Month: September 2025

It is a common observation that human beings everywhere require the realization of diverse values or capabilities to ensure their individual and collective well-being. It is also a widely shared view that this demand, whether conceived or expressed as a moral or a legal requirement, is frequently frustrated by social and natural forces, resulting in exploitation, oppression, persecution and deprivation. These twin observations form the basis of human rights and the national and international legal processes associated with them.

All human rights are universal, indivisible and interrelated. They are inherent to each and every person born on this earth, unless prohibited by law or denounced in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted in 1948. This is a unique document that marks out 30 fundamental rights to all people in the world, regardless of their political, economic or cultural systems.

The UDHR was developed through a process that involved participants from all regions, giving the document a broad and inclusive perspective. It is one of the only global documents that recognises the fact that human rights are indivisible, interdependent and inalienable.

Human rights are based on the belief that there are some things that all people need in order to live with dignity, and that those needs cannot be met without certain limits on state power. That is why human rights enjoy support from every culture in the world and almost all civilised governments and religions. It is why they are recognised as a set of international legal norms in the UDHR and in two related treaties, which are binding on Governments when they ratify them.

Global security looks beyond traditional notions of security focused on the state and its international system. Coursework examines the complex web of forces that generate insecurity at the international, global, and societal levels, as well as how security concerns have been addressed over time, across cultures, and by individuals and groups.

The world today is in a state of unprecedented global threat and instability. Instability arises from a wide range of issues: regional coercion and meddling, terrorism, transnational crime, health insecurity, environmental degradation, WMD proliferation, mass migration, and overwhelming humanitarian crises. As these dangers continue to threaten the foundational elements that contribute to peace and prosperity, they challenge policymakers to rethink their approaches to security.

Security professionals and business leaders increasingly recognize the need to be a step ahead of these unseen threats. They need to anticipate how broader geopolitical developments might impact their supply chain vulnerabilities, organizational stability and decision-making. They must shape cybersecurity strategies that align with business objectives and enable innovation without increasing risk.

Despite the fact that a few years ago, it seemed as if the world was on autopilot and headed toward universal democracy and peace, we now live in a dangerous age of shifting dangers and escalating conflict. As such, tackling these challenges is the new face of national security. And to do so, the United States and Europe must work together, for if they don’t, their own security could be at risk.

Founded in 1945, the United Nations is a global system of interrelated organizations and programs. Its six principal organs—the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council, and the International Court of Justice—are tasked with maintaining international peace and security, developing economic, social, cultural, and educational opportunities for all people, and solving problems of common interest. A vast Secretariat, with international staff in duty stations around the world, carries out the diverse day-to-day work of the Organization’s organs.

The United Nations Charter set out three fundamental objectives: respect for the equal rights of all peoples and their self-determination; international cooperation in solving global problems; and a global forum for reflection, debate and innovative thinking. Its founding countries gathered in San Francisco in 1945 to draft the Charter, with China, France, India and Russia taking the lead. The United States and the Soviet Union later signed, and the Charter came into effect once it had been ratified by a majority of member governments.

In addition to the six principal organs, the United Nations family includes a variety of independent “specialized agencies” linked to the UN through cooperative agreements and maintaining broad international responsibilities in their fields. The governing bodies of the specialized agencies, which include many regional and national offices, report to the Secretary-General or to the Economic and Social Council. The UN also maintains a global network of peacekeeping operations. Throughout its history, the United Nations has faced challenges to its integrity and impartiality. Among the most notable were the bombing of its headquarters in the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, which killed hundreds of staff members, and Moammar Gadhafi’s rambling 90-minute speech at the General Assembly, which went far beyond his allotted 15 minutes.

Global sanctions can be a powerful policy tool when the right mix of conditions is met. They can weaken the economic and military capacities of rogue states, and deter military aggression and other violations of international law. But they can also have serious and unintended consequences. This article examines the interwar experience and argues that more research is needed on the costs and risks of this policy instrument, particularly its effects on innovation and trade diversion and evasion.

Sanctions grew in importance in the interwar period. They were used in an era of growing autarky, as governments sought to limit the revenue of countries they considered threats to peace. This meant that, unlike today, the global economy was far less integrated, and it was hard to find alternative markets for goods produced by sanctioned countries. As a result, sanctions diminished world exports and caused price deflation that weakened currency blocs.

Today, the world is far more connected, and globalization has lowered risks of military escalation. But this has also increased the ability of rogue states and their financial elites to evade sanctions through trading partners. Sanctions impose costs that are far greater than the cost of a war and can have broad ripple effects on innovation, which is why the development of better tools for estimating the impact of sanctions should be a priority for researchers.

Investment trend is the term used to describe points or areas where resources should be allocated to maximize returns. These trends illustrate points in time when investing in particular industries or types of assets can provide outsize gains.

Seasoned investors use short- and medium-term volatility to buy into investment themes they believe will profit over many years. But, amid all the noise around the latest investment trend, it can be difficult to distinguish which trends have real merit.

For example, there’s been a lot of talk about “meme stocks,” but what do they actually represent? And, how do you determine if they are worth your time or money?

Despite a volatile first quarter, earnings season has generally been a positive one, with companies largely beating expectations. But with a hazy outlook for the economy and US trade policy, some investors are nervous about future growth prospects.

Against this backdrop, some investors are also rethinking geographic asset allocation as relative valuations in Europe and Asia look cheaper than the US. But will this shift be temporary, or is it the beginning of a sustained pass of capital?