Populist parties in southern Europe, usually more successful courting voters on the left end of the political spectrum, are gaining ground on the right, most notably in Spain and Portugal. Political science researcher Steven Ballantyne takes a look at their trajectory to success.

All COVID-19 vaccines require refrigerated temperatures for storage. However, as Policy Leader Fellow Nathan Awuapila points out, many countries in sub-Saharan Africa don’t have the energy infrastructure necessary to guarantee these cold conditions.

World leaders are acting quickly to confront the COVID emergency, sometimes at the expense of established rules and procedures. RSC research associate Maria Patrin examines the fall-out earlier this month when European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen bypassed the Commission’s principle of collegiality in decision-making.

Ten years ago the EU launched the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue to facilitate the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Jean Monnet Fellow Dr Klodiana Beshku evaluates progress made and the obstacles that remain, some of which are internal to the EU itself.

With the recent election of US President Joe Biden, hope and expectations for climate action by the US are high. Climate policy experts Jos Delbeke and Peter Vis trace out some possible steps forward for the new US administration.

The ruinous effects of corruption on public trust know no national boundaries. Policy Leader Fellow Philip N. Gichana takes a look at the Kenyan case, where corrupt and futile procurement practices during the pandemic led to national outcry and a parliamentary investigation.

Are there advantages to tolerating illegality, or even using it to keep social order? Researcher Brian O’Connor looks to the Netherlands and Japan for two examples of how policy-makers ‘nudge’ the behaviour of organised crime organisations to their desired ends.

Consumers pay more for ‘sustainable’ products, but what are they really getting? Rebecca Ravalli looks at sustainability standards and their lack of regulation, shedding light on how companies profit from the commodification of sustainable production.

Is there a legal case against China for insufficiently warning the World Health Organization in the early days of COVID-19? EUI Researcher Mike Videler examines information-sharing obligations under international law, the potential of a WHO-led study that got off the ground this week, and some possible complications.

In Mongolia, frustrations with pandemic policy have come to a head, leading the Prime Minister to resign. STG Policy Fellow Bayaraa Jigmiddash takes a closer look.