InterRegional for Strategic Analysis

InterRegional for Strategic Analysis has released eight new books that cover major strategic issues with complex and far-reaching global impacts across security, military, political, economic, and technological affairs. The first book, The Chinese Century: How Beijing Could Reshape the World Order, contains ten chapters that discuss key features of and shifts in Chinese policy with regard to Beijing’s efforts to bolster its influence in the world order and reshape the status quo according to its own vision. This poses a challenge to the US, especially since Beijing has adopted a different view of the world order and of the dominant principles in international relations. China rejects the values that Western nations, led by Washington, have adopted, such as intervention and democracy promotion. Beijing has also formed an alliance with Moscow, which shifts the current structure of global relations. The book engages with the dynamics of Chinese policy in various regions that intersect with Beijing’s interests and where Chinese involvement would exert pressure on the US.A second book, A Comprehensive Review: Strategies for Reviving British Influence in the World Order, discusses various dimensions of the UK’s engagement in the global arena in recent years. Especially since Brexit, London has been trying to boost its own international clout. We might note that the military has been a key feature of UK policy in recent years as it has ramped up military involvement in various regions, especially in Ukraine, against the Houthis in the Red Sea, and against Venezuela in the South American nation of Guyana. This heightened use of military force is in part due to London’s efforts to bolster its role in the international arena and to once again become a powerful player in global dynamics. The UK also wants to reap economic dividends from these efforts to compensate for the fallout from Brexit.A third book, NATO Policies: A Bulwark Against Global Unrest outlines NATO’s policies in recent years and its efforts to deal with various disruptions to the international order. The war in Ukraine has been a pivotal moment for NATO in strengthening its presence in the global arena. It has sought to expand membership and added new members (Finland and Sweden), and has also begun to extend its activities into new areas such as the Caucasus. This region is particularly strategically and geopolitically important, especially since various states seceded from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s. This has brought the Caucasus to the forefront of foreign policy concerns for global powers that want to contain Russian influence in the region. It is also strategically located at a crossroads between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, and has various natural gas and oil pipelines. NATO has also been increasingly interested in establishing a presence in Asia due to heightened competition with China, and has sought rapprochement with key regional players such as Japan.A fourth publication, Global Trends in AI Governance, argues that the expanding use of AI and the surge in that field have created numerous challenges for governments. This has prompted various countries to search for mechanisms with which to govern the use of AI and to neutralize its negative impacts. For example, leading nations convened in the UK at the AI Safety Summit of November 2023 to produce the Bletchley Declaration, affirming their commitment to international cooperation and coordination to manage the risks and potentials of AI. Nevertheless, it is clear that efforts towards AI governance are facing major challenges in light of the speed with which the technology has developed and spread, and also due to the increasing influence of tech companies.A fifth volume, A Resurgent Current: The Rise of the Far Right in Global Politics, examines the striking ascendance of the far right across many regions of the world today, in light of the capacity of right-wing forces to promote their views and attract various sectors of the population. For example, across European societies, right-wing forces have become stronger at the ballot box as public sentiment shifts. Voters are fed up with various crises and internal issues that their countries are facing, including with regard to refugees, whom some on the right see as a cultural, economic, or security threat. Rising energy costs as a result of the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russian oil have also been key factors in driving opportunities for right-wing forces.A sixth book, Battles at the Ballot Box: How National Elections Could Shape International Dynamics, analyzes the impact of national elections on international dynamics given the many upcoming elections that will be held in 2024 in various countries. Although each of these national elections are shaped by different economic and political factors, they all come at a time of escalating international crises and acute conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. As a result, these national elections are likely to have implications for global politics. For example, the US presidential elections—especially if Trump wins the White House—could weaken Kiev’s position in the war against Russia. A Trump victory would also raise concerns in various European countries, which would need to search for mechanisms to independently bolster defense. The outcome of multiple Asian countries’ national elections this year could also reshape the balance of international power in the Indo-Pacific or the dynamics of the rivalry between Washington and Beijing.A seventh volume, The Horn of Africa: Crises and Strategic Shifts, examines aspects of international dynamics in the Horn of Africa given the increasing strategic importance of this region and growing international rivalries there. Many global powers are competing to deepen their clout in Africa. At the same time, the Horn of Africa in particular has faced numerous challenges, especially due to growing tensions between countries in the region. Most prominently, there have been tensions between Somalia and Ethiopia after the latter reached a preliminary agreement with Somaliland in January 2024 to allow Addis Ababa to rent around 20 square kilometers near the Berbera Port for 50 years. This paves the way for establishing an Ethiopian seaport that could be used as a military base or for commercial ends. There are also ongoing security challenges in the region in light of internal conflicts and escalating terrorist activity.Finally, an eight book was published in English: Future Wars: Expected Transformations in Advanced Weaponry Systems. This book sheds light on developments taking place in armament systems and how this could impact future warfare. There is growing reliance on drones, which have become a "revolutionary weapon," especially given developments in drone technology and the emergence of suicide drones which are widely available at a low cost. This has made drones into a force multiplier for states, while also providing non-state actors with a new means of attack. Additionally, there have been increasing efforts in the field of warfare to reinstate some traditional weapons such as tanks. Countries are working to strengthen tank defenses, develop unmanned tanks, and build tanks capable of self-repair and obstacle detention, which function as resilient weapons systems. Tanks are also being developed that would be capable of maneuvering and camouflage, and are being equipped with integrated combat systems that include surveillance and communications capabilities and provide a wider view of the battlefield. Technological developments have been a key feature of modern warfare, since many countries are trying to integrate AI into various weapons systems and to mitigate the human factor.

InterRegional Publishes Eight New Books at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair