Join us for a compelling discussion on the evolving role of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in addressing 21st-century security challenges. As threats grow more dynamic—from cyber warfare and terrorism to great-power competition—SOF continues to adapt to maintain its strategic relevance. Our speakers will explore the unique capabilities that make SOF integral in asymmetric warfare, counterinsurgency, and counterterrorism. The talk will also address how technological advancements, hybrid warfare tactics, and shifting global alliances are reshaping operational priorities.

Overview: Join us for an engaging discussion examining the new Trump administration’s global strategy and its implications for international relations. This talk will explore how President Trump’s “America First” agenda reshaped U.S. foreign policy through bold economic moves, shifts in military alliances, and refreshed international engagements. From trade wars to alliance reevaluations, we’ll delve into key initiatives that redefined America’s role on the world stage. The talk will also address the challenges faced by allies navigating the evolving U.S.

China and the United States are heading for a war that neither wants. According to Professor Graham Allison (Harvard), the reason is Thucydides's Trap, a deadly pattern of structural stress that results when a rising power challenges a ruling one.

The Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) is a measure of poverty that goes beyond income, incorporating dimensions such as education, health, and living standards for a more comprehensive view. The Human Development Report Office of the United Nations Development Programme (HDRO/UNDP) and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) release the global multidimensional poverty index estimates annually. The MPI typically relies on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), however, these sources have limitations due to data gaps.

In recent decades, young individuals in Italy have faced increasing precariousness in their employment, fragmented career paths, prolonged transitions to adulthood, low social mobility, and growing inequalities. Given the unique challenges faced by this segment of the population, it is crucial to gain a comprehensive understanding of their current well-being and to track changes over time.

How do you measure the interlinkages between deprivations in diverse dimensions of human wellbeing? This seminar proposes an analytical framework for the popular Alkire-Foster approach to multidimensional poverty measurement, which permits a more granular view on the overlap or interlinkage of deprivations. Dr Nicolai Suppa will discuss how this approach can be applied in different settings and how it can inform policymakers.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has catalysed a renewed partnership between Moscow and its Cold War client of Pyongyang. The two states have not only signed a mutual defence pact, but in addition to sending artillery and missiles to Russia, North Korea has also deployed over 11,000 troops to aid Putin’s war. At the same time, China has remained obstinate in its reluctance to comment on the burgeoning North Korea-Russia ties, despite continuing to exchange dual-use technologies with Russia.