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What It Takes to Build Peace Today
-In an era of escalating global instability, what does it truly take to move beyond short-term deterrence and build lasting, sustainable pea…
EPIS Magazine · Issue II
EPIS Magazine — Issue II
The second issue of the EPIS Magazine.
135 articles in this issue
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Bridging the Gap
1. The interview explores why transatlantic security often overlooks local and state leaders. 2. Joshua Burgin argues that strong personal n…
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EU Enlargement and EP Seat Allocation Reform
Main question: How can the EU reform seat allocation in the European Parliament to integrate new candidate states without breaking the 750-m…
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Rethinking the EU’s Expansion Dilemmas
Main question: How can the EU pursue geopolitically necessary enlargement without weakening its internal cohesion and governance capacity? A…
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Progressive EU Accession Path for Ukraine
Main question: How can the EU offer Ukraine meaningful integration benefits during a long pre-accession period without resorting to a politi…
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Iceland’s Path to EU Membership
Main question: How can Iceland and the EU structure an enlargement framework that reconciles economic sovereignty concerns with shifting Arc…
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A Sectoral Roadmap to EU Integration
Main question: How can the EU advance cooperation and prevent loss of influence in Georgia, given structural incompatibility, political ambi…
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Rethinking Enlargement for a New Age of the EU
Main question: How can the EU reconcile the strategic necessity for swift neighborhood integration with its slow, legally rigid binary acces…
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Strategic Association Treaty (SAT)
Main question: How can the EU enhance its strategic autonomy and competitiveness without causing internal deadlock through full membership e…
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Constitutional Identity in EU Membership
Main question: How can the EU ensure candidate states align with its core values when accession mainly measures legislative compliance rathe…
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What is Anarchy and can we overcome it?
[EPIS Basic Contribution]
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The Mutual Industrial Resilience Program
How can the EU overcome structural vulnerabilities while reforming its slow, politically driven enlargement? The EU must deploy the €30B Ind…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Policy Paper: The Cost of Unpredictability
Main question: how can policymakers address and navigate current geopolitical situation? Argument: Due to the absence of a central authority…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Rise of the Rest
In a time of geopolitical uncertainty whether grounded in historical ties, economic relations, pacts, treaties, or a combination of these. T…
International Relations & Diplomacy
The Global Disorder Cycle
Main question: Is the world really oscillating between eras of recession and expansion, or is this logic purely linear and the result of ch…
International Relations & Diplomacy
From Moscow to Caracas
In an era of rapidly developing social media, cyber threats such as manipulation, fake news, and disinformation are also expanding as elemen…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Hostage Diplomacy
Why are foreign nationals increasingly detained not as criminals, but as leverage? Hostage diplomacy endures because it delivers strategic r…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Allies in Uncertain Times
Main question: How has the EU responded to perceived unpredictability in U.S. foreign policy under the Trump administration? Argument: Unpre…
International Relations & Diplomacy
China’s Reactions to US Belligerence under Trump
Main question: How has China reacted, both “on paper” (diplomatically) and in practice (strategically), to recent US belligerence in Greenla…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Making Greenland and Venezuela Great Again
The article aims to determine if Trump’s behaviour regarding Venezuela and Greenland fit modern scholarly definitions of Imperialism. Both V…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Editorial of the 2nd report
This is the Editorial, it doesn’t have this
International Economic Relations
The Future of the Petrodollar
Main question: How might the energy transition affect the role and underlying strengths of the USD as the world’s reserve currency. Argument…
International Economic Relations
The Weak Yen Trap
Q: Does Japan’s dollar exposure prevent the BoJ from raising rates? Arg: Low rates fuel carry trades that weaken the yen, while $1T+ in U.S.…
International Economic Relations
The Euro as an international currency
– Should the ECB push the Euro internationally to incentivise smaller economies to take the Euro on as their anchor currency? – The general …
International Economic Relations
Policy recommentdation and conclusion
n/a
International Economic Relations
Editorial by Donát Oláh
none
International Economic Relations
Monetary Blocs and International Currency
As in the past, the fragmentation of the global economy and the formation of geopolitical blocs inevitably lead to the emergence of monetary…
International Economic Relations
Who Controls Money?
How do cryptocurrencies affect financial stability and security compared to gold? Both rely on scarcity but differ in relation to state powe…
International Economic Relations
The Euro: Power without Autonomy?
