Reports

The securitisation of energy
This report from UK think tank RUSI examines how Russia’s energy policy has interacted with its foreign and defence policies since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia views as a serious security threat any restriction of its access to and exploitation of oil and gas markets, either through international sanctions that prevent...


Getting a foot in the door
This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society suggests how preparations for a democratic future-Russia might begin. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is now in its second year with no end in sight. Western military strategists and policymakers are now planning for increased weapons supplies and training for Ukrainian troops to prepare for...


Saudi Arabia: Kingdom of oil
This report from UK think tank RUSI analyses Saudi Arabia’s oil policy and how it interacts with the Kingdom’s domestic and foreign and security policies. Tobias outlines how oil revenues – which have historically fuelled Saudi Arabia’s social contract – are now the indispensable source of funding for the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 reform agenda. He...


Russia and the anti-western axis must be militarily defeated
This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society explores shifting the Western consensus toward ending Russia’s military threat to Ukraine and the West. The new Cold War pits a Russia-China-Iran-North Korea axis against the West. The goal of this anti-Western axis is the defeat of the US-led unipolar world that has been in...


Mapping the supply of surveillance technologies to Africa
This report from UK think tank the Institute of Development Studies documents which companies are supplying which types of surveillance technology to African governments. African governments are spending over 1US$bn per year on digital surveillance technologies which are being used without adequate legal protections in ways that regularly violate citizens’ fundamental human rights. This report...


Why is the UK still party to the Iran Nuclear Deal?
This report from UK think tank the Henry Jackson Society looks at practical applications for the future of the JCPOA. At the time of publication of this report, the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 78) is being held at the United Nations headquarters in New York, with the high-level General Debate...


Why the international community is failing urban refugees
This report from UK think tank IIED looks at four 'myths' about protracted displacement. This paper challenges decision makers’ and humanitarian practitioners’ reliance on stereotypes about protracted displacement. It questions received ideas about camps and about displaced people’s experiences in towns and cities. It is structured around four such ‘myths’, examining each in turn, before...


Sinking islands, rising debts
This report from UK think tank IIED looks at the urgent need for comprehensive debt relief in Small Island Developing States. Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are getting entrapped in financial quagmire due to climate impacts. This paper delves into the urgent financial plight of SIDS, examining the multifaceted challenges they face across social, environmental...


Furthering Global Britain? Reviewing the Foreign Policy Effect of UK Engagement in East Africa
This report from UK think tank RUSI looks at the background on recent UK policy towards East Africa. This paper provides background on recent UK policy towards East Africa, summarises the research findings for RUSI's project 'Furthering Global Britain? Reviewing the Foreign Policy Effect of UK Engagement in East Africa’ and offers recommendations for the...


How to use collaborative art-making for dialogue and communication
This report from UK think tank the Institute of Development Studies looks at collaborative art-making. Artists have often used artworks to express emotions and thus prompt public dialogue about contemporary challenges. At the same time, it has been suggested that collaborative art-making can be used in environmental deliberation processes, where stakeholder groups discuss contentious challenges...


Shock-responsive social protection in fragile and conflict-affected states
This report from UK think tank IIED looks at fragile and conflict-affected states and shock-responsive social protection programmes in these states. Fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) are home to nearly 1 billion people, almost double the number from 20 years ago. Shock-responsive social protection programmes in these states can play a critical role in protecting...


Investors and the ESG blind spot
This report from UK think tank Chatham House looks at upholding civic freedoms as part of geopolitical corporate responsibility. Business and civil society benefit equally from strong civic institutions (such as an independent judiciary and media), the rule of law and the freedoms of expression, association and assembly. These elements of accountability are all critical...


Centring local values in assessing and addressing climate-related losses and damages
This report from UK think tank the IIED looks at a loss and damage assessment methodology based on locally identified values. There is a limited understanding of the intangible and subjective losses and damages from climate change people experience and how to address them. Fortunately, the number of studies explicitly focusing on ‘non-economic’ losses and...


Pathways to equitable food systems
This report from UK think tank the Institute of Development Studies looks at inequitable global food systems. Globally, our food systems are highly inequitable. In a world with enough food, hunger is becoming normalised for large numbers of people, while diets are worsening and obesity is rising. Racialised minorities are more at risk from obesity...


Layering debt relief solutions to move countries from vicious to virtuous cycles of debt
This report from UK think tank the IIED looks at the need to break this cycle of severed climate impacts burdening countries worldwide through existing debt relief options. Severe climate impacts are burdening countries worldwide, particularly the least developed countries and Small Island Developing States. Each disaster adds to their existing debt, hindering recovery and...