Our People

Alexander is an analyst and academic with a keen interest in the European Union and accession policy. He earned a distinction in Politics and International Relations from Keele University, and also holds a Bsc in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Royal Holloway, University of London. His multidisciplinary background expertise allows him to deliver unique insights and perspectives on contemporary international issues.

Amjed Abdalla is an analyst specializing in Middle East and North African affairs and human rights. He holds a Master’s degree in International Law and International Relations from the University of Bristol. Born to a Sudanese family and raised in Canada and the GCC, he brings a multifaceted international perspective to his research. Drawing on practical experience in the legal and humanitarian sectors, he dedicates his work to providing nuanced analysis of geopolitical shifts and human rights protections in contemporary international affairs.

Ananda is a graduate of international security and business law and has developed a specialization in geopolitical affairs and macroeconomic challenges, with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. He has continued working on projects covering humanitarian operations, political violence, economic development and risk analysis.

I am Ata Yağız Dündar, currently pursuing a BSc in Politics at King's College London. Beginning next year, I will pursue the Advanced Diploma in Economics at the University of Cambridge. My research and writing concentrate on Turkiye, regional geopolitics, energy security, political crises, defense strategy, and the intersection of finance, economics, and politics in modern times.

Ayrton Fagg is a Political Risk analyst concentrating on trade, international finance, healthcare and international cooperation, with a primary focus on Europe. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Political Economy from the University of Sussex. His dissertation work centred around the political economy of the international blood trade; first-of-its-kind research that introduces the notion of Haemopolitical Economy. His work frequently centres around protectionist trade policy, financial crises and international energy.

Dario P. Vlaar Maldonado is a Political Scientist & Researcher with a MSc degree in International Relations completed in October 2025 and in the process of pursuing a PhD in Political Sciences. His work is oriented around the political economy of development, strategic resources, great power competition & the geopolitics of developing countries, Latin America & the Global South.

Dev D Joshi is a political analyst, specialising in international relations and geopolitical analysis. He holds a master’s degree in International Affairs and Diplomacy from the United Nations Institute for Training and Research and a bachelor’s in Political Science. His work focuses on global policy, cross-cultural dynamics, and contemporary international developments.

Dr. Dilawar Khan holds a PhD in International Relations, specializing in South Asian geopolitics, strategic studies, and foreign policy analysis. His research focuses on global power politics, AI governance, regional security, and political risk. Dr. Khan has several notable contributions to academic journals and international think tanks.

Elissa is a human rights and governance specialist working at the intersection of conflict, reconstruction, and political systems in Lebanon. With over a decade of experience, she is currently pursuing a PhD in International Relations and History exploring how narratives of power and threat shape post-conflict states.

Emma Biuret is a recent graduate holding a dual master's degree in International Relations (Sciences Po) and Geopolitics – GEOINT (Sorbonne Université). Her background spans political research and strategic monitoring, and her regional expertise in Latin America and the Caribbean draws on academic research, professional experience, and a period of study in Bogotá, Colombia. She is also deeply interested in arms control and non-proliferation, and intends to direct her research toward the diversion of dual-use goods and weapons.

Fateme is a current MA student in International Political Economy at Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, and holds a BSc in Political Science from the same university. Her research focuses on the intersection of energy geopolitics, climate and environmental policy, Persian Gulf security, and international political economy.

Francesco Dimitrios Foti is a policy and security analyst/researcher. Graduated from the University of Westminster (MA) and Catania (BA), he mainly focuses on EU-Russian relations, the post-Soviet space (South-Eastern Europe, Balkans, and South Caucasus) path to Euro-Atlantic Integration.

Ham Fhatuwani Mudau is a scholar focused on African security, economic, and political issues. Focused on political risk analysis, he specializes in evaluating the political performance of African countries and effectiveness of countries to meet the needs of the publics they serve.

Hector Raw is a political risk analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs, having graduated with a Master’s degree in International Relations and Security in London in January 2026. During his studies, he covered a wide range of geopolitical topics, including post–Cold War power dynamics, Middle Eastern oil politics, maritime trade routes, and intra-state conflicts in both authoritarian and democratic systems. Because of his European location, he also developed a strong interest in Russia and the geopolitical tensions surrounding Eastern Europe. Having previously served in the British Armed Forces, he took a particular interest in the legacy of Soviet strategic thinking and its interaction with Western approaches to international law and security. Considering these national identities and geopolitical tensions, he began to develop a deeper interest in global instability more broadly, particularly due to his personal experience travelling through regions of Africa and witnessing the unrest and consistent instability in parts of the continent. His biggest concern is the political unrest in Sudan.

Kamen is a political risk analyst at Titan and a graduate of Georgetown University's Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies master's degree program. His research interests include history, war, and the politics of nationalism, especially in the context of Russia and the former Soviet Union.

Karoline Brandt Martinussen is a Master’s student in American Studies at the University of Southern Denmark, with a background in Politics and International Relations from the University of London. Her interests include international politics, security, transatlantic relations, and political developments in Europe and the United States.

I have a broad interest in global affairs and have previously worked as a commercial property analyst covering global markets, which first sparked my interest in international economics. I hold a Master’s degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, with a focus on globalization and the US-China strategic partnership. I thoroughly enjoy breaking down complex topics and finding ways to provide clarity on global issues. This could be, for example, on the benefits and costs of a multipolar trade order; why India can’t replace China in the global supply chain; and how UK stagflation may see it become the new Japan.

Recent graduate in Political Science from Anglo-American University in Prague. Interested in reintegration, institutionalism, mediation, and demilitarization alongside qualitative research methods. Committed to polarity, strengthening and emphasizing the importance institutions in a post-conflict setting.

Luka Okropirashvili is a junior professional specializing in Strategic Intelligence & Geopolitical Research, based in Tbilisi, Georgia. His work concentrates on the South Caucasus & Eastern Europe, with a particular focus on political dynamics, security environments, foreign policy, & regional developments.

Lunyka Adelina Pertiwi is a PhD candidate at the University of Tübingen and an international relations scholar whose research focuses on EU, foreign policy, and the Asia-Pacific region. She has authored several peer-reviewed articles and taken an internship at the German-Southeast Asian Center of Excellence for Public Policy and Good Governance, with prior research experience at the University of Sydney.

Florin Madalin-Nicu is an International Relations analyst at the Atlas Institute specializing in political risk and macroeconomic assessment across Europe, the Balkans, Eurasia, emphasized with bachelor's in Kazakhstan, the Asia-Pacific, and beyond. His research focuses on economic frameworks, EU dynamics, foreign policy, and Arctic governance.

Maria currently a student at UCL’s School of Slavonic and East European Studies, studying politics and sociology but increasingly specialising in security studies. In parallel, she is pursuing a degree in South-Slavic languages and civilisation at Sorbonne University. Her research and interests include Eastern Europe and Eurasia, as well as non-traditional security (NTS) issues, such as cybercrime, financial crime, terrorism, and ontological security. Alongside her year abroad in Budapest over the past year, Maria has contributed to research on the use of informal financial transfer systems in sanction evasion and terrorist financing in Eastern Europe and the Western Balkans.

María is an analyst focused on humanitarian crises, gender inequalities, forced displacement and conflict, with a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. With advanced studies in International Development Cooperation and International Studies, and experience across NGOs in Europe and East Africa, consultancy and research, she is committed to projects that foster inclusive and sustainable impact.

Marianna is an analyst at Titan. She graduated with First Class Honours in War Studies and History from King's College London. She’s currently pursuing a master in International Security at Sciences Po Paris. Her research concentrates on intelligence, defence, and risk assessment, with a focus on geopolitical and socioeconomic analysis.

Matthew Mandziuk is a Political Risk Analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He holds a degree in Politics and International Relations from Newcastle University. He possesses strong geopolitical knowledge, with a particular focus on Eastern Europe and the wider Eurasian region.

Med Brazão de Oliveira is a Brazilian lawyer and Political Risk Analyst with the Atlas Institute for International Affairs (Titan Division). He holds a Bachelor of Laws, postgraduate diplomas in Constitutional Law and Political Science, and an MBA in International Relations. He is a member of Rotary International, and was previously a member of the OAB/RN Human Rights Commission, the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences, and Amnesty International.

Mert studied Political Science and International Relations at the Izmir University of Economics until 2024, where he graduated as an honour's student. Currently completing his Master's Degree for Political Science and International Relations at the same university. His primary fields of research are international security and organizations.

Micheal Tsegay Assefa holds PhDs in International Relations (University of International Business and Economics, Beijing, China) and in Agricultural Economics (University of Fort Hare, South Africa). He earned an MSc in Development Management (University of Agder, Norway) and a BA in Political Science and International Relations (Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia).

M.Monim Benaissa is currently working as Part-Time Professor lecturing on Comparative politics in the Middle East and North Africa, he is pursuing his Ph.D. on Law of the Sea development in the Arctic Region. The objective of his research is to identify some general problems of the current Law of the Sea and to analyze future trends and challenges. It attempts to cover areas of general interest and concern in ocean management as well as the implementation of UNCLOS rules in seas such as the Arctic and the Mediterranean.

Muhammad Saad is a Research Assistant at the Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad. He can be reached at m.saad@casstt.com.

Dr. Nigel Raylyn D’Silva is a senior economist, academic, and strategic advisor with over 26 years of expertise specializing in macroeconomic analysis, big data analytics, and econometric modeling. He earned his PhD from the Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM-Mumbai). Dr. D’Silva currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in Economics & Finance at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai. His research interest focuses on the intersection of data science and socio-economic policy.

Pierce Leslie is a policy researcher and political writer specialising in UK and European governance and a political risk analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He holds a double master’s in European Policy and Governance from King’s College London and LUISS. His work focuses on political economy, central bank communication, and public policy analysis.

Prem Singh Gill is a fellow at the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, a scholar at Thailand's public universities, and an analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. His research interests include politics, law, international affairs and policy-making.

Dr. Ramzi Bendebka is an Assistant Professor and Researcher at the International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. His fields of research cover Middle Eastern Studies, Regional Studies, Asia Pacific Region and International Political Economy. He holds a Bachelor's degree in International Relations from the University of Algiers. He also holds a Master in International Relations and Ph.D. in Middle East Studies from IIUM, Malaysia.

Reza is currently an MA in International Relations student at University College Dublin in Ireland, and holds a BSc in Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands. Reza's areas of interests lie in Western Asian Politics, International Relations, Global Military and Security, Colonial Studies, Political Thought, and Intersectionality between Religious Movements and International Politics. Through his contributions, he aims to present fresh, unconventional views with a special focus on shedding light on under, and misrepresented political actors, adding to the shift towards critical perspectives in analysing international affairs.

Robbie Duff is a current Politics Philosophy and Economics Student (PPE) at the University of Loughborough, interested in geopolitics, particularly in Europe and the Middle East.

Sena Adalı holds a master’s degree in Intelligence and Security Studies from Brunel University London, where her research examined how trust deficits, intelligence sharing, and misjudgements shape NATO’s early warning and response capabilities. Her areas of interest include counterterrorism, deepfakes, intelligence cooperation, and broader issues in the field of international security.

Srishti Chhaya is a Political Risk Analyst at Titan for the Atlas Institute of International Affairs. With a Master's degree in International Relations from the University of Sussex, her research expertise centres on geopolitical dynamics, peace and security frameworks and international migration issues.

Theodor Skarvelis holds a BSc in International and European Economic Studies from the Athens University of Economics and Business. He is also an MA graduate in International Relations, following the Geopolitics and Connectivity track from the University of Groningen. He has conducted an Erasmus+ internship as an Academic Assistant at Istanbul Kültür University and interned as Research Coordinator at the Institute of International Economic Relations. His main research interests pertain to themes of Geopolitics, European Affairs, the Arctic and the Eastern Mediterranean.

Political Risk Analyst at Atlas Institute, specialising in Eastern European diplomacy; the Russia-Ukraine war; and the EU institutional architecture and collective security policy. A recent graduate of Webster University, Geneva, with a Bachelor of International Relations and a minor in Media.

Victoria Cano Acha is a Political Risk Analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. She holds a Master's in International Relations from IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs and a BA in International Studies from Universiteit Leiden. Her research focuses on EU institutional affairs, political risk, and European governance.

Abdullah Hayek is an independent Middle East analyst and consultant based in Washington, D.C. He recently specialized in the political, economic, and military affairs of the Levant, Iraq, and Arabian Gulf regions at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He holds a master's degree in international relations from San Francisco State University and a bachelor's degree in political science from California State University, Fullerton. Follow him on X: @ahayek99.

Abrahm Lustgarten is a senior environmental reporter, with a focus at the intersection of business, climate and energy. His 2015 series examining the causes of water scarcity in the American West, “Killing the Colorado,” was a finalist for the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting and received the 2016 Keck Futures Initiative Communication Award from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. His work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Scientific American, Wired, Salon, and Esquire, among other publications.

I have a degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Economics and International Politics (University of San Andres, Argentina). I achieved a certificate in Middle Eastern and Lebanese Geopolitics from Kaslik University. I have +6 years of work experience as an adviser in the Argentina National Congress and Ministry of Economy (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina). I currently work as University Professor at Catholic University from La Plata (Argentina) and Public Affairs Associate in Burson Cohn & Wolfe Argentina.

Bachelors in Geography from the University of Liverpool (1st class honours) and a Masters from Korea University in Seoul South Korea in Political Science and International Relations. Also have experience as working in the Romanian Embassy in Seoul where I carried out functions such as research and report writing, as well as events management.

Aditi is a geopolitical researcher with an interest in South Asian geopolitics and foreign policy. She is currently working as a research analyst at a consulting firm.

Adlai Erwin is an MSc holder in International Relations from The University of Edinburgh and has particular research interests in International Political Economy, especially the political economy of natural resource wealth.

