Mark McQuay
@markmcquay.bsky.social
Senior Eisenhower Defense Fellow @ Nato Defense College
Pinned
Mark McQuay
@markmcquay.bsky.social
· Jun 7
Spheres of Enhancement: Understanding the New Pattern of International Competition - CSDS
Climate change and rapid technological advances are driving states’ focus inward, towards resilience and self-enhancement over traditional geopolitical rivalry. By brazenly breaking old norms to enhan...
csds.vub.be
🌍 States aren’t just competing anymore – they’re transforming.
In a world disrupted by 🌡️ climate change, ⚡ tech acceleration, and 😵💫 ethical breakdowns, nations are turning inward. They're not just competing against rivals – they're reengineering themselves to survive in a more hostile world.
In a world disrupted by 🌡️ climate change, ⚡ tech acceleration, and 😵💫 ethical breakdowns, nations are turning inward. They're not just competing against rivals – they're reengineering themselves to survive in a more hostile world.
If you speak German, check out my new article 𝐃𝐢𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭), co-written with Roderick Parkes, in this month’s 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬 — or read it online
👉 lnkd.in/dkSAK5MQ
👉 lnkd.in/dkSAK5MQ
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 PM
If you speak German, check out my new article 𝐃𝐢𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭), co-written with Roderick Parkes, in this month’s 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬 — or read it online
👉 lnkd.in/dkSAK5MQ
👉 lnkd.in/dkSAK5MQ
Reposted by Mark McQuay
If cemeteries create a community of both the living and the dead, what happens when the living get displaced?
Case in point: German cemeteries in the PL "Recovered Lands."
All Saints' Day is a good day to reflect on what happens to memory in the absence of those who remember.
🧵(not an easy read)
Case in point: German cemeteries in the PL "Recovered Lands."
All Saints' Day is a good day to reflect on what happens to memory in the absence of those who remember.
🧵(not an easy read)
November 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM
If cemeteries create a community of both the living and the dead, what happens when the living get displaced?
Case in point: German cemeteries in the PL "Recovered Lands."
All Saints' Day is a good day to reflect on what happens to memory in the absence of those who remember.
🧵(not an easy read)
Case in point: German cemeteries in the PL "Recovered Lands."
All Saints' Day is a good day to reflect on what happens to memory in the absence of those who remember.
🧵(not an easy read)
Plus ça change...
From "Homo Criminalis: How Crime Organises the World" by Mark Galeotti (2025)
From "Homo Criminalis: How Crime Organises the World" by Mark Galeotti (2025)
September 22, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Plus ça change...
From "Homo Criminalis: How Crime Organises the World" by Mark Galeotti (2025)
From "Homo Criminalis: How Crime Organises the World" by Mark Galeotti (2025)
Reposted by Mark McQuay
Armed conflicts involve governments, rebel groups, militias, communal factions, and foreign forces — all interacting in complex ways. The result? A web of violence that can feel overwhelming to understand.
That's why we launch the Conflict Networks Explorer
peaceobservatory.com/conflict-networks
That's why we launch the Conflict Networks Explorer
peaceobservatory.com/conflict-networks
Peace Observatory
Peace observatory website.
peaceobservatory.com
August 22, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Armed conflicts involve governments, rebel groups, militias, communal factions, and foreign forces — all interacting in complex ways. The result? A web of violence that can feel overwhelming to understand.
That's why we launch the Conflict Networks Explorer
peaceobservatory.com/conflict-networks
That's why we launch the Conflict Networks Explorer
peaceobservatory.com/conflict-networks
🚨 New article
🌿“𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛?” 🧪
As the global order shifts, states are moving away from territorial competition and towards 𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – insulated spaces where they can experiment to boost resilience and autonomy.
🌿“𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛?” 🧪
As the global order shifts, states are moving away from territorial competition and towards 𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – insulated spaces where they can experiment to boost resilience and autonomy.
June 25, 2025 at 8:51 AM
🚨 New article
🌿“𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛?” 🧪
As the global order shifts, states are moving away from territorial competition and towards 𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – insulated spaces where they can experiment to boost resilience and autonomy.
