By Giovanni Giacalone – Central and South America Desk On October 24, 2025, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the President of Colombia Gustavo Petro,…
By Maria Makurat – Human Rights Desk Introduction This year the 16 days of activism end gender-based violence last from the 25th of November to the 10th of December 2025. Especially this…
By Joseph Moses – Culture, Society & Security Desk Introduction The term “dehumanization”, although popular in the political lexicon, is notorious for often generating debate on its usage, rather than…
By Camilla Braito and Patrick Haasler – Russia Desk Introducing the New START During the Cold War, nuclear arms control stood as one of the key pillars of…
By Arslan Sheikh – South Asia Desk The growing population and economies of South Asia are crucially dependent on its rivers and lands. Major rivers like Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus…
By Leif Niendorf and Eline Stensen Gulliksen – UK & European Affairs Desk Has the European Union aimed too high in trying to establish itself as a multi-dimensional power? And…
By Anurag Mishra and Pedro Mendes – US desk Non-interventionism is generally regarded and commonly understood as a foreign policy of political or military non-involvement in the foreign relations or…
By Maria Makurat – Cyber Security Desk Introduction Recent months and weeks have shown a significant increase in headlines concerning drones, cyber-attacks, and hybrid warfare in the context of the Russia–Ukraine…
By Joshua Yow and Shams Jouve – Crime, Terrorism & Extremism Desk The present state of political violence On the 10th of September 2025, Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while…
By Francesco Foti & Giacomo Prosperini – Italy Desk Introduction Italy’s strategic engagement in the Mediterranean is characterised by the intricate relationship between energy security, migration management, counter-terrorism and regional…
By Ilas Touazi – Africa desk Introduction Since the end of the Cold War, the privatisation of security has emerged in response to transnational security threats. At the same time,…
By Leonardo Pesci – Africa Desk Introduction Surrounded by the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, the Red and Mediterranean Seas, the maritime domain represents an immense source of wealth for Africa….
By Angelo Saad Hintermayer – Africa Desk Introduction The European Union (EU) has taken a firm stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, unequivocally condemning Russia’s actions since the conflict’s onset, citing…
By Dhruv Banerjee – South Asia Desk Regional Cooperation in South Asia: A Tale of Ups and Downs South Asia’s struggle to achieve effective regional integration has been well documented….
By Alessia Maira and Francesco Pagano – Culture, Society & Security Desk Disclaimer: This article edited by Alessia Maira and Francesco Pagano, draws directly from findings of the project “Contemporary…
By Camilla Biolcati – Human Security Desk The hope for a political transition toward civilian rule in Mali, already uncertain, now appears increasingly remote. Ranked 9th on the International Rescue…
By Camilla Braito (Russia Desk) & Vismantė Ežerskytė (European Affairs and UK Desk) Introduction As of today, negotiations involving the United States, Russia, and the European Union over the war…
Dr. Kenneth Schultz talks about Trump’s transactional diplomacy approach to conflict resolution and its effectiveness in addressing complex international conflicts. He analyses how Trump’s use of the “peace through strength”…
In this episode, Tobias Belgrano speaks about the changing political landscape in Argentina, and what this means for the future of Peronism in the country. Mr. Belgrano is a political…
By Joshua Yow Yin & Matteo Baldassari – Crime, Terrorism & Extremism Desk Introduction In February 2025, US military airstrikes targeting the Islamic State (IS) in Somalia, hit the semi-autonomous…
In this espisode, Dr. Simona Grano discusses the geopolitical implications of Chinese and Taiwanese influence in Southeast Asia and Oceania, and how this influence is being perceived and addressed by…
In this episode of the ITSS Verona Member Series, Dr. Arūnas Molis talks about the changing landscape of European energy security in the context of the current war in Ukraine,…
By Giovanni Giacalone – Central and Latin America Desk On April 5, 2025, the Italian biologist Alessandro Coatti disappeared from the center of the Colombian city of Santa Marta, where…
For this episode of the ITSS Verona webinar series, we brought together four brilliant minds to reflect on India’s political landscape one year after Narendra Modi’s re-election. Why did Modi…
By Valentina Gruarin, Sofia Lopes, Alessandro Spada – UK & EU Affairs Desk Introduction “If Europe wants to avoid war, Europe must get ready for war,” European Commission President Ursula…
By Skylor Ko – China & Asia Desk Legislative rumble The idea of a full-on brawl in parliamentary chambers might be alien to a Western observer of Asian politics. Still,…
By Andrea Sau – Africa Desk In April 2025, the Eastern Congo unrest seemed to have shifted timidly toward the end of major conflicts. First, on 23 April 2025, the…
In this session, Michael L. Burgoyne provides insight into the nature and implications of this designation for structures of crime organisations in Mexico, notably the consequences of material support given…
By Arslan M. Sheikh – South Asia Team The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), executed in 1960 between India and Pakistan, is widely regarded as one of the most robust water-sharing…
By Maria Makurat – Human Rights and Cyber Security Team Introducing the issue On February 9th, 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X a montage of AI deepfake created…
by Marco Dordoni (Arctic Desk) & Pedro Mendes (US Team) Introduction Trump’s second term as President of the United States, has already outlined his key objectives. High on his priorities is…
Professor Koen Vlassenroot talks about the origin and current state of the Eastern Congo conflict. Koen Vlassenoot is a professor of Political science at the University of Ghent where he…
By Idriss El Alaoui Talibi, Mahssan Afzali, & Michele Mignogna – Defence and Procurement Desk Introduction While early forms of autonomous weapons systems (AWS) have existed for decades, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has…
Dr. Ofra Bengio talks about the complex interplay of local, regional and international factors shaping the future of Kurdish autonomy, providing valuable insights into the ongoing Kurdish struggle for self-determination….
Dr. Tim Stevens talks about the intersection of cybersecurity and human security, where he addresses some fundamental questions like how do cyber threats impact human security, from privacy risks to…
by Arslan Sheikh, Ido Raz, Quanita Khan, & Sabur Shah – South Asia Desk Introduction The countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are all…
By Christian Gaole & Alberto Trame – Italy Desk Meloni’s Geopolitical Challenge: Bridging Continents, Balancing Powers Italy occupies a pivotal yet precarious position in today’s global landscape, straddling its deep-rooted…
By Clémence Van Damme & Pedro Mendes – The US Desk Introduction According to John Ruggie, multilateralism refers to coordinating relations between three or more states by certain principles. He argues…
In 2024, elections took place in Georgia, Moldova, and Romania, but the process was far from smooth. Russian disinformation flooded social media. Bots and influencers were mobilised to manipulate public…
Mat Youkee speaks about the role of the US and China in shaping Panama’s current security situation. He is a freelance journalist and independent consultant based in Panama. In this…
by Eline Stensen Gulliksen – UK & European Desk Introduction Increased geopolitical tensions caused by a war on the European continent and the re-election of Donald Trump, a NATO sceptic,…
by Alice Elizabeth Strophair – Middle East Team Introduction Space exploration has historically been dominated by the USA and the USSR. It was one of the many arenas in which…
A Comparative Analysis of the Cases of ISWAP and ASWJ in Nigeria and Mozambique By Massimiliano Dosmo and Leonardo Pesci – Africa Team Since its inception in 2014, the Islamic…
In this session, Dr. Teodorescu delves into the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, exploring approaches to advancing women’s rights in international conflict and the critical role of women’s integration…
by Wesley Issey Romain & Giulia Saccone – AI, Cyber Security & Space Team Introduction The emergence of the “smart city” as a concept in the 1980s and a reality in…
by Davide Gobbicchi – Human Security Team Having illustrated the region’s history and political structure, this second part of the article will look at the solutions to the Kashmir conflict…
by Ilas Touazi, Andrea Sau, & Mira Benucci – Africa Team Introduction In a highly multipolar world, Türkiye has broken with its traditional cautious, inward-looking approach to foreign policy. Indeed, a ‘Turkish model’…
by Francesco Cirillo – USA Team With Donald Trump’s victory, the US Big Tech, with the second Trump administration, could significantly influence and consolidate the strong interconnection between the federal…
Elina Beketova discusses if Washington D.C. should support Zelensky’s ‘Victory Plan,’ where Trump may support the plan, and what can be expected from Biden in these last few weeks of…
By Francesco Marchesini – UK & European Affairs Team – editing Valentina Gruarin Rule Britannia: what remains of the Empire? The United Kingdom once used to rule the largest Empire…
Dr. Ofer Idels discusses the role history has played throughout the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the dangers and opportunities in molding narratives, and his new book, Zionism: Emotions, Language, and Experience. Ofer Idels…
by Angelo Calianno & Jaohara Hatabi – Middle East Team Introduction In 2016, after years of struggle and political action, the Kurdish-majority Rojava region, located in northeastern Syria, proclaimed itself…
by Dejvi Dedaj – SouthEast Asia & Oceania Team Introduction The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an initiative adopted by China in 2013 to strengthen connectivity and cooperation among Asia, Europe,…
By Sarah Toubman – Central & South America Team On the 15th of November 2024, Colombian officials announced the capture of Jeison Alexander Lorca Salazar, the second-in-command of the Venezuelan criminal organisation Tren…
In this session, Dr. Baldaro discusses the root causes of jihadism in the Sahel, focusing on how civil wars, local grievances, poor governance, and corruption have been inadequately addressed by…
by Miguel Jiménez, Ingrid Heggstad, & Dan Ziebarth – Political Economy, Development, & Energy Security Team Introduction It was announced on Tuesday, November 5th that Donald Trump, the candidate for…
by Giacomo Bortolazzi (Italy Team) & Marco Verrocchio (Military Strategy & Intelligence Team) Despite the relative overcoming of the crisis sparked in early 2020, the global shortage of semiconductor chips…
by Davide Gobbicchi – Human Security Team The return to power of the Taliban in Afghanistan has shed light on Central Asia’s geopolitics and security issues, with many analysts fearing…
In this episode, Marco Volpe talks about China’s current and future role in the Arctic region, China’s polar strategy including Antarctica, and academic bridge building between the Arctic and the…
In this timely and thought-provoking discussion, Cristina Ramirez and Gesine Weber, PhD Candidates at King’s College London, break down the 2024 US elections and their wide-reaching implications. From domestic shifts…
In this episode, our experts from the Asia & China desk, organize an incredibly insightful webinar, featuring Hyun-seung Lee, a former DPRK businessman and chair of the Kim Il Sung…
By Giulio Civettini – Military & Strategy Team Introduction about Anduril and their mission Founded in 2017 by Oculus co-founder Palmer Luckey, ANDURIL INDUSTRIES is a California-based defense sector company1….