Adriana Seagle is Assistant Professor and Intelligence & Security Studies Program Director at Bellevue University. She is an English School scholar interested in the study of intelligence, regional security and NATO. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech.

Afsaneh Hajiloo is a researcher in public international law and global governance, focusing on the nexus of power, legality, and institutional authority in the contemporary international system. Her work explores the erosion of core international legal norms under conditions of hegemonic dominance, selective legality, and coercive governance. Her research interests encompass the prohibition of the use of force, head-of-state immunity, sovereignty and non-intervention, sanctions regimes, and the evolving structure of international law in an era of geopolitical asymmetry. She has authored analytical policy reports and research papers addressing international law, strategic studies, and the legal dimensions of emerging governance practices. Hajiloo holds an academic affiliation with the University of Tehran and actively contributes to policy-oriented and research-driven debates at the intersection of law, governance, and strategic affairs.

Agata Weremczuk holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Leiden University and a diploma in International Relations and Economic Diplomacy. She has worked with Polish ministries and the UNHCR, gaining experience in policy and humanitarian affairs. Her research interests include Geopolitics, EU Affairs, and International Relations, with a focus on diplomacy and global governance.

I joined Aston Business School in September 2011, having spent the previous two years as Visiting Lecturer at the University of Cyprus. Prior to that, I was for two and a half years Research Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for Research on Globalisation and Economic Policy (GEP), University of Nottingham. I currently am a member of the Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Business Prosperity (LBP) at Aston Business School.

Ahmed Hassan is a researcher and specialist in international economics and trade whose work examines energy security, strategic supply chains, and global economic trends.

Alawi Mustafa Alshakaa is an analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs, with a focus on the Middle East. His background includes conflict research roles as a Yemen and Red Sea researcher at ACLED and with the Heidelberg Institute for International Conflict Research (HIIK), specializing in the monitoring and analysis of political violence. He holds a BA (Hons) in International Relations with French from the University of Nottingham Malaysia.

Albert Lionel Zinda Soppo is an Analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He holds an MA in International Relations from the Institute of International and Strategic Relations and an MA in Public Administration from the University of Bretagne Occidentale. Albert Lionel also has an MBA in Management of Sustainable Development from the ISC Paris

Alena Poilova has a Master's Degree in World Politics and International Relations from the University of Pavia and a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations from the Ural Federal University. She is a project management associate at the Center for International Cooperation and Development (CICOPS) and has worked as an intern for the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI). Alena's primary interests include international affairs, human rights, global security.

Alessandro holds a MA in Sciences of Languages, History and Cultures of Mediterranean and Islamic Countries at the University of Naples “l’Orientale”. His primary study and work interests mainly lie in Middle East and Mediterranean politics, political Islam and international relations.

Alex Hardy is a Doctoral Candidate at Royal Holloway, University of London. He researches e-Governance and Security in Estonia, and wider interests include Post-Soviet Geopolitics. He can be found at @AlexHardy1987 on Twitter.

Alex Travin is an independent researcher who covers the intersection of intelligence, foreign policy, and technology.

Dr. Alexander Kurov serves as Professor of Finance and Fred T. Tattersall Research Chair in Finance in the John Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. Dr. Kurov’s research interests are in financial market efficiency, futures markets, commodity markets and behavioral finance. His work examines price discovery, informed trading and the effect of public announcements on asset prices. He is an associate editor of the Journal of Commodity Markets and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Alex has a Master's degree in the Political Economy of Europe from LSE and is currently a Research Assistant at the Economic Research Unit of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), covering a range of topics in private sector development, recently focusing on trade finance markets in West Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central America.

Dr. Ali Dizboni has completed his M.Sc. (1997) and Ph.D. (2000) degrees from the Université de Montréal in the fields of Political Science and International Relations where he defended his Ph.D. thesis on Islam and War. He was post-Doc fellow with McGill&Université de Montréal (2000-2002). He is an Associate professor at the Department of Political Science at the Royal Military College of Canada. He is Associate Researcher & Fellow with CIDP (Queens’ University), ICAMES (McGill University), Chaire Raoul-Dandurand (UQAM) and CEFIR (Centre d'expertise et de formation sur les intégrismes religieux, les idéologies politiques et la radicalisation). His areas of teaching include Middle East politics, International Relations, Security and strategic Studies.

Ali Mammadov has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics and Finance at George Washington University. Currently, he is a Visiting Researcher at Economics Research Institute and writes blog posts on his Medium account. He is going to pursue a Master of Arts in International Relations at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Alireza Rahmati is an M.A. student in International Political Economy and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Shahid Beheshti University. His research focuses on Global Political Economy and Geoeconomics. He has experience in academic research, analytical writing, scholarly editing, and research publication management, and has served as editor-in-chief of student academic journals.

With academic roots in India, the UK, and Estonia, I have developed expertise in economic policy, financial markets, data analytics, and sustainability. I hold a BSc in Economics with Finance and a double MA in Politics and the International Economy from UCL. My work focuses on the intersection of global trends, industry dynamics, and data-driven decision-making. I gained hands-on experience as a Data Analyst Intern at DataTrained, working across various industries to apply data analytics and machine learning in strategic decision-making. I am particularly interested in economic development, ESG strategy, and financial systems, providing analytical insights into emerging challenges.

Amine Dinar is a Titan Analyst at Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He has graduated in International Relations from the University of Western Australia.

Amitrajeet A. Batabyal is Arthur J. Gosnell Professor of Economics at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT). He obtained a B.S. with Honors and Distinction in Applied Economics and Business Management from Cornell University in 1987, a M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Minnesota in 1990, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural and Resource Economics from the University of California at Berkeley in 1994.

Amya Agarwal is currently working as an Assistant Professor in Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi. She completed her PhD thesis on ‘Gender Dimension of Conflict: Exploring Women’s Agency Amid the Politics of Masculinities in Kashmir.’

Specialist in International Relations, Anastasia holds a Master’s Degree in World Politics and International Relations from the University of Pavia. She gained experience in international organizations, including the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban-Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in the United Nations Headquarters and the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT). Anastasia’s research interests are international security, nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament, migration and EU politics.

I am a Research Assistant and a postgraduate student at UCL with working experience in political risk consultancy. My interest lies mainly in Eurasian politics; at the UCL’s Department of Political Science, I work alongside one of the professors helping with research on repression and mass mobilisation in Russia. I am interested in politics, economics, and international relations. Most of the research that I have undertaken was for a wide range of stakeholders: clients, academia, politicians, and the general public.

Andi is an Associate Fellow at the Helsinki Geoeconomics Society. He is a tax researcher, policy analyst, and strategic advisor based in Jakarta. His research focuses on international political economy, particularly tax‑trade‑investment relations, global tax governance, and geoeconomics.

Andre Mohammed, a U.S Air Force Academy Graduate, is currently serving with the World Health Organisation.

Andrea graduated from the University of Warwick in Politics and International Studies in 2018. He is passionate about politics journalism and managed to consolidate these passions by working in journalism environments such as Linkiesta or La7. He is currently a candidate for a Masters in European Studies at KU Leuven.

With a background in mechanical engineering and initial experience as a mechanical engineer, Andreas Muller works on industrial projects for the European defense sector. In this capacity, he shares his personal views on certain aspects of current geopolitical events.

Andrew Tchie is the Editor of the IISS Armed Conflict Database (ACD) which focuses on monitoring armed conflict trends globally. He manages the ACD and provides critical analysis on conflicts, actors in conflict, peacekeeping and the use of indiscriminate violence. He also has extensive experience in providing policy recommendations for international organisations and governments. Through the ACD he focuses on understanding civil war dynamics and violence against civilians by state and non-state actors.

Andrew Leonard is a freelance writer covering foreign policy and international politics. He has traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, and has cultivated a unique perspective on the multitudinous forces which shape the world we live in. His published works have appeared in The Globe Post, The Defense Post, The Illinois Times, and Eurasia Review.

Dr. Angana Guha Roy is an Independent Researcher based in New Delhi. Dr. Roy completed her Ph.D. in Foreign Policy at the University of Delhi, focusing on middle powers in international relations. She was previously the Associate Director at the Asian Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs and has worked as a Fellow for the John Lukacs Institute for Strategy and Politics at Ludovika University and the Hungarian Institute of International Affairs in Budapest.

Final year undergraduate student at the faculty of Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick. My undergraduate experience, internships and volunteering activities undertaken during the course of the years have contributed to my exploration of the field of international studies, and have driven me to pursue creative directions to promote socio-economic and political development in the transnational sphere. My hope is to pursue a professional career in international or intergovernmental organisations that specialise in matters of international development.

Ankit Malhotra is reading Law at Jindal Global University. He is the co-founder and President of the Jindal Society of International Law.

Anthony Heron holds a distinction in MSc International Security and Global Governance from Birkbeck, University of London, with research interests spanning defence policy, regional cooperation, and Arctic security. He is a Research Intern at The Arctic Institute, where he focuses on geopolitical issues in the High North. Anthony also has experience as a journalist, covering Scottish and Nordic politics.

Antoine Andary is a former diplomat and strategic communications professional specialising in international affairs, diplomacy, and global security. He previously served at the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), working across public information, communications, and programme management, has also contributed as a research fellow with the American Counter-Terrorism Targeting and Resilience Institute (ACTRI) and the Counter-Terrorism Group (CTG). He holds advanced degrees in political communication, international affairs, and law, with a focus on external relations and global security. His work examines the intersection of diplomacy, strategic communication, negotiation, and international political risk.

Antonio De Santis holds a Bachelor's degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from LUISS Guido Carli University, where his thesis examined sovereignty and international law in maritime disputes through a critical analysis of the Philippines v. China South China Sea arbitration. He is currently completing an MA in International Law at the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID), specializing in maritime law and international economic law, alongside his work as a Legal Advisor at the Permanent Mission of the Maldives to the UN Office at Geneva.

Assistant Professor at the Department of Political Science, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, India. Research interests include climate change politics, gender studies, South Asia Politics and Kerala Studies.

Archie Longrigg is a geopolitical analyst and International Relations graduate from Durham University, focusing on issues of conflict and development in the region of sub-Saharan Africa. Additional research interests include democracy and human rights. He previously held the position of desk analyst for the sub-Saharan Africa desk at Durham University Diplomatic Society.

Final year student studying Middle Eastern Studies and Politics with a focus on political and militant Islam

Ari holds a BA in Politics & International Relations from Loughborough University and an MA in International Relations and Diplomacy from Lancaster University, where he graduated with a First. His main research focuses are individualist decision-making structures and "amateur" leaders, and he has an affinity for the Baltics and Balkans.

Arooj Zafar is is a student of International Relations at the National Defence University, Islamabad, with research interests in political economy, foreign policy, international law, and regional security.

Arslan Ayan is a doctoral candidate of political science at York University. He has been the editor in chief of TurkeyPurge.com since 2015.

A regional analyst and a blogger, Arzu holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Bilkent University in Ankara, Turkey and a Master’s of Science degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her areas of interest include regional politics, conflict resolution, and new social media.

Asher is an Analyst for Titan at the Atlas Institute of International Affairs. He holds a BA in History and Political Science from McGill University. He is primarily interested in British and American foreign policy, International Security and the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Ayesha Ray is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at King’s College, Pennsylvania. She received her Ph.D in Political Science from the University of Texas at Austin, and her M.Phil and M.A. in International Relations from the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her research interests focus on civil-military relations, conflict, and security issues in South Asia. She is the author of The Soldier and the State in India: Nuclear Weapons, Counterinsurgency, and the Transformation of Indian Civil-Military Relations, published by SAGE, in 2013; and a monograph, Culture, Context, and Capability: Comparing the American and Indian Counterinsurgency Experience, published by the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, in 2016. She also has several book chapters and articles in peer-reviewed international publications.

Azry Almi Kaloko is a political risk analyst at Titan and the ASEAN–UK Business Forum. A graduate of the University of Birmingham, his commentary on ASEAN diplomacy, strategic competition, and regional economic risks has been featured in Nikkei Asia and The Jakarta Post.

Basir Ahang is a poet, journalist and actor born in Ghazni, Afghanistan. He graduated from Kabul University in Persian History and Literature. He began his career writing for several local newspapers, founding and working as a radio producer for Radio Malistan and for many other media in Kabul. Due to his journalistic work Basir received death threats from the Taliban and was therefore forced to abandon the country. Basir Ahang has also collaborated with the United Nations Agency for Refugees (UHNCR). His articles have been published on BBC Persian, Deutsche Welle, Radio Zamaneh and Frontiers News.

Dr Ben Wellings is Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at Monash University, Melbourne. He is the author of 'English Nationalism and Euroscepticism: losing the peace' (Oxford: Peter Lang, 2012). He researches the links between English nationalism and Euroscepticism that lie behind Brexit, as well as nationalism in the European Union and the politics of war commemoration. He is co-editor (along with Shanti Sumartojo) of 'Nation, Memory and Great War Commemoration: mobilising the past in Europe, Australia and New Zealand (Bern: Peter Lang, 2014). In addition to his BA in Contemporary History and French from the University of Sussex, an M.Sc. in Nationalism Studies from Edinburgh University and a PhD from the ANU, he has worked as a museum curator, a public affairs consultant, a researcher at the House of Commons and a merchant seaman maintaining England’s supply lines to cheap French lager in the 1990s.

Bengisu graduated with honours from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Izmir University of Economics. Throughout her undergraduate studies, she developed a strong foundation in international affairs, politics, and global governance. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Melbourne, she focuses on international security, environmental politics, and the role of NGOs by combining academic knowledge with practical engagement in international policy and advocacy.

Björn Alexander Düben is an assistant professor at the School of International and Public Affairs, Jilin University. He previously taught Security Studies, Diplomacy and Intelligence Studies at King’s College London (Department of War Studies), and at the London School of Economics and Political Science (Department of International Relations).