Main question: Why has the euro’s monetary power not translated into full EU strategic autonomy? Argument: While the euro functions as a gro…
International Economic Relations
Digital Currencies and their Implications
1. Asks how the introduction of the digital euro could impact International Relations, through changes in monetary power. 2. The digital eur…
International Economic Relations
Dollar Dominance and Competing Currencies
What is the future of dollar dominance? This report argues the dollar will not be displaced despite geopolitical tensions and digital innova…
International Economic Relations
Is the world moving beyond SWIFT?
Can CIPS, SPFS, and mBridge realistically replace SWIFT as the backbone of global financial messaging and settlement? Each alternative serve…
International Economic Relations
Designing Sanctions
To what extent does international law constrain the EU’s use of Russian central bank reserves? This article argues that sovereign immunity a…
International Economic Relations
Dollar Dominance: The Fed’s Geopolitical Shadow
Main Question: How does Fed monetary policy shape US geopolitical power, and what does the Powell-to-Warsh transition mean for dollar domina…
International Economic Relations
Supply Shock: Why is Gas so Expensive?
1) Why does a supply shock impact gas prices? 2) Changes to oil production capabilities affect the oil supply and its prices. 3) A supply sh…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Redefined: Preemptive Defense
How can organizations move beyond a “reactive” cybersecurity mindset that only addresses breaches after they have caused damage? By utilizin…
International Economic Relations
Discussing Consultancy in a Shifting Landscape
Main Question: How can businesses navigate an increasingly fragmented and uncertain geopolitical landscape? Argument: Companies must integra…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Conclusion
I don’t think the conclusion needs 3 main points?
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Interview with Lola Aworanti-Ekugo
How can the Global South advance in digital trade and AI? Effective digital trade requires inclusive policies, public-private collaboration,…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Digital Sovereignty in a Fragmented World
How do different countries approach digital sovereignty in a fragmented global tech landscape? States adopt models reflecting politics, econ…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
CADA: Scaling EU Cloud Autonomy
Can CADA reduce the EU’s strategic vulnerability from reliance on foreign cloud infrastructure? CADA aims to build secure, EU-controlled clo…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Cyberattacks on EU Critical Infrastructure
Which EU critical infrastructure sectors face the greatest cyber risk, and which threat modalities are most active? The EU threat environmen…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Central Banks’ Geoeconomics
How do central banks and digital currencies, particularly the Digital Euro, shape geoeconomic competition and European integration? CBDCs ha…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Global Competition over AI governance models
How do the US, EU, and China’s differing AI governance models shape global competition and the emerging international AI order? Divergent mo…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Cross-Border Data Flow Governance
How do different national frameworks (EU, US, China, India) govern cross-border data flows while balancing economic benefits with digital so…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
AI and the New Geopolitics of Digital Sovereignty
I don’t think main points are necessary for the editorial?
International Relations & Diplomacy
Strait of Hormuz
This essay aims to highlight the impact of the current blockade of the Strait of Hormuz on the EU, how it is managing, relatively, the crisi…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Egypt and the Nile
-Egypt has enjoyed a normative hegemony over the Nile’s waters since the period of British colonialism. -As riparian basin states seek to de…
Climate Policy & Environment
EPIS Report on Climate Policy & Environment Issue III
Alisa Grunert Timeframe: 13/02/2026 – 13/02/2026 Germany · Climate Protection · Issue III Definition – Dear reader, given the growing presen…
Climate Policy & Environment
Resilient Roots: EU Tech Grants for Farmers
How can the EU accelerate climate tool adoption for smallholders in Africa and SE Asia without increasing financial risk? Loan-based models …
Climate Policy & Environment
Policy Incompatibility in the European Union
Do the monetary costs expected to be saved by businesses through simplification initiatives outweigh the possibly detrimental costs for envi…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
When Mediation Becomes Power Politics
Under what political conditions does peace mediation contribute to genuine conflict transformation? The article argues that peace mediation …
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
NATO-KFOR’s Deterrence in Northern Kosovo
Is NATO-KFOR effective enough in addressing the security threats Kosovo faces? KFOR either needs reform to better address the ongoing threat…
Climate Policy & Environment
Hydro-Hegemony: Türkiye’s Leverage over Syria Iraq
How does Türkiye’s Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP) transform upstream water control into geoeconomic leverage over Syria and Iraq? This …
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
Water Diplomacy and River Basin Organisations
This article discusses how unilateral mega-infrastructure projects generate conditions of water stress and asks whether river basin organisa…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
The IDSF on security challenges in the Middle East
How does the IDSF perceive the current security challenges in the Middle East?/ Israel’s understanding in the region is strongly based on hi…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
Ending UNIFIL
What will happen when UNIFIL leaves Lebanon after years of peacekeeping? UNIFIL has been an important anchor of stability in the region. How…
Climate Policy & Environment
Water as an Instrument of War
Should the environment be used as an instrument of war ?
