On Political Allegiance, Practical Commitments, and Cooperation Across Disagreement Alexander Stubb’s appeal for cooperation responds to a world in which competition is increasingly exercised through raw power. Stubb’s appeal raises a wider question: what must a diplomatic address contribute if…
On Diplomatic Judgment, Institutional Capacity, and the Commitments Peace Requires Historical reference can constrain the interpretation of warfare when analogy becomes a substitute for examining present conditions. Earlier conflicts offer valuable grounds for assessing diplomatic frameworks retrospectively, but their defensive…
On Diplomacy, Public Scrutiny, and the Performance of Resolve The extensive media coverage of encounters between dignitaries raises a tension between public accountability and diplomatic discretion. Reporting on leaders’ statements, gestures, and meetings can inform citizens and expose decisions to…
On Novi Sad, Political Accountability, and the Limits of a Renewed Mandate Aleksandar Vučić resigned as president on 27 September 2026 while seeking a return to the prime minister’s office if his party forms the next government. His resignation can…
On the Balkan Settlements, Political Commitments, and the Room to Negotiate The Second Balkan War arose from disputes over the division of territories gained during the First Balkan War. After fighting alongside Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro against the Ottoman Empire,…
On Judicial Accountability, the KLA, and Kosovo’s Historical Memory On 16 September 2026, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers found Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi, and Jakup Krasniqi guilty at trial of war crimes, including unlawful or arbitrary detention, cruel treatment,…
On Aggression, Wartime Conduct, and the Terms of an Enduring Settlement Ending a war requires more than condemning aggression. It requires understanding what the aggressor state seeks, how it interprets a ceasefire, and what conditions could bring its attacks to…
On Public Condemnation, Military Solidarity, and the Limits of Moral Attention When states speak in an international forum, condemnation of an opposing government and declarations of military capacity can strengthen solidarity among allies. Accounts of atrocities and civilian suffering give…
On Arrest Warrants, Sanctions, and the Limits of Collective Blame When the international community repeatedly condemns a head of state and identifies others as possible accomplices, it faces a gap between judgment and enforcement. Sanctions, trade restrictions, and financial measures…
On Security Council Statements, Military Information, and the Limits of Transparency When the United Nations becomes a forum for states to announce their agendas, report their achievements, and declare their positions, public speech acquires a strategic role. In the Security…
