Unconventional Knowledge by GIS

GIS Radio: Inside Iran’s fragmented decision-making structure

20 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Iran’s competing power centers are shaping negotiations, escalation risks and regional strategic decisions.An analysis by Amatzia Baram. Read the fu...

GIS Radio: U.S. political polarization exacerbates security risks

19 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Global interstate conflicts now intersect with U.S. extremism, immigration disputes and unconventional security vulnerabilities.An analysis by Ian Oxn...

GIS Radio: China’s tech emerges as U.S. battlefield rival

18 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Having become indispensable to Russia’s military resilience during the Ukraine conflict, Chinese technology is poised to do the same for Iran.An ana...

GIS Radio: Singapore carefully balances U.S. and China relationships

15 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Singapore strategically navigates rivalries, maintaining economic ties with China and security cooperation with the U.S. while pursuing its national i...

GIS Radio: China reshapes the global automotive landscape 

14 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

China’s state-backed automotive expansion is redrawing global competition, forcing both emerging and developed markets to adapt. An analysis by Jun...

GIS Radio: Trade helps China tighten grip on Africa

13 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

African nations look to China for stability after U.S. trade disruptions complicate partnerships and economic strategies.An analysis by Ralph Mathekga...

GIS Radio: Russia’s global pullback creates new power vacuums

12 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Russia’s withdrawal from key conflict zones leaves the U.S. with selective gains, while China and Turkiye are stepping up to expand their influence....

GIS Radio: Drones transform warfare but not strategic outcomes

11 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Unmanned systems reshape modern combat, driving innovation and countermeasures, yet still fall short of decisive battlefield victories.An analysis by ...

GIS Radio: U.S. may turn to Bucharest Nine as Europe’s power center

08 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Bucharest Nine’s expansion could reshape Europe’s security and economy – if Poland leads, the U.S. engages and members overcome political fr...

GIS Radio: Sudan war evolving into a proxy conflict fueled by gold

07 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Illicit gold financing networks prolong the Sudan war, while the neighbors who can help most are embroiled in their own disagreements.An analysis by C...

GIS Radio: Why Europe does not understand the U.S.

06 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What appears to be a transatlantic rift is, in fact, a return to America’s original hemispheric identity.  An analysis by Ian Oxnevad. Read the ful...

GIS Radio: India’s West Asian dilemma

05 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Iran conflict is disrupting India’s energy supplies and remittances, forcing New Delhi to balance ties with Iran, the U.S., Israel and Gulf stat...

India's Stress Test: How global pressure is shaping New Delhi’s next moves

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Unconventional Knowledge, Andrew Kureth speaks with Dr. Aparna Pande about how India is navigating the geopolitical fallout of the ...

GIS Radio: Eyewitness to war: Ukraine’s DIY drones defy Russian jamming

04 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In Ukraine’s drone workshops, even the fiber-optic spool’s hollow core becomes vital, highlighting a strategic split: precision versus volume in j...

GIS Radio: Latin America continues its rightward shift

01 May 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Left-wing governments throughout the region are losing voter confidence after years of mismanagement. An analysis by Alejandro Peña Esclusa. Read th...

GIS Radio: GENIUS Act secures dollar dominance via stablecoins

30 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The greenback’s global reserve currency status could be strengthened by recent legislation anchoring its role through stablecoin digital assets.An a...

GIS Radio: China’s careful hedging in the Iran war

29 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

China shares Iran’s anti-U.S. resentment, but Beijing is more self-focused.An analysis by Junhua Zhang. Read the full report here. 📚 Explore all...

GIS Radio: Ethiopia’s political rifts to persist after elections

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ethiopians vote in general elections in June, deciding on the country’s national policy, regional strategy and whether controversial reforms will co...

GIS Radio: The intricacies of regulatory capture

28 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Regulatory capture warps rules to favor powerful interests, creating trade-offs between expertise and democratic accountability.An analysis by Emmanue...

