International Development

Factum Perspective: From Atlanticism to Ambiguity: Europe’s Eastern Pivot

International DevelopmentFebruary 15, 2026193Views 1Like 0Comments

By Sasindi Fernando When Belgium’s De Wever confirmed that the U.S. was an ally but had to ‘behave like an ally’ at the WEF in Davos earlier this year, he was not simply lamenting the fraying of a strategic partnership, but a structural divergence of priorities within the transatlantic bond. Europe was still reeling…

Factum Perspective: The Great Realignment: Why Trump’s “America First” is Driving the West into China’s Embrace

International DevelopmentFebruary 8, 2026211Views 1Like 0Comments

By Bihandu De Silva For nearly eighty years, the bedrock of global stability was a series of predictable, if sometimes strained, alliances centered on Washington. To be an ally of the United States was to participate in a shared legal and economic ecosystem - a world defined by the "rules-based order." However, as the second Trump administration settled into power, that…

Factum Perspective: How a Colonial Scar Is Driving Afghanistan and Pakistan to War

History and Culture, International Development, Peace and ConflictOctober 19, 2025686Views 3Likes 0Comments

By Uthpala Wijesooriya The night sky over Kabul on October 9, 2025, was torn apart by explosions. The unacknowledged airstrikes, which Islamabad later framed as a counter-terrorism operation targeting the leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), were a shocking escalation. For the first time, a regional power had struck the Afghan capital. The Taliban’s response…

Factum Perspective: France’s Political Meltdown: A Nation on the Edge of Ungovernability

International DevelopmentOctober 12, 2025721Views 5Likes 0Comments

By Deveen Balasuriya France, once viewed as a cornerstone of European political stability, is currently enduring one of the most chaotic times in its recent democratic history. In less than two years, the country has cycled through five prime ministers, each falling due to the same persistent issue; a divided parliament and a fragmented electorate…

Factum Perspective: Algorithms, Deep fakes and the Erosion of Truth: AI’s Assault on Democracy

International Development, Science and TechnologySeptember 28, 2025704Views 2Likes 0Comments

By Sarala Hapugalle In 2022, a video of Ukrainian President Zelensky was shared, urging troops to lay down their arms and surrender to Russia. In the 2024 US election, another video was circulated - this time of President Joe Biden - seemingly encouraging democrats not to vote in the presidential primary elections and to instead…

Factum Special Perspective: Street Power in South Asia: Lessons from Colombo, Dhaka, and Kathmandu

International Development, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 18, 2025666Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Dr. Viranjana Herath Recently, three South Asian nations, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal, have marked a significant chapter in modern world history through a theme of public uprising. In 2022, the people of Sri Lanka successfully ousted the top leaders of their government, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. Nevertheless, the new…

Factum Perspective: The Global South’s New Axis? India-China Solidarity in the Era of U.S Protectionism

International Development, Regional GeopoliticsSeptember 7, 2025536Views 1Like 0Comments

By Madhuka Rukmalgama Introduction In 2025, Washington’s decision to dramatically increase tariffs on Indian goods up to 50 per cent, sent shockwaves across markets and strategic capitals alike. Initially targeted at curbing New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases and addressing trade imbalances, the move is producing unanticipated diplomatic reverberations. Rather than consolidating India's ties with the…

Factum Perspective: The Populist Surge, Europe’s Rightward Shift

International Development, Regional GeopoliticsAugust 31, 2025687Views 1Like 0Comments

By Chenuka Elwitigala Introduction to Right-Wing Populism Right-wing populism refers to the political ideology which unifies right-wing politics with the populist rhetoric often dubbed as right-wing nationalism. This rhetoric often reflects the anti-establishment sentiment in politics objecting to the elite capture of power in government and opposing establishment media escalating disconnection from the real people…

Factum Special Perspective: Will Trump Tariffs Signal Trade Re-Alignment?

Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentAugust 6, 20251KViews 1Like 0Comments

By Dinouk Colombage The recently announced tariff rates by US President Donald Trump have left many countries either unimpressed or breathing a sigh of relief for what some would describe as merely “a stay of execution.” 69 trading partners have been presented with revised tariffs, ranging from 50 to 10 percent, with the median being…

Factum Perspective: The Meaning of Bandung in our Times

History and Culture, International Development, Peace and ConflictMay 25, 20252KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By Ramindu Perera This year marks the 70th anniversary of the 1955 historic Afro-Asian Conference convened in the city of Bandung, Indonesia. The conference brought together delegates from 29 countries representing Asia and Africa. Most of them were newly independent states, having recently emerged from colonial rule. During the conference, delegates deliberated on the need…

Factum Special Perspective: Trump Tariffs Signal Increase in Geopolitical Tensions

Health and Economic Cooperation, International DevelopmentApril 9, 2025850Views 1Like 0Comments

By Dinouk Colombage Coated under the guise of economic rebalancing, the US tariffs have been described as a complete disregard of the rule-based order (RBO) that has governed global politics since the conclusion of the Second World War. On April 2, Donald Trump unveiled what he termed “reciprocal tariffs” for over 90 countries including China,…

Factum Perspective: From Foreign Aid to Local Solutions – Can Sri Lanka Fill the USAID Gap?

International DevelopmentMarch 10, 20252KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By Niruni de Mel Imagine a rural community in Sri Lanka where a once-thriving agricultural initiative suddenly comes to a halt. Farmers who relied on USAID-funded fertilizer support are left struggling, and a crucial supply chain begins to crumble. This is one example of the tangible impact of USAID’s withdrawal from Sri Lanka – a…