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Leo Whicker is a History, Politics and Economics student. He has previously interned at Clarksons Research within the maritime infrastructure team. Suez Canal 2021; obstruction caused by the containership “Ever Given” highlighted the venerability of global trade to blockages of maritime chokepoints (1). These narrow passageways serve as crucial shortcuts reducing the length of vessel voyages, allowing goods to be transported faster and cheaper, with lower shipping carbon emis

Jonathan Dusse is a first year Politics and International Relations student. He interned at the German parliament where he strengthened his interest in political cooperation and governance. Introduction Early in Trump’s second term as the United States president he was keen on declaring multiple territories as belonging to the US, including the claim that Canada should be incorporated as the 51st state of the US. After a sterner stance towards the United States that followed

James Wheatley is a third-year European Social and Political Studies student. He has interned with The Borgen Project and recently graduated from the FT News School. (linkedin.com/in/jameswheatley860) The Direction of French Foreign Policy under Macron Whilst Emmanuel Macron’s presidency has been dominated by domestic instability, exacerbated by the 2024 legislative elections, the nature of presidential powers in France has allowed him significant influence over foreign polic

Jagravi Singh is a third-year Politics and International Relations student at UCL. She previously lived in the major metropolises of India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Canada and has a keen interest in external affairs and event planning. (Email: jagravisingh19@gmail.com/Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jagravi-singh-2a90b4289) Introduction Growing up in Southeast Asia, I noticed that the climate crisis was never an unimaginable situation for me, as it was visible in the beaches I vi

Anika Samant is a first-year Bsc Politics and International Relations student. She is passionate about diplomatic relations and global affairs, with a particular interest in the Russia-Ukraine conflict (anika.samant.25@ucl.ac.uk). Introduction Relations between Washington and Tehran have long been defined by shared aggression, hostility, proxy wars, and contention over Iran's nuclear and ballistic missiles programmes. A direct military confrontation would mark a significant e

Alis Sara is a first-year History, Politics, and Economics student at UCL. She is passionate about memory, post-communist transitions, and political alignment beyond conventional East-West divides, with hands-on exposure to political institutions through visits to multiple embassies and the UK Parliament. Introduction Bulgaria is preparing for its eighth parliamentary election since April 2021, a frequency that signals not just instability but a deeper crisis of democratic le

Aadhaya Gupta is a first year Philosophy, Politics and Economics student. Introduction Modern conflict no longer resembles the grand battlefields and formal declarations that characterised earlier wars. While traditional wars were typically fought between nation-states with uniformed armies and clearly defined fronts, contemporary conflict is fragmented, technologically complex, and often fought in the shadows. Understanding this shift is essential to understanding the politi

Elizabeth is a second-year undergraduate student from Canada studying English and Hong Kong law. Her particular areas of interest are in medical negligence and copyright law. Beyond her degree, she is passionate about 1400s-1700s world history and human geography. The Imperialist Pipeline In July 2025, Sanseitō, a fringe political party once confined to the radical corners of the internet, experienced an unprecedented surge in popularity among voters. Sanseitō gained 14 new s

Leo Whicker is a History, Politics and Economics student. He has previously interned at Clarksons Research within the maritime infrastructure team. China’s “Maritime Silk Road” refers to Beijing’s extension of its renowned “Belt and Road initiative”(1). This article focuses on China’s Arctic ambitions, inclduing its “Ice Silk Road”. Polar Shipping Lanes offer substantially shorter maritime routes between South East Asia and Europe. Despite being geographically distant, China

Nabeeha is an International Relations graduate with First Class Honors. She is interested in climate policy, climate diplomacy, and sustainable development, building on her thesis comparing China and South Korea’s use of climate diplomacy as a tool of power. ( linkedin.com/in/nabeehawafa ) Introduction With global demand for critical minerals peaking in 2025, Pakistan's mines and minerals sector surged to the forefront of national ambition. The Special Investment Facilitation

Andrea Thordarson is a fourth-year International Social and Political Studies student. She completed a year abroad in Tokyo and is currently in her final year, focusing on her dissertation analysing U.S. foreign policy and authoritarianism in the Middle East. (zclmhor@ucl.ac.uk) Introduction From anti-Vietnam War protests, to the Civil Rights movement, right down to the Arab Spring - protests have always been a young person’s game [1]. While recent Gen Z protests around the w

Jagravi Singh is a third-year Politics and International Relations student at UCL. She previously lived in the major metropolises of India, Vietnam, Thailand, and Canada and has a keen interest in external affairs and event planning. (Email: jagravisingh19@gmail.com/Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jagravi-singh-2a90b4289) Introduction Over the past decade, India has expanded its diplomatic frontier in West Asia, especially within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, trans