GIS Radio: Private Equity: An Obituary

24 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After a short, scammy life, private equity is finally in terminal decline.An analysis by Henrique Schneider. Read the full report here. 📚 Explore ...

GIS Radio: Turkiye’s middle power aspirations

23 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Emerging global fragmentation enables middle powers to navigate alliances and assert greater independence.An analysis by Alper Coşkun. Read the full ...

GIS Radio: The Saudi Arabia-UAE ‘cold war’ in Yemen

22 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Saudi Arabia’s strikes on the UAE-backed STC and the group’s subsequent dissolution mark a turning point in the intensifying rivalry over Yemen.An...

GIS Radio: EU bans all Russian gas for good

21 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Cuts in both direct and indirect Russian gas supplies expose the EU to a complex set of energy security risks, especially from the volatile Middle Eas...

GIS Radio: Split victory in Portugal

20 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

While Portugal’s presidential election produced a clear winner, rising support for the national-conservative right suggests the balance of power is ...

GIS Radio: Cambodian-Thai conflict exposes ASEAN limits

17 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Sporadic clashes highlight ineffective ceasefires for historical disputes, ASEAN’s lack of agency and a likelihood external actors will shape the re...

GIS Radio: Tajikistan tests China’s power in Central Asia

16 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

China has surpassed Russia as Tajikistan’s main trading partner, but Moscow’s declining security role poses a risky dilemma for Beijing.An analysi...

GIS Radio: The never-ending power struggle in Guinea-Bissau

15 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Another coup has derailed Guinea-Bissau’s fragile democracy, with the military junta removing President Embalo and freezing the electoral process.An...

GIS Radio: South Africa-U.S. rift deepens after G20 snub

14 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Diplomatic tensions between Pretoria and Washington continue to worsen, undermining cooperation and isolating Africa’s largest economy.An analysis b...

GIS Radio: Belarus and the limits of Western outreach

13 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Belarus remains closely tied to Russia despite limited U.S. engagement, with modest prospects for strategic realignment in the near term. An analysis...

GIS Radio: Gen Z’s political alienation fuels rise in extremism

10 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Gen Z’s pandemic scars, social-media isolation and disordered home life have eroded trust in the American social contract, increasing disaffection a...

GIS Radio: Coercive U.S. trade policy and Brazil’s strategic pivot

09 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Brazil, under President Lula, is strengthening ties with China and other partners to diversify trade and achieve strategic autonomy amid U.S. tariffs....

GIS Radio: Juntas and Moscow reshaping Sahel alliances

08 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Strategic geopolitical realignment, violence and crackdowns are hallmarks of Russia-aligned junta leadership in the Sahel. An analysis by Federica Sai...

GIS Radio: Local content rules deepen the EU’s innovation crisis

07 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Overregulation weakens European innovation, raising costs, reducing quality and limiting competitiveness globally. An analysis by Henrique Schneider. ...

From Freedom to Framework: Is liberal democracy narrowing the space for dissent?

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Unconventional Knowledge, Prince Michael of Liechtenstein speaks with Karl-Peter Schwarz about the growing tension between democra...

GIS Radio: The West’s religious illiteracy and its geopolitical consequences

06 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A growing lack of religious literacy in the West is distorting policy decisions, from geopolitical strategy to internal social cohesion. An analysis b...

GIS Radio: Mohamud tightens grip on power after Israel recognizes Somaliland

03 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Israel’s recognition of Somaliland has handed Somali President Mohamud a chance to rally domestic support and accelerate his centralization drive. A...

GIS Radio: Crisis without collapse: Oil markets and the Middle East shock 

01 Apr 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A sharp disruption to oil supply has pushed prices higher, but the market response so far suggests a relatively contained reaction. An analysis by Car...

GIS Radio: Uganda enters a more fragile phase 

31 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Museveni’s rule has proven resilient, but mounting pressures are likely to make the status quo harder to sustain over time. An analysis b...

GIS Radio: From Pax Americana to Pax Silica

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The U.S. is advancing Pax Silica and redefining geopolitical order around compute, technological chokepoints and dependence.An analysis by Uri Gabai. ...

