states with the option of a U.N.-approved mandate that would guarantee no civilian casualties for strikes conducted by the interventionary state. It could also mean incorporating a robust, independent oversight system into the drone strike process that enables officials to better justify their actions.

As a first step, if Israel returns the hostages and significant aid gets into Gaza, and if Israelis and Palestinians can stop shooting at each other for a while, that would be good news. But a lasting pause in the conflict will depend on clear sequencing, credible verification, and sustained diplomacy.

A ceasefire agreement regulates the cessation of military activity for a given length of time in a specific area. It may be negotiated between States parties to a conflict or between non-State groups, and it can be part of a larger peace process leading to a comprehensive settlement agreement. Contemporary ceasefire agreements, particularly those involving non-international armed conflicts, often include ad hoc provisions addressing the particular needs of that conflict:

For example, in intrastate conflicts, such as the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the agreements usually contain provisions to guarantee the safety of civilians, the return of hostages and displaced persons, the establishment of a State administration over the territory; disarmament; prosecution of war criminals and amnesties; transitional justice, including trials and reparations; and humanitarian assistance. These issues are often dealt with through a Peace Process, in which a series of discrete steps are taken towards the ultimate goal of a peace treaty (Wippman). Although the terms ceasefire and truce are frequently used interchangeably, there is a distinction between them under international law. In general, the term truce refers to an arrangement by which belligerents refrain from warlike acts for a short time, while an armistice is an actual agreement to suspend military operations (Bailey). A treaty can also specify enforcement action in the event of a breach, while a declaration or an accord does not.

Central bank policy can take many forms, but it generally boils down to adjusting the supply of money to achieve some combination of inflation and output stabilization. Central banks also have other responsibilities that are less directly related to interest rates, such as financial stability. These include responding to banking crises and regulating margin lending, where individuals or companies borrow against pledged securities.

In the past, some central banks have operated primarily through the interest rate channel, but they have increasingly had to address other issues as well. For example, during the crisis, many specific credit markets became blocked, so the central bank needed to step in to provide liquidity. One option was to expand the size of its balance sheet through “quantitative easing”, which increases the amount of financial assets it owns and therefore the money supply. This has been a popular strategy since the financial crisis of 2008.

Another option is to buy commercial paper or mortgage-backed securities, which adds liquidity by providing a source of funds to companies and individuals that need them. In this way, the central bank provides liquidity to these markets without relying on the interest-rate channel. This is the approach currently used by the Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. This type of framework is often referred to as a “demand-driven” one, although it can be difficult to distinguish between the demand- and supply-driven operational frameworks, as most central banks offer a backstop lending facility to meet any additional need for reserves at a fixed price for eligible banks that can post collateral.

The battles of global power play out in parliaments, news conferences and summits. But their effects touch us all, often in ways that aren’t immediately apparent. From the price of bread to the safety of our neighbourhoods, geopolitical tensions can have profound implications for everyday life.

The ongoing trade war between the US and China, for example, is reshaping global supply chains, increasing instability, and forcing businesses to rethink their investment plans. The race for energy supremacy is also reshaping the landscape, with nations competing for control of critical natural resources, access to vital technology components, and the key trade routes that facilitate energy production and transportation. Meanwhile, climate change continues to drive a reshaping of energy geopolitics and global trade patterns.

For ordinary people, the impact of these tensions can be felt most acutely in the price of essential goods and services. The conflict in oil-producing countries raises petrol prices, while currency instability makes it harder to afford basic groceries. The reshaping of world trade patterns and the rise of disruptive technologies are reshaping job markets, too, with young graduates finding it harder to find opportunities, while established professionals face uncertainty as their employers relocate or reduce operations.

Living in a state of permanent tension takes its toll on individuals and communities, with high levels of stress contributing to mental health issues. Constant news of wars, sanctions and rivalries contributes to the sense of disconnection and anxiety that many feel.

A military coup is the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group. Merriam-Webster defines the term, and Cambridge does so as well: “a sudden decisive use of force in politics by a group.” Unlike revolutions, which involve large numbers of people fighting for fundamental social, economic, and political change, military coups are often limited to the abrupt replacement of top government personnel.

Coups are rarely successful without civilian support, although it is not a requirement. Civilians could help by supporting protests or taking on important governing tasks alongside the new military junta. In some cases, such as Niger in 2023, they may even enlist in a pro-junta militia.

In many cases, juntas intervene in politics either because they fear the emergence of civilian power or because their polity faces a real or perceived security crisis. As a result, they have little inclination to allow democratic processes to return to the pre-coup norm of civilian dominance over politics.

Some countries are more prone to coups than others. Africa, for instance, has suffered the most from the recent resurgence in putsches. But this does not necessarily mean that the continent has fallen back into praetorian politics. Instead, coups have more to do with democracy’s failure than any fondness for military rule. In addition, the resurgence in coups is likely due to a weakening of anti-coup norms internationally. Nonetheless, the resurgence of military coups has some worrying implications for democracy.

Human rights are a set of principles which recognise that every person is born free and equal in dignity and worth. They are fundamental and indivisible, and cannot be surrendered or derogated from. They include a right to life, liberty and security of person, as well as the right to freedom of speech, religion and a private property.

The word ‘human rights’ has been in use since the end of World War II and the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) in 1948. It replaced the term ‘natural rights’ which had fallen out of favour in the 19th century, following the rise of a philosophy called legal positivism, which rejected the theory that law must be moral to be valid.

Writing a research paper in the field of human rights can be challenging because the topic is complex. It is recommended to find a narrow focus and to write your essay with an underlying theme that you are interested in. This will help you to stay organized and focused while researching your topic.

This year, our focus is on people, like the Indigenous reindeer herder who’s fighting to protect her land in Norway or the photojournalist jailed for exposing flood disasters in Myanmar or the boy whose life was taken by female genital cutting in South Africa. Their stories are connected by one thing – their human rights were violated. By writing letters and signing petitions, you can make a difference.

The world has become more connected and interdependent, putting international peace and security in the spotlight. Global security is an ever-changing field that requires criminology professionals to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to stay ahead of emerging threats and risks. This article explores five key emerging security trends 2025, including geopolitical tensions, heightened instances of GZW tactics, citizen crisis preparedness initiatives, and more.

The rise of GZW tactics like cyber attacks, hacking, and sabotage has placed increased pressure on security teams to be vigilant and proactive. These security challenges call for a multifaceted approach that prioritizes data analysis, threat prevention, and crisis response efforts to keep organizations safe.

A growing focus on protecting civilians from terrorist attacks, lone-wolf threats, and other criminal activities requires law enforcement agencies to collaborate across borders and jurisdictions. This entails developing strategies that balance national security with humanitarian concerns while addressing the root causes of these issues.

Increasingly, countries are recognizing the need for stronger collaboration in the realm of security in order to protect their citizens and maintain international peace. This is reflected in the growth of international security alliances such as NATO and the strengthening of emergency response systems. Security also has a direct impact on economic stability and growth, as safe environments encourage investments and boost economic activity. This is also true for digital economies, where strong cybersecurity measures promote safer online transactions and a space for innovation. For example, countries with high security initiatives often see a higher GDP growth rate than those without.