Bradley holds an MSc in International Relations of the Middle East from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Political Science and Arabic/Islamic Studies from Villanova University. He has conducted in-depth research on MENA regional politics, foreign intervention, and conflict dynamics across academic and professional settings.

Brian Mittendorf joined the Department of Accounting and MIS as an Associate Professor of Accounting in 2009. Prior to coming to Fisher, Brian served as an Associate Professor of Accounting at the Yale School of Management. He holds a Bachelors degree in accounting from Baylor University and a PhD in Accounting and MIS from Ohio State. His research has studied the role of accounting information in supply chain management, incentive contracting, nonprofit organizations, and competitive strategy, and has been featured in several academic journals such as The Accounting Review, Journal of Accounting and Economics, Management Science, Marketing Science, and RAND Journal of Economics. He also serves on the Editorial Boards of The Accounting Review and Journal of Management Accounting Research.

Brin is an Analyst for Titan at the Atlas Institute of International Affairs. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of International Relations with a major in International Business and a minor in Contemporary Europe at the Australian National University. She is passionate about the political, economic and social structures that govern and define the internal relations of Spain and how that influences Spain's standing in Europe and further afield.

Camille Deagostini is a conflict, peace and security professional trained at the Geneva Graduate Institute, with experience at the UN Security Council, humanitarian organisations and international research. Her expertise focuses on the Middle East and North Africa, and Women, Peace and Security, with a particular interest in reproductive health and human security.

Carlos Frederico Pereira da Silva Gama is a Professor of International Relations at Universidade Federal do Tocantins (Federal University of Tocantins – UFT, Brazil) since 2015 and a visiting scholar at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane (Marrocos). His main research interests include international institutions (the UN system, the BRICS group), Brazilian politics, comparative politics, foreign policy, human security, intellectual history, aesthetics. He was Vice Coordinator of the BRICS Policy Center (2010-11) and Director of International Affairs at UFT (2016-18).

Catesby is a writer and editor who has worked at Travel + Leisure magazine, Open Society Foundations and the North American Congress on Latin America. Her reporting has been published in CityLab, Slate, Next City and WIRED. She has spent significant time abroad, primarily in Latin America. Catesby holds a BA in English from Wesleyan University and an MA in international affairs from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Catherine Bennett is an international political analyst based in Washington, D.C., specializing in foreign policy and national security. Her expertise spans global political dynamics, with a regional focus on the Middle East and North Africa. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies from American University in December 2024.

Charles is a Political Risk Analyst (Titan) and a recent BSc Government and History graduate from the LSE. His regional interests are situated in the Middle East and North Africa, with a particular focus on political violence, corruption, and the resilience of authoritarianism.

Charlie Pepper has just graduated from the University of Cambridge with a starred First (Class I with distinction) Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Theology and Philosophy and is now pursuing her Masters of Philosophy in Conflict and Religion.

Charlotte Hulme is a political science Ph.D. candidate at Yale University, where her research focuses on the role of non-national actors in addressing transnational challenges. Her work also explores questions about the nature of grand strategy in the 21st century in light of new global actors and challenges, and she recently published an article on this topic in The Strategy Bridge.

Chen Wangwanyu is a Master student at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies(RSIS), Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. She's also a student research assistant in RSIS.

Chhai Bunsonareach is a Research Associate at the Centre for Advanced Research and Legal Studies (CARLS), Asian Vision Institute (AVI), where he focuses on geopolitics, international affairs, international trade agreements, and regional integration. He was previously a Dongfang Scholar at Peking University.

Chietigj Bajpaee is a doctoral candidate in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. He has worked with several public policy think-tanks and political risk consultancies, including the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington, DC, the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), Control Risks and IHS. He obtained his Masters’ degree at the London School of Economics and completed his undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University and the University of Oxford.

Christopher Sprenger is an independent analyst and writer based in Virginia. His research interests span geopolitical strategy, energy markets, and the long-term architecture of US foreign policy, alongside the study of esoteric and Gnostic religious traditions. He has been documenting the 2026 US-Israel-Iran conflict in real time on Threads (@synonamess).

Claudia Zanardi is a PhD candidate in the War Studies Department of King’s College, London where she researches French, British and German foreign and security policies towards China and China’s military modernisation. Previously, she worked at the European Institute for Security Studies (EUISS) and the Assembly of the West European Union (WEU).

Claudio is a fourth year student at the Faculty of Law from the Università degli Studi di Roma Tre, and an incoming Erasmus student at Universität Wien. His expertise and passion lie in EU and US affairs, antitrust and public policy

Clayton Besaw is a political psychologist and computational social scientist who is a PhD candidate at the University of Central Florida. He currently serves as a political events forecaster within OEF Research’s forecasting track. His work at OEF is concerned with the development of forecasting and machine learning systems for predicting conflict events such as coups, election violence, and intrastate conflict outcomes. Clayton’s research background explores patterns in conflict and political violence, with a focus on extremist recruitment and behavior. The results of this work have been published in The Journal of Conflict Resolution, and Conflict Management and Peace Science.

Coline Ferrant is a student in the Dual PhD in Sociology between Northwestern University and Sciences Po. She holds a BA summa cum laude in Social Sciences (Sciences Po) and a MA summa cum laude in Sociology (Sciences Po), and was a visiting student at El Colegio de México and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Her writings have been published in French, US, British, Mexican, and Spanish reviews.

Craig Parsons is Professor and Department Head of Political Science at the University of Oregon. He has published six books and many articles on contemporary political economy, the history of the European Union, and French and British politics. His scholarly work investigates the ideas and institutions that came together to construct today's Europe; comparisons between the European Union and American federalism; how divisive issues like the authority of the EU affect political parties and democratic representation; and some thorny questions in the philosophy of science and qualitative methodology.

Céline Rodrigues is a PhD candidate in International Relations at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. Her research focuses on the North Atlantic and Arctic basins, with an emphasis on human security among Indigenous peoples, particularly the Inuit in Canada and the Sámi in Finland. Her thesis compares Arctic policies through a human security lens. She regularly participates in international conferences (Arctic Circle Assembly, High North Dialogue, EISA, TSA), publishes in outlets such as Cogitatio, Janus, and Expresso, and contributes to policy briefs (UNU-CRIS). Céline is a lecturer and active member of various Arctic-related institutions, including IPRI and CIDIUM.

Daniel DeRock is a PhD candidate in International Political Economy at the University of Amsterdam. His research project is funded by the European Research Council. He is a member of Fickle Formulas, a team of eight people investigating the political economy of economic statistics. Daniel’s research focuses on relations between international organizations and low-income member states with regard to the implementation of standards and statistical capacity building

Daniel J. Fiorino is the Director of the Center for Environmental Policy at American University in Washington DC. His interests are in American environmental and energy policy and in state policies and politics. Before joining American University in 2009 he held several positions with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, including Associate Director of the Office of Policy Analysis.

Dan Joyner is Elton B. Stephens Professor of Law at the University of Alabama School of Law, and the author of International Law and the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (2009); Interpreting the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (2011); and Iran’s Nuclear Program and International Law: From Confrontation to Accord (2016).

am a Professorial Lecturer at American University where I focus on International Order, Great Power Politics, and Diplomacy. My book manuscript investigates the motivation for, and political consequences of, state violations of diplomatic practice. I also write on and design wargames. I have a number of articles published or under development regarding diplomatic practice, symbolic diplomacy, crises escalation, coercive diplomacy, and great power conferences. I have been published in International Studies Quarterly, Time, The Washington Post, The Independent, among other venues. At AU I teach classes on Great Power Politics, Diplomatic Practice, International Security, and Global History.

Prof. David Mednicoff (J.D./Ph.D., Harvard) chairs the Department of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies and also teaches in the School of Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts -- Amherst. His areas of expertise include Middle Eastern law and politics, international law, human rights, globalization, comparative law and politics, US foreign policy, and comparative public policy.

Dhairya Choudhary is a political risk analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs and a political affairs writer with a BBC News byline . He specializes in sub-national governance, conflict-region investment, and civic mobilisation in border areas in India and across South Asia.

Diego Rodriguez Mejias is the President of the KCL Politics Society and a third-year undergraduate Physics and Philosophy student at King's College London.

Dr. Dieter Boden, retired ambassador; studied Slavic studies and political sciences in Münster and Hamburg; joined the Federal Foreign Office in 1968. He held various posts, including the German Embassies in Moscow and Rome. He was appointed ambassador to the OSCE in Vienna, Special Envoy to the UN Secretary-General in Georgia, Head of the OSCE Mission to Tbilisi.

Don McLain Gill is currently pursuing his master’s degree in International Studies at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He has written extensively on regional geopolitics and India-Southeast Asian relations. He can be contacted through gill_donmclain@yahoo.com.

Dounia Zavarzine is currently a Masters student in International Relations at Queen Mary University of London. In 2020, she graduated with a Bachelor of Law from the University of Rennes I (France) and Cardiff University (United Kingdom). Her main research interests are focused on the influence of the media on international politics and conflicts, the phenomena and interactions taking place in the ‘Middle East’, and US's foreign policy.

Dov Waxman is the Stotsky Professor of Jewish Historical and Cultural Studies at Northeastern University, and a professor of Political Science, International Affairs, and Israel Studies. He is the director of Northeastern University’s Middle East Studies program and the co-director of its Middle East Center. His research focuses on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Israeli foreign policy, U.S.-Israel relations, and Diaspora Jewry’s relationship with Israel. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. from the Johns Hopkins University and his B.A. from Oxford University.

Dr Drew Mikhael is Research Fellow with the Exclusion amid Inclusion: Power-Sharing and Non-Dominant Minorities project. Drew’s work is primarily concerned with the marginalisation of non-ethnic and non-national groups in divided societies, with a focus on consociational power-sharing systems. Drew is chiefly interested in the institutional methods of control employed to constrain these groups and the impact that their exclusion has on their lived experience. Drew’s research interests include ethnic politics, comparative politics, political violence, youth political activism, refugee issues and institutional design in divided societies. Drew’s PhD was from Queen’s University Belfast and was awarded in 2014 and explored how Lebanon’s consociational power sharing employed control mechanisms to constrain its Palestinian refugee population. Drew has conducted commissioned research work and provided advisory services for a number of large Non-Governmental Organisations such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, British Council, European External Action Service, Christian Aid and Action Aid.

Master’s student in political science and international relations at Izmir University of Economics, with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and pursuing a secondary degree in law. Ece is currently a researcher at the Izmir University of Economics Gender Studies Research Center.

Edu Montesanti is a Italian-Brazilian journalist and researcher for the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He is also a languages teacher and studied Sports Medicine and International Relations at Paraguay´s American University. Edu is the author of Lies and Crimes of the “War on Terror” (Brazil, 2012; Mentiras e Crimes da “Guerra ao Terror,” original title in Portuguese), a featured book at the 2012 São Paulo International Book Biannual Fair by the renowned journalistic website Comunique-Se. Edu writes for Russia's Pravda Report (English) and Pravda (Portuguese). Edu used to write for the Brazilian magazine Caros Amigos (both printed issues and the website), Brazil's Instituto Humanitas Unisinos, Brazil TV show’s website Observatorio da Imprensa, the Brazilian website HS Contabil, Spain's Diario Liberdade (Portuguese), the Canadian website Global Research (English, Portuguese, and Spanish), Venezuela's Orinoco Tribune (English), Bangladesh's The Weekly Blitz (English), for Telesur English, and US' Truth Out and Pressenza (in English and Portuguese). Edu also used to translate for the websites of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo (Argentina), the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, and Malalaï Joya (Afghanistan). Edu Montesanti has been teaching at public and private schools, and has been a guest speaker at universities and bookstores about international affairs, and at sports clubs to young soccer players about discipline and motivation. Visit Edu Montesanti's website: edumontesanti.wordpress.com

Edwin Daniel Jacob is a Visiting Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Arkansas State University. He has a PhD in Global Affairs from Rutgers University (October 2018). His past publications include an edited volume titled Rethinking Security in the Twenty First Century: A Reader (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017) and various book chapters, encyclopaedia entries and book reviews.

Emilie is currently completing her MA in Strategic Communications at King’s College London, where she also earned a BA in War Studies. Her research focuses on the evolving security dynamics of the High North, Nordic defence cooperation, and the impact of great power competition on regional stability.

Final year International Relations undergraduate student at the London School of Economics. Passionate about current issues such as immigration and the changing role of the state, and intrigued by how the strategic interactions between the public, private and non-profit sectors can contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future.

Recently graduated with a Master of Science in Global Affairs and Transnational Security from New York University, Emma Trager-Lewis is a journalist and Global Affairs consultant. Her research centres on salafi jihadism, notably on the dynamics between al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in sub-Saharan Africa and the Greater Middle East.

Emrah Atar is a PhD candidate and Teaching Assistant at the Global Development Institute, The University of Manchester. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). Emrah is an Interview Editor of the Political Reflection Magazine. His focus topics and research interests are politics, governance, migration, policy development and management.

Eoin is currently working in refugee resettlement with Charnwood Borough Council, and was formally a student at St Andrews University studying an MLitt in Middle East, Central Asian and Caucasus Security Studies. Having always had a passion for foreign affairs and geopolitics, currently his primary interests are multipolarity and middlepowerhood/middle power proliferation.

Eric is a Masters student in Ancient History and Classical Studies, focusing his research on Christological debates of the fourth and fifth centuries. His academic objective is to analyse the processes through which religious orthodoxy was defined and controlled by competing authorities. This scholarly focus is complemented by an engagement with modern international relations, cultivated through extensive participation in diplomatic simulations.

Erin is a research analyst with a strong background in economics and data analysis. With a double Masters in Economics and Business from UCL and research experience in Prague, she is passionate about translating complex data into actionable research and continues to explore economic trends and innovations shaping global markets.