🌿“𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛?” 🧪
As the global order shifts, states are moving away from territorial competition and towards 𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – insulated spaces where they can experiment to boost resilience and autonomy.
🌍 States aren’t just competing anymore – they’re transforming.
In a world disrupted by 🌡️ climate change, ⚡ tech acceleration, and 😵💫 ethical breakdowns, nations are turning inward. They're not just competing against rivals – they're reengineering themselves to survive in a more hostile world.
In a world disrupted by 🌡️ climate change, ⚡ tech acceleration, and 😵💫 ethical breakdowns, nations are turning inward. They're not just competing against rivals – they're reengineering themselves to survive in a more hostile world.
Spheres of Enhancement: Understanding the New Pattern of International Competition - CSDS
Climate change and rapid technological advances are driving states’ focus inward, towards resilience and self-enhancement over traditional geopolitical rivalry. By brazenly breaking old norms to enhan...
csds.vub.be
June 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
🌍 States aren’t just competing anymore – they’re transforming.
In a world disrupted by 🌡️ climate change, ⚡ tech acceleration, and 😵💫 ethical breakdowns, nations are turning inward. They're not just competing against rivals – they're reengineering themselves to survive in a more hostile world.
In a world disrupted by 🌡️ climate change, ⚡ tech acceleration, and 😵💫 ethical breakdowns, nations are turning inward. They're not just competing against rivals – they're reengineering themselves to survive in a more hostile world.
"Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader."
Ukraine is Europe!
We stand by Ukraine.
We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the agressor.
Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.
We stand by Ukraine.
We will step up our support to Ukraine so that they can continue to fight back the agressor.
Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader. It’s up to us, Europeans, to take this challenge.
February 28, 2025 at 9:22 PM
"Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader."
With Greenland back in the news, now is a great time to check out a scenario I co-authored with Roderick Parkes for @euiss.bsky.social back in 2020.
www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
A wicked problem
This paper tackles one of the wickedest of questions: how should the EU cooperate with partner governments which collude with criminals?
www.iss.europa.eu
January 14, 2025 at 8:31 AM
With Greenland back in the news, now is a great time to check out a scenario I co-authored with Roderick Parkes for @euiss.bsky.social back in 2020.
www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
Another big thank you to everyone who met with me to talk about #democraticfragility and #organisedcrime in Kosovo over the last week. It was wonderful to visit for the first time and to speak to so many insightful people!
December 11, 2023 at 11:44 AM
Another big thank you to everyone who met with me to talk about #democraticfragility and #organisedcrime in Kosovo over the last week. It was wonderful to visit for the first time and to speak to so many insightful people!
Glad to have found a nice study spot in Pristina to prepare for my next round of interviews in Kosovo
November 30, 2023 at 12:12 PM
Glad to have found a nice study spot in Pristina to prepare for my next round of interviews in Kosovo
Thank you to everyone who talked with me about #democraticfragility and #organisedcrime in Montenegro over the last week. It’s been truly eye-opening and I’m very grateful for all the fascinating insights!
November 29, 2023 at 9:56 PM
Thank you to everyone who talked with me about #democraticfragility and #organisedcrime in Montenegro over the last week. It’s been truly eye-opening and I’m very grateful for all the fascinating insights!
Reposted by Mark McQuay
We were honored to welcome the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović today for a closed-door discussion on 🇲🇪 domestic challenges & the country’s path towards the 🇪🇺. Thank you very much for your time and the insightful exchange!
November 21, 2023 at 11:51 AM
We were honored to welcome the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović today for a closed-door discussion on 🇲🇪 domestic challenges & the country’s path towards the 🇪🇺. Thank you very much for your time and the insightful exchange!
Brushing up on some essential vocab #organisedcrime
November 21, 2023 at 8:18 AM
Brushing up on some essential vocab #organisedcrime
Very happy to be in my favourite Podgorica café prepping for a week of interviews about democratic fragility and organised crime in Montenegro
November 19, 2023 at 10:49 AM
Very happy to be in my favourite Podgorica café prepping for a week of interviews about democratic fragility and organised crime in Montenegro