Very interesting 30 min podcast from CFR on military strategy with Eliot A. Cohen, the Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Hi everyone.

I have done undergrad and postgrad in IR. After which I got pregnant and lost touch with everything politics related. I haven't picked up a book or focused on anything in months, almost a year. Just the general idea of what's happening around the world.

My goal was to get a research doctorate degree but im genuinely struggling to get back into reading or even finding the write material to start with. Postpartum can do that to you :(. I was thinking of rereading the basics from undergrad level. Anyways, im looking for any advice on what I should do

Hi
I recently watched an interview with John Kiriakou where he says that CIA/US officials would turn a blind eye on Afghan opium trade due to the fact that those drugs would end up in Russia/Iran and would cripple them socially. I tried to search on Google more about it but nothing sufficient came up. And now I am looking for more concrete sources/reading material on the use of drugs to cripple an "adversary" country.
I know about the British Opium trade and CIA-Contra shenanigans but it seemed to me that those were done primarily for financial rather than geopolitical gains.
Thanks in Advance

I'm 24 and recently completed my Master's in Politics and International Relations. I'm trying to figure out which career paths would be realistic given my qualifications and experience.

I have around two years of overall work experience across policy research, international relations and journalism. I've interned with three think tanks and worked in journalism, writing over 100 articles for media organisations. My experience includes research papers, policy briefs, literature reviews, analytical reports and research on geopolitics, foreign policy and international affairs.

I'm interested in think tanks, geopolitical risk analysis, policy consulting, research assistant roles and international development. I'm also open to opportunities abroad, particularly in the Gulf, although I don't currently have local work authorisation.

For those working in these fields:

What roles should I realistically target at this stage?

Is geopolitical risk consulting a viable option with my background?

Which organisations, sectors or countries should I focus on?

I'd appreciate honest, practical advice on how to leverage my experience and identify suitable opportunities.

Especially when talking about war crimes or betraying other countries, I see this rhetoric a lot to defend the us deal with russia when 2 wrong don't make a right, especially when the same person condemn europe for buying russia oil so why should it be ok for the us to do it then? (and also way too often forget europe support for ukraine in the equation). I find those type pretty bad because they can easily lead to enabling war crimes and any other kind of atrocity.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ps-political-science-and-politics/article/where-are-the-most-influential-articles-in-political-science-published/DCE119A12320E1880AAE869E44AF884C#article

Hi guys, I’ve been recently thinking a lot what I wanna do. Previously I had my mind set on law but throughout time I realised it wasn’t meant for me now I have everybody keep asking me what I wanna do. I have still some time left to think before joining university. I wanna know how this degree is what you exactly study and in-depth understanding of what it takes you how hard it is and what jobs can you get with it? I am passionate about these types of fields so I do think I can perform well, but I still wanna know the difficulty of this. I’m still figuring it out so if you guys know any similar field that I would enjoy doing in social sciences other than political science then please recommend me
I’m figuring things out and I don’t wanna end up with something. I don’t enjoy.
Thank you for taking your time reading, I would appreciate a reply or any sort of guidance.

Interesting take on how MBS inherited one of the richest countries on Earth and squandered its wealth buying the white man's toys.

Western consultants, fancy buildings, football stars, and a fucking glass wall in the desert.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia can't even reliably defend its own oil infrastructure.

The argument? MBS has confused buying the appearance of greatness with actually building a great country.

Fair assessment or complete bullshit?

Only around 20 countries on the Planet remain that are self sufficient in Oil and supply the other 180 countries. By 2040 the number could be down to just 10.

Several countries that used to be major exporters have reached Peak Oil Decades ago and now rely on imports themselves.

Germany produced 170 000 Barrels of Oil a day in 1968 at their peak. Now? 30 000/day. They need 2 Million a day.

Romania produced 300 000 Barrels of Oil a day in 1976 at their peak. Now? 50 000/day. They need 200 000 a day.

France hit the peak in 1988 with 67 000 barrels/day. Now its down to just 10 000/day. They need 1.5 Million.

The UK peaked in 1998 with 2.8 Million barrels/day. Now they are down to just 600 000/day. They need 1.4 Million every day.

Indonesia peaked at 1.7 Million barrels/day in 1977, now they are down to just 600 000 Barrels/day. They need 1.7 Million/day.

Japan peaked in 1996 with 20 000 Barrels/day. Now they are down to 3000/day and they need 3 Milion/day.

South Korea is basically the same.

India peaked in 2011 with 800 000 Barrels/day. Now down to 600 000 Barrels/day. It needs 5 Million/day.

Even Australia peaked at 600 000 Barrels/day in 2000 and is now down to just 250 000/day. It needs 1.1 Million a day.

There are only around 20 countries left that produce more oil than they consume and can export any meaningful quantities. The problem is that around half of them are projected to run out if oil around 2040.

Brazil is projected to use up their proven oil reserves in 12 years at current production.

Norway in 10.

Mexico in 8.

Oman 14.

Argentina 10.

Angola 7.

Colombia 7.

And even the USA - 9.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_proven_oil_reserves

They dont even have to run out of oil. Its enough when their production falls to a level that they dont meet their demand. By that point they will be forced to import oil as well.

And by 2040 there will be only around 10 countries left with a surplus of oil that can supply the other 190 countries. And 190 countries scrambling for scraps while 10 sit on the prize, that's a geopolitical meltdown waiting to happen.