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
How History Informs Ideas of Taiwanese Sovereignty
How have historical experiences shaped competing ideas of Taiwanese sovereignty, and why does this history continue to structure contemporar…
Climate Policy & Environment
Critical political ecology (CPE)
– The concept of critical political ecology highlights the link between the moral and practical concerns of the environmental movement and c…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
The EU as an External Actor in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict
– How effective is the EU as an external actor in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict? -The EU’s normative ambitions …
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
The Rohingya Crisis
Why has China blocked attempts to invoke the Responsibility to Protect doctrine in the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar? The failure to invoke R2P…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
Blue Helmets, Yellow Tape
Who are the Blue Helmets and what do they do? The Blue Helmets are the military peacekeeping personnel of the United Nations and seek to fac…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
THE WAR IN SUDAN
The article examines how authoritarian collapse, elite division, and foreign proxies shape Sudan’s war. Using neo-realist and political mark…
Security Policy & Defence
The Future of German Aerospace
Role and Impact: As BDLI’s Managing Director, she represents 260+ companies in the German aerospace sector, which employs 115,000 people and…
Security Policy & Defence
Key developments of European Security
The tacit knowledge involved in the defence sector makes it difficult to simply convert civilian facilities and personnel into assets of the…
Security Policy & Defence
Editorial: EPIS Report on Security Policy & Defence II
The Importance of the Military Industrial Complex for the Security of Europe
Security Policy & Defence
Hybrid Security Regimes in Practice
Hybrid security regimes are not symptoms of institutional weakness but deliberate political strategies. Hybrid security regimes are used to …
Security Policy & Defence
Germany’s Quest for Military Leadership
-Should Germany pursue the ambition to build Europe’s strongest conventional army given its economic costs and constraints? -Rearmament can …
Security Policy & Defence
Deterrence Through Industrial Reinforcement
How does Europe’s defence-industrial base compare to Russia’s war economy, and what must Europe change to sustain high-intensity war and cre…
Security Policy & Defence
Dissuading hybrid deterrence
– How is traditional warfare not enough in countering hybrid threats? – Traditional warfare is an insufficient tool in dissuading and counte…
Security Policy & Defence
From Mines to Missiles
Question: How can Europe strengthen its position in the field of rare-earth elements (REEs)? Onshoring, allied shoring, and nearshoring, und…
Security Policy & Defence
Strategic Autonomy in a Digital Age
Main Question: How can the EU achieve strategic autonomy in defense amid technological disruption and geopolitical rivalry? Argument: Europe…
Security Policy & Defence
Shaping Europe’s Security – A Formula for Success?
This article highlights changes within the CSDP/CFSP framework and evaluates the security and industrial initiatives that reflect this shift…
Security Policy & Defence
Privatizing war
Main question: How have international legal norms adapted to the rise of private military and security companies (PMSCs), and with what cons…
Security Policy & Defence
Iranian Defence Industry
How did Iran build and operates its defence industry? Through the pursuit of defence autarky, reverse engineering, civil-military fusion and…
Security Policy & Defence
What Is Deterrence? Core Concepts and Distinctions
Prevention via Cost-Benefit Calculus: Deterrence aims to persuade an adversary that the costs and risks of an offensive action far outweigh …
International Relations & Diplomacy
EPIS 10: Security, Society and Sustainability
The interview discussed, among other topics, Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Green Party’s position on delivering weapons to…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Hedging Against Uncertainty
What is Hedging? Hedging is a foreign policy strategy of states against uncertainty. Hedging, although a contested concept, can help observe…
Security Policy & Defence
About Defence Readiness 2030
The article asks how the EU can achieve defense readiness by 2030 while reducing reliance on the US. It argues that Europe is finally respon…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Shifting Paradigms
The text asks whether Chinese experts’ long-held views of the EU as an economic stabilizer and nonrival are shifting. It argues that while m…
Security Policy & Defence
Taiwan Is Not Ukraine
Is Taiwan really the next Ukraine? Amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, Lenaïg Deslandes challenges the increasingly common comparison …
International Relations & Diplomacy
Entering a New Phase of Geopolitical De-Risking
Can U.S. cities protect themselves from foreign influence? As Sino-U.S. sister city partnerships come under growing scrutiny, Vincent Sipeer…
Security Policy & Defence
Missing the Jungle for the Trees
How did US intelligence miss the warning signs of the Tet Offensive? Dmytro Sochnyev revisits one of the Vietnam War’s most consequential in…
