New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy

08/28/2026

Transnational repression doesn't stop at a border and increasingly doesn't need violence to work.

To explain this, Dr. Suparna Chaudhry examines why legal and administrative repression of exiled activists organizations has proliferated: it's largely invisible to the international mechanisms built to track transnational repression, and host governments have shown little appetite for holding perpetrator states accountable.

The report proposes a policy roadmap, including an official U.N. definition of transnational repression, a dedicated Special Rapporteur, and sustainable funding models for diaspora organizations under threat. All aimed at closing the accountability gap.

Read the report here ⬇

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not an official policy or position of New Lines Institute.Illustration by pmmart/iStock / Getty Images Plus

08/28/2026

From WWII-era industrial complicity to AI-driven targeting systems, the machinery of war is evolving, but the need for ethical and legal safeguards remains.

In a new piece for New Lines, Tristan Miller examines what history can teach us about preventing industrialized atrocities and why proactive approaches are needed as civilian industries become increasingly involved in military production.

Read the full piece at the link in bio.

08/28/2026

New Lines Institute’s Dania Arayssi, Ph.D. participated in the 5th Brazil & Arab Countries Economic Forum in São Paulo, joining business leaders, government officials, and experts to discuss the evolving economic relationship between Brazil and the Arab world.

During the Forum, Dania presented the Four Seas Project, highlighting its relevance to energy, geopolitics, infrastructure, and regional economic development. Her presentation was recognized with an award from the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce.

The Forum underscored the growing importance of Brazil–Arab cooperation across trade, investment, innovation, and strategic development.

08/28/2026

🌎 Weekly Forecast | Aug. 22–28, 2026

🇺🇸🇨🇦 U.S./Canada: The U.S. announced 50% tariffs on Canadian imports following a breakdown in trade talks, prompting Ottawa to announce reciprocal tariffs.
🇷🇺🇺🇦 Russia/Ukraine: CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow to warn against escalation toward NATO, while the U.K. pledged additional support for Ukraine.
🇺🇸🇨🇳 Indo-Pacific: The U.S. prepared additional tariffs on Chinese imports as the Justice Department disrupted Chinese-backed hacking operations targeting U.S. government agencies.
🇮🇷🇴🇲 Middle East: Iran and Oman reached an understanding on a proposed temporary shipping corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. expanded sanctions targeting Iran-linked trade.
🌐 Global Connectivity: Vietnam advanced plans for its first commercial nuclear power project with Russia, Taiwan indicted individuals over alleged transfers of advanced AI servers to China, and devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet highlighted growing climate disruption risks.

Read the full Weekly Forecast Monitor for analysis and scenario outlooks. ↓

This week, the U.S. and Canada announced 50% tariffs on each other’s imports following a breakdown in trade talks, while the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit challenging the creation of a federal list of voters, granting the federal government the ability to invalidate votes it deems ineligi...

08/24/2026

⚖️ In a new analysis, Susanna Kelley examines the United States’ ongoing battle with the International Criminal Court and the contradictions at the heart of its approach to sovereignty and international law. From U.S. sanctions on ICC officials to the proposed Board of Peace and a growing number of countries withdrawing from the ICC, the piece explores the mounting strain on international institutions.

The international legal order is deeply flawed. But neither abandoning existing institutions nor replacing them with a system shaped by unilateral power offers a stronger path forward for human rights and accountability.

Read the full piece at the link in bio.

08/21/2026

AI is being used to respond to conflict, but it can also serve as a powerful tool for prevention.

In a new policy report, Kayla McGill explores how aligning AI with the Women, Peace, and Security agenda can strengthen early warning mechanisms, individual security, democratic resilience, and more inclusive approaches to conflict prevention.

The report argues that current approaches to AI governance remain largely reactive, focused on managing risks or mitigating harm after it occurs. Moving from reaction to prevention will require embedding gender analysis and conflict-prevention principles throughout the design, governance, and application of AI systems.

Read the full report at the link in bio.

08/19/2026

Israeli settler violence must be condemned. But condemnation that focuses solely on Netanyahu risks missing the larger system that enables and sustains it.

In the latest analysis from New Lines, Henry Rogers examines how settlement expansion and settler violence are deeply embedded in Israel’s political landscape, extending beyond any one leader or party. As Israel approaches elections, the analysis argues that effective diplomatic pressure must address the broader structures driving the crisis.

Read the full analysis at the link in bio.

08/04/2026

Political exclusion takes different forms across Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, but the consequences are similar: displacement, weakened institutions, Iranian intervention, and conditions for extremism.

A new MEPC Policy Blueprint by Senior Resident Fellow Faysal Itani and Non-Resident Senior Fellow at New Lines Institute for Strategy and Policy Elizabeth Tsurkov.

Link in comments

07/17/2026

Russia’s gray zone warfare is increasingly blurring the line between statecraft and organized crime.

In the latest analysis from New Lines, Laila Wyatt argues that Russia’s gray zone operations are better understood through the lens of organized crime rather than terrorism. By examining the use of proxy actors, criminal networks, and deniable tactics, the analysis explores how this framework can strengthen legal accountability, improve policy responses, and bolster efforts to counter hybrid threats.

Read the full analysis at the link in bio.

07/16/2026

How has ala kachuu endured in modern Kyrgyzstan?

In the latest analysis from New Lines, Anoussa Salim traces how the practice of bride kidnapping persists at the intersection of patriarchal traditions, economic pressures, and inconsistent law enforcement. Despite legal reforms, many women continue to face coercion and limited avenues for justice, underscoring the need for stronger institutional protections and broader social change.

Read the full analysis at the link in bio.