by Margherita Ceserani, Shahin Modarres, Shir Mor, William Kingston-Cox – Iran Team The Islamic Republic’s recent choice to directly confront Israel, avoiding its usual reliance on proxy groups, marks a…
by Anurag Mishra – USA Team As the world’s most awaited political battle commences, the ideological schism in American politics appears to be wider than ever. The two major parties…
Dr. Jozef Hrabina talks about Russia’s strategic culture and the effect of the war with Ukraine on regional hierarchy in post-Soviet space. Dr. Hrabina is geopolitical risk advisor, scholar, and…
In this series, Anastasiia and ITSS Verona discuss how different ideas, worldviews, and positions of the multistakeholder debate clashed and shaped the UN’s first convention on cybercrime – and how…
By Michela Mansoldo – Human Rights Team Introduction On August 14, 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Mpox crisis a public health emergency of international concern. This declaration comes as the…
By Agostino Bono, Rodney Ekow Buah, Isabelle Despicht, Sophie Herzog Sønju – Crime, Extremism and Terrorism Team Introduction The name Antifa was first used in Nazi Germany by a coalition of far-left…
In this episode, Prof. Rodrigo Duton discusses the importance of the crime-terror nexus in Brazilian security. Prof. Rodrigo Duton is an Adjunct Faculty member at the George C. Marshall Center,…
In this episode, Dr. Michael Barak talks about recent developments and policy changes in Iran, their impact on Israel, and the role of proxy actors following October 7th. Specifically, Dr…
By Alberto Trame, Aline Blanchard, Christian Gaole, Giacomo Bortolazzi – Italy Team The Military Industry in Italy as a Leading Global Actor It is widely acknowledged that Italy has a…
by Ilaria Lorusso (Iran Team) in collaboration with the Human Rights Team Introduction Iranian elections following former president Raisi’s death in May 2024 were called rather abruptly for this July…
by Shahin Modarres, Ilaria Lorusso, Margherita Ceserani, and Will Kingston-Cox – Iran Team Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran on May 19, as announced…
by Max Giordano – Arctic Team Norway has awarded a record number of new petroleum exploration licences despite questions over the environmental risks and Oslo’s commitments under the 2016 Paris Agreement. Of the 62…
In this episode, the researchers from the Italy team interviewed Prof. Cardillo on the importance of economic security relations between China and Italy from the perspective of state owned firms,…
by Ho Ting (Bosco) Hung – Asia & China Team While Russia continues its brutal invasion of Ukraine, its destabilising behaviour has spread further eastward to the Korean Peninsula. Russian…
by Isolde Sylvia Hatgis-Kessell – Arctic Desk The Arctic region played a crucial role in the strategic competition between the United States and the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War,…
In this episode of ITSS Verona Member Series Video Podcast, Dr Beatrice Maneshi delves into the issue of identity, discrimination and women’s rights in the digital economy. Building upon previous…
Since the outbreak of the war on October 7, Jordan has been caught between increasing external and internal pressures. By Alice Elizabeth Strophair – Middle East Team Escalating conflict and policy…
By Alexandra Tsarvulanova, Alessandro Macculi, and Arslan Sheikh – Human Security Team Introduction The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has had a significant impact on the distribution and possession of weapons…
In this session, Dr. Sergi discusses the characteristics that make the ‘Ndrangheta a poly-crime organisation. She expands on the particular status of ‘Ndrangheta in Europe, which is reflected in the…
In this session, Mr. Thomas Mayr-Harting talks about the current dynamics of the Transnistrian frozen conflict. Mr. Mayr-Harting shares his expertise on the current status of the negotiations, the impact…
By Maida Pollinari – Russia Team The war between Russia and Ukraine, now in its third year, continues to be intensely volatile and dynamic. Recent developments, particularly the approval of…
by Joseph Moses – Military Strategy & Intelligence Team Drone warfare has been one of the salient capabilities of the First World’s futuristic military arsenal through the conflicts of the…
Author: Sandra Watson Parcels – China & Asia Team The Interim Report Canada is currently facing a critical moment in its history as it grapples with the urgent need to…
Dr Michele Groppi (KCL and President of ITSS Verona) hosts a joint KCL/ITSS Verona event featuring the presentation of “Vulnerability and Resilience to Violent Extremism: An Actor-Centric Approach”, output of…
Author: Piero Soave and Wesley Issey Romain – AI, Cyber Security & Space Team The year 2024 is sure to be remembered when it comes to elections: first, never before…
Author: Rabiah Ryklief – Central & South America Team Latin America’s rich biodiversity and vast natural resources have unfortunately attracted a destructive force: Eco-Mafias. These highly organised transnational criminal groups…
U.S. Ukraine aid needs to be part of a larger strategic vision that aims for Russian defeat in Ukraine. Author: Samuel Dempsey – USA Team Four days after President Biden approved…
Authors: Eline Stensen Gulliksen & Leif Niendorf – UK & European Affairs Team Security in the Arctic In recent years, the topic of Arctic security has gained significant attention in…
Author: Dejvi Dedaj – South East Asia and Oceania team Introduction AANZFTA – the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement – is proof of the dedication of its member countries to achieving more…
In this interview, Mr. Sadiq discusses the history of Pakistani democracy delving into Imran Khan’s legacy, the recent elections results, and the current political landscape in Pakistan. B. J. Sadiq…
Professor Ilan Kelman is a Professor of Disasters and Health at University College London, England and Professor II at the University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway. This interview is divided into…
For our third webinar of the 2023/2024 season we uncovered the complexities of the world’s largest democracy’s upcoming elections, India, in April 2024, with a focus on Prime Minister Narendra…
Author: Alessandro Peluso – Human Rights Team Introduction The humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Middle East, in the Palestinian Territories, is among the most serious in the history of the Mediterranean. The coexistence of different…
Author: Carlotta Rinaudo – China & Asia Team For years, people could only travel between the two islands by ferry. On one side of the shore stood Malé, the capital…
Authors: Agostino Bono, Camilla Cormegna, Ilas Touazi, Shams Jouve, Sophie Herzog Sønju – Crime, Terrorism, Extremism Team in collaboration with the Africa Team* *Resolution 955 (1994) / adopted by the…
In this session, Professor Thijs van Dooremalen delves into the strategies of the European Union and Western nations. We dissect how each region tackles the climate crisis through policy frameworks,…
Authors: Dan Ziebarth, Ingrid Heggstad, Miguel Jiménez Admetlla, Michele Mignogna – Political Economy, development & Energy Security Team Introduction The need for critical minerals to achieve the energy transition cannot be stressed…
*Authors: Southeast Asia and Oceania Team Introduction Amid escalating tensions in the Indo-Pacific region, exacerbated by assertive Chinese actions, in April 2023, Japan declared a new cooperation framework—Official Security Aid (OSA). Positioned…
Dr Rosario Formicola active duty aviator Italian Air-force talks about on the potential change in the situation on the frontline in Ukraine with the transfer of F-16 aircraft to the Ukrainian Armed Forces….