Erin Hogan lives in Albany, New York and graduated cum laude from St. Lawrence University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Government and Psychology. Currently, she is attending The University at Albany to obtain her Master in International Affairs with a concentration in Global and Homeland Security.

Ertuğrul Ürker is a freelance writer and graduate in International Relations. He continues his master's education in Political Science and Public Administration. He is also a revenue specialist assistant in Turkey.

Marion is a Political Risk Analyst at Titan, Atlas Institute of International Affairs. With a Master’s degree in Political Analysis and Public Policy from the Higher School of Economics, her research expertise is devoted to human rights, anti-corruption policy, democracy, and peace and security issues.

Dr. Esmira Jafarova is a Board Member of the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center), Baku, Azerbaijan.

Eugene F. Garenkov is an independent researcher based in St. Petersburg, Russia. Eugene completed his PhD in History at one of the leading Russian universities. At present, his research interests focus on historical and economic background of the Middle Eastern and Turkic countries.

Faruk Hadžić is an independent researcher and an author from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He holds an MSc in Security Studies, Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Studies, BSc in Psychology & Economics, and Diploma (MBTA) in Mindfulness-Based Transactional Analysis. His research is multidisciplinary in Social and Political Psychology, Political Science, Socioeconomics, Critical Security Studies and Criminal Justice

Fazal is studying an international joint master in Security, Intelligence & Strategy at the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University and Charles University. Prior to joining IMSISS, he served as lecture and researcher in government institutions and international organisation in Pakistan such as the University of Peshawar and ICRC Pakistan respectively. He has special interest in OSINT and SOCMINT particularly online Radicalisation, [de]radicalisation and the use of internet by the Jihadist/extremist groups.

Federica is a Senior Analyst/Adviser with experience conducting analysis for governmental agencies, think tanks and multinational corporations. She holds an MA in International Relations from the War Studies Department at King’s College London and a BA in Eastern European Studies from the University of Naples “L’Orientale”.

Dr Femi Amao is a Senior Lecturer in Corporate/Commercial Law at the Sussex Law School. He was previously a Lecturer in International Commercial Law at the Brunel Law School, Brunel University, London and a Lecturer in Law at the University College Cork, Ireland. He is the author of Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Rights and the Law: Multinational Corporations in Developing Countries (Routledge, 2011).

Filip has a BA in History and Politics from the University of Reading and is currently pursuing an MA in National Security at King’s College London. He specialises in the Balkans and Russia and offers in-depth expertise in foreign policy, security and geopolitical affairs.

I am Kobilov Firdavs, date of birth 21.10.1993, student of Glasgow University, UK. I am enrolled in a Joint Master degree in Southern European Studies. Recipient of ERASMUS scholarship. Graduated bachelor degree at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent.

Fonkem Achankeng I, PhD, a Hubert H. Humphrey International Fellow and conflict scientist, is on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and author of scores of journal publications. Founder and executive director of the Association for Nonviolence (ASFON), a not-for-profit engaged in peacebuilding and nonviolent conflict resolution, Dr. Fonkem is currently a member of the Executive Council of the Wisconsin Institute for Peace & Conflict Studies (WIPCS).

Francesca is a researcher with a Master’s degree in Russian and Eurasian Politics and Economics from King’s College London and a Bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in English Literature from the University of Birmingham. Drawing on her strong background in international relations and history, she conducts multidimensional research exploring the complex interplay between politics, society, economics, and culture. Her academic work has focused on the political and societal transformations of Eastern European states, including the responses of Orthodox Churches to the war in Ukraine.

Gabriel is a researcher and writer at The Red Line Podcast, a reporter at The Lookout Report, a political risk analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs, and passionate about geopolitics. He holds an MSc in International Relations from LSE and a First-Class Honours in History from Durham University.

Galib R. Mammadov is an independent researcher/writer. He holds Master of Arts from Washington University in St Louis.

Gary M. Grossman, Associate Director for Programs and Associate Professor, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University, has more than three decades of experience in the management of social, education, technology, and employment and training projects in the United States and abroad.

Gary LaFree is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice and Director of the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) at the University of Maryland. He received his Ph.D. in Sociology from Indiana University in 1979.

Ge Xi is an Assistant Professor in Political Science at Shanghai University of Finance & Economics.

First-year undergraduate Politics, Philosophy and Law student at the University of Warwick. In October, she has been successfully elected Treasurer of the Warwick Politics, Philosophy and Law Society. Moreover, she covers the role of Secretary of the Warwick International Relations Society, the third largest IR society in Europe. She is also committed to the position of Course Representative in the ‘Student-Staff Liaison Committee’, which involves mediating between her fellow PPL peers, the career service and the academic staff.

George Lawson is Associate Professor in the Department of International Relations at LSE. He is the author of Anatomies of Revolution (Cambridge, 2019) and Negotiated Revolutions (Routledge, 2005), co-author (with Barry Buzan) of The Global Transformation (Cambridge, 2015), and co-editor (with Julian Go) of Global Historical Sociology (Cambridge, 2017) and (with Chris Armbruster and Mick Cox) The Global 1989 (Cambridge, 2010).

Georgios Zacharias is an Analyst for Titan at the Atlas Institute of International Affairs. He is currently pursuing his Master in International Security at Sciences Po Paris.

Giacomo Ferrara is a political risk analyst for Titan at Atlas Institute for International affairs. He is pursuing a Masters Degree in Global Management and Politics at Luiss Guido Carli University in Rome. His principle fields of interest are international economy, game theory and global politics.

Ginger Thompson is a senior reporter at ProPublica. A Pulitzer Prize winner, she previously spent 15 years at The New York Times, including time as a Washington correspondent and as an investigative reporter whose stories revealed Washington’s secret role in Mexico’s fight against drug traffickers. For her work in the region, she was a finalist for the Pulitzer’s Gold Medal for Public Service. She won the Maria Moors Cabot Prize, the Selden Ring Award for investigative reporting, an InterAmerican Press Association Award, and an Overseas Press Club Award. Thompson was also part of a team of national reporters at The Times that was awarded a 2000 Pulitzer Prize for the series “How Race is Lived in America.”

Philosophy, Politics and Economics student at the University of Oxford. Interested in the role that governments, businesses and individuals can play in mitigating crises, stimulating innovation, and furthering social welfare.

Final-year undergraduate student at Sciences Po Paris, currently completing an exchange year at University College London. Specializing in political governance and international law, with a passion in policy analysis. Previously interned as a policy analyst with the Council of Europe committee, strengthening her expertise in political risk assessment.

Giuseppe Maria De Rosa is a Security Analyst working for private security and risk consultancy firm based in the Middle East. He holds a master's degree in International Politics and Diplomacy from University of Padova.

Goktug is pursuing a Master's in International Political Economy at the University of Sussex and has a background in political science with a focus on global economic governance. He has experience in analysing geopolitical developments, trade dynamics, and financial systems, with particular expertise in international institutions and crisis management.

Greg Barton is professor of Global Islamic Politics at the Alfred Deakin Institute. Greg has been active for the past thirty years in inter-faith dialogue initiatives and has a deep commitment to building understanding of Islam and Muslim society. The central axis of his research interests is the way in which religious thought, individual believers and religious communities respond to modernity and to the modern nation state. He also has a strong general interest in comparative international politics. He has undertaken extensive research on Indonesia politics and society, especially of the role of Islam. Since 2004 he has made a comparative study of progressive Islamic thought in Turkey and Indonesia. He also has a general interest in security studies and human security and a particular interest in countering violent extremism continues to research Islamic and Islamist movements in Southeast Asia and around the world.

I hold a doctorate in Public and International Affairs from the University of Pittsburgh's Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA, a MA in Political Science with a concentration in International Development Policy and Administration from the University of Florida and B.sc. in Political Science from the Université de Montréal.

Hal is an International Relations graduate from the University of Leicester and is now an analyst for the Atlas Institute. Currently specialising in the geopolitics of critical minerals and the political risk of the green transition. Focusing on power dynamics, foreign investment and economic futures primarily across central Africa.

Hamdullah Baycar is a Ph.D. candidate at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter. His research focuses on the identity politics of the Gulf. Before joining Exeter, he was a graduate student in the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University (2017). He holds a B.A. in International Relations from Abant Izzet Baysal University (2013).

Dr. Hamid Bohloli is a public and global policy theorist and international consultant. He holds a PhD from the University of Manchester and serves as a visiting professor at the University of Tehran. He is the author of original frameworks including Societal Energy Theory, the Theory of Constrained Capacities, and Pivot Point Theory. Dr. Bohloli regularly contributes to academic magazines and political journals as a policy consultant and strategic communicator.

Harish Kumar Manchanda is the former Executive Director (Alternate Energy & Sustainable Development) at Indian Oil Corporation Ltd. With over 32 years of experience, he led major gas and alternative energy infrastructure projects, including India’s first LNG road transportation initiative using cryogenic tankers and the Ennore LNG Terminal. He has also contributed to renewable energy and biofuel projects supporting India’s transition toward sustainable energy and net-zero goals.

Harsha Senanayake is a researcher at Social Scientists’ Association- Sri Lanka and a visiting lecturer at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. He has acquired a masters degree in International Relations from the Department of International Relations, South Asian University, New Delhi, India and a specialised degree in International Relations from the Department of International Relations, University of Colombo. Harsha serves as an AIPE fellow- TFAS USA. He has authored few books including The Changing Patterns of USA- Japan Security Relations: Case Study of Okinawa and The Human Security Discourse and Seeking Peace: Field Work Analysis Based on the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Hashim Kamal is a researcher and a graduate in international relations, from the National Defence University, Islamabad. He has contributed extensively to analytical discourse through published articles on global security, climate change and regional power dynamics.

Dr. Hassan Ahmadian is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Iran Project, Harvard Kennedy School Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Dr. Ahmadian is an Assistant Professor of Middle East and North Africa studies at the University of Tehran, and is also a Middle East security and politics fellow at the Center for Strategic Research, Tehran.

My name is Helena James, and I am currently undertaking an MSc in International Security at Royal Holloway, University of London. I hold a BSc in Geography from Durham University, with a strong research interest in the intersection of climate change and geopolitics. My work focuses on how these dynamics influence the Arctic region, shaping strategic and security considerations in this vital region.

Humayun Hassan is an undergraduate student at the National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan. His research interests focus on the comparison of various aspects of hybrid warfare, between former Yugoslavia and Pakistan, while his other areas of research interest include geopolitics of South Asia and the Levant.

Ikenna Obonna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management (International Business Economics) from The University of Manchester. He is pursuing an MA in Political Economy from the same university, focusing on macroeconomics and political economy of finance and global business.

Ilaria Carrozza is a PhD candidate in International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science, working on Sino-African security relations and foreign policy analysis. She was the editor of Millennium: Journal of International Studies, Vol. 45, and has previously worked as a consultant for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).

Final-year multilingual undergraduate in International Law with Globalisation at the University of Birmingham. Interested in the domain of International Law and International Relations, more specifically in Peace, Security and Good Governance. Committed to increased political participation and stronger institutions on the African continent as well as increased liaison between Europe and Africa in topics of security, migration and development.

Inga Kristina Trauthig is a PhD candidate at the War Studies Department and Research Fellow at the International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR) at King’s College London. Her research focuses on the changing Islamist landscape in post-Qaddafi-Libya. She holds an MLitt in Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian Security Studies from the University of St Andrews and attended the University of Würzburg and the University of Texas at Austin for her undergraduate studies. Her studies have been supported by the German Academic Exchange Service, the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies and the Conflict Research Society. At King’s College, she is co-convener of the MENA Research Group within the Institute of Middle Eastern Studies (IMES) and has held various positions in student representation at faculty, school, and departmental level.

Jack is an analyst focusing on energy security and conflict resolution, with a particular interest in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. He studied Economics and Finance at Leeds Beckett University, where he also completed a study abroad programme in San Diego, California

Jake Hussona is pursuing his MSc in Middle East Politics & Arabic at London University. He is a Titan Analyst at Atlas Institute for International Affairs.

James L. Gelvin is Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of California, Los Angeles. He received his B.A. from Columbia University, his Master's in International Affairs from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, and his Ph.D. from Harvard University. He has taught at Boston College, Harvard University, MIT, and the American University in Beirut. A specialist in the modern social and cultural history of the Arab East, he is author of five books: The New Middle East: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, October 2017); The Arab Uprisings: What Everyone Needs to Know (Oxford University Press, 2012, 2015); The Modern Middle East: A History (Oxford University Press, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2015);The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War (Cambridge University Press, 2005, 2007, 2014); and Divided Loyalties: Nationalism and Mass Politics in Syria at the Close of Empire (University of California Press, 1998), along with numerous articles and chapters in edited volumes. He is also co-editor of Global Muslims in the Age of Steam and Print, 1850-1930 (University of California Press, 2013).

Jamyan Koo is a Ph.D. student at Moscow State University Lomonosov. His fields of research cover the history of Russian foreign policy, national question in Eurasian regions. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Russian study from the University of Kookmin in Korea. He also holds a Master's degree in Russian history at Moscow State University Lomonosov.

I teach at Boston University's Questrom School of Business. From 1995 to 2018 I held the position of Research Scientist at The Ohio State University, where I collected data as part of the National Longitudinal Surveys on income, wealth, and life experiences of thousands of Americans. My personal finance research has been widely quoted in the media and has been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Fox News, Good Morning America, Scientific American and numerous other news outlets. Besides publishing numerous scholarly articles I wrote the book "Business Information: Finding and Using Data in the Digital Age" for McGraw-Hill/Irwin and "Business Macroeconomics: A Guide for Managers, Traders and Practical People."

