
EPIS Magazine
Insights and analysis in politics & international relations
EPIS Magazine is a quarterly publication by EPIS ThinkTank, featuring academic articles from experts and students in politics and international relations. It provides in-depth analysis and commentary on global issues, bridging the gap between established scholars and emerging voices.
Facing Russia's War Economy
Russia’s war economy has defied initial predictions of collapse following Western sanctions. Instead, Russia's GDP has grown, and its military spending has increased to 6% of GDP. However, the economy faces challenges, including human capital flight, reliance on fluctuating energy prices, and possibly capital depreciation. The limits of sanctions highlight the need for the West to bolster its military capabilities to effectively counter Russia’s aggression.
Flowing Into Uncertainty
Is water security in Asia at a tipping point? Highlighting hydrological, socio-economic, and climate change factors, the article examines water scarcity's impact on geopolitical stability in Asia, using case studies from India, Pakistan, and China. Emphasis is placed on sustainable water management and the need for cooperative agreements to mitigate conflict and ensure future water availability.
Implications of the EU's Nearshoring Activities in Morocco
Amidst the global power shifts and disruptions of supply chains, the European Union will need a new strategy to secure its position in the world and enhance the resilience of the domestic market. This paper explores how a new initiative of nearshoring EU’s global production lines closer to its borders can achieve such a goal. More specifically, it attempts to argue that Morocco, for its economic structure and geopolitical structure, makes for a solid partner.
Migration is International and so Should Response Efforts
Sweden, historically an emigrant nation, has become a significant migrant destination, with 20% of its population born abroad. The influx, particularly from the Middle East, has fueled support for the far-right Swedish Democrats. Meanwhile, Jordan, with a refugee population comprising 33% of its population, faces severe socio-economic and resource strains. Despite its economic hardships, Jordan provides substantial aid to refugees, worsening its own challenges. The EU, facing relatively minor issues, should assist countries like Jordan, fostering cooperation rather than portraying itself as the sole victim of migration.
Reverberations of Resistance
This article explores the Western influence in Asia and the Middle East, focusing on the Vietnam War's impact on governmental responses to protests in the U.S. and Western Europe. By examining the protests' intensity and government actions, the paper investigates the reciprocal relationship between political activism and policy changes. It analyses historical contexts, protest dynamics, and policing tactics to argue that these demonstrations, while influenced by larger social movements, had a significant effect on military and foreign policies, reflecting the complex interplay between public dissent and government strategies.
Shifting Priorities
Civil-military cooperation involves military forces working with civilian entities and populations to achieve shared goals in conflict, disaster, or peacetime. However, the concept is debated among scholars, with varying definitions, depending on who defines it. Nevertheless, civil-military cooperation remains essential for addressing modern conflicts and hybrid threats. For NATO, the Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence (CCOE) in The Hague provides expertise in this field, focusing on training, education, and concept development. This cooperation is crucial for NATO missions, enhancing effectiveness through collaboration.
The European Army
The European Army regularly appears in European defence discourse as a solution that would solve the troubles that the EU has had in it´s defence sector. This article aims to discuss the challenges that a European army would create and aims to answer the question if the idea of a European Army would be able to answer European defence needs.
The Role of AI in Supporting Women, Peace and Security Agenda
This article investigates how artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can support the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda (WPS). Through the introduction of the following technologies: automated behavioural analysis, AI consultation, predictive analytics, AI-generated event maps and machine-learning disaster robots applied to the five principles of the WPS agenda: prevention, participation, protection, relief, and recovery. The article explores the benefits that AI technologies can bring when implemented in peacekeeping, as well as analyzing the challenges which include AI bias and ethical considerations.
The Time has Come to "Europeanise" NATO
The relationship between the United States (US) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) is often fantasised about by Europeans, who are quick to confound US defence with NATO. However, we should consider NATO in the same way as the Americans - a European regional organisation in which the United States participate.
What will Biological Warfare look like in the 21st Century
From the perspective of a natural scientist, how will today's technology change biological warfare in the 21st century? Over the last two decades, breakthroughs in synthetic biology, biological engineering and biological AI have radically changed what is possible in terms of biological weapons research. But despite potentially gaining new capabilities, the deployment of biological weapons remains unlikely given their military disadvantages and the challenges involved in acquiring them.