Author: Francesco Cirillo – U.S. Team The sudden emergence of applications related to artificial intelligence, which combine different fields of work, is at the centre of international agendas and governments. The…
Prof. Paola Rivetti is an Associate professor in Politics and International Relations at Dublin City University. Her expertise lies in Iranian politics, gender and sexuality, social and political mobilisation and…
Authors: Will Kingston-Cox, Ilaria Lorusso, Margherita Ceserani, Shahin Modarres – Iran Team The Russo-Iranian strategic military cooperation in the Red Sea unfolds against the backdrop of a multifaceted and changing…
Author: Esther Brito – Human Security Team Darfur is once again experiencing a terrible crisis that, according to many international experts and organisations, has all the characteristics to be considered…
Authors: Idriss El Alaoui Talibi and Michele Mignona (Edited by Iris Raith) – Defense & Procurement Team Introduction Since October 2023, tensions in the Red Sea have reached unprecedented levels, largely…
We bring you an interview with Maria Zuppello a Latin America researcher and analyst based in Brazil. In this interview conducted by Giovanni Giacalone, Dr. Rabiah Ryklief, and Sarah Toubman,…
In this session, Professor Mishra discusses the capacity of the security forces to control the territory, the Islamic State Khorasan Province, and the division within the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan….
Author: Ilas Touazi – Africa Team Introduction The interlinkages between international phenomena such as the illicit drug economy, transnational organised crime, conflict, and terrorism have become the absolute reality of…
Authors: Sonia Martínez Girón (ITSS Executive Director) and Anna Lorenzini (Middle East Team) (Photo by Christelle Hayek on Unsplash) Introduction Once known for its cultural richness and economic resilience, Lebanon…
Dr Andreas Østhagen talks about Arctic power relations, the nexus between traditional and non-traditional security in the Arctic region, US Arctic strategy, and the complexities of Arctic governance. Dr Østhagen…
Professor Joachim Koops talks about the prospects for international military interventions in light of the new geopolitical scenario, specifically the closure of the UN mission in Mali. Professor Joachim A….
Author: Oleg Abdurashitov and Caterina Panzetti – AI, Cyber Security & Space Team Among other things 2023 was a year of AI regulation in the EU, US and well beyond….
Authors: Aline Blanchard, Christian Gaole, Jaohara Hatabi, Alessandro Macculi and Alberto Trame – Italy Team Introduction Italy’s geographical position, central with respect to the two narrow passages of Gibraltar and…
Authors: Miguel Jiménez Admetlla, Michele Mignogna, Dan Ziebarth – Political Economy, Development, & Energy Security Team Introduction Fight against global warming, on the one hand, and the necessity for exploring…
Authors: Federico Alistair D’Alessio and Alessandro Spada – UK & European Affairs Team. EU’s response The European Union has firmly condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, calling for an immediate ceasefire, military withdrawal…
For our second Webinar of the 2023/2024 season, we were truly honored to host Dr. Magen Inon, an Israeli educator who lost his parents during the October 7 attacks. Magen…
Author: Eleanora Takitzi – Russia Team What Is Transitional Justice? Justice for the victims of international crimes encompasses a crucial facet of post-conflict societies. Albeit its significance, justice for victims…
Author: Simona Sagone – Human Rights Team Introduction Critical raw materials are crucial for achieving the goals of the green transition, but their supply chain poses challenges. In fact, materials…
Author: Dejvi Dedaj – South East Asia and Oceania Team Introduction Economic unity is a collaborative state whereby different entities, particularly states, work together as if they were a single…
Quill Robinson talks about the intersection of climate and security. He delves into the topics of energy security, the role of China and the U.S., and shares his thoughts on…
Author: Giovanni Giacalone – Latin America Team In mid-November 2023, the Italian State Police arrested two Ecuadorean citizens in Milan, both accused of armed aggression, about a fight that broke…
Authors: Ilaria Larusso, Margherita Ceserani, William Kingston-Cox, Shahin Modarres – Iran Team IntroductionOn 16 September 2022, the Iranian’s morality police – the Guidance Patrol – arrested 22-year-old Iranian woman Masha…
Author: Omri Brinner – Middle East Team With the beginning of its ground invasion into the Gaza Strip, Israel is at a crossroads it hoped it wouldn’t be in. It…
Author: Michele Puggia – Military Strategy and Intelligence Team Introduction The images of the massacre at the Supernova music festival near the Re’im kibbutz at the hands of Hamas are…
Author: Maria Makurat (Human Rights Team), with a contribution from Julia Hodgins (Culture, Society & Security Team) Introduction Physical violence against women is a topic that is being addressed by…
Author: Vendela Laukkanen – AI, Cyber Security & Space Team Introduction The United Nations Secretary-General and the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) called on States ‘to…
Mr. Saji Prelis talks about Youth, Peace and Security. Mr. Saji Prelis is the Director of children & youth programs at Search for Common Ground (SFCG). In this session, Mr….
Authors: Shams Jouve and Isabelle Despicht – Crime, Terrorism and Extremism Team Ecuador making headlines: brutal assassinations and increased gang violence As of today, Ecuador is ranked as the least safe…
Author: Francesco Cirillo – U.S. Team Washington and Beijing have planned strategies to increase semiconductor production with the advent of Artificial Intelligence. For this reason, Washington is somewhat concerned about…
For our first Webinar of the 2023/24 season, we had the pleasure of hosting a great team of experts on Taiwanese affairs: Dr. Dafydd Fell, a distinguished Professor at SOAS…
Authors: Michele Mignona, Iris Raith, Frederik Steinhauser – Defense & Procurement Team Introduction As climate change intensifies, militaries around the world are gradually recognizing the need to climate-proof their forces. That…
Author: Chantal Elisabeth Hohe – Middle East Team After the Gaza negotiations in 2019 and the COP27 2022 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt once again positioned itself as a diplomatic force within its…
In this podcast episode, Dr. Sergii Masol talks about the ongoing violation of human rights in Ukraine from the perspective of the law. This small, but informative, talk covers the…
Professor Ashok Swain talks about Water Security in South Asia, its vulnerabilities and what approach could policymakers take to ensure water security in South Asia. Professor Ashok Swain is a…
Author: Danilo dalle Fave – Article Intelligence and Military Strategy Team The Iranian strategic doctrine and the role of drone warfare Iranian strategic doctrine has been influenced by the peculiar…
Paolo Grassi is an Assistant professor at the University of Milano Bicocca (Department of Human Sciences for Education “R.Massa”). He has carried out ethnographic research in the Dominican Republic, Guatemala…
Authors: Maria Makurat (Cyber Security and AI Team) and Anurag Mishra (USA Team) TikTok and the “Ban Hammer” The debate of apps such as TikTok being a security threat to…
Authors: Patrick Haasler, Eleonora Tatizki, Fabrizio Napoli, Igor Shchebetun, Davide Gobbicchi, Greta Bordin – Russia Team In August 2022, the town of Soledar in Ukraine went from a bustling community…
Counterterrorism in the wake of EU’s withdrawal and Wagner Group’s operations in the country Authors: Camilla Cormegna and Liz Morán – Crime, Extremism, and Terrorism Team The Sahel: the epicenter…
Authors: Arslan Sheikh and Réka Szabó – Human Security Team More than 700,000 Rohingya – half of them children – were compelled to escape their homes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state and seek…
Authors: Riccardo Bosticco, Miguel Jiménez, Michele Mignogna – Political Economy Team In February, Turkey was hit by an earthquake that devastated the country. This sudden movement along faults appears to have…
Author: Latin America Team – ITSS Verona The ever-changing nature of the drug trafficking scene The drug trafficking scene is ever-changing, with new actors emerging and a myriad of traffickers…
Welcome to our fourth Webinar of the 2022/23 season, a thought-provoking and intriguing conversation on how state policies, school curricula, job markets, and everyday life are still shaped by assumptions…
Authors: Alessandro Spada, Francesca Belotti and Januaria Gizzi – UK & European Affairs Team Exactly one year after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both countries are at an impasse. On…
Author: Iris Raith – Defense & Procurement Team Introduction The war in Ukraine has forced the European Union (EU) fundamentally to rethink its stance on defence policies. While the EU…
Authors: Margherita Ceserani, Will Kingston-Cox, Ilaria Lorusso, Shahin Modarres Russia’s war in Ukraine has reached its 398th day and the pro-Russian mercenary Wagner Group is still engaging in the battlefield…
Vladimir Radunovic and Anastasia Kazakova talk about cyber diplomacy, the geopolitics of cyberspace, and the roles of state and non-state actors. Vladimir Radunovic is Director, E-diplomacy and Cybersecurity Programmes, and…
Marco Bocchese is an Assistant Professor at the Webster Vienna private University specialized in international relations and law. He also got a PhD at Northwestern University in International Relations. In…
Prof. Inderjeet Parmar talks about the United States domestic and foreign policy in 2023. Parmar is a professor of international politics at the City, University of London, and co-editor of…