Jeffrey Fields is Associate Professor of the Practice of International Relations and Director of the Dornsife Washington DC Program at the University of Southern California. His research and teaching focus on U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, terrorism and counterterrorism, international security, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Jenny Poon is a Ph.D. Candidate at the Faculty of Law of the University of Western Ontario, a qualified Barrister & Solicitor in Ontario, Canada, as well as a Visiting Study Fellow at the University of Oxford, Refugee Studies Centre for Trinity Term 2017. Jenny's research focuses on examining the principle of non-refoulement as a norm in international and European law and a comparative analysis of the United Kingdom and Germany.

Jessica Huseman is a reporter at ProPublica covering national politics and civil rights. She was previously a senior reporting fellow. She graduated with honors from the Stabile Program in Investigative Journalism at Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she was the recipient of the Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship and the Fred M. Hechinger Award for Distinguished Education Reporting. Her stories have been published in The Atlantic, the Dallas Morning News and NPR.

Jessica holds an MA Cantab from the University of Cambridge. She is currently studying on the International Masters in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies (IMSISS) course hosted by the University of Glasgow. Her thesis, titled “The Art of Warring Networks,” was published in 2016 and was presented as part of King’s College London's “Resisting Digital Culture” conference. She has 6+ years of experience in strategic research and business intelligence roles for tech SMEs. She works as Director of Strategy for award-winning independent production company, Raunkiaer Films. Their recent work has been featured in The New York Times, BBC, The Irish Times, and Politico.

John Broich writes and teaches on environmental history, the history of race and empire, Royal Navy history, and WWII history. He received his PhD from Stanford University in 2005.

Professor John Stremlau is the former vice president for peace programs at The Carter Center (2006-2015). During this time, he oversaw the Center's programs to advance human rights, democracy, and conflict resolution globally; regional cooperation in the Americas; and promotion of grassroots democracy, rule of law, and social justice in China. From 1998 to 2006, he resided in South Africa where he was Jan Smuts Professor and head of international relations and the founding director of the Centre for Africa's International Relations at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Previously, he served as senior adviser to the Carnegie Commission on Preventing Deadly Conflict in Washington, D.C. (1994-1998), deputy director for policy planning in the office of the U.S. Secretary of State (1989-1994), strategic planning officer for the World Bank (1988-1989), and an officer of the Rockefeller Foundation (1974-1987), directing its international relations division from 1984-1987. At the Rockefeller Foundation, his responsibilities included supporting research and training in the fields of international security, arms control, and international economic cooperation. He also administered a special trustee-supported program to fund black leadership development in South Africa. Dr. Stremlau publishes extensively on foreign affairs and is a frequent media commentator on international network news programs. He authored "The International Politics of the Nigerian Civil War" and edited several books.

Jon Manning holds a Bsc in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Bristol, specialising in security studies in East Asia and South Asia. He worked at the Resolution Foundation political thinktank and has written for the New Statesman magazine. Jon has worked on a number of UK parliamentary election campaigns, including for Tullip Siddiq MP and Liz Kendal MP.

Jonathan Burden has a Masters in Middle Eastern Studies and a Bachelors in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, both from the University of Exeter. He currently works as a researcher for Clarion Defence and Security. Jonathan’s primary interests are international relations/security, defence, terrorism, conflict, political risk and the wider geopolitical context of the Middle East.

I am a faculty member in the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University. My research focuses on the role of information in the financial markets, shareholder activism, and financial contracting.

Joshua Bernard B. Espeña is a Manila-based defense analyst and international affairs academic who works and writes about issues and topics on the Great Power Politics of the Indo-Pacific, Philippine Strategic Culture, and ASEAN Studies. He currently pursues his master's degree in International Studies at the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

Jotham Talemwa is a PhD Candidate at the University of Mannheim, researching peacekeeping, conflict, and armed groups in East Africa.

I'm Jude Messler, a London-based graduate in International Relations and National Security with an MA from King’s College London and a BA from St Andrews. I’ve worked in policy research and strategic communications at the UN and with Senator Chuck Schumer, focusing on global governance, risk, and how narratives shape international affairs and political landscapes. My experience has centred on translating complex political and global risk issues into clear, accessible insights for a range of audiences.

Julian McBride is a former US Marine, forensic anthropologist, and independent journalist born in New York. His bylines can be found in Byline Times, 19FortyFive, Heritage Daily, The Defense Post, Journal of Forensic Psychology, Modern Warfare Institute, Manara Mag, The Strategist, Pacific Forum, E-International Relations, Global Taiwan Institute, NKInsider, Modern Diplomacy, Small Wars Journal, Atlas Institute, and UK Defence Journal.

I have a PhD in Military Science and I am currently an associate professor at Obuda University in Budapest, Hungary. My research areas are international relations, political science, economics, international economics, international military operations, peacekeeping in Africa, security sector reform, migrations programmes, and child soldiers. I teach conflict management, security and defence policies, African history, and peacekeeping missions in Africa.

Dr. Katelyn Jones is the Women, Peace, and Security Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and Public Fellow for the American Council of Learned Societies. Her research concerns gender politics in international organizations, and is especially focused on gender mainstreaming in policy formation and implementation.

Kathy Kiely is a veteran reporter and editor with a multimedia portfolio and a passion for transparency, free speech and teaching. After a long career covering politics in Washington, Kiely moved into the classroom full-time because, she says, universities are the laboratories that will discover the formula for making fact-based journalism viable again. Kiely has organized events around free speech issues and advocated for journalists who have been jailed or threatened for their work, most notably Emilio Gutierrez-Soto, a Press Club award winner released in Aug. of 2018 by U.S. immigration officials.

Konstantin Alexander Wartenberg is a German wargame researcher specializing in contemporary land warfare and military theory. He graduated with distinction from King’s College London’s postgraduate War Studies degree, where he focused on the geographic crisis regions of the Middle East, East Asia and Europe. Following graduation, he started working within the field of scientific wargaming, contributing to its advancement as a field of research methodology.

Kutay Kahraman graduated with honors from the Department of Political Science and International Relations at Izmir University of Economics. He gained a strong background in political analysis, international relations and global governance in his academic life; he stood out with his disciplined work and analytical thinking skills. Kutay, who continued his education by completing a master's degree in International Relations at the University of Sussex, aims to make a difference at the international level and reflects his academic knowledge in his future studies.

Kyle A. Long is UNESCO Co-Chair of International Education for Development and Adjunct Assistant Professor of International Education at the George Washington University. He is a member of the Public Diplomacy Council, trustee of the American University of Iraq Foundation, and the author of The Emergence of the American University Abroad (2020). He is a Fulbright Specialist and former Boren Fellow.

Lara Westra is currently working as a financial compliance professional for a leading US investment bank and holds a BA in International Relations from Nottingham Trent University. Her interests include the intersection of international relations theory, international security, and international political economy.

Laura Podda is an intercultural mediator and an analyst for Titan. She holds an MA in Oriental Languages and Civilisations from Sapienza University of Rome, where she has also completed a Second-level Master Programme in Geopolitics. Her research specialises in Chinese politics and foreign relations.

Dr. Lena Surzhko-Harned is an Assistant Teaching Professor of Political Science and a Senior Policy Analyst at the Public Policy Fund at Penn State University, Behrend College. Her primary research interests are in the field of comparative politics, political behavior, European politics, and politics of the post-Soviet space. Her co-authored book "Post-Soviet Legacies and Conflicting Values in Europe: Generation Why?" was published by Lexington Books Russian, Eurasian, and European Politics Series in December 2017 and examines the inter-generational conflict and its consequences in post-Soviet Ukraine and Russia. Dr. Surzhko-Harned holds an MA and a PhD from University of Pittsburgh.

I was trained in Asian Studies, with my early field research in Peninsular Malaysia. Over the past four decades, I have worked as a medical anthropologist and social historian of medicine on questions of public health among diverse populations in Australia, east and southeast Asia, and increasingly in Africa. My fields of research include questions of gender, sexuality and reproductive health; infectious and chronic disease; access to and ideologies of medical and health care; and disability and inequality. My sustained commitment to build research capacity includes my life long work with higher degree students in and from resource-poor settings, my involvement in CARTA (Collaboration for Advanced Research and Training in Africa), and from 1988 to the present, my continuous collaboration with the WHO Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Disease. My broad interests extend to interdisciplinary collaborations in the social and biosciences, humanities and creative arts, for social justice, human rights, and sustainability. My key works include, in medical anthropology, Surface Tensions: Surgery, Bodily Boundaries and the Social Self; and in social history, Sickness and the State: Health and Illness in Colonial Malaya, 1870-1940. My latest work – The Routledge Handbook in Medical Anthropology – undertaken with Elizabeth Cartwright (Idaho State University) and Anita Hardon (University of Amsterdam) – was published in May 2016.

Leo Lin is an analyst with Titan, Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He is also the co-chair of a discussion group with the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy in Washington, D.C. Lin specializes in non-traditional security issues and Asia-Pacific security.

Libby holds a First-Class Honours degree in BA Geography from Durham University and is commencing an MSc in International Social and Public Policy at LSE. Her research interests include political risk analysis in North America and the United Kingdom, with an emphasis on how such risks evolve within the context of environmental uncertainty and shifting geopolitical stability.

Liliia is a post-doctoral researcher at the Center for International law and Policy, Stockholm University. She holds a Ph.D. in International Public Law from Kazan Federal University (Russia). Liliia's research interests include international dispute resolution, governance, negotiation and gender in international relations.

Lorenzo Gazzola is a Political Risk Analyst at Titan. With experience working at think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations and the Hudson Institute, he is primarily interested in U.S. foreign policy and transatlantic relations. Lorenzo holds a B.A. in Politics and History from New York University (NYU).

Lorenzo is a double masters student studying International Affairs at Peking University (Beijing) and LSE (London). His research interests are international security, terrorism and conflict studies along with political risk assessment. He is also the chief editor of the LSE War Studies Society.

I am a biomedical engineering researcher with an interest in designing low-cost mobile diagnostic tools for resource limited settings. I was raised in Madagascar and I am currently completing a Master of Public Policy at the Woodrow Wilson School of International Affairs and Public Policy at Princeton University. I am Global Voices correspondent for Madagascar, a country that has undergone considerable social turmoil the past year and is still embattled in a never ending political crisis since the military-driven takeover in March 2009. My contribution consists of contextualizing and highlight the effort of Malagasy citizen journalists during this challenging period, as they posted their reports via blogging platforms or twitter ( reports of our collaborative effort during the crisis can be found in the Wall Street Journal, CNN and Global Post ) I am also part of the Foko-Madagascar team, an outreach project to promote citizen media in parts of Madagascar that are often ignored by the national media with the support of Rising Voices

Luc is an undergraduate International Relations student at the University of Edinburgh, where he has been heavily involved in elevating research-based political discourse through Leviathan, the universities student-led political journal. A passionate international relations enthusiast committed to the study of the economic and security dichotomies of the Asia-Pacific region. Luc's primary interests are China, the defence industry, geostrategic relations and national security policy.

Luis L. Schenoni is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at the University of Notre Dame with a concentration in international relations. His research focuses on state formation, foreign policy analysis, and IR theory and has been published in Security Studies and Foreign Policy Analysis, among other journals, and also featured in The Washington Post and the New York Times

I am a dedicated Master's student in International Relations at the University of Bristol, seeking to further my interest in international security and foreign relations. I have a particular passion for European and Eurasian security, and I wish to explore and understand the challenges of tomorrow.

I received a PhD in History from UC Irvine, where I studied the influence of liberal philosophy on the international and imperial policies of the British Labour Party. Currently, I am researching the cultural and social impact of Brexit on the UK. I also have a deep interest in writing pedagogy. I have written academic articles for the International History Review and Jewish Culture and History. My work has also been featured in numerous public-facing venues. I am currently working on a manuscript titled It's Not EU, It's Me! A Cultural History of Brexit. Alongside my research, I offer seminars on democracy and populism, immigration and the global novel, and Brexit.

Luna is a senior at UC Berkeley x Sciences Po Paris, studying economics and political science. As a policy risk analyst, her work focuses broadly on security and defense, emerging technologies, and governance, with regional interests spanning the Eastern Mediterranean, Indo-Pacific, and European integration. She has interned at the United Nations Office in Geneva and is a research assistant at Berkeley.

What drew you to the law? Originally — and by “originally,” I mean as a 15-year-old — it was a matter of personal ambition. I wanted to be the first woman elected United States senator from Georgia. And representatives needed to have legal training. So the law was just a vehicle for that political ambition. But my young thinking evolved, in no small measure because I lived in the de facto segregated South, and I became more concerned with the law’s ideal of justice. That led me to practice criminal and employment discrimination law, to pro bono capital defense work and, ultimately, to teaching. Legal Experience Paul Hastings, Atlanta, Georgia Employment litigation senior associate (1995-1997) Arnall Golden Gregory, Atlanta, Georgia Litigation associate (October 1988-February 1995) The Honorable Thomas A. Clark, United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, Atlanta, Georgia Law clerk (August 1987-August 1988)

Léa is a trilingual junior researcher and consultant, currently interning at UNODC’s Regional Office for Central America and the Caribbean in Panama, where she researches firearms, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling. She is also a Research Associate at ODI Global and holds an MSc in International Politics and Human Rights from the University of Glasgow. Her interests include conflict, environmental justice, resource politics, migration, and development initiatives focused on poverty alleviation.

I am currently studying an international joint master in Security, Intelligence & Strategy at the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University and Charles University. The next step is pursuing a career combining Security, Finance and Counter-Terrorism. I hold a Master degree in International & European Tax Law from the University of Amsterdam and have extensive working experience in international finance and tax. I have special interests in the fields of International Relations and politics, counter-terrorism, secret intelligence and environmental security.

Majid Dashtgard is an Assistant Professor of International Relations in the Department of Political Science at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. He formerly served as a senior researcher at the Jahān-Pazhouh Institute for International Studies in Tehran. His research focuses on international security, Iranian foreign policy, and great power politics. His work has appeared on several platforms, including the Henry L. Stimson Center and the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum (MENAF).

