Reading about youth-led protests in Nepal & Madagascar (and other countries) made me think: are we witnessing the rise/creation of a transnational "Gen Z identity" in politics, where shared symbols and tactics travel across borders to challenge the elites? #IIRLeiden2025
www.bbc.com/news/article...

The new defense pact between Pakistan&Saudi Arabia raises a question to me: if liberalism mentions collective security by institutions, what does it mean when states turn to bilateral umbrellas instead? How does this reflect on liberalism in West Asia? #IIRLeiden2025
thediplomat.com/pakistan-and...

Reports say the US knew of Israel’s strike in Doha yet did not intervene. This must make Gulf countries and others question US's defense guarantees, and could erode US influence in the gulf and worldwide. Will this give other powers room to grow? #iirleiden2025
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

The EU’s call for an “independence moment” makes me think: is US unipolarity giving way not only to China’s rise, but also to allies seeking autonomy. Are these signs of multipolar order emerging rather than US-China bipolarity? #IIRLeiden2025
www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pres...

Last week in #IIRLeiden2025 we discussed states like Somaliland and the politics of recognition. Now, US senators suggest recognising Somaliland if it accepts Gazan refugees.

Is this transactional use of recognition an example of neoliberal logic, where IO and IR are seen as tools?
aje.io/hwoyie