RECENT PUBLICATIONS

Syria and Balancing: A Case Study in Great Power Politics

In line with a series of disruptions in the Middle East, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s (HTS) overthrow of the Assad regime remains important. Now in power after winning the civil war, former al-Qaeda operative and HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is presented with the challenge of not only rebuilding Syria but also its foreign policy strategy. Most interestingly, Syria’s geographic position and resource wealth have placed the country on a tightrope, requiring it to balance between regional powers, such as Israel and Turkey, and great powers, like the United States and Russia. All of Syria’s neighbors have competing goals, especially regarding the treatment of various Syrian minorities, which further complicates al-Sharaa’s balancing act. Understanding how al-Sharaa navigates this complicated position and executes a new foreign policy sheds light on the role of global and regional powers in the Middle East.

Commentary by Max Franz Knight
8/19/2026

American Labor Tripartism: Lessons from Germany and Norway
Policy Recommendation by Laszlo Debrier and Maya Kohute
7/7/2026

Japan’s Pursuit of Deep-Sea Mining
​​Brief by Junsei Tanizaki
6/10/2026

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