Reinhold Gallmetzer is an Appeals Counsel at the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court; and the founder and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Center…
Author: Carlotta Rinaudo “Everybody says Hambantota was ‘invaded’ by the Chinese. Well, just look around… There are probably no more than twenty Chinese people in the whole town. We definitely…
For the third Webinar of the 2022/2023 season, we had the pleasure to host three top experts in the field of Cybersecurity: Luca Nicoletti from the Italian National Cybersecurity Agency,…
Dr. Stephen J. Blank, Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, discusses power competition in the Caspian Sea region. The European Union is searching for energy sources around the…
Ms Abeytia explores the impact of colonial antecedents on migration and asylum policy, the implications of limitations in policy formulation, and the next steps in advancing toward human-security based migration…
Author: Leigh Dawson “Without truth, without trust and love for what is true, there is no social conscience and responsibility, and social action ends up serving private interests… resulting in…
Diletta Huyskes, Head of Advocacy in Privacy Network, talks about the latest developments regarding Artificial Intelligence. In particular, this episode deals with the challenges that AI poses to the protection…
This is a transcript of an indepth interview with Paul S. Szymanski who has a 49 year experience conducting military operations research analyses for the United States Air Force and…
Author: Gianluca Catucci Introduction The undisturbed incursion by the Chinese balloon into American territory and over military sites captured the attention of analysts worldwide, climaxing in a spectacular battle between…
This is a transcript of an indepth interview with Paul S. Szymanski who has a 49 year experience conducting military operations research analyses for the United States Air Force and…
This blog article is written following an indepth interview with Paul S. Szymanski who has a 49 year experience conducting military operations research analyses for the United States Air Force…
Author: Omri Brinner and Chantal Elisabeth Hohe. 2022 brought about several game-changing developments in the Middle East and beyond. These events – from domestic political instability, through the weakening of…
Author: Isabel Dekker and Federico Alistair D’Alessio. Between the 22nd and 26th of October 2022, 234 migrants (including over 40 minors) were rescued by the Ocean Viking, a rescue boat managed by SOS Méditerranée,…
Author: Alessandra Gramolini. The year that has just begun does not seem to be rosy for the African continent. At the beginning of 2022, Africa suffered from the pandemic and…
Authors: Giovanni Tricco, Giorgia Zaghi and Maria Makurat. The challenges of secure communications today and the launch of IRISS Secure communications and connectivity are today more important than ever. Ensuring…
Author: Francesco Cirillo. The geostrategic rivalry between China and the US is affecting the semiconductor and integrated circuit industry. In recent months, Washington has implemented a clear strategy to contain…
Author: Camilla Cormegna. Developments in the digital communication have changed human interactions and influencers are at the forefront of this advancement, leveraging on social media outlets to spread information and…
ITSS Verona and King’s College London hosted a joint event on the protests in Iran to discuss how the ongoing protests are different from the previous ones and how come…
Author: Arslan Sheikh. The outcomes of Conference of the Parties (COP) 27 held in Egypt this year has been a subject of heated debate. Even though marketed as the ‘implementation…
How persistent violations of the Rule of Law can influence the execution of European Arrest Warrants? Author: Vittoria Brunazzo. Recently, the European Union (EU) has been facing one of the…
Authors: Michele Mignogna and Miguel Jiménez. Introduction The current global energy crisis has proven how energy is the lifeblood of today’s economies and highlighted the need for and advantages of…
Authors: Andre Carvalho and Marco Verrochio. On March 19 for the first time, TV channels broadcasted that Russia successfully used two Kinzhal type hypersonic missiles in the war against Ukraine….
Author: Maria Makurat. Artificial Intelligence or “AI” is already being widely used for various purposes whether it be in analysing marketing trends, modern warfare or as of recently: reproducing artwork….
Authors: Danilo delle Fave and Justine Le Man. The current international crisis provoked by the invasion of Ukraine has led to a renewed thrust toward a major integration of European…
The ITSS Africa team interviews Michele Tallarini, a researcher at the University of Bergamo, analysing Sahel’s and North Africa’s radicalization and extremism dynamics. Through his direct experience in the field, Michele…
Authors: Riccardo Bosticco, Miguel Jimenez and Michele Mignogna. Introduction As the energy transition is one of our age’s greatest challenges, developments in this direction are likely to exert notable impacts…
Analysis on the right to clean water and how climate change could be dangerous in securing enough resources.
Interviewers: Anna Lorenzini and John Devine. Ido Levy talks about the deep conflict between ISIS and Al-Qaeda and its possible implications from a strategic point of view, the significance that they believe the…
The article analyses the recent protests that erupted in Iran following Mahsa Amini’s death and the broader debate on women rights in Iran.
Authors: Igor Shchebetun, Fabrizio Napoli, Davide Gobbicchi and Greta Bordin. A war without logistics is simply an outrage. At the very beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict, the kilometer-long queue of…
Author: Francesco Cirillo. Tensions between China and the United States seem frozen at the moment, a consequence of domestic commitments of both Beijing and Washington. On the one hand, Xi…
A conversation with Stefano Piazza on the capabilities of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State since the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri and future developments. (Una conversazione con Stefano Piazza sulla condizione…
Author: Ho Ting (Bosco) Hung. China has consistently declared its willingness to play an important role in international security, in an attempt to gain greater exposure on the international stage….
Authors: Saron M. Obia and Shams Jouve. While mobile payment already represented a technological success a decade ago, its use exploded in the post-pandemic world. This generalization should be a matter…
Author: Sarah Toubman. Venice recently announced that from January 2023 it will charge a fee of between €3 to €10 to tourists who visit the city for a day only, a…
Authors: Igor Shchebetun, Greta Bordin, Fabrizio Napoli and Davide Gobbicchi. Why war is happening, what could justify an invasion of a sovereign independent state such as Ukraine? The only way…
Author: Francesco Cirillo. The Period of Shinzō Abe, who was assassinated on July 8, 2022, profoundly changed Japan’s role in the Indo-Pacific chessboard and in the competition between the United…
In this interview conducted by the “Iran Desk” at ITSS Verona Prof. Germano Dottori addresses and analyzes Iran’s role within the new developments in the Middle East. The interview focuses…
Authors: Shams Jouve and Saron M. Obia. Introduction: illustration of insecurity issues in the mega sporting events Improving security in mega sporting events is a major issue since the terrorist attacks…
In his second interview, with ITSS Verona, renowned photographer Barat Ali Batoor discusses the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, the discrimination faced by the different ethnic communities in the country,…
Marco Bocchese is a Professor of international law and international relations at the Webster University in Vienna. He talks about international justice that might be applicable in the Russian-Ukrainian War…
Authors: Beatrice Tommasi and Marta Pace. The Event On June 5, in the municipality of Atalaia do Norte located in the state of Amazonas, two people disappeared: namely, Bruno Pereira, the…
Author: Miguel Jiménez. In this increasing globalized world interdependencies are strengthened, and countries become very import-dependent to satisfy its citizens’ daily needs. Obviously, some of these needs are more important…
Jozef Habrina is a Chief Analyst at the Council of Slovak Exporters – an expert in geopolitics and geoeconomics. He discusses war impact on the global economy and prospects for…
Author: Alessandra Gramolini. Before and during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict Russia and Ukraine are not only the world’s biggest producers of wheat, they have also been the cheapest exporters on the…
Author: Andrea Rebora, Federica Montanaro and Oleg Abdurashitov. Although the concept of artificial intelligence is quite complex and nuanced, many people imagine its use in warfare as a brutal slaughter…
Author: Shahin Modarres. As the light at the end of the tunnel of revitalizing the JCPOA grows weaker the tension between Iran and the international community rises fiercely. Tension can…
Author: Arianna Caggiano. This is a critical commentary of the research paper launched by the OSCE Organization: Trafficking in Human Beings and Terrorism. Where and How They Intersect: Analysis and Recommendations…
Author: Sarah Toubman In the past few years, the Italian government has rapidly increased both the pace and number of steps taken to protect its national cybersecurity interests. Italy began…
Dr. Tracey German is a Professor in Conflict and Security at King’s College London, focused on Russian foreign and security policies, particularly Russia’s use of force in the post-Soviet space….
For its third event of “The View from” Series, Ilas Touazi from University of Sétif 2 and Michele Tallarini, ITSS Verona, Africa Team, discuss US-China competition in Africa, touching upon…
Dr Ashik Bonofer talks about the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, those responsible, and what the situation in Sri Lanka means for the future of stability in the region….
Dr. Lisa Gaufman received her PhD from the University of Tübingen, Germany, in 2016. She then joined the Institute for Intercultural and International Studies at the University of Bremen as…
Authors: Riccardo Bosticco and Michele Mignogna. Introduction The main result that Putin has achieved until now with the aggression of Ukraine is a solid stance from the European Member States…
Authors: Beatrice Gori, Giovanni Tricco and Giorgia Zaghi. On March 25, amid a week of summits in Brussels overshadowed by the Ukrainian war, Joe Biden and Ursula Von Der Leyen…
In this interview conducted by the “Iran Desk” at ITSS Verona Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad addresses and analyzes Iran’s nuclear policy and the revival of the JCPOA. The interview focuses on…
Author: Irene Senfter. Arctic politics: past and present The Arctic region was a prominent theatre during the Cold War as it is home to Russia’s Northern Fleet, Russia’s second-strike nuclear capabilities, and North…
Author: Francesco Cirillo. The war in Ukraine is shaking the European security system and also influencing Washington’s strategies in the Indo-Pacific. With the focus on Europe, the US has slowed…
The ITSS Verona Middle East team interviews a Syrian gentleman who wishes to remain anonymous for security reasons. He details his experiences of returning to Syrian after 12 years. He…
Author: Camilla Cormegna. Introduction Terrorism financing is vital for a terrorist organisation to operate and carry out terrorist activities, but resources are also spent to provide community services such as…
Author: Giovanni Giacalone. On the morning of May 10th Paraguay’s anti-drug prosecutor Marcelo Pecci was murdered by two hitmen on a jet ski who reached the beach where he was vacationing…
In this interview conducted by the “Iran Desk” at ITSS Verona Prof. Manochehr Dorraj addresses and analyzes the gradual development of bilateral relations between Iran and China. The interview focuses…
Author: Sandra Watson Parcels. The Chinese Communist Party is one of the most ruthless regimes in history. There should be no illusion that China, under President Xi, is not only capable,…
By: Danilo delle Fave and Marco Verrocchio. “Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting”. This sentence of Sun Tzu well summarizes the meaning of Psychological warfare. Psychological Operations (PSYOPS) includes all…
Image source: https://cdn.cnn.com/cnnnext/dam/assets/220331175311-03-sri-lanka-protests-0331-super-169.jpg By Austin Parcels & Alberto Trame Intro Since 2019, Sri Lanka has been experiencing its worst economic crisis. Unprecedented levels of inflation, the near depletion of foreign…
Image from Unsplash: https://unsplash.com/photos/kWeQAvVeboA by Christian Lue European border management practices have undergone an astonishing transformation in the last few decades, and this process is both co-constitutive of and constituted…
In this podcast, Dr. Sonia Silvestri from the University of Bologna speaks about threats to Italy’s coastal ecosystems and environmental security. She explains how environmental challenges across Italy impact the…
Dr. Cyril Widdershoven talks about the energy strategy pursued by the Gulf States in the context of the current war in Ukraine. Dr. Cyril Widdershoven is a long-experienced expert in…
Authors: Esther Brito, Réka Szabó Cover Image. Source: https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/gay-rights-in-northern-ireland-a-war-by-other-means/ Efforts to improve human security in situations of violence have increasingly recognized the differential experiences and vulnerabilities of specific communities –…
By Michele Tallarini – Africa Team China and the African continent China’s influence in Africa is becoming increasingly deep. 2021 saw a bilateral trade between Beijing and the African continent…
By: Omri Brinner. In recent weeks the debate has heated up on whether Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its Quds Force, the elite extraterritorial operations unit, should be…
By: Beatrice Tommasi. The Venezuelan exodus qualifies as the largest forced displacement of people in the history of Latin America and the second one after the Syrian crisis at the global level….
By: Shahin Modarres, Yasmina Dionisi, Filippo Cimento. How often do we consider nations with glorious histories tend to live under the constructed shadow of their past and continue a collective…
By: Camilla Cormegna and Shams Jouve. Introduction On April 3, 2022, Fox News released an article about the failure of the Pentagon to find evidence proving the military is a hotbed of…
By: Alessandro Spada. Introduction Today, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) is an intergovernmental military alliance among the US, Canada and 28 European countries – but it has not always been this large….
Admiral Lee Hsi-min (retired) is a Senior Fellow at the Project 2049 Institute. He previously served as the Chief of the General Staff of the Republic of China (Taiwan) Armed…
In this interview, Dr Maxim Alyukov explores how political engagement in authoritarian states affects the ways in which its citizens interpret the news, particularly focussing on the Russia-Ukraine War. How…
Alessandro Vivaldi talks about the main challanges for intelligence and geopolitical analysts in our times. He is president at AIAIG – Associazione Italiana Analisti di Intelligence e Geopolitica. In this…
By: Sarah Toubman and Filippo Grassi. Italian state security has become evermore intertwined with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in recent days, as the invasion of Ukraine…
By: Riccardo Bosticco, Lorenzo Caruti, Sofia Dal Santo, Miguel Jiménez, Michele Mignogna. Introduction The Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, is already showing significant effects on a global…
By: Luca Mattei Introduction: a man named Dominic Ongwen It was the 5th of January 2015 when a wanted man of Ugandan nationality turned himself after a long hiding. He…
For its forth event of the 2021/22 Webinar Series, entitled “The Russian-Ukrainian Conflict: What’s Next?”, ITSS Verona members Ludovica Brambilla, Davide Gobbicchi and Fabrizio Napoli (from the Russia and Post-Soviet…
Progettomondo is an international non-governmental organization founded in 1966 to promote sustainable development, human rights, and a new form of justice and conscious migration in Latin America and Africa. In Italy and…
In this podcast, Simon Rushton and Adam Ferhani from the University of Sheffield discuss with us their research on the bordering practices during the pandemic. They unpack the tensions between border control,…
By: Aida Cavalera. Russian belligerence against Ukraine turned the issue of energy independence into a concrete reality for many countries and underscored the inextricable nexus between issues of national, international,…
By: Francesco Bruno As a member of the Armed Forces, I have recently become involved with battlefield studies where, as students of war, we aim to enrich our knowledge on…
ITSS Verona’s Middle East Team interviews Nawres Arif, an Iraqi entrepreneur, where he discusses the problems facing Iraq, the region, and the entire world. Interviewing Team: Angelo Calianno and John Devine.