Makam Khan Daim, studying Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies in consortium degree program at University of Glasgow, (UK), DCU (Ireland), OTH (Germany), and Charles University, Prague. He is born in the Kunar Province, Afghanistan, rooted in his Afghan Heritage, and educated in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and China. Makam khan Daim considers himself a globally minded citizen and started a project (initiative) of ‘’Global Citizenship; Goodbye to Conflicts and Hello to Cooperation”. Mr. Daim studied M.Phil. International Relations at Zhejiang University, China and BS (Hons) Politics and International Relations and received Gold Medal in the mentioned subject at International Islamic University, Islamabad from the President of Pakistan. During his student life he served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Afghan students in Pakistan. Moreover, on behalf of Afghan students he joined both national and international conferences. He currently serving as an editor at Security Distillery.

Manuela Lavinas Picq is Professor of International Relations at Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ) and Loewenstein Fellow at Amherst College. She contributes to international media outlets and has held research positions at Freie Universität (2015), the Institute for Advanced Study (2013), and the Woodrow Wilson Centre (2005). Her latest book is Vernacular Sovereignties: Indigenous Women Challenging World Politics (University of Arizona Press 2018).

Dr. Aponte-Moreno is an Associate Professor of Global Business and Board Member of the Institute of Latino and Latin American Studies at Saint Mary's College of California. His research focuses on leadership, cross-cultural management and Venezuelan politics. He is originally from Caracas, Venezuela. His doctoral dissertation focused on the role of metaphors in Hugo Chávez's political discourse in his efforts to legitimise his Bolivarian Revolution.

Pursuing a double major in Political Science and Economics at McGill University. Fascinated by the petro-monarchies, oil markets and terms of trade. Currently flirting with economic development with a focus on property rights and microfinance.

Marco Túlio Lara holds a specialization in international geopolitics and defense from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil. He has collaborated with London-based risk consultancy AKE International and currently contributes to reports and analyses at Le Beck International, a geopolitical security consultancy based in the Middle East. He is also an analyst at Gulf State Analytics, a geopolitical risk consultancy based in Washington, DC. He conducts research on the MENA region, focusing mainly on foreign policy, conflicts and security. He is a regular contributor to The National Interest.

Mariana Balona has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science and International Relations and a Master’s Degree in Strategy. She wrote her dissertation on EU Energy Strategy for the Arctic. Her focus is on geopolitical and strategy analysis and security intelligence at the international level.

Professor Mark Swilling is Co-Director of the Stellenbosch Centre for Complex Systems in Transition and Academic Director of the Sustainability Institute. He coordinates the Masters and PhD programme in Sustainable Development in the School of Public Leadership. He has a Phd that focuses on urban social movements in South Africa, specifically urban political protest and service delivery.

Mark S. Ward is a retired foreign service officer who was the Director of the Syria Transition Assistance and Response Team (START), which is based out of U.S. Embassy Ankara and is responsible for coordinating all U.S. assistance to Syria from Turkey. Prior to this role, he served as the Deputy Special Coordinator in the Office of Middle East Transition at the U.S. Department of State, the office that coordinates all civilian assistance to Middle Eastern countries in transition to democracy. Mr. Ward is a Career Minister in the Senior Foreign Service of the United States.

I am a political scientist and serve as a professor in Contemporary Middle East Studies at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Odense. I used to work as an academic teacher, political advisor and researcher in Germany (Tübingen, Hamburg and Bremen), the Middle East (Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq), and the US (Denver, Colorado). I published extensively on Middle Eastern affairs, particularly international relations. Some of my shorter analyses have been published with the open access journal E-International Relations at https://www.e-ir.info/author/martin-beck/. My latest publications and activities can be found athttps://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/en/persons/mbeck.

Dr. Mathew Maavak is a frequent commentator on geostrategic issues. His analyses and interviews have appeared in CCTV (China), Sputnik (Russia), Business Standard (India), Eurasia Review and Modern Diplomacy, amongst others.

Matt is a graduate of International Relations from the London School of Economics. He is interested in political and economic risk analysis, with expertise in Sub-Saharan African politics, American defence policy, and economic diplomacy. He is an Editorial Intern for Genocide Studies and Prevention, and has interned as an Intelligence Analyst at AKE International.

Matthew McIntosh is a political risk analyst for the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He is also a member of the Canadian International Council’s Toronto Branch and a research contributor to the G7 and G20 Research Groups. While Matthew has worked in communications for Scotiabank in the past, he has a MSc in International Relations from the University of Edinburgh and a BA (Hons Spec.) in Political Science from the University of Western Ontario. Matthew’s research interests pertain mainly to energy politics, political economy, and global affairs.

Maurício Santoro has a PhD in Political Science from the University Institute of Research of Rio de Janeiro (Iuperj). He is an Assistant Professor at the Department of International Relations, State University of Rio de Janeiro

Max has a strong educational background in Geopolitics and International Relations, with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and International Relations and Organisations from the University of Leiden, alongside a Master’s Degree in Political Economy from the University of Amsterdam. Max’s interests lie in understanding the geopolitical Zietgiests of the modern world, and being able to recognise the cultural movements which shift popular political opinions.

Megan Dunlop is a final-year Politics and International Relations student at Durham University, specialising in conflict studies, military technology, and the Middle East. She serves as President of the John Snow College Debating and Public Speaking Society and is the Publicity Officer and a founding executive member of the Durham University Women in Politics Society. Beyond her university roles, Megan has interned with Modern Diplomacy and currently holds a Policy Fellow position at the Pinsker Centre.

Melissa attended NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science where she studied international relations and US foreign policy. She currently works as a Crisis Management Analyst at the Goldman Sachs Office of Global Security where she focuses on mitigating firm-related risks throughout the Americas. Her interests include geopolitics, national security and the intelligence community.

Meng Kit Tang is a Singaporean freelance analyst and commentator who works as an aerospace engineer. He graduated from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), NTU, Singapore in 2025. His research interests include cross-Strait relations, Taiwan politics and policy issues, and aerospace technology.

Michael Dobson is a PhD candidate in Global Politics in the Politics Department at The New School for Social Research in New York City, supervised by Professor Nancy Fraser. He holds Bachelors degrees in Law and Political Science from the University of Otago, and a Masters degree in Politics from the New School for Social Research. His work has appeared previously in Climate Home, Jacobin and the Huffington Post.

A recent graduate of University College London; through my interest in international security and my regional expertise I was able to contribute to the development of security policy frameworks for various countries in Eurasia under the guidance of the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism. I believe in a pragmatic world, and dedicate my knowledge to a wholistic understanding of current affairs through rationalisation and nuance.

Misheck Mutize is a lecturer of finance at the GSB. Currently a PhD candidate, his research interests include credit rating; monetary economics; financial modelling; financial analysis and option valuation approaches.

Mohamed Taha's research project aims to address the various aspects of the political communication strategies during Mohamed Morsi's presidential campaign (May 2012), during the Constitution Decree crisis in (November 2012) and finally during the clash with the army that led to the removal of Morsi after only one year in office (June 2013). It will also discuss Morsi’s controversial Constitutional Decree in November 2012 that empowered him further, and that was meant to avoid dissolving the Parliament and hindering his effort to finalising the new constitution for the country. Therefore, specific questions need to be part of this research. Namely, 'What are the main political communication messages that led to the Muslim Brotherhood's success in politics in 2012 and the aftermath of the January uprising culminating with the presidency of Morsi in June 2012?'

I earned my Master Degree in International Relations from China's renowned, Zhejiang University and my Bachelor's degree in International Economics and Trade from Zhejiang University of Science & Technology. I am an independent researcher and my research interests are in the areas of security, governance, and multilateralism specifically on China-Africa relations. I also conduct research on current international affairs and regional issues focusing on Africa. I have published different articles pertaining to my area of interest in various peer-reviewed journals.

I started blogging in 2004 but before that I was a columnist of Tinig (Voice) web magazine. I was news editor of Yehey! for three years (2005-08), and columnist of UPI-Asia from 2007 to 2009. I’m currently the Southeast Asia editor of Global Voices and contributor to the ASEAN Beat of The Diplomat online magazine. I represented Kabataan Partylist in the 14th and 15th Congress of the Philippines. I am the chairman of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Metro Manila.

Wendelbo is a development researcher specializing in complex emergency preparedness and response. He has experience working with inter-governmental institutions, as well as country and local governments to implement comprehensive response strategies to natural disasters.

As a Cameroonian diplomat and scholar specializing in conflict resolution and security studies, Dr. Motaze Emmanuel Roger serves as a civil servant for the Cameroonian administration. In this capacity, he leads analysis on diplomatic and security issues and contributes to national refugee status governance. He is a permanent lecturer in the field of international relations in several institutions namely, the International Relations Institute of Cameroon and the International School for Security Forces. In addition to his contributions in public service and education, Dr. Motaze is a distinguished analyst at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, and the African Security Sector Network. His research is centered on political risk, peacebuilding, and security sector governance in Africa, and he regularly contributes research and commentary on these issues. He is also member of the Network of Startegic Research Centers in Central Africa. Dr. Motaze holds a Ph.D. in International Relations with a specialization in Conflict Resolution from the Geneva School of Diplomacy. He also possesses graduate degrees from the International Relations Institute of Cameroon and Norwich University (USA) and a B.A. in War and Peace Studies from Norwich University, the Military College of Vermont.

Dr Mzukisi Qobo is Associate Professor: International Business & Strategy at the Wits Business School. He was previously deputy at the NRF Chair on African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg.

Nadine Olafsson is a PhD student in the Department of Conflict Studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada. Her research focuses on civil-military relations in Canada, in particular the phenomena of civilianization and how it affects the combat readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Nafisa Putri Zafira is an International Relations undergraduate at Diponegoro University with interests in Arctic affairs, geopolitics, and international security. She enjoys writing on contemporary global issues, particularly great-power competition, strategic narratives, and the evolving dynamics of international politics.

My name is Nathaniel Ellis and I am a Political Risk Analyst here at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs, having joined the organisation in January 2025. I hold an MA in Politics and International Relations from Keele University, where I explored a broad spectrum of topics including European politics, maritime security, and post-conflict development. My research interests are centered on the intersection of emerging technologies and global security, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence, space, and satellite capabilities. Through my work, I aim to contribute to the organisation in a positive way, and analyse key issues at the forefront of the international agenda.

Nelson Paderes Liwanag is an active Military Officer of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) with more than 20 years of military service. His expertise encompasses military education and training, operational research, and the planning and execution of combined and multinational exercises. He holds a Master of ASEAN Studies from the University of the Philippines Open University and a Master in Public Management (Security and Governance) from the Ateneo School of Government.

Nick is an Analyst for Titan, Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He is also an Economics MA candidate at the University of Edinburgh with particular interest in Development Economics, International Economics, Political Economy and International Relations.

Nicola Ragazzi is a Dual Master's degree student in International Governance and Diplomacy at Sciences Po Paris and Peking University. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from LUISS Guido Carli University. His research interests are Chinese diplomacy and populism.

Nicoletta Enria is Italian, originally from La Spezia, but grew up in London, Rome and Frankfurt. She graduated from University College London studying Language and Culture, with a focus on German and Arabic. After working in minority rights in Brussels at the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, she completed a masters at the LSE, where she specialised in EU politics, migration and asylum policy and statelessness. Currently, she is immigration research officer for LSE's 89 Connect think tank, editor of Europe & Me and is preparing to move back to Brussels for the Robert Schuman Traineeship at the European Parliament. Follow her for rants on Brexit, Italian politics, feminism, refugee and migration politics on twitter @NicolettaEnria.

Niels Schattevoet is a Dutch undergraduate student currently enrolled at the University of Groningen, in 'International Relations and International Organization' and 'Middle Eastern Studies'. He is mostly focused on the Middle Eastern Levant - comprising Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Israel and Palestine - and the European Union and its member states, in particular the multifaceted relationship between Europe and Levantine states in all its forms - cultural, economic, political and military - and the mutual (mis)understandings between them, both in academic theory and practice. Specific topics of interest include, to name but a few, development, refugee flows, the Syrian civil war and the Islamic State, the influence and presence of Iran in the Levant and the so-called Middle Eastern 'cold war' between Iran and Saudi Arabia more in general.

I am currently working on transparency and lobbying in the Brexit negotiations and on institutional change in the EU and the institutional architecture outlined by article 50 TEU. I have previously worked on the involvement of civil society and interest groups in EU governance in the context of wider debates on participatory and deliberative democracy. I have written extensively on the impact of EU membership on civil society in the new member states from Central and Eastern Europe through the lens of Europeanization. I have worked on the impact of EU enlargement on the institutionalisation of civil society participation in the EU with a focus on the European Economic and Social Committee and the Social Dialogue and the European Union's new civil dialogue.

Nikhita (Nikki) is a recent graduate from the University of Virginia, where she earned a BA in Foreign Affairs and French. Originally from London, she recently moved to Washington, D.C. and is the founder of My World View, a political blog offering insights into global affairs.

My name is Nyjah Tauheed, and I am currently pursuing my Master’s in International Relations at San Francisco State University. I hold a Bachelor’s in Modern European History from UC Santa Cruz, and my academic interests span International Relations theory, International Political Economy, and Security Studies. I am passionate about exploring the intersections of these fields and how they influence both historical and contemporary global issues.

Obaidurrahman Mirsab is a New Delhi based writer and emerging geopolitical analyst whose work focuses on geopolitics, U.S. foreign policy, West Asian security, and shifts in the international order. His writing has appeared in the Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, the foreign-affairs publication of Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Fair Observer, International Affairs Forum at the Center for International Relations in Washington, D.C., International Policy Digest, Madras Courier and Global South Forum, among others.