GIS Radio: Mediterranean ports fuel great-power rivalry

30 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ports in the Mediterranean have become strategic sovereignty tools – deepwater hubs, investments and military presence reshape power, trade and alli...

GIS Radio: Who holds the cards in Arctic security?

27 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Trump’s Greenland gambit exposes U.S. Arctic weaknesses, spurring Russian-Chinese gains, straining NATO ties and forcing a rush for ice-capable flee...

GIS Radio: Geoeconomic risks cloud Southeast Asia’s energy future

26 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Southeast Asia faces surging energy demand, climate risks and rising protectionism, threatening clean-tech supply chains, cooperation and affordable t...

GIS Radio: The global race for industrial metals and new energy minerals

25 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Governments are stockpiling resources, restricting exports, subsidizing domestic mining and blocking foreign acquisitions of strategic assets. An anal...

GIS Radio: The U.S. dollar remains the world’s reserve currency

24 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Global shifts may challenge the dollar, but no credible rival has emerged to displace its reserve dominance. An analysis by Enrico Colombatto. Read th...

GIS Radio: Europe’s new protectionism: Rising barriers, rising costs

23 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The EU is gradually shifting toward a form of regulatory protectionism that risks raising prices and compromising growth. An analysis by Karl-Friedric...

GIS Radio: A new century’s dawn amid a democratic polycrisis

20 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Collapsing paradigms of social cohesion and rules-based geopolitics, confronted with the new reality of AI, create a polycrisis. An analysis by Uri Ga...

GIS Radio: Indigenous politics in the Western Hemisphere

19 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Indigenous communities increasingly influence energy, security and electora dynamics across the Americas. An analysis by James Jay Carafano. Read the ...

GIS Radio: Europe’s quiet stagflation risk

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Structural costs, geopolitics and looser monetary legacies leave Europe trapped in low growth and moderate inflation as the ECB withdraws emergency su...

GIS Radio: Myanmar’s rare earth ambitions

17 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Myanmar’s rare earth deposits have drawn international attention, but multiple challenges stand in the way of translating this potential into a stab...

Trans-Caspian Pipeline plan gaining critical momentum

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Europe eyes Turkmen gas as a strategic solution with growing urgency.An analysis by Stefan Hedlund. Read the full report here.📚 Explore all GIS Rep...

The unaffordability of big government

13 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Cost-of-living concerns persist as partisan economic narratives dominate politics despite strong growth and rising incomes.An analysis by Diane Katz. ...

Revolutionary Guards take the reins in Iran

12 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

After the Supreme Leader’s death, the Revolutionary Guards are holding firm and steering Iran toward escalation and continued repression.An analysis...

Russia’s growing interest in Svalbard 

11 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Russia has increased its hybrid and military activities on and around Svalbard to secure its strategic position in the European Arctic. An analysis b...

Trump’s Indo-Pacific strategy remains a work in progress

10 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Donald Trump’s Indo-Pacific policy shifts from security to economic priorities.An analysis by Bruce Klingner. Read the full report here. ...

Drifted and demonized, ICE remains vital to U.S. security

09 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Minneapolis shootings renewed scrutiny of ICE, highlighting its post-9/11 mission creep, partisan clashes over immigration and federal-local tensi...

Bitcoin solidifies, altcoins fragment

06 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As cryptocurrencies mature, Bitcoin is consolidating its position as a reserve asset, while altcoins are diverging into riskier niches with different ...

The election of Jose Antonio Kast and what comes next for Chile

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Chile’s institutional checks and balances will constrain how far Mr. Kast can advance his agenda, but voters will expect tangible change. An analys...

Central Asia finds strength in integration

04 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Central Asian nations are harnessing their strengths in tech, trade and transport, increasing their collective bargaining power on the global stage. A...

Terrorism and political unrest undermine stability in South Asia

03 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

South Asia is grappling with geopolitical tensions, political unrest and demographic pressures, all of which are straining the region’s stability.An...

