The physicality of work is ceding to automation and AI-centricity, and real value creation now resides in mental performance. A new global divide emerges—between explicit knowledge, curated within Ivy walls and leather-bound books shelved for antiquity, and tacit knowledge, thriving in entrepreneurial mysticism: an instinct-driven mindset to take lifelong risks and create enterprises.
The Mind-First Age marks a historic pivot: This force dances through the cerebral canyons in search of unexplainable...
International response remains fragmented
As of the fall of 2025, the Gaza Strip is in the grip of a profound humanitarian crisis. After nearly two years of conflict, which began in October 2023, the toll on civilians is catastrophic. Weakened by a long blockade, the enclave’s population now stands on the brink of humanitarian disaster: tens of thousands of people dead, mass displacement, collapsing infrastructure, famine and outbreaks of disease.
Conflict dynamics
The war in Gaza began on October...
Tension and hopelessness within the Turkish opposition have been stoked by the ongoing political crisis, which has demonstrated that the government has penetrated the opposition and that the Republican People's Party (CHP) is split
Turkey is going through a serious and perilous political crisis that will affect democracy and political work in the future. The Turkish state, represented by the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), perceives the "Kurdish solution" project as one of its most...
On September 18, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) co-hosted a roundtable titled "Russia-Mexico Relations: A View from Moscow and Mexico City"
On September 18, 2025, the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC) and the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI) co-hosted a roundtable titled "Russia-Mexico Relations: A View from Moscow and Mexico City".
The event was opened with welcoming remarks...
The primary objective of "Kurdish-Turkish reconciliation" is Turkish foreign policy
Upon reaching an agreement with the Turkish state, Turkey has taken the first definitive step towards executing the “
Terror-Free Turkey
” plan, which seeks to find a legal and constitutional approach for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to disband and lay down its arsenal. Last October, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan backed this plan, which was
promoted
by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet...
The Islamic Republic appears to be deliberately seeking to strengthen Iranian-Islamic identity by combining Islamic revolutionary values with elements of nationalism
For the first time in three weeks, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made a public
appearance
, attending a significant Shiite Muslim religious ceremony. Reformists and others from Iran's political spectrum have praised Khamenei's come back, which comes amid increased fears of an Israeli assassination attempt. This...
... a few.
Future political landscape: possible scenarios
The future of the political system in Ukraine remains uncertain and depends on several factors, including the course of the conflict, the stance of Western partners and the readiness of Ukrainian society to return to legal and democratic procedures. Three scenarios seem possible.
First, institutionalized authoritarianism.
The current power structure with an outsized role of the president’s office would be kept in place; there would be stage-managed ...
The West is trying to lay the groundwork for gaining leverage over the current authorities in Damascus
It has been six months since the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [
1
] group led by Abu Mohammad al-Julani (now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa) seized power in Syria. Shortly before that, half a world away, Donald Trump had won the U.S. presidential election, and all eyes turned to see what his foreign policy would look like. Nobody was watching more closely than Syria’s new authorities, who were well aware that...
Report No. 99 / 2025
Report No. 99 / 2025
The following report focuses on the Middle Eastern policies of extra-regional actors and their transformation in changing conditions. It concentrates on studying the strategies pursued by Russia, the U.S., the EU, China and India in the Middle East. The report also examines how Middle Eastern countries perceive extra-regional actors as they aspire to build pragmatic and balanced relationships with external partners.
Extra-Regional Actors in the Middle East...
... to rejuvenate its workforce and global connections. For India, it provides opportunities for its youth while reinforcing strategic bonds with a trusted ally. Moving forward, collaborative efforts by policymakers, educational institutions, and civil society are essential to nurture and expand this dynamic partnership for decades to come.
First published in the
NatStrat
.
