ISDP Voices

Luc Walter warns of the potential dangers of terrorists utilizing cryptocurrencies to conceal their activities. At the end of November, it was widely reported that Bitcoin’s value had risen to more than $10,000, an increase of nearly $9000 over the course of 2017. Like other cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin uses decentralized control as opposed to the centralized […]

The recent October 31 terror attack in Manhattan, during which eight people were killed and eleven seriously injured, has again raised the question of Central Asian involvement in Jihadist activity. Few details about the chief suspect, 29-year old Sayfullo Saipov, have emerged so far but some general observations can be made. Saipov has been identified […]

In two weeks time, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Vladimir Putin will convene their fourth meeting this year alone. The meeting will take place during the 2017 APEC summit in Vietnam. The frequency of their meetings is significant. Russia-Japan relations turned cold in 2014 when Japan, along with the G7, sanctioned Russia after its annexation […]

On September 25, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced his intention to dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap election on October 22. The results of the election saw his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) holding on to its two-thirds majority. The newly formed center-left Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) came in second, and Tokyo governor Yuriko […]

On October 18, the Communist Party of China (CPC) will hold its National Congress of the Communist Party of China (NCCPC) a key event in terms of reallocating power. During this event, the Central Committee is expected to see 70% of its 376 members to leave in favor of newcomers. Historically, female participation in the […]

As tensions escalate between the U.S. and North Korea, Seoul finds itself with little room to improve inter-Korean relations argues Alec Forss. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his Democratic Party swept into power last May pledging to institute a fresh start in relations with North Korea. After nearly a decade of conservative governments which […]

Partners in Practice Beijing has committed itself to an increasingly outward looking policy platform that emphasizes infrastructure improvements and a more visible global security presence and peacekeeping program. In doing so, China has joined more traditional sponsors of aid and development assistance, most notably the US and EU. At the same time, new political discourses […]

A key promise in the Brexit bandwagon was that after Brexit, Britain could negotiate trade deals with whomever they liked. After all, Britain hasn’t negotiated an independent trade treaty since 1973. Seemingly, Britain could offset the negative implications of leaving the single market by crafting new trade deals with partners like China. There is some merit […]

On September 1, Japan’s opposition Democratic Party (DP) held a leadership election pitting former Minister of Foreign Affairs Seiji Maehara against former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano. Although Maehara won, setbacks in the first weeks along with long-term challenges on politics and on policy indicate that much more than a new leader is likely needed […]

As the international community stands again on the brink of nuclear crisis, some have speculated whether an Iran-style “solution” is possible in the case of North Korea. While Pyongyang has accelerated its nuclearization, Tehran struck a deal in 2015 to relinquish its nuclear weapons ambitions. Closer analysis of the two countries’ programs and differences, however, […]