The piece expands on our idea of state enhancement — how states can build new capacities to navigate a more fragmented, competitive international environment.
If you’d like to read the original English version, just let me know and I’ll be happy to share it.
If you speak German, check out my new article 𝐃𝐢𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐤𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭 (𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐭), co-written with Roderick Parkes, in this month’s 𝘐𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘗𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘬 — or read it online
👉 lnkd.in/dkSAK5MQ
If cemeteries create a community of both the living and the dead, what happens when the living get displaced?
Case in point: German cemeteries in the PL "Recovered Lands."
All Saints' Day is a good day to reflect on what happens to memory in the absence of those who remember.
🧵(not an easy read)
Text including the line that in medieval times "both king and barons assumed that a certain amount of criminality was involved in being a noble and would be tolerated"
Plus ça change...
From "Homo Criminalis: How Crime Organises the World" by Mark Galeotti (2025)
Armed conflicts involve governments, rebel groups, militias, communal factions, and foreign forces — all interacting in complex ways. The result? A web of violence that can feel overwhelming to understand.
That's why we launch the Conflict Networks Explorer
peaceobservatory.com/conflict-networks
#Geopolitics #SpheresOfEnhancement #AI #Statecraft #Foresight #GlobalTrends #Policy #InternationalRelations
This inward turn risks miscalculation, spillover, and conflict – especially as “enhancement” escapes the lab and crosses borders.
🗣️ Available in EN & DE
📄 human-magazin.de#consulting
#Geopolitics #SpheresOfEnhancement #AI #Statecraft #Foresight #GlobalTrends #Policy #InternationalRelations
🚨 New article
🌿“𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 – 𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐛?” 🧪
As the global order shifts, states are moving away from territorial competition and towards 𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐞𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 – insulated spaces where they can experiment to boost resilience and autonomy.
What looks like a return to 🧭 spheres of influence is actually something messier, harder to manage, and more disruptive.
🔍 We lay out practical insights for 🇪🇺 the EU and 🛡️ NATO to navigate this complex shift.
My latest paper with @roderickp.bsky.social explores an emerging new logic of international competition:
💪 Self-enhancement – not about dominance, but about resilience, rule-bending, and experimentation under pressure.
🌍 States aren’t just competing anymore – they’re transforming.
In a world disrupted by 🌡️ climate change, ⚡ tech acceleration, and 😵💫 ethical breakdowns, nations are turning inward. They're not just competing against rivals – they're reengineering themselves to survive in a more hostile world.
"Today, it became clear that the free world needs a new leader."
The scenario is part of a wider project examining the EU's approach to partner governments which collude with criminal actors and its seemingly sanitised vision of Europe's own history
Set five years from now in the fictional Arctic territory of Snøland, the scenario explores themes of post-colonial relations, geostrategic rivalries and the compromises of state-building.
With Greenland back in the news, now is a great time to check out a scenario I co-authored with Roderick Parkes for @euiss.bsky.social back in 2020.
www.iss.europa.eu/publications...
A classic of New Year's LinkedIn 👇
Another big thank you to everyone who met with me to talk about #democraticfragility and #organisedcrime in Kosovo over the last week. It was wonderful to visit for the first time and to speak to so many insightful people!
Exactly right!
Glad to have found a nice study spot in Pristina to prepare for my next round of interviews in Kosovo
Thank you to everyone who talked with me about #democraticfragility and #organisedcrime in Montenegro over the last week. It’s been truly eye-opening and I’m very grateful for all the fascinating insights!
President Jakov Milatović shaking hands with DGAP´s vice-president Rolf Nikel and Senior Research Fellow Milan Nič
We were honored to welcome the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović today for a closed-door discussion on 🇲🇪 domestic challenges & the country’s path towards the 🇪🇺. Thank you very much for your time and the insightful exchange!
Brushing up on some essential vocab #organisedcrime
Very happy to be in my favourite Podgorica café prepping for a week of interviews about democratic fragility and organised crime in Montenegro