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More from our expertsForeign Affairs - The War China Might Choose
August 04, 2026
by Eugene Gholz and Kerby Davis
Analysts generally organize the options for a Chinese military move against Taiwan into three categories: an invasion to seize direct control of the island; a “joint firepower strike” that would bomb Taiwan’s cities and political institutions, terrorizing Taiwanese civilians into surrender; and a maritime blockade to starve Taiwan into submission. All these missions are complex, high-cost gambles for China that would consume large quantities of military assets and result in immense casualties and property damage.
South China Morning Post
Pain or gain? US moves to decouple its defence industry from China’s rare earths
August 01, 2026
The latest directive tells defence contractors that the era of relatively easily available waivers and the Trump administration’s repeated retreats from enforcing policies in this area is over, according to Eugene Gholz, an associate professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame.
“The executive order is about finally enforcing laws that have been on the books for a while,” said Gholz, who formerly served as senior adviser to the US deputy assistant secretary of defence for manufacturing and industrial base policy.
The Conversation
US‑Saudi nuclear deal invites proliferation risks … unless safeguards are written in
July 27, 2026
by Amy McAuliffe
A key question remains over the landmark U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal announced with much fanfare on July 22, 2026: Will it allow a nation long suspected of having nuclear weapons ambitions to enrich uranium?
U.S. President Donald Trump has already shifted the sands of the agreement, adding a major caveat requiring Saudi Arabia to normalize relations with Israel first. He also posted that there would be “no enrichment.”
But it is unclear whether either condition is included in the signed deal, something that has nonproliferation experts like me worried.
Journal of Democracy - Defending Democracy Must Begin in the Classroom
July 20, 2026
By Victoria Tin-bor Hui
Public-opinion surveys tell us that global support for democracy is as widespread as ever. Yet if democracy is so popular, why have democratic institutions around the world become so fragile?
The Conversation
Israel’s ‘campaign between the wars’: How strategy to contain Iran and its allies risks further straining ties with US
June 26, 2026
by Amy McAuliffe
A lot hangs on whether the United States can compel Israel to cease operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon. After all, an end to the Israeli military offensive was a key provision of the broad U.S.-Iran agreement setting out a road map to end the Iran war.
And even though Israel did not sign the deal, policymakers in Washington will continue to press Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abide by the truce.
