Policy Pulse (June 3, 2021)
The most compelling new think tank reports delivered in a timely update
Welcome to the Policy Pulse - a breakdown summary of some of the most compelling recent reports to come out of think tanks from around the world. Special thanks to Sasanka Kanuparthi for curating this edition.
Are Australia’s laws on foreign interference and espionage laws doing more harm than good?
In recent years, Australia has been at the receiving end of various espionage attacks originating in China. Yet, how the country ought to best respond to the threat is still a matter of debate in the policy community. In this report for China Matters, Melissa Conley Tyler and Julian Dusting look at the impact of Australia’s recent national security laws on institutions and citizens. They conclude that the new legislation has been defined too broadly and make strong recommendations for amending the laws. They also suggest the government amend its messaging on foreign interference to “distinguish clearly the dividing line between influence and interference.” The analytical framework and recommendations provided in this report are sure to prove valuable to think tankers in other countries where the threat of Chinese infiltration is growing.
How should the US play the great power game in Africa?
The growing presence of China, Russia and other global powers in Africa is turning the continent into a geopolitical chessboard, with emerging economies becoming active components in newly developing power equations. The question over how the US should maneuver in this competition complicates the Biden administration’s agenda for Africa. However, this Council on Foreign Relations discussion paper by Michelle D. Gavin, argues the US should exercise strategic restraint and avoid a strategic “race-to-the-bottom” with other powers. Washington’s cooperation with Africa’s emerging nations must instead focus on bridging gaps, building capacities and providing alternatives. To achieve this, she recommends the Biden administration partner with like-minded external powers to offer new-age solutions. A must-read for those engaged in African geopolitics and great power competition alike.
High courts and social media in Latin America
The proliferation of social media has long surpassed traditional usage by private individuals and has entered into the realm of digital governance. With institutions using tech tools for rapid responses and dispensing judicial information, civil societies are reacting to the developments as per their distinctive local realities. This working paper by the German Institute for Global and Area studies (GIGA) analyzes 17 Latin American high courts, comparing each judiciary’s social media presence with their online influence. Researchers Dr. Mariana llanos and Dr. Cordula Tibi attempt to determine the motivations behind the courts social media usage, for example, if they focus on strategic self-promotion or building institutional transparency. It also assesses citizens’ trust in the institutions based on their social media activity. A great resource for those who work at the intersection of technology and governance.
Where has Franco-German Cooperation Under Macron?
Moving from Latin America to Western Europe, recent geopolitical shifts have once again brought the Franco-German strategic dynamic to the fore. For years, France has spearheaded efforts to build consensus in the EU on tackling common security threats through a collective approach. This collective research paper, released by the renowned Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), analyzes France’s foreign and security policy under Macron, and the ups and downs of its bilateral relationship with Germany. The paper tracks the lack of progress on France’s key strategic priorities, including the inadequate EU response to global security challenges. It also provides policy recommendations that France must adopt to overcome disagreements on core issues. Worth reading not only for the French perspective, but to better understand the challenges many countries may encounter when trying to build diplomatic consensus with Germany.
What toll has the pandemic taken on the health of European democracies?
Staying with Europe, we now consider a report by the European Policy Institutes Network on the pandemic’s impact on the region’s democracies, pieced together by a series of articles from 19 distinct national perspectives. The study opens up the debate on executive decisions and their consequences on people’s fundamental rights and liberties. Scholars argue that the constitutional rights of citizens could have been overstepped on several occasions under the guise of COVID-19 health and safety protocols, thereby restricting freedom of movement, speech, etc. However, it also details several instances where legislation and governance were affected on account of remote-working. This report is a collation of European perspectives, important to those who wish to apprise themselves of the effects of the pandemic on democratic values and institutions.
Where is the US military placed in the race for the Arctic?
The effects of climate change, combined with efforts by Arctic countries to safeguard their interests and navigation routes, have revived geopolitical rivalry in the region. The Arctic is witnessing an increase in activity due to aggressive tactics of the Chinese and Russians, who are exploring formerly inaccessible areas. It leaves the Biden administration with little choice but to expand interests and resources around Arctic issues. Scholars at the Brookings Institution argue in favor of a strategic revamp at both the government and military levels. They suggest the US defense services must revisit pre-existing strategies and include the Arctic under its Northern Command. They offer other recommendations about military postures and improving strategic-operational relationships with allies. Those looking for more insights into Arctic strategy can read the paper here.
How are Sino-Indian tensions changing India’s relations with the US?
The ‘Pivot to Asia’ was a term popularized by President Obama, as the US recognized the challenges to freedom of navigation and regional security in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions. However, the Trump administration’s hawkish outlook on the competition with China redefined the strategy for the Indo-Pacific. Creating sustainable partnerships with regional players like India has been one of the top priorities for the US in tackling competition emanating from China. In this report for RAND Corporation, Jonah Blank discusses strategic opportunities, India’s rivalry with China and their recent border skirmishes among other important developments. He also throws caution to the wind about India’s trust deficit concerning the regional ambitions of the US. Those looking for a deeper regional view on the Indo-Pacific and policy recommendations for US-India ties can read the report here.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic dampen Russia’s nuclear projections at all?
This May 2021 strategy paper on Russia’s nuclear policy and military developments attempts to decipher the country’s land, air and sea nuclear power projections. It seeks to reveal the calculus behind Russia's undeterred strategic maneuvers and the impact of COVID-19 on its operations. Russia scholar Maxim Starchak analyzes the nuclear triad-based exercises, patrols and activities for FPRI. He details how the intensity of Russia's military postures remained unchanged, as it doubled down on an offensive policy, despite sanctions from the West following Crimea. To know more about the impact of Russia’s nuclear activities on Western rivals and geographic regions across the world, read the report here.
Do states unwittingly write drug traffic routes?
The illegal drug trade is a scourge that plagues underdeveloped, developing and advanced nations alike. Unaccounted contraband resources impact communities and livelihoods immensely, putting them through a cycle of consumption, as well as risk to life. However, are our assumptions about the sources and channels of the illicit trade accurate? Authors of this research paper at the Institute of Development Studies argue that formal border crossings and state-controlled areas are the preferred routes for smugglers, based on their research in border areas of North Africa and Southeast Asia. The findings allow policymakers to better grasp the workings of underground trade and better allocate resources to prevent them. Anyone who’d appreciate a valuable new viewpoint on the nature of relationship between state and non-state actors can check out the paper here.
How should the EU adjust it’s External Action program in the wake of COVID?
The human development of millions of people across the globe has come to a halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with even resource-rich EU states fighting the crisis. With nations being underprepared for a health crisis of such proportions, the EU is exploring avenues to fund new developmental programs globally. The authors identify challenges and problem areas and offer recommendations to the EU’s External Action agenda. The paper reframes the current crisis as an opportunity for the EU to improve relationships with countries and generate goodwill, in line with its values and the EU Commission’s external resources agenda for 2021-27. Important resource for those engaged in EU policy and human development more broadly.
The above was written by Sasanka Kanuparthi and edited by myself.
Since Policy Pulse is a new format we’re experimenting, we’d really appreciate any suggestions or feedback from readers, so feel free to reply to this email, leave a comment or message me at my LinkedIn profile.
Stay well and stay safe,
- Liam
Founder of Policy People