In the summertime when...the world faces a crisis of multilateralism, the Sahel deals with corruption and armed militias, European leaders are scrambling to make the recovery green, and when mental health needs more attention than ever, we will still be bringing you the analysis you need. While we are wrapping up this season of newsletters, we leave you with plenty of food for thought for the summer. You will still be able to read new analyses on our blog every week, until we meet again in September. Global affairs are sure to give us much to reflect on until then.

Any one of us with access to the Internet in recent months has run the chance of having been misinformed at one point or another, perhaps without even realizing it (unless bleach was ingested). That is why we decided to look at what happens to information on social media a bit more closely. In the meantime, France has had a concluding round of municipal elections, where the victory of the Green party has raised multiple questions about the political future of the country.

The question of the environmental transition in the midst of economic recession has been at the center of our attention this week, as we’ve examined the advantages of carbon pricing in our new publication. Meanwhile, particular attention should be paid to the slow but inevitable transformation of Hong Kong that is happening before our eyes, at a time when the rest of the world needs to figure out its position vis à vis China. The US will need to tackle this before its elections, while Europe’s foreign policy will be guided by the German Presidency for the next 6 months.

How can a French suburb host the 2024 Summer Olympics and the headquarters of major companies, and still be the poorest area of France? In our latest report, we have dived into the public policy challenges of Seine-Saint-Denis, and the myriad of economic opportunities that could open up for its inhabitants if the right action is taken. In other news, US citizens are shaking the world awake, a former Federal Reserve Chair breaks down the economic impact of Covid-19, and we analyze what happens to armed conflict during a global health crisis. For this and more, keep reading!

In Europe, the Chinese tension is more palpable than ever. The Chinese seem to not be sharing the sentiment. What is happening with this relationship? In other news, between decreasing support from the Kremlin, and dissent from his business magnate of a cousin, Bashar al-Assad’s rule seems shaky right now. While it might feel like we’re in for upheaval, Belgium has shown us how two distinct populations can come together in the name of cooperation. Read this week’s handpicked selection!
 

While China is making headlines, Hong Kong’s wisps of autonomy are coming loose. But despite the neo-Cold War atmosphere, some countries are teaching us about resilience, unity and careful thinking. From Morocco’s impressive mobilization, and the reinvention of French universities, to Estonia’s success in hacking itself out of the crisis, the aftermath looks all the more hopeful! Scroll through for this week’s handpicked selection of global affairs. 

Countries are easing their lockdowns, opening up space to analyze what will happen next. This week we’re looking into how France is dealing with the crisis, and the EU’s dependence on cheap labour from Eastern Europe. We’re also looking into how the Dutch model of a "trust-based society" shaped its Covid-19 response, and asking where our industries are headed. Here’s your food for thought for the week! 

As lockdowns and barriers are slowly being lifted, there are still many uncertainties about what awaits the world. Will Covid-19 turn the Middle East upside down? Are we selling our souls together with our data? And how can Gabon quell our worries about the pandemic in Africa? Answers to these questions and more in this handpicked selection for your weekly geopolitical and public policy update.

This week we zoom into our latest publication on the East Asian responses to Covid-19, analysing and comparing the various policies they have applied since December 31. We are also looking into how the crisis is causing the resurgence of the Italian Mafia, unveiling new trends in US politics, and potentially keeping Putin from reigning...forever? Keep reading for more!