Vanguard Think Tank

Home
Vanguard Think Tank

The Vanguard Think Tank is a student-led think tank focused on international affairs and relations.

17/06/2026

Can Europe build strategic autonomy if its flagship defence project is still caught between national interests?

This article explores how the Future Combat Air System, known as FCAS, has become both a symbol of Franco-German defence cooperation and a source of growing tension. From disagreements between Dassault and Airbus to competing French and German requirements over aircraft carriers, nuclear capabilities, and future combat needs, the project reveals the political and technical challenges behind Europe’s ambition to build a sixth-generation air combat system.

Read “The Future Combat Air System: Unravelling a Controversial Flagship Project” by Anna Siles:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/the-future-combat-air-system-a-controversial-flagship-project

12/06/2026

Can EU enlargement still be credible when one member state can block a candidate over history, identity, and language?

This article explores how North Macedonia’s path to EU membership has been repeatedly stalled by bilateral disputes, first with Greece over its name and later with Bulgaria over identity, language, and constitutional recognition. It argues that the case reveals a wider problem in the EU accession process, where member states can use veto power to import historical grievances into enlargement negotiations, even when candidates make progress on formal EU criteria.

Read “North Macedonia’s Road to the EU: Bilateral Disputes as an Obstacle to Enlargement” by Adi Petrov:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/north-macedonias-eu-bilateral-disputes-obstacle-to-enlargement

05/06/2026

Can Pakistan turn recurring floods into a question of resilience rather than repeated catastrophe?

This article explores how Pakistan’s growing flood crisis reflects not only climate vulnerability, but also deeper gaps in disaster management, early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, public health preparedness, and long-term water governance.

Read “Pakistan’s Long Struggle with Floods” by Malaika Khan: https://vanguardthinktank.org/pakistans-long-struggle-with-floods

16/05/2026

Can “white gold” free Bolivia from the resource curse, or is it simply creating a greener version of old dependencies?

This article explores Bolivia’s lithium nationalization agenda and shows how state-led ambition, foreign partnerships, and unequal global value chains continue to shape the country’s path.

Read “Bolivia’s Lithium Nationalization Agenda: Breaking the Resource Curse or Replicating Old Dependencies?” by Sabine Bos: https://vanguardthinktank.org/bolivias-lithium-nationalization-breaking-the-resource-curse-or-replicating-old-dependencies

10/05/2026

𝗪𝗘 𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗥𝗨𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚!
Vanguard Think Tank is now opening applications for our Fall 2026 - Spring 2027 Executive Board & Staff Recruitment.

We are looking for passionate, curious, and committed individuals to join our team and contribute to policy research, publications, outreach, career development, alumni engagement, and social media.

Whether you enjoy research, writing, editing, organising events, building partnerships, or creating content, there is a place for you at Vanguard Think Tank.

📌 Deadline: 19 June 2026
⏳ Rolling basis, so apply early!

Apply now: https://lnkd.in/e2zt-87P
For more information: https://lnkd.in/e8WV6Dq2

08/05/2026

Food insecurity is not just about a lack of food. It is about the systems that keep hunger in place.

From economic weakness to conflict to climate shocks, this carousel unpacks why hunger persists across Sub-Saharan Africa and why the crisis cannot be reduced to a single cause.

Swipe through the latest carousel by Nakiya Kapadia.

01/05/2026

Can green energy be both a sustainability project and a geopolitical strategy?

This article explores how the US is supporting Pakistan’s renewable energy transition through dam modernization, wind and solar projects, and grid upgrades, while also advancing its wider strategic interests in South Asia amid competition with China.

Read “America’s Sustainable Strategy in Pakistan’s Green Energy Transition” by Javeria Abbas:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/us-sustainable-strategy-pakistan-green-energy-transition

24/04/2026

Why does China react so differently to Vietnam and the Philippines in the South China Sea?

This article argues that the answer lies not just in China’s strategy, but in how Vietnam and the Philippines each approach the dispute: Vietnam tends to contain tensions through restraint and quiet diplomacy, while the Philippines has taken a more public, confrontational, and internationalized approach.

Read “One Action, Two Reactions: Why Vietnam and the Philippines elicit different responses from China” by Nguyen Dieu Linh:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/one-action-two-reactions-vietnam-and-the-philippines-china

18/04/2026

🚨 WE ARE RECRUITING 🚨
Vanguard Think Tank is looking for 2 Social Media Assistants to join the team.

If you enjoy content creation, design, and social media, this is your chance to contribute to meaningful work and grow with us. You’ll help create posts, design carousels, support awareness campaigns, and be part of shaping VTT’s online presence.

🗓 Deadline: 17 May 2026
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and recruitment will close once both spots are filled.

🔗 Apply via the link in bio / forms.gle/GWrfLv92WTe8TzcN6

Come join us in shaping the conversation.

27/03/2026

Can AI get smarter without getting bigger, more expensive, and more resource intensive?
This article explains why Small Language Models may power the next wave of agentic AI, offering lower energy and water costs, faster local use, and strong performance on specialized tasks, especially when paired with larger models.

Read “From LLMs to SLMs: Are Small Language Models the Future of Agentic AI?” by Jocelyn Wang:
https://vanguardthinktank.org/the-future-of-agentic-ai

Address

Website

https://www.linkedin.com/company/vanguard-think-tank

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Vanguard Think Tank posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Want your organization to be the top-listed non profit organization?

Country:

City: