PUBLICATIONS

In 2025, global AI innovation is like a button pressed and stuck on fast forward. As much as those within academia, R&D, PhD labs, and think tanks desire to hit pause, stopping is no longer an option.

This study examines parliamentary capacity-building in EU enlargement countries, assessing democracy support efforts by EU institutions and partners. It highlights best practices, challenges, and the European Parliament’s key role in addressing democratic backsliding.

This GGI Analysis explores synthetic biology’s fusion with AI and its applications for controlling biological threats, while addressing environmental risks and governance challenges. It reviews current international frameworks and proposes preliminary guidelines for long-term governance, focusing on equity, participation, and risk management in this rapidly evolving field.

This report examines the potential benefits and challenges of an Open Agency Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) governed by a Global AGI Agency. It reviews AGI governance models, proposes a Global AGI Agency with structured transparency and democratic accountability, and identifies ten key challenges, including international collaboration, power centralization, and governance complexity. It concludes by emphasizing the critical need for effective AGI governance.

The potential normalization of Russia during a Trump presidency could undermine global security and U.S. strategic interests. This approach risks ignoring Russia’s history of aggression and its strengthening ties with adversarial nations like China, Iran, and North Korea. Sustained U.S. military support for Ukraine is vital for countering Russian threats, fostering defense innovation, and reinforcing American readiness. Prioritizing transatlantic cooperation and Ukraine’s defense capabilities is crucial for ensuring long-term stability.

The current rivalry between NATO and Russia, most concretely expressed in the current Russo-Ukraine War, may need to be stabilized in part by a continental-wide, post-war conventional arms control (CAC) agreement. Whilst the duration and eventual outcome of the current war is of course far from predictable, such a future CAC agreement should improve diplomatic relations, reduce tensions, arms races, and the likelihood of conflict – as such agreements have done throughout Europe in the past 100 years.

On 5 November 2024, INTERPOL elected Valdecy Urquiza of Brazil as its new Secretary General. Urquiza steps into a critical role, steering an organization that’s thrived amid global tensions but now faces fresh challenges from renewed power rivalries and complex war crime issues. As the first SG from the Global South, he must navigate INTERPOL’s commitment to neutrality in an increasingly polarized world.

BRICS’ expansion with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE has heightened China’s influence, sparking tensions among members like Brazil and India wary of an anti-Western shift. This internal divide casts doubt on BRICS’ potential as an alternative global governance platform.

The UN Summit of the Future calls for bold cooperation on climate, digital equity, and responsible AI, urging unified action to harness technology for good and revive the Sustainable Development Goals. Now, governments, businesses, and civil society must turn these ambitions into results.

African nations have struggled for stability and growth amid political turmoil. While Regional Economic Communities (RECs) were designed to foster integration and security, challenges like limited funding persist. With Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger exiting ECOWAS over foreign influence concerns, the future of African alliances faces new uncertainty.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy stresses the need for peace on Ukraine's terms, warning against rushed deals lacking robust security guarantees. Without such measures, Ukraine risks renewed Russian aggression, hindering reconstruction, stability, and European security, while strong international backing could ensure Ukraine's resilience and long-term deterrence.

The UN Summit of the Future in September 2024 aims to adopt the Pact for the Future, addressing global governance challenges. Priorities include creating international AI governance frameworks emphasizing ethics, transparency, and equity while fostering collaboration to mitigate risks, reduce inequalities, and leverage AI for sustainable development and the SDGs.

Coups in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso, exacerbate gender inequalities, increasing women’s vulnerability to violence and instability. This policy brief explores these impacts, highlighting the need for targeted international responses and actionable measures to protect women and girls during and after political upheavals.

The Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland (June 15–16) seeks global support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula addressing food security, nuclear safety, and POW release. Challenges include declining participation, geopolitical tensions, and threats to Ukraine’s sovereignty in final agreements. Upholding international law and justice remains crucial for sustainable peace.

Teaching excellence in higher education gained prominence with quality assurance frameworks in the 1990s. Global initiatives, like the UK's HEA and Norway's Centres for Excellence, emphasize strategic planning, partnerships, and impactful frameworks to enhance teaching and student experiences.

The EU, US, and Japan are enhancing cooperation to boost competitiveness in critical technologies and secure resilient supply chains, focusing on reducing reliance on China, diversifying resources, and fostering innovation amid global economic security challenges.

The UNRWA, essential for Palestinian refugees, faces a funding crisis amid controversies, impacting Gaza's humanitarian situation. A Global Governance Institute paper urges reversing funding freezes and improving decision-making to uphold humanitarian governance.

The ICJ ordered Israel to implement provisional measures in a genocide case brought by South Africa regarding Gaza. Concerns persist over Israel's compliance, reflecting broader challenges to international law and the legitimacy of the rules-based order.

The EU AI Act, approved in March 2024, introduces a risk-based regulatory framework to balance AI innovation and fundamental rights protection. While it promotes transparency and accountability, concerns persist about national security exceptions and potential surveillance risks, shaping the future of AI governance.

The Council of Europe’s draft Framework Convention on AI aims to set global standards for AI that align with human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. However, compromises over private companies' regulation and national security exemptions may weaken its effectiveness in protecting individuals from AI's risks.