By: Sofia Staderini The Russian tactic is that of a pincer encirclement of entire Ukraine – from Russian territory and occupied Crimea, Donbas, and Belarus – and inside they follow the same…
By: Mariam Qureshi In his latest book, Jeremy Garlick analyses the conceptions and perceptions surrounding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), the ‘flagship’ project of China’s greater Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). CPEC…
Mr Leonardo Zanatta is a current Phd candidate in International Security Studies at Corvinus University in Budapest. He talks about the role of the European Union in the Russia-Ukraine conflict,…
By: Danilo delle Fave and Marco Verrocchio. The Russian Military Reform of 2014 The recent Russian invasion of Ukraine has now skyrocketed among the news and masses of people are…
By: Julia Hodgins and Leigh Dawson. In July 2013, Patrice Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi created and tweeted the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, in response to the acquittal of George Zimmerman, accused of…
By: Diletta Cosco. The right to adequate food was firstly recognized in article 25 of the Universal Declaration of human rights in 1948, as well in the American Declaration of the…
Maria Zuppello talks about Jihad in Central and Latin America, with a particular focus on her book “Tropical Jihad. The crime-terror nexus in Latin America”. Maria Zuppello is a freelancer video journalist who has…
Richard Bitzinger talks about the current dynamics shaping the defense market in South East Asia, notably in light of the South China Sea disputes. He presents the predicted trends of…
Professor Taras Kuzio from Henry Jackson Society and Kyiv Mohyla Academy shares his insights on the Russo-Ukraine crisis, Russian invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in Donbass and Ukraine’s membership of…
Authors: Davide Gobbicchi, Igor Shchubetun and Fabrizio Napoli. After months of diplomatic efforts and mutual misunderstandings between Russia and the West, Vladimir Putin finally invaded Ukraine. Although the attack was predicted…
For the first ITSS Verona – Hume Institute joint event, members Carlotta Rinaudo and Elena Bascone – along with the Political Economy, Development, and Energy Security Team – discuss energy…
Author: Zrinka Boric, Giorgia Zaghi, and Beatrice Gori According to the estimates, the global population will reach 9.7 billion people by 2050. To meet such growing food demand, the food…
Author: Rebecca Pedemonte The role of microfinance (MFI) projects in African countries has grown fast in the last few decades. As attested by the World Economic Forum, in 2010 the McKinsey Global…
Authors: Esther Brito Ruiz, Ludovica Brambilla, Reka Szabo Note: due to the rapidly developing situation in Ukraine, we clarify that the information included in this article is actualized up until…
Giovanni Giacalone has an MA in Islamic Studies from Trinity Saint David University of Wales and a further specialization in Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism-IICT. He is currently a…
By: Angelo Calianno. Today, I have returned to Afghanistan after 4 years. In 2018, I left a country that was a constant victim of Taliban attacks; In Kabul, this happened…
By: Eleonora Shehu and Rosa Maria Torraco In general, when we think of security we consider the fields of conflict resolution and prevention, crisis and catastrophe management, espionage, and military….
Dr Jeremy Alan Garlick is an Associate Professor of International Studies and International Relations. Currently, he is the Director of the J. Masaryk Centre of International Studies at Prague University…
In this session, Mariela Noles Cotito – Professor of Political Science, Discrimination and Public Policy at the Universidad del Pacifico, Peru and Editor of the Book Mas alla del Bicentenario:…
By: Elena Bascone, Michele Mignogna, Miguel Jiménez and Sofia Dal Santo. Holiday seasons often trigger unexpected crises, as the last two years proved: after the 2020 pandemic, a new global…
By: Filippo Grassi, Sarah Toubman, Maria Chiara Aquilino This past September, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi introduced measures to reduce gas and electricity bills this winter by three billion euros,…
Natalie Dobson, assistant professor at Utrecht University on international law and climate change law, explains the rise of ‘climate litigations’ and its ties to human rights and constitutional law. The…
By: Arslan Sheikh, Esther Brito Ruiz and Reka Szabo. Human security is conditioned by a variety of external factors – like war or famine – and personal characteristics – such…
Barbara Tomassini [Barbara Tommassini is a Biomedical Engineer, CTO at BIOVERSE srl, currently volunteering in the Civil Service program in Tanzania. Interviewing Team: Alessandra Gramolini, Rebecca Pedemonte, and Michele Tallarini….
Sergey Markedonov is an Associate Professor at Russian State University for the Humanities based in Moscow (Russia). From May 2010 to October 2013, he was a visiting fellow at the…
By: Francesco Cirillo With the letter delivered to Moscow the dialogue on the guarantees linked to security put forward by the Russian Federation, we enter the difficult task of keeping open a…
By: Shahin Modarres, Filippo Cimento and Yasmina Dionisi. “No ties to the East, no ties to the West, just the Islamic Republic” (Image Reference) This motto engraved at the entrance…
Teuta Sahatqija talks about development of cybersecurity capacity in Kosovo since 1999, gender equality in the technology industry, cybersecurity, cybercriminal and cyberviolence occurrences, and the importance of technological development. Teuta…
Dr. Zeno Poggi, co-founder, President and CEO of ZPC S.r.l., Vice President of ACCUDIRE S.r.l. and President of AWOS- A World of Sanctions, tackles a complex issue: The Sanctions Regime…
By: Igor Shchebetun, Fabrizio Napoli, Alessio Calzetti and Davide Gobbicchi. Russian ships are trailing NATO in the Black Sea, and Putin is threatening to knock the teeth out of foreign…
In this second event of “The View From: Voices from South East Asia” conceptualised and moderated by ITSS Verona members Arslan Skeikh and Arnaud Sobrero, Dr Richard Bitzinger and Dr…
Professor Boaz Ganor, founder of the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), Israel, shares his insights on the debate regarding the definition of terrorism and explains how it can be demarcated…
By: Giovanni Giacalone and André L. V. C. Carvalho. On January 3rd, 2022, Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office announced the arrest of five men in Colombia’s southern department of Putumayo. The detained individuals…
By: Danilo delle Fave and Marco Verrocchio. The history of Unmanned Ground Vehicles Despite the common public image of drones as hi-tech military assets, ground drones have a history dating…
By: Carlotta Rinaudo A few months after Russia’s occupation of Crimea in early 2014, President Vladimir Putin sent another shockwave through another former Soviet state. Kazakhstan, according to a comment made by President…
In this interview, Andre Morsman talks about EU and Dutch national security in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, and how we can expect the recent strategic security autonomy discussions and…
In this ITSS Verona Member Series Video Podcast by the Political Economy, Development, and Energy Security Team, Gonzalo Pozo Martin talks about Nord Stream 2 and its consequences on EU-Russia…
Giulia Pompili discusses South Asian security perspectives. Giulia Pompili is a journalist and author. She currently sits on the South Asia desk at Il Foglio and writes the South Asian…
By: Zachariah Parcels and Lucia Santabarbara. A United Nations (UN) report in July 2020 by the Security Counterterrorism Committee (CTED) showed a 320 per cent increase over the past five years in…
By: Diletta Cosco and Anna Toniolo. The United Nations (UN) resolution 1325 was officially adopted in October of the 2000 by the UN security council. The resolution addresses several critical points in…
The International system & World order – Italy Team interviews Dr Marianna Griffini from King’s College London. She is a Lecturer in the Department of European and International Studies at…
By: Alessandra Gramolini. Between the end of 2018 and the beginning of 2019, the debate on cultural decolonization processes resumed. This is an expression by which we mean the return,…
In this two-part series interview, Raziya Masumi, Lawyer and Women’s Right Activist, discusses the current situation in Afghanistan facing women and the country as a whole by providing her own…
In this two-part series interview, Raziya Masumi, Lawyer and Women’s Right Activist, discusses the current situation in Afghanistan facing women and the country as a whole by providing her own…
By: André L. V. C. Carvalho. At the beginning of the 21st century, Brazil began to design a grand strategy that aimed to establish the country as a great power…
By: Eleonora Shehu and Alessandro Spada. On 15th September 2021, a trilateral security agreement, AUKUS, was announced by the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, as part of a broader US…
Bernard Finel talks about his most recent research work on US-China competition from the perspective of the “united front” strategy currently being pushed by US leadership. In this session, Professor…
Prof. David Burigana, Professor in International History of Science and Technology and History of International Organizations at the University of Padua, shares his insights on the European Union (EU)’s Defence…
For its third event of the 2021/22 Webinar Series, ITSS Verona members Ludovica Brambilla, Chiara Aquilino, Sarah Toubman, and Julia Hogdings discuss with world-leading cyber security expert Andrea Rigoni the…
The ITSS Verona’s International System’s Team focussing on China and Asia interview Joanna Chiu, a senior journalist for the Toronto Star, Canada’s largest newspaper, and the author of China Unbound:…
Tyra Tucker shares her insights about the changing nature of digital diplomacy in the post-pandemic world, and the barriers and triumphs experienced in her journey to becoming a global voice…
