Stories about International Relations
Taiwan's official diplomatic relations: A hard game to play in the face of China's obstruction
Taiwan, which has diplomatic relations with 13 countries, multiplies other forms of public diplomacy to maintain engagement and support with many countries, particularly in Central Europe.
Shared narratives of the Yugoslav conflicts of the 1990s: An opportunity for reconciliation
Young people from former Yugoslavia have been left at the mercy of the dominant nationalist discourses and war-mongering rhetoric, used by the political elite as manipulation tools almost three decades after the wars.
Why don't global south postcolonial countries associate themselves with post-Soviet countries of Eastern Europe?
Analogies between postcolonialism and postsocialism might be too quick and, at the very least, require examining the region’s active participation in the policing of the physical and symbolic borders of “Europe.”
The rise of Bangladeshi online streaming content and the tales of ‘Mohanagar’
Bangladeshi web series "Mohanagar 2", a crime thriller that offers nuanced socio-political commentary, has been creating a buzz in Bangladesh since its release in April 2023 on the OTT platform HoiChoi.
Reggaetón, the Latin American ambassador to the world
Nowadays the region's cultural industries have a greater influence worldwide than any other expression on the continent. Why is this?
Pakistan's war on journalism: Abduction and arrest of prominent journalists
Journalists in Pakistan continue to face harassment, arrest, and abduction for their reporting on sensitive issues. In recent years, several prominent journalists and media workers have been targeted and killed.
End of Ramadan in Taipei shows role of Islam in Taiwan's diplomacy
Though it only makes up about one percent of the population, Taiwan's Muslim community represents an asset for greater visibility and engagement with the Middle East, where China dominates.
Sri Lanka's proposed anti-terrorism law aims to curb civil protests
There is growing dissent within Sri Lanka against the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which is intended to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the accompanying bill.
Azerbaijan-Iran tensions escalate
The tensions have been simmering since January 2023, after a gunman stormed the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran, killing the security chief and wounding two guards in the embassy.
Unpacking the controversy around Russian tourists in Indonesia
Tensions between Indonesian citizens and Russian visitors have boiled over after numerous cases of bad behavior from Russian nationals have strained relations and forced officials to take action.
‘I was overwhelmed.’ Ukrainians recall the first hours of the full-scale Russian invasion
In February 2023, Global Voices asked Ukrainians to share how they spent the first minutes and hours after they learned that Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Thailand's upcoming general election is fundamentally flawed, say rights groups
HRW and over 50 Thai and international civil society groups highlighted the shrinking spaces for freedoms and democratic processes in Thailand in joint letters to 25 of Thailand’s democratic allies and trading partners.
‘Until Russia's colonial mindset changes, it will pose a threat': Interview with Buryat activist
Despite claims by the Kremlin that it is fighting colonialism, any attempt to point the finger at long-lasting Russian and Soviet imperialism is severely crushed in Putin's Russia.
In Turkey, will one man continue to rule them all? The May 14th elections hold the answer
The stakes are high, and there is a growing sense among the general public that if the current leadership stays in power, the country's future is grim and uncertain.
Wagner recruitment of volunteers in the Western Balkans region prompts debate
Politicians from neighboring countries have been warning of spreading of PMC Wagner group influence via Serbia, where recruitment advertisement scandal was hushed up.
Why do Western governments delegate border control to AI more and more? An interview with Petra Molnar
Many Western governments delegate border control and refugee crisis management to private companies that rely more and more on AI and technology, in effect dehumanizing people on the move.
Mongolians celebrate and fear for an 8-year old boy as Dalai Lama names him their next spiritual leader
Mongolia has got not only a spiritual leader but a powerful trump card with which it can influence relations between Tibet and China.
Twitter wars: Latin American presidents’ feuds threaten regional unity
Latin American governments have gotten into bitter disputes, many of them via Twitter, at a time when the region is poised to form common fronts on issues such as climate change, migration or the exploitation of new raw materials.
Hopes for democracy in Kazakhstan fade further as numerous violations mar parliamentary elections
The ‘New Kazakhstan’ vision that aspires to bring fair and competitive elections is yet to be implemented.
Police in Kyrgyzstan pressures exiled anti-war Russians to keep quiet
The war in Ukraine presented Bishkek a challenging task of navigating Russia’s demands for explicit support of its invasion and the risks of falling under Western sanctions.
Micronesia’s president accuses China of bribery and ‘political warfare’
"What else do you call it when an elected official is given an envelope filled with money after a meal at the PRC Embassy or after an inauguration?"