Ondrej is an Analyst for Titan at the Atlas Institute of International Affairs, and an MLitt candidate in Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia Security Studies at the University of St Andrews. He is primarily focused on the MENA region, with particular interest in topics including international relations of the Middle East, regional security, and sectarian violence

Otabek Akromov is currently enrolled in International Master in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies, jointly issued by University of Glasgow, Dublin City University and Charles University Prague and recipient of fully-funded Erasmus Mundus scholarship. He earned his BA in International Relations from the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, Uzbekistan. Also, Otabek studied Political Science as an exchange student at Nagoya University. He has contributed to several online platforms, such as International Affairs Forum, International Policy Digest and Kun.uz and authored one book, namely Putin`s Russia in the Making of a New International Order: An English School Perspective.

Pablo A. Rodríguez-Merino is a doctoral researcher and associate tutor in the Department of Politics and International Studies at the University of Warwick (England), where he investigates the social construction of ‘terrorism’ in Xinjiang by the Chinese state. His most recent publication is ‘Old ‘counter-revolution’, new ‘terrorism’: historicizing the framing of violence in Xinjiang by the Chinese state’ (Central Asian Survey, 2018).

Patrick Machayo is a public policy analyst and the Executive Director of a national veterans empowerment organization. His work has appeared in the Kansas City Star, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the San Diego Times-Union. He is the author of Faux News: Mau-mauing in the Era of Trump and Biden and the forthcoming The Weight of the Biden Presidency: Power, Repair and the Strain of Governance. He is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Paul W. Posner is Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he directs the Latin American and Latinx Studies program. He teaches courses on Latin American politics, U.S. – Latin American relations, comparative environmental politics, and democratic theory. His current research focuses on labor politics, the politics of social welfare resource distribution, and the New Left and populism in Latin America, with specific focus on Chile, Ecuador, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Pedro Lopes is a columnist of Brazilian journal Relações Exteriores and Brazilian Institute of Finances Executive Magazine's. He has a bachelor's degree in International Relations from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio and is a former intern of BRICS Policy Center and Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Center (CCOPAB).

Punsara Amarasinghe is a Ph.D. researcher at the institute of law and politics at Scuola Superiore Sant Anna in Pisa, Italy. Punsara holds a one-year research fellowship at the Higher School of Economics in Moscow, Russia and holds an LL.M in international law from the South Asian University in New Delhi. Punsara is particularly interested in post-Soviet studies and the politics of Russia. He regularly contributes to Modern Diplomacy, Countercurrents and Foreign Policy News and he has provided two working papers to Begin Sadat Center for Strategic Studies in Israel. His academic interests include the Russian approach to international law, TWAIL and the history of international relations.

Professor Ralph Pettman teaches at the University of Melbourne and specializes in International Relations Theory, International Political Economy, and Global Cultural Studies. He graduated with a BA (Hons) from Adelaide University and then completed his Ph.D. at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones is Emeritus Professor, History, University of Edinburgh and Honorary President of the Scottish Society for the Study of America. He has written several books and articles including We Know All About You: The Story of Surveillance in Britain and America, In Spies We Trust: The Story of Western Intelligence. His book The American Left: Its Impact on Politics and Society since 1900 won the Richard E. Neustadt Prize for the best book of 2013 on U.S. government, politics and political history.

Richard W. Coughlin received a Ph.D. in Political Science from Syracuse University and has taught at Drury University and Florida Gulf Coast University. At this latter institution he is currently an Associate Professor of Political Science. Coughlin has recently published articles in E-IR and the Journal of Political Science Education.

Richard Herbert is currently studying an MSc in Defence, Development and Diplomacy at Durham University. Richard’s primary research interests are in international relations/security, terrorism, migration, conflict and EU politics.

Robert May is a postgraduate Masters's student in International Relations at Queen Mary University of London. He is also the CEO of a non-profit multinational education provider (ABE) a member of the Royal Overseas League, a member of the Royal Institute for International Affairs, and a Friend of UNESCO.

Roberto Colombo is a postgraduate researcher from the International Master in Intelligence, Security, and Strategic Studies (IMSISS) taught jointly by the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University, and Charles University in Prague. His research focuses on the study of civil war, political terrorism, and the dynamics of insurgency and counterinsurgency warfare.

Roksolana Smerechynska is an analyst with the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. She holds a BA from the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

Rory Miller specializes in European affairs that impact Western European countries and the United States. With interests in European defense to transatlantic relations, Rory's interests in European affairs are varied. She is a student at University of California-Berkeley.

Ross Bellaby is a lecturer in Security Studies at the University of Sheffield’s Politics Department. His research focuses on designing ethical frameworks for the intelligence community and for cyber-activity. His ethical framework is set out his book, The Ethics of Intelligence: A New Framework (2014). This work is further developed in papers on counterterrorism and the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program (2017), the justifiability of cyber-intelligence (2017), the ethical obligation of whistleblowing (2017), and the need for more dark web technology to protect against state surveillance (2018).

Sadia Afrin Kumu is pursuing her BSS degree in International Relations at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science & Technology University, Bangladesh. She is the Deputy Director of Treasure of Bangabandhu University Model United Nations.

Saliha Metinsoy holds a PhD from the University of Oxford, and is currently Assistant Professor in International Political Economy at the University of Groningen. Her research interests include Comparative and International Political Economy, IMF programmes, labour markets, unrest, and international financial system.

Salvador Santino Fulo Regilme Jr (born 1986) is a tenured University Lecturer of International Relations at the Institute for History, Leiden University in the Netherlands. He is the co-editor of American Hegemony and the Rise of Emerging Powers (Routledge, 2017) and the author of research articles in leading academic journals in International Relations. In 2015, he received a joint Ph.D. in Political Science and North American Studies from the Freie Universität Berlin. His current book project is titled Philanthropic Imperium: United States Foreign Aid, Diplomacy, and Human Rights in Southeast Asia.

Samuel O’Dell is an analyst at the Atlas Institute of International Affairs. He holds a BA Communication and Media degree from the University of Leeds and an MLitt Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asian Security Studies degree from the University of St. Andrews. Samuel is also an analyst on the Security and Terrorism Desk at the Geopol Report.

Dr Sanjay Pooran : MD , MBA ,LLB , MBA , FRCPI , FFPHMI , FFPH , MCFP , FHKCCM Also a member of the Chartered Institue of Journalists UK

Dr. Sanna Kopra is a postdoctoral researcher in the Arctic Centre at University of Lapland and affiliated postdoctoral researcher in the Aleksanteri Institute at University of Helsinki, Finland. She is the author of China and great power responsibility for climate change published by Routledge in August.

Santiago Anria is assistant professor of political science and Latin American studies at Dickinson College. He received his Ph.D in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. A native of Argentina, he has lived in Canada, Bolivia, and the United States. He is the author of When Movements Become Parties: The Bolivian MAS in Comparative Perspective (Cambridge Studies in Comparative Politics Series, 2018).

Sara Ketabi is an international political advisor with over five years of experience working with UNICEF and governments across the MENA region. Her work focuses on foreign policy, political economy, and global governance. She also specialises in advising international development and sustainability (IDS) for the United Nations. Throughout her career, she has led policy consulting initiatives for developing governments via Hale and CollatEd Lab, influencing legislation and pioneering evidence-informed strategy and decision-making. From 2019 to 2024, Sara served as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister of Libya.

I am a socio-cultural anthropologist with long-term ethnographic commitments in the Himalayas and South Asia, and emerging research engagements in British Columbia, Canada. I serve as Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology as well as in UBC’s School of Public Policy and Global Affairs and Institute of Asian Research. My first book, Rituals of Ethnicity: Thangmi Identities Between Nepal and India (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015), offers new explanations for the powerful persistence of ethnicity as a category of identification today despite the increasing realities of mobile, translocal lives. Broadly speaking, my research explores how social transformation is shaped by dynamics of citizenship and belonging (in relation to Indigenous, ethnic, religious and gender identities); cross-border mobility; conflict and political mobilization; territory and land use; development discourses and practices; and disaster aftermath and preparedness.

Sarah Burns is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Rochester Institute of Technology. Her research examines the intersection of political liberalization and American constitutional development with an eye toward policy implications for democratization across the globe. She has written on war powers, American foreign policy, democratic peace theory, elections, and Montesquieu’s constitutionalism. Her forthcoming book, The Politics of War Powers, examines the theoretical and historical development of war powers. She demonstrates how the constitutional system creates an invitation to struggle that the political branches increasingly ignore.

Sarmad Ishfaq is a research fellow for the Lahore Center for Peace Research. He completed his Masters in International Studies and graduated as the ‘Top Graduate’ from the University of Wollongong in Dubai. He has several publications in peer-reviewed journals and magazines in the areas of counter-terrorism/terrorism and the geopolitics of South Asia and the GCC.

Satria is a PhD Candidate in International Relations at Victoria University of Wellington and the 2025 Pacific Forum Young Leader. His research interests lie at the intersection of maritime security, regional order, and trust-building between ASEAN and the great powers. He is a track 2 enthusiast and an active member of the UNODC Civil Society Unit and the Indo-Pacific Circle.

Scott L. Montgomery is a university lecturer and author. His research and publications include areas in both the humanities and sciences, in particular history of science, intellectual history, language studies, and energy resources, technology, and security. He is the author, most recently, of The Shape of the New: Four Big Ideas and How They Built the Modern World (2015, with Daniel Chirot), A History of Science in World Cultures (2015, with Alok Kumar), Does Science Need a Global Language? (2013) and The Powers That Be: Global Energy for the Twenty-First Century and Beyond (2010). Forthcoming are: Grandeur in this View: The Impact of Charles Darwin on the Modern World, and Seeing the Light: Making the Case for Nuclear Power in the 21st Century.

Sebastian is an Analyst for Titan at the Atlas Institute of International Affairs while continuing his studies as a fourth year undergraduate Economics student at the University of Edinburgh. A political economy enthusiast devoted to empirical examinations of socio-economic and geopolitical evolutions with a special regard for the Indo-Pacific region. His primary interests and expertise lie with the study of global market integration, distributional consequences and sustainable development.

First-year, full-time master's student studying International and Public Affairs at the Faculty of Social Sciences of The University of Hong Kong. Research interests include international relations theory, US-China security competition in the Asia Pacific region, and inter-Korea relations. 15 years of experience in China and Hong Kong.

Sergei Scherbov is the Deputy Program Director of the World Population Program (POP) at IIASA, Director of Demographic Analysis at the Wittgenstein Centre for Demography and Global Human Capital (IIASA, VID/ÖAW, WU), and Leader of the Population Dynamics and Forecasting Research Group at the Vienna Institute of Demography (VID), Austrian Academy of Sciences. He is Affiliated Professor at the College of Population Studies, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, and Head of International Laboratory on Demography and Human Capital at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration.

Sergey Eledinov is an independent analyst based in Dakar, focusing on African security, resource politics, and external interventions in the Sahel and Central Africa. His work combines field-informed research on rent distribution and logistics with policy analysis for international audiences.

Shah Muhammad is a Researcher at the Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Islamabad, Pakistan. He is a member of Future Leaders Connect – a global policy network jointly organised by the British Council and Cambridge University. He can be reached at X: @shanistaan

Sharif Mustajib is a professional writer and researcher. He completed a Master's and Bachelor's degrees from the Department of International Relations, University of Chittagong. Besides, he is the editor of the Atlas Institute for International Affairs. He is the Founder and Editor in Chief at the Voice of International Affairs.

Shubhankar Dharmadhikari is a Quantitative Politics undergraduate student at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Mr. Dharmadhikari has working experience in consultancy, lobbying, and human rights advocacy groups. His most recent working experience was as a Business Risk and Strategy intern at Booz Allen Hamilton. Mr. Dharmadhikari's main interests include International Relations, Business Law, Political Economy of Development and International Conflict and Security.

Shuva Das ha conseguito una laurea BSS (Hons) in Relazioni internazionali presso la Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Bangladesh. Das ha precedentemente ricoperto il ruolo di redattore presso l'Atlas Institute for International Affairs. Attualmente lavora come redattore capo dell'Atlante. È anche redattore esecutivo di Voice of International Affairs. I suoi articoli sono apparsi su Synergy: The Journal of Contemporary Asian Studies, Harvard International Review, The Oxford University Politics Blog, Strife, Oxford Political Review e Modern Diplomacy, tra gli altri.

As an active member of the Chatham House, informed by my bachelor's degree with a strong political and historical background from METU and an ongoing MA in International Relations at the University of Sussex, I focus on resolving geopolitical conflicts, managing economic instability, and analyzing global risks related to current environmental crises.

Sirada Khemanitthathai is a third year PhD student in the department of Politics and International Studies at SOAS. She graduated with a Master degree in International Migration and Public Policy from London School of Economic and Political Science and a Bachelor degree in International Relations from Chulalongkorn University. Previously, she worked as an ASEAN program officer for People's Empowerment Foundation, a local non-governmental organisation based in Bangkok. In the future, she will be a lecturer at Chiang Mai University, the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration.

I am currently pursuing a graduate degree in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies through the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University and Charles University wherein I am to specialise in cyber governance and transnational terrorism in geostrategic regions. Having earlier graduated with a triple major in History, Economics and Political Science from Christ University, I have worked in a leading think tank as an analyst on regional security, global finance, energy markets and cybersecurity.

Smriti Lohia is pursuing her M.A in International Relations. She holds her Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and French.

Stefanie Georgakis Abbott is the assistant director of presidential studies at the Miller Center. Before joining the Miller Center in 2014, she supported project management for the U.S. Coast Guard, worked in academic publishing, and taught courses at Virginia Tech and Radford University. She holds a B.A. in international studies and a B.A. in French from Virginia Tech, an M.A. in nationalism studies from Central European University, and a Ph.D. in public and international affairs from Virginia Tech.