Shockwaves after Maduro: How U.S. pressure is reshaping Latin America's political balance

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Unconventional Knowledge, Andrew Kureth speaks with Alejandro Peña Esclusa about the unraveling of the authoritarian power network...

Shadow fleet keeps Russia’s oil exports beyond Western reach

02 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Since 2022, sweeping Western sanctions have reshaped but not halted Russia’s global oil exports. An analysis by Carole Nakhle. Read the full report ...

Stablecoins and CBDCs used as tools to mask public debt

27 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Governments use stablecoins and CBDCs to generate demand for debt and embed controls that postpone fiscal pain while avoiding market discipline. An an...

U.S.-Saudi transactional ties and strategic ambitions

26 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Relations between Riyadh and the White House are warming, driven by different but complementary objectives.

The path of sanctions evasion leads through Kyrgyzstan

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Russia’s war in Ukraine elevates Kyrgyzstan as a China-backed hub for sanctions avoidance, reshaping global trade transparency norms. An analysis by...

Venezuela’s Delcy Rodriguez under the tutelage of the U.S.

24 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodriguez, is guiding the country under U.S. oversight following Maduro’s capture, with amnesty and oil reforms ...

High-Stakes Diplomacy in the U.S.-Iran Standoff

23 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Escalating U.S.-Iran tensions lead to military threats and economic risks, despite fragile, indirect talks. An analysis by Giorgio Cafiero. Read the f...

GIS Radio: Russia’s economy faces years of low, but stable growth

20 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As a two-year consumer and liquidity-fueled boom petered out in 2025, the economy has transitioned into a complex mix of resilience and stagnation. An...

GIS Radio: The past, present and future of cryptocurrency

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Once privacy-focused and decentralized, crypto has become heavily regulated and institutionalized – trading autonomy for liquidity, clarity and mass...

GIS Radio: Xi’s power consolidation and military calculus

18 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

China’s military purges replace institutional expertise with personal rule, increasing fragility and risks of miscalculation and conflict. An analys...

GIS Radio: Optimism for the future of the Quad

17 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Despite U.S.-India trade strains and China’s assertiveness, strengthened bilateral ties fuel optimism for the Quad’s revival and deeper cooperatio...

GIS Radio: Nuclear deterrence after arms control collapse

16 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Post-Cold War nuclear stability is eroding as treaties lapse, proliferation spreads and tactical deterrence gains prominence in a multipolar world. An...

GIS Radio: Bosnia and Herzegovina: Domestic divisions test regional balance

13 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Balkan state is experiencing internal political gridlock, while Western and Eastern actors vie for influence in the ethnically and religiously div...

GIS Radio: Venezuela’s oil sector remains uninvestable

12 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

President Trump urged oil giants to invest billions in Venezuela, but companies cite weak rule of law and entrenched resource nationalism as dealbreak...

GIS Radio: Hydropolitics and the weaponization of water 

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

As scarcity grows, rivers are turning from lifelines into instruments of power and conflict. An analysis by Colleen Graffy. Read the full report here....

The rise of Asia’s mineral resource nationalism

10 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Asian states with significant mineral reserves are recalibrating the terms under which their resources are extracted, processed and exported. An analy...

GIS Radio: Azerbaijan’s strategic reentry into post-Assad Syria

09 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Azerbaijan is using reconstruction and gas deals in Syria to expand its influence and position itself as a potential mediator among regional rivals. A...

GIS Radio: Europe’s faltering liberal democracy

06 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Across Europe, governing parties are facing mounting pressure as social discontent undermines confidence in liberal-democratic rule. An analysis by Ka...

GIS Radio: China tightening its grip on Latin America

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

China has become a leading partner for Latin America, boosting trade, infrastructure and strategic influence, though it now faces increasing U.S. push...

GIS Radio: The trillion-dollar question for AI business models

04 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Investments in AI companies have surged, but profitability remains out of reach for many, prompting concerns about future business models. An analysis...

GIS Radio: Nuclear stalemate gives way to Cold War II arms race

03 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A renewal of nuclear weapons testing exposes mounting risks, collapsing treaties and a new era of proliferation shaping the second Cold War. An analys...

