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Kazakhstan's New Constitution: Key Policies and Implications
On March 15, 2026, Kazakhstan officially adopted a new constitution following a nationwide referendum; a move that captured the attention of both the Kremlin and the White House. Why the Change? The primary driver behind these constitutional revamp was the executive’s desire to move past the Nazarbayev Era. This decision came after a violent unrest which occurred in January 2022, involving protests and coup attempts. Since then, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev promised citi

Mischa Khanna
7 days ago3 min read


Bi-Weekly Updates on International Politics: Civitas One Magazine
Vol. 2, Issue 5 — March 22, 2026 I. Leadership Succession and Regional Escalation in the Persian Gulf The Islamic Republic of Iran entered a period of acute political and military transition following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli strike on February 28. Following an emergency selection process by the Assembly of Experts, his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was officially appointed as the third Supreme Leader of Iran on March 8. This t

Civitas One Team
Mar 227 min read


The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: A Volatile Test for Global Energy Security
On March 2, 2026, the global energy market entered a period of extreme volatility following the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian maritime forces. This development follows a series of large-scale military exchanges between the United States, Israel, and the Islamic Republic of Iran that began in late February. The closure of this vital maritime chokepoint—through which approximately 20% of the world’s petroleum and liquid natural gas (LNG) flows—has trigger

Bayan Peikari
Mar 184 min read


ARCTIC SENTINELS: Indigenous Agency and the Future of Arctic Strategy
Strategists have long viewed Greenland as a geostrategic fixture, measuring its significance solely by its military installations and critical mineral deposits. The following analysis contends that such a viewpoint neglects a crucial reality: Greenland’s Inuit-majority government exercises decisive authority over environmental access and critical mineral licensing—decisions central to global energy security and advanced technologies.
Michael A. Orona
Mar 119 min read


Bi-Weekly Updates on International Politics: Civitas One Magazine
Vol. 2, Issue 4 — March 8, 2026 I. Direct Confrontation in the Persian Gulf: Operation Epic Fury On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched "Operation Epic Fury," a massive joint military campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran. The initial wave involved nearly 900 strikes targeting Iranian air defenses, ballistic missile facilities, and leadership compounds. Notably, reports from the reporting period confirm the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in

Civitas One Team
Mar 87 min read


The Fall of a Regime: Iran’s Unfolding Crisis and the High Cost of Change
The military strikes of February 28, 2026, represent a significant shift in U.S.–Iranian relations. These offensive actions, conducted as part of a joint campaign, followed a period of rapidly deteriorating stability in the region. While historical hostilities between the two nations primarily manifested through cyber warfare, proxy skirmishes, and intelligence operations, this transition into direct, large-scale conflict has fundamentally altered the security landscape for t

Bayan Peikari & Mischa Khanna
Mar 44 min read


TRIPP: Trump's Route for International Peace and Prosperity
On January 13, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan to announce the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity Implementation Framework (TRIPP) The framework is intended to strengthen a transit corridor through Southern Armenia, connecting Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. The full TRIPP Implementation Framework published by the U.S. The Department of State can be found here. Historical Significance To understa

Mischa Khanna
Feb 253 min read


Bi-Weekly Updates on International Politics: Civitas One Magazine
Vol. 2, Issue 3 — February 22, 2026 I. The Global Tariff Reconfiguration: U.S. Judicial and Executive Pivot On February 20, 2026, the United States Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling limiting the executive branch’s authority to impose broad national security tariffs under existing emergency statutes. In immediate response, President Donald Trump held a White House briefing on February 21, flanked by Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, to announce a shift in strategy. Th

Civitas One Team
Feb 228 min read


The 2026 Munich Security Conference: An Analytical Recap
The 62nd Munich Security Conference took place from February 13 to 15 at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof and the Rosewood Munich. The theme of this year’s Munich Security Report , “Under Destruction,” is aptly named to highlight the world order’s shift out of a transitional period and into an era defined by “wrecking ball politics.” Over the three days of deliberation, the officials in Munich were concerned with one central question: can the rule-based international order be repai

Mischa Khanna
Feb 184 min read


Militias and Massacres: Inside Iran’s Hidden Two-Month Crisis
To understand Iran’s current political landscape, it is essential to look back at the transformative events of the late 20th century. The 1979 Revolution did more than just change a leader; it fundamentally restructured the nation’s identity, legal framework, and position on the global stage. The Pahlavi Era: A Vision of Modernity and Its Friction For much of the 20th century, Iran was ruled by the Pahlavi dynasty. Under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, the country underwent a per

Bayan Peikari & Mischa Khanna
Feb 117 min read


Bi-Weekly Updates on International Politics: Civitas One Magazine
Vol. 2, Issue 2 — February 8, 2026 I. The "Brussels-Delhi" Axis: EU and India Finalize Landmark Trade Deal The European Union and India finalized a Free Trade Agreement on January 27, 2026, marking the conclusion of a negotiation process that had previously faced multiple delays. The agreement is designed to eliminate or significantly reduce tariffs on more than 90% of traded goods between the two entities. Key provisions of the treaty include specific frameworks for digital

