ISDP Voices

The global nonproliferation community has treated allies and adversaries alike when it comes to nuclear-related issues, in order to preserve the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which is widely regarded as conventional wisdom. Such ‘policy correctness’ based on morality sounds principled, but it is strategically incoherent in practice. Nowhere is this duality more visible than in […]

Few countries are more exposed to disruptions in global trade than Sweden. When instability strikes the world’s key maritime chokepoints, the consequences travel quickly through energy markets and supply chains that sustain export-driven economies. The escalating war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran has already triggered such a shock: Iranian forces have reportedly laid […]

Today, K-pop is appreciated all over the world, and it is often asked why Korean performers are so good at singing and acting on stage. Without being directly related to it, pansori, an ancient art form, might be one element that serves as a background phenomenon. Pansori is a story performed, both spoken and sung, […]

Introduction With a culture rooted in Confucian traditions, where personal value is inseparable from social rank and lifelong comparison, South Korea’s dynamic and vibrant modern lifestyle masks the strain of a hyper-competitive society. This is particularly so among young people. From early childhood, students are evaluated by academic performance, which determines access to prestigious middle […]

As a key U.S. ally, Japan has been slowly but naturally involved in a trilateral security partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (AUKUS) in recent years. The AUKUS partnership was established in September 2021 by the three countries to support a free and open Indo-Pacific. Although it is not a formal […]

After almost three years on hold, the foreign ministers of China and Pakistan recently announced plans to advance construction of the upgraded China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), agreeing to broaden collaboration in industry, agriculture, mining, and green energy. The question that arises is whether China is exporting infrastructure or a worldview? As Beijing speaks the language […]

Recent remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos 2026 showcased growing concern among middle powers over the durability of the post-WWII international order. Carney’s call for a foreign policy grounded in “value-based realism” was not a mere rhetorical expression. It reflected a structural shift in international politics in […]

The Hidden Fragilities of Global Connectivity In 1866, around a decade after the installation of the very first undersea cable, messages between Europe and America could transmit six to eight words per minute, and charged US$5 per word – equivalent to more than US$100 in 2026 value. Today, the development of key system components in […]

On January 24, 2026, China’s Ministry of National Defense announced that Gen. Zhang Youxia, Vice-Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC), and Gen. Liu Zhenli, CMC member and Chief of the Joint Staff, had been placed under investigation for “suspected serious violations of discipline and law.” The announcement was exceptional in both timing and rank. […]

The announcement on January 24, 2026, that General Zhang Youxia—China’s most senior uniformed officer and allegedly Xi Jinping’s closest military ally— was placed under investigation for “serious violations of discipline and law” represents a watershed moment in Chinese civil-military relations. This purge is the second removal of a sitting Vice-Chairman, and the sixth removal of […]