International Relations & Diplomacy
When Supply Lines Become Fault Lines
Can Japan and South Korea keep the lights on amid Indo-Pacific tensions? As rising geopolitical frictions threaten critical maritime routes,…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Foresight Analysis for Policymaking in International Relations
Can policymakers really anticipate the future? As uncertainty defines today’s global politics, Jonatan von Moltke explores the rise of fores…
International Relations & Diplomacy
China 2049 vs. India 2047
What are the great power plans for the mid-21st century—and how do they differ? China and India are charting rival paths toward global influ…
Climate Policy & Environment
Editorial: EPIS Report on Climate Policy & Environment Issue II
The environment is a silent victim in conflict that is beaten and abused with long-term consequences, acting as a threat multiplier for the …
Climate Policy & Environment
Competing Futures
International Criminal Lawis ineffective at protecting the environment in conflict, perhaps stronger solutionsshould be in place, should the…
Climate Policy & Environment
Building Resilience in the Arctic
How can Arctic communities adapt to rapid climate change and growing geopolitical pressure? The Arctic faces compounding threats—from permaf…
Climate Policy & Environment
Climate Justice in EU Policy
How can the EU achieve climate goals while ensuring social equity? Climate action must be both environmentally ambitious and socially just. …
Climate Policy & Environment
The Northern Sea Route
Is the Northern Sea Route a strategic asset or a climate risk? While the NSR offers economic and geopolitical benefits to Russia and China, …
Climate Policy & Environment
The Arctic’s Economic Future
Can the Arctic become a new economic frontier without sacrificing Indigenous rights and ecosystems? While economic interest in a thawing Arc…
Climate Policy & Environment
A Warm Introduction
How is a thawing Arctic reshaping global geopolitics? Climate change is unlocking new strategic and economic opportunities in the Arctic, in…
Climate Policy & Environment
The Concept of Environmental Security
– What are the main merits and pitfalls of treating climante change as a security issue? – As stated by the Copenhagen School’s theory of se…
Security Policy & Defence
Stealthily stabbing the Red Dragon
Main Question: Can new US stealth aircraft like the F-47 and B-21 stop China’s rise as a dominant air power in the Pacific? Argument: The U…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Papal Diplomacy
Since World War II, the Holy See has used its moral authority to engage actively in reconstruction, diplomacy, and the promotion of human ri…
International Relations & Diplomacy
France’s Diplomatic Future in a Shifting World
Didier le Bret reflects on his career shaped by crises from post-Soviet transitions to the Haiti earthquake. He argues that France must comb…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
Israel’s Use of Force: Legal or Dangerous Shift?
Is Israel redrawing the boundaries of international law by force? This article examines Israel’s justification of pre-emptive self-defence a…
Security Policy & Defence
Rearming at What Cost?
Main question: Should European governments cut social spending to increase military budgets in response to rising global threats? Argument: …
International Economic Relations
Facing the Geoeconomic Reality
Main Question: How can Europe make its critical raw materials (CRMs) supply chain more resilient amid geopolitical and economic challenges? …
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
The Link Between Migration And Terrorism
Main question: How do different forms of migration impact international terrorist incidents? Argument: Humanitarian migration, due to socio…
Security Policy & Defence
From Arms Race to Innovation Race
Main Question: Does the concept of an “AI arms race” accurately describe current global AI competition? Argument: While AI has military app…
Security Policy & Defence
Algorithmic Deterrence: U.S.-China Arms Race
Main Question: How does the militarization of AI by the U.S. and China contribute to global instability? Argument: The AI arms race between…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
The External Politics of the Israel-Hamas War
Main Question: Why does the Gaza war persist despite international efforts to end it? Argument: Regional powers exploit the Gaza conflict to…
Security Policy & Defence
Satellite Security and Post-Quantum-Cryptography
Is current satellite cybersecurity sufficient to address emerging threats, especially with rising space reliance? Most commercial satellites…
Security Policy & Defence
Introduction to the Security Dilemma
1. Why do we see increases in defense spending despite claims for peace? 2. In an anarchic world, peace is guaranteed by the state’s actions…
Security Policy & Defence
Europe Must Stay Vigilant
Mika Aaltola explains how Russia’s war in Ukraine transformed Finnish public opinion and pushed Finland into NATO. He argues that Finland’s …
International Relations & Diplomacy
How to Hug a Panda
China’s rapid rise has prompted an extensive reevaluation of national security, technological competition, and trade dependencies in the Wes…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Navigating Troubled Waters