Today, with our guest Andrej Movchan, we had the chance to probe today’s geopolitical situation, so that we can understand as best as possible what our future holds. We discussed the…
By: Arnaud Sobrero and Romain Gallix Finland is currently seeking to replace its aging F-18 with a global competition dubbed H-X worth $11 billion. It is expected that a decision will…
By: Maria Chiara Aquilino and Sarah Toubman Global supply chain issues have recently manifested as a consequence of lockdowns implemented by world governments to curb the impact of Covid-19. Due…
Debora Pinzana, human rights and gender advisor, in occasion of the International Campaign “16 days of activism” discusses about the concept of gender-based violence, the importance of GBV prevention and…
By: Elena Bascone & Riccardo Bosticco 2020 was a historical year in many aspects, most of them not positives. However, 2020 was a turning point in Europe when it comes…
By: Esther Brito Ruiz, Ludovica Brambilla, Arslan Sheikh and Reka Szabo. Recently, unmarked graves of hundreds of Indigenous children were discovered in various locations in Western Canada, in the territory of…
The “International system & World order – Africa” interviews Funmi Onolisakin from the King’s College in London. She is Vice President (Global Engagement) and Professor of Security, Leadership and Development…
By: Shahin Modarres, Yasmina Dionisi and Filippo Cimento. May God protect this land from foe, drought, and falsehood. This famous prayer engraved in the heart of Apadana Palace in Persepolis…
By: Zrinka Borić Advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is expected to drive progress and change in the areas of military, economy, and information. This so-called “fourth industrial revolution” opens various…
By: Martina Gambacorta. Without doubt, security is the first and fundamental objective of governments involved in the building of a sustainable regional security in the Middle East but it is not…
By: Igor Shchebetun and Alessio Calzetti. From the battlespace of Europe to the borders of the Middle East to East Asia the Soviet Union and the United States did battle…
By: Giovanni Giacalone On October 23rd, the Colombian special forces arrested Dairo Antonio Usuga David, alias “Otoniel”, leader of the Urabeños drug cartel and paramilitary group, who had been on the run…
Nicolò scremin, a non-resident fellow of Program on Extremism with the George Washington University and vast experience in the field of counter-terrorism, talks about his personal and professional experience regarding…
By: Marco Verrocchio and Danilo delle Fave. The two types of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles In order to intercept and strike isolated enemy forces, to organise ambushes to naval convoys, and,…
For its second event of the 2021/22 Webinar Series, ITSS Verona members Martina Gambacorta, John Devine and Omri Brinner discuss Middle Eastern security with award winning journalist and political analyst…
For its first event of the 2021/22 Webinars Series, Dr Vinicius de Carvalho (KCL), Cristina Carvalho Pacheco (Paraíba State University), and Ana Carla Fonseca (Garimpo de Soluções) analyse how Brazil…
By: Sandra Watson Parcels Joanna Chiu’s book, China Unbound: A New World Disorder, describes China as a global bully who uses various tactics in its attempts to create a new world…
By: Francesco Cirillo In US strategic assessments Taiwan represents the first anti-Chinese containment line in the Indo-Pacific area, which is why it is essential for Washington to guarantee Taipei logistical…
In the second part of the two-part series interview with Dr. Duraid Jalili, Lecturer in Defence Studies at King’s College London, Dr. Duraid reflect on climate change and security. Interviewers:…
An interview with H.E. Ambassador Khaled Ahmad Zekriya, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan in Rome, Italy; regarding the recent events in Afghanistan and the importance of the international…
By: Luca Mattei In recent decades scientists have proved that humankind is entering the Anthropocene: a new geological era where the effects of human activities and pollution will push the environment towards…
By: Michele Tallarini Development and energy sources in Africa Africa is one of the fastest-growing continents in the world: according to some of the latest reports its population will double by 2050,…
By: Zrinka Boric This article navigates the landscape of AI policymaking and tracks efforts of the United States to promote and govern AI technologies. Technological advancement has become a new…
By: Angelo Calianno and John Devine Water is a vital component of all life on the planet. Its importance is rarely overstressed. This is no truer than in the Middle…
By Adelaide Martelli, Francesco Bruno, and Zachariah Parcels Proceeding the culmination of the Taliban’s 20-year insurgency, complete withdrawal of NATO forces, and reinstatement of the Taliban’s repressive policies reminiscent of…
By: Marco Verrocchio, Danilo delle Fave Introduction In recent years, the development of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) has increased rapidly, thanks to the successful use in unconventional warfare theatres, as…
By: Isabelle Despicht, Rosa Maria Torraco. What role do embassies play in major events nowadays? When do countries consider opening, evacuating or temporarily closing embassies? These are some of the…
Howard Anglin is a post-graduate researcher at Oxford University. He was previously Deputy Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Principal Secretary to the Premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney,…
Author: Julia Hodgins. Published with the support of Sofia Staderini and Leigh Dawson. Countering equality Recently issued UN Report Our Common Agenda states “No meaningful social contract is possible without the active…
By: Maria Chiara Aquilino Operation Falcon Strike 21 was initiated from the Italian Military Air Force base in Amendola (FG), Italy on 6th June 2021. It was promoted by the Stato…
Laura Silvia Battaglia, freelance journalist and reporter, discusses about the current situation in Yemen, by providing us major insights about the humanitarian access, Yemeni journalists and foreign reporters working conditions…
Authors: Esther Brito Ruiz, Arslan Sheikh and Ludovica Brambilla The last two years have been the site of unexpected human security crises – ranging from a global pandemic to the collapse…
The “International system & World order – Africa” interviews Riaan Eksteen from the University of Johannesburg. Mr Eksteen has been a member of the South African Foreign Service for 27…
By: Francesco Cirillo and Bianca Ferrazza America’s longest war is worth analysing when in possession of an accurate chronology ofevents, from the very start to the newest events. Tracing the…
Tate Nurkin talks about the intricacies of AI technologies applied to the military domain and gives us an overview of the AI-powered military programs, what it means for the future…
In this interview, the Ambassador Giulio di Sant’Agata, former Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, tackles a complex issue: the International Community’s response to the Iranian threat. Interviewer: Martina Gambacorta
By: Igor Shchebetun and Alessio Calzetti Six years after Crimea’s annexation to Russia, the Peninsula faces a new threat – a serious shortage of water. Ukraine has cut off Crimea’s…
By: Giovanni Giacalone Sendero Luminoso’s historical leader, Abimael Guzman, died on September 11th at the Maximum Safety Center of the Callao Naval Base. He was 86 and had been serving a life sentence…
Analisi del caso di radicalizzazione di Halili el-Mahdi col Dott Francesco Bergoglio Errico, analista e ricercatore independente. Interviewers: Adelaide Martelli and Francesco Bruno
By: Danilo delle Fave, Javier Olaechea and Marco Verrocchio. Carl von Clausewitz was born at Burg, in Prussia on the 1st of June 1780. His family had Polish origins and belonged…
Richard Aboulafia talks about the intricacies of combat aircraft acquisition and gives us an overview of the development of the next-generation of fighter aircraft. He also discusses what it means…
By: Mariam Qureshi United States’ longest war in Afghanistan has finally come to a haphazard end. The Taliban remain undefeated and now control Afghanistan. How does the United States intend…
The team “Culture, Society, and Security” interviews Dr. Madeline Carr, Professor of Global Politics and Cyber Security in the Faculty of Engineering Science at the University College of London and…
Jasmine M. El-Gamal talks about the shifting relations between the Middle East and the EU. El Gamal discusses with our ITSS members the approach of the EU to the Middle…
By: Riccardo Bosticco World order dynamics and world order itself have changed substantially in the last thirty years. The evolution of it derives from those dynamics that determine the way…
By: István Hagyó and Bianca Ferrazza Introduction Witnessing government agencies, corporations and the military’s recent shift of administration of activities to the internet, one cannot ignore the pressing concern of cybersecurity…
Interviewing Team: Rebecca Pedemonte, Alessandra Gramolini, Michele Tallarini Soumaila Diawara was born in Bamako (Mali). After his graduation in Legal Sciences with a specialization in International Private Law, he started his career…
By: Ludovica Brambilla, Arslan Sheikh and Esther Brito Ruiz The Urban World The world is becoming increasingly urban. For the first time in history, most of the world population resides in…
By: Igor Shchebetun NATO exercise Defenders of Europe 20 was to be the largest U.S. troop deployment to Europe in more than 25 years. The main purpose of the exercise…
Oleg Goldshmidt talks about Cybersecurity, deception technology, 5G, protection of key infrastructure, financial services and national security. Oleg Goldshmidt is a principal software architect at Fortinet. This is ITSS Verona Member…
The ITSS Verona team focussing on the Middle East interview Barat Ali Batoor where he talks about the Hazara people of Afghanistan and Pakistan and his work as a Photo-Journalist….