After the Western Order: Realism, power and the new global balance

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode of Unconventional Knowledge, Prince Michael of Liechtenstein speaks with Professor Christoph Frei about the global shift away from Wes...

GIS Radio: Fortress Finland: Nordic deterrence against Russia

02 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Finland’s NATO membership transforms security dynamics on the alliance’s northeastern flank. An analysis by Stefand Hedlund. Read the full report ...

GIS Radio: Dark pools as an evolution of financial markets

30 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Private trading venues mitigate automated, predatory technologies while improving the execution, liquidity and resilience of securities exchanges glob...

GIS Radio: Russia in Southeast Asia: Gaining ground or treading water?

29 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Moscow seeks influence in Southeast Asia but faces economic, geopolitical and perceptual limits constraining expansion. An analysis by Prashanth Param...

GIS Radio: The politicization of research and teaching

28 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Modern universities are increasingly politicized, with freedom of values eroding and tenure reinforcing ideological conformity and jeopardizing open i...

GIS Radio: Academic freedom and the crisis of the modern university

27 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Academic freedom, once the bedrock of universities, is facing internal threats as complacency and bureaucratization undermine independent thought and ...

GIS Radio: The coevolution of sanctions and a multipolar world order

26 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Expanding Western sanctions are inadvertently fomenting alternative economic infrastructures. An analysis by Bob Savic. Read the full report here.📚...

GIS Radio: Regulation and fiscal drift threaten Western prosperity

23 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Europe’s burdensome rules and upward spending trajectory contrast with America’s deregulation and dynamism, widening the transatlantic economic di...

GIS Radio: The Middle East’s next challenge is ensuring a secure power future

22 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

With global energy demand on the rise, the fossil fuel-rich region seeks to expand its energy capacity to include renewable and nuclear sources. An an...

GIS Radio: Why the Abraham Accords endure despite the Gaza war

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The Gaza war tested Arab-Israeli normalization, yet strategic regional interests are prevailing under the umbrella of the Abraham Accords. An analysis...

GIS Radio: The pursuit of strategic autonomy in a fragmenting world

20 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Ironically, President Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs have driven both Global Majority and Western nations to seek long-term strategic autonomy. An a...

GIS Radio: Peru’s presidency up for grabs but congress still in charge

19 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The impeachment and congressional appointment of a new president only months before elections underscores the weakness of Peru’s executive branch. A...

GIS Radio: Madagascar after the coup

16 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

In contrast to the earlier transfer of power, the current transition places Madagascar under direct military rule. An analysis by Teresa Nogueira Pint...

GIS Radio: Competing models for the future of welfare in Europe

15 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Europe’s postwar welfare model is straining under crises, demographics, debt, eroding trust and the pressures of technological transformation. An an...

GIS Radio: Global oil market dynamics after U.S. intervention in Venezuela

14 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Washington’s move from sanctions to force reshapes Venezuela’s oil outlook and long-term global market dynamics. An analysis by Carole Nakhle. Rea...

GIS Radio: Iran’s protests look like the first tremors of regime collapse

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The latest wave of unrest has exposed deep structural weaknesses in the Iranian regime. An analysis by Amatzia Baram. Read the full report here. 📚...

GIS Radio: Moldova’s democratic stand against Russian interference

12 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Moldova’s elections showcased a robust fight for democracy, defying pressures from the Kremlin and reaffirming its commitment to EU integration. An ...

GIS Radio: The future of Europe’s car industry

09 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The European car industry is losing ground as regulation, protectionism and weak productivity collide with global competition, especially from China. ...

GIS Radio: The French leadership paradox

08 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Deepening fiscal stress, rigid centralization and political fragmentation undermine France’s capacity for effective governance reform. An analysis b...

GIS Radio: A Middle East Alliance needs U.S. leadership

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Middle Eastern powers cooperate when it suits them, while an enduring alliance for regional peace and prosperity requires sustained American stewardsh...