The article discusses the current security challenges in the Black Sea region. The war in Ukraine has revealed vulnerabilities within NATO, …
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Looking Out For Sovereignty
Facing a multitude of crises in an increasingly multi-order world, Europe is experiencing a politicisation of European security policy integ…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Geostrategic Aircraft Carrier
The paper examines Gotland’s strategic importance amid evolving regional security dynamics, focusing on its potential role in deterring conf…
Security Policy & Defence
Opinion Building About Israel-Palestine Conflict
The Israel-Palestine conflict is one of the most enduring and complex geopolitical issues in modern history. The conflict’s complexity makes…
International Economic Relations
The Effect of Double Tax Treaties On Foreign Relations
Double Tax Treaties influence the participating states’ tax revenue. In the past, they have been accompanying the rise and fall of diplomati…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Hiding in Plain Sight
Over the past years, open-source intelligence (OSINT) has gained increasing public attention. This background article analyses the power and…
International Relations & Diplomacy
EPIS Basics: Thucydides’ Trap
The text explores Thucydides’ Trap: rising power sparks war. Fear, honor, and interest are key motives for conflict. Creative diplomacy offe…
Climate Policy & Environment
Natural Resources
A recurring theme when it comes to natural resources is their perception as a curse or blessing for the countries that possess them. While s…
Artificial Intelligence & Cybersecurity
Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS)
Visionaries of European strategic autonomy have engaged in many initiatives to reduce European dependency on U.S. weapon technology. Most re…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Armament Supply For Ukraine
Whether Ukraine is supported by arms deliveries or whether this only prolongs a devastating war is a difficult question. Diplomacy does not …
International Relations & Diplomacy
Stop Further Schengenigans
New EU members shouldn’t agree to the same Schengen Accession rules that Romania and Bulgaria signed. It’s better for democracy.
Security Policy & Defence
Editorial EPIS Magazine Issue III
The issue is dedicated to the many problems that are spread across the globe. In this issue it was also important to us to show the other – …
Security Policy & Defence
EPIS Magazine Issue III
The issue is dedicated to the many problems that are spread across the globe. In this issue it was also important to us to show the other – …
Climate Policy & Environment
Powering Ahead
Hydrogen may be the champagne of the energy transition. The text analyses development of hydrogen economy and its impact on EU and internati…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Anarchy and Institutions
How impactful are institutions at mitigating anarchy in International Relations? This article will dive into this question to provide a cons…
Security Policy & Defence
Realism or Idealism
Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems are the latest contested development in warfare. This article will examine different approaches to their re…
Peacekeeping & Conflict Prevention
Is my Crystal Ball Better than Yours?
Strategic foresight is a serious discipline and a risky business. Even with profound experience and a systematic methodology, attempts to lo…
Security Policy & Defence
From Hermit Kingdom to Queendom
It is all about sending a message: Introducing a successor is not why Kim Jong-un showcases his daughter. Rather, he wants to send a message…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Continuity and Change in the Middle Eastern Security Landscape
The dynamic Middle Eastern security landscape is in a constant state of transformation. Highlighting crucial trends, including the Abraham A…
Security Policy & Defence
EPIS Basics: Total Defense
Total Defense emphasizes a society-wide effort to strengthen national resilience. It integrates civil, military, and institutional resources…
International Relations & Diplomacy
The World Youth Day as a Diplomat for the Universal Church
In view of the most recent Catholic World Youth Day in Lisbon, this comment outlines its global impact. The event offers young adults the ex…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Editorial EPIS Magazine Issue II
This issue of EPIS Magazine is dedicated to diplomacy in international foreign affairs and security policy. In the academic articles, the au…
International Relations & Diplomacy
EPIS Magazine Issue II
This issue of EPIS Magazine is dedicated to diplomacy in international foreign affairs and security policy. In the academic articles, the au…
International Economic Relations
Unraveling Order
Global economic regime is fragmenting and is being securitised. This brings new risks and opportunities for all state actors to challenge an…
International Relations & Diplomacy
EPIS Magazine Issue VII
The post-Cold War rules-based order that a persisted for over thirty years has in many ways lost its most ardent backers. This mix of the po…
International Relations & Diplomacy
Editorial: EPIS Magazine Issue VIII
Alvin Buerck & Yes SteningeOtto United States of America · Bilateralism & Multilateralism · Issue VIII BIRMANIA. ANNUS HORRIBILIS By Jokin d…