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From Dragon Fruit to Political Fruitcakes: World Updates One Can’t Miss

Hello everyone and welcome back from our summer break to the August 2025 edition, your window into the global currents shaping tomorrow. This month, we turn our focus to power, transformation, and resilience - from the arenas of sport to the deserts of Israel, and from rising regional powers to the frontlines of European security.

International sport never rests, but neither do its controversies. Doping scandals, corruption, and discrimination reveal that even global arenas reflect the world’s divisions. Meanwhile, in Israel’s Negev Desert, the Bedouin have transformed over the past century from nomadic life to established communities, navigating unique challenges along the way.

Türkiye asserts itself from Syria to Ukraine, balancing ambition with deep normative divides. In West Africa, ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, facing coups, terrorism, and power grabs - can it renew its mission or risk irrelevance? Across Europe, populism surges, and hybrid warfare threatens critical infrastructures, making resilience and cooperation more vital than ever.

We also explore the impact of AI on global power, innovation, and governance, while Northlight Green Services in Northern Uganda showcases how climate-smart farming can transform lives and communities.

From sport to security, from deserts to digital revolutions, this edition unpacks the forces shaping our complex world.

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Fields of Glory, Arenas of Power: The Politics of Sport
Global sport never sleep - and neither do its controversies. From state-sponsored doping to corruption and discrimination, recent scandals reveal how sport mirrors the world’s divisions and crises.

From Desert Nomads to Settled Communities: The Transformation of Israel’s Bedouin in the Negev

In Israel’s Negev Desert, the Bedouin have transformed over the past century from nomadic desert life to established, settled communities, navigating unique challenges along the way.

SHORT ARTICLE

Türkiye as a Regional Power - Assertive but Fragile

From Syria to Ukraine, Türkiye maneuvers as a middle-power player. Its pivotal role in Europe’s periphery hides deep ideological divides beneath pragmatic ties with Europe and the Middle East.

Read it here!

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

The 50th anniversary of ECOWAS: origins, evolution, current challenges and outlook
As ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Created to drive economic integration, the bloc now battles coups, terrorism, and leaders clinging to power. Can it renew its mission - or risk losing relevance?

Populism in Europe: Understanding Voter Motivations and National Variations

From voter motivations to national differences, Tim Bale explains the complex surge of populism across Europe.

POLITICAL ANALYSIS

Strategic Vulnerabilities: Hybrid Warfare Threats from Russia and China on Europe’s Critical Infrastructures

In today’s shifting European security landscape, diversification, redundancy, and resilience are more than buzzwords - they’re strategic imperatives. For the EU and NATO, only a holistic approach, rooted in civil-military cooperation and a renewed security culture, can counter mounting cyberattacks, sabotage, and the wider clash between democracies and authoritarian powers.

Read our latest analysis here

FROM OUR GALLERY

Navigating the Future of the Information Age

Future of Information Environment and Democracy

What will the future of our information environment look like? In London, over 20 world-renowned experts came together to explore the pressing challenges - and promising opportunities -that the digital age holds for democratic systems.

SHORT ARTICLE

Belarus’ Political Prisoner Release: What It Means for Europe and Germany

Tikhanovsky’s release sends a signal to the West, yet ongoing repressions in Belarus raise the question: can Germany and the international community strike the right balance between carrot and stick?

Read more here.

INTERVIEW
Navigating the Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Legal Norms, Ethical Challenges, and International Cooperation

Prof. Eric Hilgendorf explores AI’s effects on global power, innovation, and governance, sharing insights from his expertise in technology law, digital ethics, and international AI policy.

BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

HSS Brussels
A delegation from Togo and Benin explored women’s political participation, tackled barriers, and exchanged insights with EU institutions, NGOs, and think tanks. 🌍💬🗳️

HSS Morocco
🎥 Highlights from Morocco’s 30-year volunteering celebration in Agadir, honoring Lakbir Ouhajou. Key recommendations: integrate volunteering in schools, publish a collective book, and hold an annual national meeting.


HSS Ecuador
📸🌟 Smiles, ideas, and commitment marked the 2025 Alumni and Fellows Meeting: Unidos por la Justicia. Reflections, debates, and networking strengthened our shared dedication to human rights and social justice. 💙✨
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WHO IS...?

Northlight Green Services?

Northlight Green Services (NGS) is transforming lives in Northern Uganda through climate-smart dragon fruit farming — empowering women, youth, and schools with sustainable skills, income opportunities, and a greener future.
If you’d like to learn more or explore opportunities, feel free to reach out to Jennifer Okusia, Executive Director of Northlight Green Services (NGS), at jennifer.okusia@gmail.com
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The articles in this newsletter reflect the opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the Hanns Seidel Foundation.