By: Mariam Qureshi The contest for supremacy between the United States and People’s Republic of China has increasingly intensified in the recent years. China has accelerated its efforts for supremacy…
ITSS Verona’s Extremism, Crime and Terrorism group interviews Cecilia Polizzi, President, Founder & Executive Director of the CRTG Working Group, the only existing I/NGO dedicated to protect children affected by…
By: Alessandro Spada The tensions between the European Union (EU) and Russia have considerably increased over the last years. In this context, Ukraine has become a crucial geopolitical flashpoint. Ever…
A discussion on the geopolitics of gas, oil, and decarbonization in Europe, what should be on the table? A conversation with Dr. Cyril Widdershoven, founder of Veracy and global energy…
‘Gamers Revolution’ – The ITSS team “Culture, Society and Security” interviews Dr Sergio Alberto Gramitto Ricci from Monash University and Professor Christina Sautter from Louisiana State University Interviewing Team: Julia…
Dr Gonzalo Pozo-Martin from the Department of Academic History and International Relations at Stockholm University is answering the questions on the topic whether the balance of power between Russia and…
In this double interview, Limes’s Director, Dr Lucio Caracciolo, offers his views on ITSS Verona Member Alessio Moroni’s book on Italian youth Neo-Fascist movements, 1949-1969, ending with his reflections upon…
The International System and World Order team focussing on Middle East for ITSS Verona interview Waqar Rizvi, host of Indus News, on the recent Iranian Elections. Interviewing Team: John Devine…
By: István Hagyó The long-awaited Biden-Putin Summit took place on the 16th of June in Geneva. The fact that the two sides managed to set up a summit in such a…
By: Diletta Cosco and Luca Mattei One of our members of the human rights team is currently working in a shelter for Talibè children located in the Dakar, Senegal. The article…
In the first part of this interview, ITSS Human Security team members Esther Ruiz and Arsan Sheik interview Dr. Duraid Jalili on climate change and security. Dr. Duraid is a…
By: Rebecca Pedemonte In 2018 I started a University research based on a series of interviews with individuals that had migrated from West African countries. The results showed that the…
By: Renata Safina and Arnaud Sobrero The use of artificial intelligence may change how war is conducted In 2020, amidst the biggest pandemic the world has seen since the Spanish…
By: Omri Brinner, John Devine, Martina Gambacorta and Angelo Calianno. The most significant development from the latest round of violence between Israel and Hamas is the warming of relations between two rival…
By: Adelaide Martelli, Francesco Bruno and Shahin Modarres. Regardless of how violent, inhuman, and detestable terrorism is, it is a social phenomenon. Hence, like other social phenomena, it is a…
By: André Carvalho and Bianca Ferrazza. Due to its distance from modern centres of conflict, South America is often seen as a peaceful region. This is not entirely false when…
In this interview our contributors Javi and Marco continue their journey through the Intelligence Strategy and some of its classics. From their last article about “The Book of Five Rings”…
By Sonia Martínez and Giovanni Rasio. European Security Challenges Currently, there exists no popular support to equip the Union with substantial military capabilities to defend itself against common threats. There…
By: Sofia Staderini, Leigh Dawson, and Julia Hodgins. ‘Death row dogs’ is not a headline that would be warmly welcomed at any time of the year, let alone in the…
Alice Politi from the Lau China Institute at King’s College London answers some fundamental questions on the implications of the Belt and Road Initiative in a post-pandemic world. Interviewer: Carlotta…
By: Ivan Tommasi & Edoardo Casarotto At the beginning of April, a meeting took place in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), organized by the president of…
By: Maria Chiara Aquilino and Alessio Moroni. The Biot case, which has had wide resonance in the Italian as well as in the international media landscape, has generated multiple questions about…
The ITSS Human Rights team interviews Lucia Gennari, lawyer of ASGI and member of Inlimine project within the association. This podcast provides an explanation about immigration practices and the phenomenon…
The ITSS Africa team interviews Muhammad Musaad Alaraby, from Biliotheca Alexandrina’s Center of Strategic studies, analysing Egypt’s role in the international cooperation in the security field. Together we discussed the…
By: Ludovica Aicha Brambilla. The Global Humanitarian Overview 2021 has projected a historic level of food insecurity, with famine looming in several countries, due in large part to conflict and…
Andrea Rigoni talks about the most important trends and challenges in the world of cybersecurity. This is ITSS Verona Member Series on International Systems, section on Artificial Intelligence Cybersecurity and Space. Andrea…
By István Hagyó In the recent decades India has become a major power in the Indo-Pacific region which has increased its importance for the United States. China, the second largest…
An interview with Dr. Ali Fathollah-Nejad on freedom of expression and worship in Iran and an interview with an Iranian convert from Islam. Interviewing Team: John Devine, Omri Brinner, Angelo…
By Igor Shchebetun The situation in Eastern Ukraine is heating up. Videos published on social networks show military columns moving towards Donbass. Kiev has put its troops on high alert. Washington…
Noor Dahri, the Executive Director of Islamic Theology of Counter Terrorism (ITCT) shares insights from his experience regarding the radicalisation process. Interviewers: Adelaide Martelli and Francesco Bruno.
By André Carvalho Nowadays, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is the most significant threat to maritime security worldwide. It is estimated that the IUU fishing is responsible for the…
Marco Verrocchio and Javier Olaechea Lázaro. The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi, alongside Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, is one of main masterpieces in strategic studies. Not only can it be…
Sir Freedman is Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London. He has written predominantly on international security and strategy. The Future of War: A History (2017) is one…
By Carlotta Rinaudo et al Late March this year the foreign ministers of China and Iran signed the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” in Tehran. According to a leaked draft, this 25-yearlong agreement…
The ITSS team “Culture, Society and Security” interviews Sara Falaknaz, Member of Federal National Council in the United Arab Emirates, democratically elected in November 2019. Sara discusses her transition from…
Webinar with Dr Michele Groppi (ITSS-Verona President) and Dr Boaz Ganor (ICT Herzliya), who elucidate and discuss drivers and definitions of terrorism.
Breve dibattito su Europa e Recovery Fund post-Covid con tre illustri esperti al fine di esplorare vantaggi e svantaggi dell’accordo europeo a fronte all’emergenza COVID-19. Prendono parte al podcast di…
As one of Britain’s top economists and business consultants, Mrs Vicky Pryce discusses her latest book, Women vs Capitalism, elucidating the reasons why the free capitalist market cannot bring about…
Dr Tracey German (KCL, Defence Studies Department) discusses the relevance of Putin’s Russia in international affairs, potential security concerns related to Russian aspirations and capabilities, NATO and post-Brexit UK approaches,…
Prof. Valbona Zeneli (George C. Marshall Center) discusses the current state of the Belt and Road Initiative, analysing European perceived security and economic threats, opportunities, and scenarios vis-à-vis China.
Dr Simon Rushton (Sheffield University, Chatham House) discusses politics of human security and global health in relation to globalisation, state self interest during the COVID-19 crisis, and international cooperation.
Dr Oleg Goldshmidt on what cyber security is and the latter can be conceptualised and strategised vis-à-vis current and future major challenges to international security, including restrictive measures and Covid-19.
Dr Tomas Maltby, KCL, explores definitions and concepts of “Energy Security” and how these affect strategies and approaches within the EU context. Particular emphasis is also allocated on how energy…
Dr Michele Groppi, KCL, ITSS Verona President, on major conceptual, legal, ethical, and democratic dilemmas in counterterrorism.
Dr Zeno Leoni, ITSS-Verona Executive Director, discusses on the dynamics and implications of US-China geopolitical tensions in Asia.
The International Team for the Study of Security – Verona
Villafranca di Verona, Italy
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