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EPIS Format Groups
Blog
Weekly perspectives on current topics
The Format Groups Blog – A weekly series of opinionated briefs (500-1000 words) discussing current issues in foreign affairs and security policy. Topics range from geopolitical analysis and international conflict to diplomatic strategies and global governance. The format presents well-researched, succinct insights to engage both academic and general audiences in timely security policy discussions.
In the Shadow of Ballots
The 2024 US Elections and the Reimagining of EU Security
Main Question: How will the 2024 US election impact EU security and transatlantic relations? Argument: A Harris win would likely strengthen NATO and US-EU cooperation, pushing Europe towards more responsibility in defense. A Trump victory could weaken NATO, increase US isolationism, and embolden nationalist movements in the EU. Conclusion: The EU must prepare to enhance its strategic autonomy and unity, regardless of the US election outcome.
In the Year of Anniversary
Thoughts about (E)Ukraine
20 years after the EU's historic expansion, discussions over Ukraine's accession emerge. Will this enhance security or escalate tensions?
Is Multilaterlism Back?
Correspondence from the Paris Peace Forum 2023
Multilateralism on the rise? Insights from the Paris Peace Forum.
Milei's Argentinia
Navigating economic turbulance, populist politics and international relations in the era of small-government leadership
Amid Argentina's economic turbulence and political discontent, the election of Javier Milei sparked both hope and scepticism.
Navigating Geopolitical Realities
Germany's pragmatic step into the Artemis Accords
Germany's decision to join the Artemis Accords signals Berlin's astropolitics ambitions. However, not all that glitters is gold.
Navigating Global Development
Contrasting Strategies of BRI and PGII
China's hands-off approach and debt concerns highlight PGII's dilemma in prioritising sustainable, community-centric projects.
New MENA Migration Deals
Undermining the EU's role as a normative power?
The EU, as a normative power, faces a dilemma: new migration deals challenge its human rights values, risking credibility.
Niger
Military Gouverment only a transitional state?
Despite the leadership change following the military coup in Niger in July 2023, political change in the country cannot be expected.
Nobody Intends to Invade Finland
From neutrality to NATO: Why Finland no longer trusts Moscow
Why Russia's invasion of Ukraine may not be the only reason for Finland to join NATO
POL&IS Stepping Into the Shoes of Global Leaders
A simulated experience
The POL&IS simulation offered a glimpse into global politics, economics, and military affairs, challenging participants with diverse roles.
Politics and Complexity
International Relations Theory Needs to Embrace Complex Systems Analysis
How can structural factors and complex systems analysis enhance our understanding of political instability? Traditional theories like realism and Marxism fail to capture the multifactorial dynamics of political systems. Structural Demographic Theory offers a superior framework by examining demographics, elite interactions and state legitimacy through feedback mechanisms. By applying SDT, policymakers gain a powerful tool to predict and mitigate sociopolitical instability effectively.
Prevention, Prevention, Prevention
Reviewing the Japanes-German Security Dialogue Track 2023
What challenges will the German-Japanese partnership encounter in the coming years, and how can both countries cooperate to champion these?
Redefining Global Polarity
How the Russia-Ukraine War Challenges Traditional Western Dominance
The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has accelerated the decline of Western dominance, highlighting the limits of unipolarity. As rising powers like China, India, and nations in the Global South assert their influence, the global order is increasingly shifting toward multipolarity. The West's waning ability to shape consensus, coupled with growing military constraints, signals the start of a new era in international relations. A global shift that necessitates a redefining of policy for the West.
Road to COP28
What can we expect?
The upcoming COP28 Conference in Dubai should be watched closely as it could provide new directions for a more climate-friendly future.
Russia House
Lynchpin for Russian influence in Germany
A publication by OSINT for Ukraine has revealed connections between the Russian state-run “Russia House” in Berlin and the German AfD.
Serbia at a Crossroad
Democratic concerns, geopolitical balancing and the EU's role
Serbia's democratic backsliding is a cause for concern, given its crucial role in maintaining stability across the broader Balkan region.
Shaping Policy for Tomorrows's Transatlantic Challenges
Insights from the European Student Conference
AN EPIS delegation attended the European Student Conference 2024 and received an award for their policy memo on transatlantic security.
Skills are Everything
Insights from the European Conference on skills in the defence sector
The leak in the STEM pipe poses a major challenge to Europe's defence sector. How should this problem be fixed?
Stop Worrying and Love the Missile
From caution to action: Germany’s missile dilemma in the Ukraine conflict
The hesitation of Western decision-makers to deliver certain weapons to Ukraine plays into Putin’s hand and hurts the Ukrainian war efforts.
Sudan’s Civil War
A battleground for UAE’s ambitions
1. What drives the UAE’s engagement in Sudan? 2. The UAE is prioritizing its own strategic and economic interests 3. There is a need for a strategic and coordinated European response.
