Regions
  • ARTICLES

    W(h)ither the Islamic State? The Sri Lanka Bombings and the Future of IS

    Following the effective collapse of the Islamic State caliphate across Syria and Iraq in February 2019, the terrorist group appears to have extended its reach to new territories including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka. In the space of one week, Islamic State took credit for terror attacks in both countries. Markus Korhonen places these… 

  • ARTICLES

    Bombs and the Bol: The 2019 Jolo Cathedral Bombings

    On 27 January 2019, two explosive devices were detonated at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Jolo, Sulu Province. The attack occurred just one week after a plebiscite confirming the creation of an autonomous Moro-Muslim homeland in Mindanao, raising doubts regarding the prospects for peace in the southern Philippines, writes Rob Attwell.… 

  • ARTICLES

    The Princess' Gamble: Thai Politics Ahead of the March 2019 Election

    Shortly after announcing her candidacy for prime minister, Princess Ubolratana was disqualified and the opposition party which nominated her faces dissolution, raising concerns about Thailand’s future political stability. Rob Attwell unpacks some of the key players and developments driving Thai politics ahead of the 24 March election.

  • ARTICLES

    Cyber-extortion: Trend and Case Studies

    In 2018, the frequency and impact of cyberextortion and other types of cybercrime increased notably. Not only have the attacks become more frequent, but incidents of cyber-crime have also become more sophisticated, and have impacted a range of important industries, including healthcare, government, financial services and manufacturing.

  • ARTICLES

    Active Assailant: An International Phenomenon

    There were numerous active assailant incidents in several European Countries and the US in 2018. In the US, the trend of mass shootings and other active assailant attacks continued, with over 300 shooting incidents recorded as of November 2018. However, active assailant attacks have taken place in less expected locations, such as Canada and the Commonwealth… 

  • ARTICLES

    Taken by the State: Political Abduction Cases from Around the World

    The emergence of several high-profile cases in 2018 has raised concerns that abduction by state actors is becoming an increasingly common practice. In this article, we highlight some of the most notable instances of state-sanctioned disappearances in the past year, and provide an insight into what we can expect 2019.

  • ARTICLES

    2019: Elections to Watch

    Several significant elections are scheduled to take place around the world in 2019, and we review a number of these in this article. From Nigeria to Indonesia, Ukraine and Libya, the outcome of the 2019 electoral season will not only determine the sociopolitical and economic trajectories of individual countries, but also impact domestic and regional… 

  • ARTICLES

    Kidnap for Ransom: A Year in Review

    In this article, we examine the main kidnapping trends and incidents of 2018 from around the world, and look at some emerging trends likely to persist in 2019.