The Persistence of Cults of Personality in African Governance

African leaders who hold power indefinitely often employ cults of personality to consolidate power, demand personal fealty, and systematically undermine independent governance institutions.

When long-serving, neo-patrimonial leaders in Burkina Faso, Gambia, Zimbabwe, and Sudan were forced to step down because of popular and youthful protests in recent years, the era of “presidents for life” in Africa seemed to be ending. Yet, for every such leader who has been forced from power, new ones emerge on the scene. In many cases, African leaders who retain power indefinitely are characterized by pervasive cults of personality, demonstrating the enduring potency of this instrument of power.

Leveraging Lives: Serbia and Illegal Tunisian Migration to Europe

Summary

In 2020–2022, Tunisian illegal migrants traveled through Serbia to reach Western Europe, as an alternative
to the hazardous, more monitored Mediterranean route. This was driven by push factors in Tunisia, including deteriorating economic conditions and government acquiescence, and pull factors in Europe, namely smuggling networks and Serbian authorities looking the other way. While the route was sealed for Tunisians in November 2022, as long as transit states can use illegal migration to secure geopolitical leverage, such actions will continue.

Global Study on Firearms Trafficking 2020

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

UNODC has carried out its most comprehensive collection of data on firearms trafficking to date, gathering details from survey responses and other sources in 81 countries for 2016-17. These data give a unique insight into the patterns of trafficking globally, regionally and nationally, providing a vital resource for law enforcement, policymakers and public bodies seeking to reduce the damage caused by the illicit circulation of firearms.

EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025 2021/C 272/02

INTRODUCTION

The EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Strategy’) provides the overarching political framework and priorities for the European Union’s drugs policy for the period 2021-2025. The framework, aim and objectives of the Strategy serve as the basis for the EU Drugs Action Plan from 2021 to 2025 (hereinafter referred to as ‘the Action Plan’).

The EU’s fight against organised crime

Law enforcement authorities from EU member states work together to combat serious and organised crime in Europe.

How the EU fights serious and organised crime

Organised crime is a major threat to European citizens, business and institutions, as well as to the European economy. In 2019, criminal revenues in the main criminal markets amounted to 1 % of the EU’s GDP, i.e. €139 billion.

Crime groups are present in all EU countries and often operate across borders. 70 % of criminal groups are, in fact, active in more than three member states.

WWII & Holocaust Could Never Have Happened Without American Corporations Investing & Joint Venturing with Hitler’s Poor Nazi Germany – Chapter 7

Chapter Seven – Peculiarities of Fascism’s and Hitler’s Rise to Power – Hitler’s Mercurial Rise to Absolute Power in Germany and Its Press Coverage in the Colonial Powers

In April of 1921, the victorious European Allies of World War One, notably France and England, presented a bill to Germany demanding payment for damages caused in the war which Germany had started. This bill (33 billion dollars) for war reparations had the immediate effect of causing ruinous inflation in Germany.

DOCTRINE OF STRATEGIC COMPETITION

The Pentagon is preparing for protracted conflicts.

On February 10, 2023, the United States Armed Forces Joint Competition Concept was released . The document was issued under the auspices of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and signed by its chairman, General Mark Milley. It belongs to the field of doctrines and the secrecy stamp has been removed from it, that is, the Pentagon command link has already familiarized itself with it, and now it is being released for familiarization to the masses.

NATO URGENTLY PUTS TOGETHER A “ROMANIAN FRONT”

All along the stretch from the Baltic to the Black Sea, the alliance deploys strike battle groups.

“Sea Shield-2023” against the backdrop of a provocation

It is noteworthy that the attack of sea drones on Sevastopol was carried out during the Sea Shield-2023 exercises, which are taking place off the Romanian coast. There are no such coincidences. It is clear that Romania’s Western allies are doing everything possible to drag the country into an active confrontation with Russia. Moreover, back in February last year, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to deploy a NATO battle group in Romania, led by France, which itself expressed a desire to become a so-called framework national structure on the territory of this country.

Bitcoin And Geopolitical Rivalry – Analysis

Bitcoin, the flagship stateless cryptocurrency, is a double-edged sword that can either strengthen or harm national power. As financial warfare becomes increasingly complex, this decentralized cybercurrency is acting as a versatile strategic instrument of statecraft that can play various roles under confrontational geopolitical circumstances. This under-researched subject matter needs to be clarified because it entails meaningful implications for national security, strategic intelligence, foreign policy and grand strategy, but also for the domain of high finance.