The Brazilian Amazon is a dangerous place for social activists, particularly those who fight for land rights and environmental protection. In our recent study, published in the Journal of Peace Research, we find that high levels of deforestation are strongly linked to the assassination of activists. We argue that this is due to the highly territorialized nature of this criminal practice, which involves dispossessing local communities of their land. This violence is driven by local…

When the Sagaing earthquake struck Myanmar in March 2025, much of the international spotlight fell on the military government’s limited relief efforts and continued bombing campaigns. But in a country where half the territory is estimated to be under rebel control, a crucial story remained overlooked: how rebel groups provided aid and assisted local relief efforts in territories under their control. This research examines how these relief efforts challenged state narratives, serving as a claim…

Germany has long withheld diplomatic recognition of Palestinian statehood, waiting for a formal peace process to create a sovereign Palestinian state. However, with the ongoing Gaza war, hostage crisis, and increasing West Bank annexation risk, peace prospects are dimmer than ever. By joining the majority of world nations in recognizing Palestinian statehood, Germany could take a small step toward affirming Palestinian self-determination rights and preserving the possibility of a future…

Europe requires vast amounts of critical raw materials to fuel their green transition. The European Union has invested in several strategic projects to boost their domestic CRM supply while reducing dependencies on importing from China. One of these projects, the Serbian Jadar Valley mine, shows the EU’s continued willingness to partner with Serbian President Aleksander Vučić despite his violent repression of protests and democratic backsliding. The EU has yet to overtly condemn Vučić, a…

The 11th and final session of the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies recently concluded in New York, closing a chapter of multilateral discussions marked by growing geopolitical tensions and global cyber insecurities. This blog article reflects on the achievements, contestations, and silences that shape multilateral cyber governance today and what this means for the future permanent UN mechanism.

What significance does the UNSCR 1325 or Women, Peace, Security (WPS) Agenda have in view of the growing gender backlash both internationally and in peacebuilding contexts? To mark the 25th anniversary of the resolution, Simone Wisotzki conducted an interview with expert Thania Paffenholz.

2025 marks 25 years since the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS). A milestone in recognizing that gender matters for achieving sustainable peace, the resolution became one of the most visible frameworks for promoting gender equality in global peace and security institutions. The WPS Agenda focuses on the 3Ps – prevention, protection, and participation of women – and integrates aspects of post-conflict reconstruction, humanitarian aid, and…

The recent U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran come with major risks, including strengthening the incentives for Iran to build nuclear weapons. The only viable path forward is to negotiate a settlement where Iran keeps its nuclear program but cannot weaponize it. European leaders must push, both publicly and through diplomatic backchannels, to achieve such a deal. The alternative is more war and the prospect of a nuclear Iran.

The world’s major sanctioning countries recently showed political willingness to take a leap of faith towards Syria. On May 20, 2025, the European Union (EU) announced to lift its economic sanctions on Syria. Despite the country’s need for economic recovery, sectoral violence and human rights violations continue, while the post-Assad power vacuum is at risk of being exploited by groups battling for influence. To signal credibility in this uncertain situation, the EU approach towards Syria…

Ten years ago, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada issued a historic report exposing the devastating colonial legacy of the Indian Residential School System. The Commission’s ‘94 Calls to Action’ promised healing, but a decade later, how much of that promise has been fulfilled? Have political promises been translated into progress, or faded into silence? How will the newly elected government and Prime Minister Mark Carney continue—or fail—to move forward on reconciliation? To mark…