Stéfanie von Hlatky is an associate professor of political studies at Queen’s University and former Director of the Queen’s Centre for International and Defence Policy (CIDP). She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Université de Montréal in 2010, where she was also Executive Director for the Centre for International Peace and Security Studies. She’s held positions at Georgetown University’s Center for Peace and Security Studies, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, Dartmouth College’s Dickey Center for International Understanding, the Centre for Security Studies at ETH Zurich and was a Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at the University of Southern California’s Centre for Public Diplomacy. She has published in the Canadian Journal of Political Science, the Canadian Foreign Policy Journal, International Journal, European Security, Asian Security, as well as the Journal of Transatlantic Studies and has a book with Oxford University Press entitled American Allies in Times of War: The Great Asymmetry (2013). She has also published two edited volumes: The Future of US Extended Deterrence (co-edited with Andreas Wenger) with Georgetown University Press (2015) and Going to War? Trends in Military Interventions (co-edited with H. Christian Breede) with McGill-Queen’s University Press (2016). Stéfanie von Hlatky is the founder of Women in International Security-Canada and current Chair of the Board. She also serves on the Senate of the Princess of Wales’ Own Regiment. She has received grants and awards from NATO, the Canadian Department of National Defence, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, Public Safety, the Government of Ontario’s Ministry of Research and Innovation and Fulbright Canada.

Professor Steven Buigut is Professor of Economics at the American University in Dubai. He received his MA and PhD in Economics from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. He also holds an MPhil and BSc in Agricultural Economics from Moi and Egerton universities in Kenya respectively. He has served as Chair of the Accounting and Finance department and Associate Dean of the School of Business Administration for nearly 7 years. His teaching interests include Macroeconomics, Applied Econometrics, Monetary and International Economics. Professor Buigut’s research interests include Monetary Economics and International Finance. A significant part of his research has focused on regional integration effort in developing and emerging economies, especially the Sub-Saharan African. He is also keen on Tourism Economics. He has published in several journals including the Review of Development Economics, World Development, International Finance, South African Journal of Economics, Tourism Economics, Tourism Analysis, Poetics, and International Journal of Social Economics, among others. Professor Buigut has also done consulting work for several training and research institutions such as AERC, KIPPRA, and APHRC.

I obtained my B.A. and M.A. in Romance Philology (French and Spanish) from the Katholieke Universiteit van Leuven (KUL, Belgium) in 2000. That same year I was also awarded my Teacher’s Certificate in Romance Philology and subsequently a Complementary Degree in Spanish Language and Culture including a stay of six months at the Instituto de Literatura y Lingüística de La Habana (Cuba). I obtained my PhD in 2006 at the Universidad de Granada (Spain). In 2004 I published an extended version of my Master’s Degree Dissertation in collaboration with a colleague from the Universidad de Granada: Gabo y Fidel. El paisaje de una amistad (Espasa Calpe). The book was translated into six languages. My most recent monograph analyses the testimony in Reinaldo Arenas’ Pentagony (Tamesis Books, publication in progress). My current research focuses on the impact of Humanitarian Aid on collective identity construction and alteration, and more specifically on the case of the Cuban Internationalist Solidarity Programme. In the summer of 2014, I was awarded the British Council Researcher Links grant, which allowed me to start a collaboration with the Cuban Heritage Collection (University of Miami) and create an archive entitled “Life Stories of Cuban Internationalist Healthcare Professionals”. My research focuses on Caribbean Studies from an interdisciplinary point of view, bridging the areas of Cultural Studies, Sociology and Oral History.

Sunayana Limbu is a Policy Analyst at The Better Canada Initiative. She is also a second year Master of Global Affairs candidate at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Her research interests centre around women peace and security, foreign policy, and international development.

Susan Hutchinson is specialist in conflict and development. She is currently a PhD scholar at the Australian National University's Coral Bell School. Her PhD research is in International Relations, focusing on Women, Peace and Security and the Australian Defence Force. Susan has worked with a range of non-government organisations in Australia and around the world. Her field experience is in China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Bangladesh, Tibet, and on the Thai-Burma border. Susan served in the Australian Defence Force for many years and has worked in capability and policy areas in the Department of Defence.

Syeda Farani Fatima is a student of International Relations at the International Islamic University of Islamabad, focusing on counter-terrorism, anti-corruption, and geopolitics.

Taylor is an Analyst for Titan at the Atlas Institute of International Affairs. He holds a M.S. in security studies with an emphasis on international security from East Carolina University. His research is primarily focused on aspects of US national security and how they affect the broader international community, with a particular interest in topics relating to US-Russian relations.

Experienced Society President with a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry. Skilled in Econometrics, Public Speaking, Market Research, Management, Leadership, Logical and Mathematical Analysis. Strong business development professional with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) focused in Economics from University of Warwick. Entrepreneurship and leadership capabilities given by his founder experience.

Tereza is an MLitt Candidate in Middle East, Caucasus and Central Asia Security Studies at the University of St Andrews. She is primarily interested in the post-Soviet space, Central Asia in particular.

Thomas G. Weiss is Presidential Professor of Political Science at The CUNY Graduate Center and Director of the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies, and research professor at SOAS, University of London. Past president of the International Studies Association (2009-10) and past chair of the Academic Council on the UN System (2006-9), he has written extensively about multilateral approaches to international peace and security, humanitarian action, and sustainable development.

Dr. Jiang Tianjiao is an assistant professor in the Department of International Relations at the Shanghai International Studies University in China. His research focuses on cybersecurity, non-proliferation and strategic stability between China and the United States. He has worked as assistant researcher at Center for Global Cyberspace Governance Studies, Fudan University, co-founded by the Tencent Holdings Ltd. Dr. Jiang was also a visiting scholar at Sigur Center for Asian Studies, George Washington University in 2017. Dr. Jiang has delivered presentations at various institutions including the International Student/Young Pugwash (ISYP), Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization, the Wilson Center’s Asia-Pacific Nuclear History Institute, Paul Tsai China Center at Yale Law School, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University, and Cyberspace Administration of China. He has also published several papers in the journal World Economy and Politics, Journal of Contemporary Asia-Pacific Studies and Copenhagen Journal of Asian Studies. Dr. Jiang earned his doctorate from Fudan University, where he specialized in arms control and regional security.

Tim Hildebrandt works at the Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences as a graduate assistant in the areas of economics (especially economic geography and economic policy), country analysis and intercultural communication, Assistant Lecturer for scientific working techniques and Tutor for world economic geography. In addition, he also works with the Asia House Foundation on civil society in Asia. Mr. Hildebrandt holds a BA. in Political Science from the University of Duisburg-Essen and is enrolled in the Master of Business Administration Asia Management (Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences) and Theory and Comparison of Political Systems in Transition (University of Duisburg-Essen).

Tom Milson is a masters student in Politics and Public Administration at the University of Konstanz, having previously studied at the University of Warwick. He specialises in Conflict Management Studies and International Organisations. He works as a research assistant within the Public Administration and Organisation Theory chair at the Department for Politics at the University of Konstanz.

Tom Webster is a Regional Security Analyst at Le Beck International who has conducted extensive research on the Popular Mobilization Forces and Iraqi security. His primary areas of interest include Middle Eastern militias and energy diplomacy. He holds an MA in Politics and International Relations of the Middle East from the University of Exeter.

Specialising in defence, strategic, and security trends in contemporary conflicts, Gabor Toth draws on nearly two decades of experience working with various European institutions on issues related to security, defence, and geopolitical affairs. He is particularly interested in changes in military capabilities, technological developments, and regional geopolitical dynamics.

Travis Washington received his undergraduate degree in Africana Studies and a master’s degree in Higher Education. He served as an intern in the U.S. Senate, where he studied foreign policy. As a foreign policy analyst, he has published articles focusing on the Middle East and North Africa. He is also the creator of the Hands Up Act petition, which garnered 2.7 million supporters. The initiative advocates for a mandatory 15-year prison sentence when a police officer shoots an unarmed individual, and it supports restoring voting rights.

Tristan has a First Class Bachelor's degree in History from Durham University, and will soon begin a Master's in Global and Imperial History at Oxford University. He is currently writing AI research through 'Cambrian', with particular emphasis on China's geopolitical role. He is interested in AI policy and technology, focusing on strategic relationships in the Asia-Pacific.

Trivun Sharma is a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Political Science and International Studies, University of Warsaw, Poland. His primary research interests include European geopolitics, the role of Germany in Europe and Russia’s foreign and security policy.

Turan Darishov is a Master’s student in Strategy and International Security at the University of Bonn. His primary area of focus is the geopolitics and security dynamics of the Post-Soviet Space, with particular emphasis on regional security, military affairs, unmanned systems, defense-industrial developments, and interstate relations across Eurasia.

Turhan Hizli is a Senior Programme Associate at a London-based international development company, where he coordinates donor-funded programmes on conflict, governance, and development. He previously worked at Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) and the Commonwealth Foundation. Turhan holds an MSc in International Development and Humanitarian Emergencies from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a BA in Politics and International Studies from the University of Warwick. His research interests include international development, geopolitics, and conflict and security.

Tyler Dávila is a recent graduate from the University of Dayton with a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies. He is the founder of Loma.AI, an agritech startup automating agricultural compliance verification, and an agritech researcher at Counterpart International focusing on African affairs. His geopolitical analysis on North Africa and the Sahel has been published by the Atlas Institute, New Lines Institute, and other policy institutions. He also writes Pathway, a newsletter examining geopolitical dynamics in the region.

Vahagn Vahagn (PhD) specializes in research concerning the fields of genocide, human rights, peace and conflict and democracy. His book, Knowledge and Acknowledgment in the Politics of Memory of the Armenian Genocide (Routledge, 2019) includes the discussion about the Karabakh conflict within the context of the Armenian Genocide and its impact and legacy on the region. http://armenica.org/vahagnavedianAvedian

Master’s in Public Policy at UCL, with a Bachelor’s degree in politics and international relations from Durham University. Background in diplomacy with experience working for the Mexican Embassy in the UK, with particular expertise in international organisations. Interested in geopolitics and international conflicts, focusing on global power dynamics.

Vikas Bhardwaj is a scholar of international political economy, holding a Ph.D. and M.Phil. from the Centre for Russian and Central Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi. His work focuses on economic statecraft, sanctions, energy geopolitics, and global economic governance. He has worked as a researcher with numerous institutions, including the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), contributing to multiple policy evaluation projects commissioned by Government of India ministries. Bhardwaj holds nine academic degrees and has published in international peer-reviewed journals on the Russian economy, geopolitical conflict, and shifting global power dynamics.

I am pursuing LLM in International Law (2019-21) from Faculty of Legal Studies, South Asian University, New Delhi, 110021. I am also a practising lawyer at Delhi High Court.

Dr. Vincent Durac lectures in Middle East Politics, Politics of Development and Terrorism and Political Violence in the UCD School of Politics and International Relations. His research is focused on a number of aspects of contemporary Middle East Politics, including political reform, the role of civil society the impact of external actors in the region, and Yemeni political dynamics. He is a visiting lecturer in Middle East Politics in Bethlehem University in Palestine. He is a Council member of the Council of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES), of the European Association for Middle Eastern Studies (EURAMES), and of Friends of Bethlehem University in Ireland (FBUI).

Will Metcalfe is a postgraduate at the University of Warwick studying International Political Economy. His research interests include the politics of the Asia-Pacific region, the rise of China, and changes in world order. He holds a BA in Politics from the University of Warwick.

Enthusiastic and dedicated professional with a strong background in data science and homeland security. Passionate about using technology and intelligence to safeguard our future. Combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of global security dynamics, making valuable contributions to teams addressing complex security challenges.

Wu Yijie is a Masters student at the Nanyang Technological University's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, focusing on International Relations.

Xavier Hussein is an MA Conflict, Security and Development postgraduate King’s College London.

Xurui Zhang is an Analyst in the Titan section at the Atlas Institute for International Affairs and a Policy Intern at The Korea Society. He holds a Master’s degree in Political Science from Brooklyn College. His work focuses on U.S.–China relations, great power competition, and grand strategy

Yannis A. Stivachtis is Associate Professor of Political Science at Virginia Tech. His research interests include the evolution of international society, the study of regional international society, conditionality and international order, international society and the civilizing process, and European international society and global order.

Yaser Alashqar is a lecturer in the International Peace Studies Programme at Trinity College Dublin (the University of Dublin) in Ireland. His areas of research and teaching focus on Middle East politics, political mediation, comparative peace processes, civil society and conflict resolution studies including Israel-Palestinian issues.

Yasmine is a Political Risk Analyst at Titan. She holds a BA in International Relations from Queen Mary University of London. Her degree specialises in foreign policy analysis, International Relations of the Middle East, and sexual violence in armed conflict and its prosecution at the International Criminal Court. Yasmine’s research interests include International Affairs, International Human Rights, International Law, the Laws of War, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

A MA candidate at Johns Hopkins SAIS. I major in International Relations and focus on energy, resources and environment (ERE), and international economics. Before going to SAIS, I obtained double majors in English and Accounting. My research focus is on economic consequences of energy and environmental policies, geopolitics, and sustainable development.

Yusuf Akbar is a judicial case analyst at the Arga Makmur Religious Court, under the Supreme Court in Indonesia. His work focuses on family law, marriage dispensation cases, and the intersection between legal practice and social issues. He writes in his personal capacity on human rights, child protection, and legal reform in developing societies.

Zakirov Bekzod is a Ph.D. scholar at the Graduate School of Public Policy, the University of Tokyo, Japan. His interest is mainly in the politics of market reforms in post-Soviet countries. He is also a visiting scholar at Institute for European, Russian, and Eurasian Center at George Washington University, Washington DC.

Zissis Marmarelis is a Ph.D. student in Public Policy with a specialization in International Relations. He is passionate about European affairs, multilateral cooperation, and global security.