Civitas One Team
Feb 87 min read


The Rafah Reopening: A Look at Gaza's New Geopolitical Reality
The Rafah Crossing, the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula serves as Gaza’s “gateway to the world.” The closure began in May 2024 when Israeli troops seized the Palestinian side of the crossing during a military offensive in southern Gaza. Israel justified the seizure as a necessary measure to dismantle Hamas’s tunnel networks and prevent arms smuggling. The takeover effectively paralyzed the terminal’s civilian operations, as Egypt refused to coordinat

Mischa Khanna
Feb 43 min read


The Board of Peace: Trump's Conflict Reconstruction Initiative
In January 2026, President Trump formally ratified the creation of a U.S.-lead “Board of Peace,” a new diplomatic initiative that the administration has framed as a historic attempt to reshape global conflict resolution and reconstruction. The Board of Peace is described as an international organization convened under U.S. leadership. The main goal is to bring together select global actors to address conflicts where existing diplomatic approaches have stalled. Announced du

Mischa Khanna
Jan 283 min read


Weekly Updates on International Politics: Civitas One Magazine
Vol. 2, Issue 1 — Month of January, 2026 Dear Readers, We would like to begin by extending our sincere gratitude for your patience and continued support during our recent hiatus. While our weekly magazines were paused, our editorial team was working tirelessly to finalize the Civitas One Annual Review Booklet, a comprehensive deep-dive into the seismic shifts of the past year. To make up for the time away, this special edition of the magazine has been expanded to cover the

Civitas One Team
Jan 2511 min read


U.S. – Greenland Crisis: A Transatlantic Crisis Driven by Grievance and Geopolitics
In recent weeks, tensions have increased between the United States and several allied countries following public statements by President Donald Trump regarding Greenland. Trump has linked renewed U.S. interest in Greenland to his response to not receiving the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, a connection that has drawn attention from policymakers and observers. These statements have prompted diplomatic discussions among transatlantic partners and raised questions about alliance coordi

Mischa Khanna
Jan 213 min read


Chile’s Dramatic Shift: The Election of Jose Antonio Kast
On December 16, the Civitas One team attended the Atlantic Council event “What Lies Ahead for Chile’s New President,” moderated by Jason Marczak, Vice President and Senior Director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. The panel featured Cristina Bitar, Senior Partner and President of Azerta Chile; Patricio Navia, Clinical Professor at the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies; and Christian Stewart, Executive Director of IdeaPais and an Atlantic Council Mill

Mischa Khanna
Dec 17, 20253 min read


Weekly Updates on International Politics: Civitas One Magazine
Vol. 1, Issue 21 — Week of December 14, 2025 I. Presidential Runoff in Chile: Rightward Shift in Latin America Chile held its presidential runoff on December 14, 2025, in a contest between far-right Republican José Antonio Kast and left-wing Jeannette Jara, with mandatory voting reinstated for the first time since 2012. The runoff emerged after neither candidate secured a majority in the November first round, reflecting deep polarization and public concern over crime, immigra

Civitas One Team
Dec 14, 20256 min read


Yemen at a Crossroads: Southern Control and the Road Ahead
Yemen has entered December 2025 amid one of the most consequential shifts in its political and military landscape since the civil war began in 2014. After years of parallel authorities, stalled negotiations, and intermittent conflict, the early days of the month brought rapid territorial changes driven by the Southern Transitional Council, rising political tension between rival factions, and renewed concern among regional actors. These developments unfolded against a backdrop

Bayan Peikari
Dec 10, 20254 min read


Weekly Updates on International Politics: Civitas One Magazine
Vol. 1, Issue 20 — Week of December 7, 2025 I. Norway Halts Arctic Deep-Sea Mining to Protect Ecosystems Norway announced a four-year moratorium on deep-sea mining in its Arctic waters, halting planned exploitation of mineral-rich seabeds containing copper, zinc, and rare-earth metals critical for green technologies. The government cited environmental risks, political pressure from environmental groups, and the need to reassess Arctic governance frameworks. The freeze affects

Civitas One Team
Dec 8, 20255 min read


A Fragile Blueprint: What the Controversial “28-Point” Peace Plan Means for Ukraine and Europe
For a brief period in late November 2025, an unexpected diplomatic document captured global attention: a U.S.-backed 28-point peace framework designed to chart a path out of the Russia-Ukraine war. Reports indicated that the plan, initially leaked on November 19, 2025, was drafted amid back-channel discussions involving U.S. and Russian officials. It quickly became a geopolitical lightning rod, highlighting divisions within the U.S. administration, raising alarm among Europea

Bayan Peikari
Dec 3, 20253 min read
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