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Factum Perspective: Breaking Down the UK Election

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedJuly 7, 2024793Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Minoli Gunarathna The recent UK general election has yielded profound changes with substantial implications for both domestic and international politics. Keir Starmer's Labour Party has emerged victorious, achieving a historic landslide win that signals the end of the Conservative Party's 14-year reign. Labour now controls nearly two-thirds of the seats in the 650-seat House…

Factum Perspective: Russia and North Korea – A marriage of convenience?

Health and Economic Cooperation, International Development, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsJune 30, 2024911Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aakil Riyaz News outlets were recently in a frenzy over Putin’s recent visit to North Korea. Reports of a pact between the Russian premier Vladimir Putin and the supreme leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) initially led to much speculation. These rumors were not without a basis. It was later revealed…

Factum Special Perspective: India Goes to the Polls

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsJune 6, 2024884Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Aavin Abeydeera On June 1, the world’s largest democratic exercise came to a close. India’s general elections ran for seven weeks through six weeks from the April 19 to June 1, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA coalition once more coming on top. However, this time around, Prime Minister Modi’s government will not…

Factum Perspective: What Raisi’s Death Means

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsMay 26, 2024920Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Nilanthan Niruthan The unexpected and tragic death of Ebrahim Raisi reveals the true brutality of geopolitics. While basic compassion dictates that we mourn the loss of human life first, almost all the media coverage on his death has focused instead on the political ramifications of the tragedy. Although unfortunate, this is also inevitable. Iran…

Factum Special Perspective: Deconstructing Iran after Raisi

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsMay 22, 2024896Views 1Like 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya At the time of his death on May 19, in a helicopter crash that has yet to be fully investigated, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi had risen through the ranks. Sanctioned by the West and nicknamed the “Butcher of Tehran” for his uncompromising attitude to protesters, he was seen as the successor to…

Factum Perspective: Strengthening Legal Literacy

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedMay 12, 20241KViews 1Like 0Comments

By Lahiru S. Thilakarathna Let us first look at what is meant by the term "to be literate" on any given subject. Literacy in a subject encompasses the ability to understand and critically evaluate information related to the topic, as well as the capacity to apply this knowledge in practical or relevant contexts. As our…

Factum Perspective: The relevance of Aung San Suu Kyi

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsApril 21, 2024769Views 0Likes 0Comments

By Uditha Devapriya In the face of growing unrest, turmoil, and chaos, the military junta governing Myanmar decided last week to move Aung San Suu Kyi – the democratically elected leader ousted in a coup in 2021 – into house arrest. The decision stemmed ostensibly from concerns over her health: Suu Kyi is 78, and…

Factum Perspective: Kachchativu and the Real Issue

Maritime Security, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsApril 10, 20241KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By P. K. Balachandran There is hullabaloo in India over the tiny and uninhabited Kachchativu island in the Palk Strait. It was triggered earlier this month by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the supremo of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). To everyone’s surprise, Modi accused the opposition Congress party of giving…

Thailand: From Bamboo Diplomacy to Hedging-by-Default

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsMarch 24, 20242KViews 3Likes 0Comments

By Kividi Koralage Thailand, an emerging economy that has experienced various challenges in adopting a foreign policy in the contemporary world, over China's rise in power and civil unrest in Myanmar, has remained committed to a policy of economic diplomacy. Thailand's foreign policy has been described as “bamboo diplomacy.” This policy has assisted the country…

Factum Perspective: The Philippines Takes a Stand in the South China Sea

Maritime Security, Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsMarch 17, 20241KViews 0Likes 0Comments

By Minoli Gunarathna The South China Sea has long been a simmering pot of territorial disputes, with multiple countries laying claim to various islands, reefs, and maritime features. Recently, tensions have flared between the Philippines and China, with the Philippine Senate passing the Maritime Zones Bill. This aims to solidify the Philippines' claims in the…

Factum Special Perspective: Russia Faces Polls in March

Peace and Conflict, UncategorizedFebruary 29, 2024798Views 1Like 0Comments

By Aavin Abeydeera In March 2024, the Russian Federation will hold its eighth presidential election. More than 114 million registered voters are expected to cast their ballot in choosing their next executive president. Of course, these elections are set to the backdrop of several key sociopolitical events, with the Russo-Ukrainian War at the forefront. Amongst…

Factum Perspective: Escalating Tensions from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean

Peace and Conflict, Regional GeopoliticsFebruary 3, 20242KViews 1Like 0Comments

By Rear Admiral Y. N. Jayarathna (Retd) When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, the world’s sympathy was with the Israeli people. It was clearly an act of terrorism, and was duly condemned as such. By November, the world began reacting differently, as Israel’s counterattack became visibly indiscriminate. Despite Palestinian politicians failing to make…