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Articles — Conflict Brief IR Analysis
Analysis · Deep Dives · Theory Applied

Articles

International relations theory applied to the events shaping the world. Each piece goes beyond the headline to examine the forces, interests, and ideas driving global politics.

Non-State Actors · Hybrid Warfare · Sports Diplomacy · Opinion · More coming soon
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Olympic rings — Bombs and Bronze Medals
Sport & Geopolitics

Bombs and Bronze Medals

On July 7, 2026, while Russian missiles were still hitting Ukrainian cities, the IOC voted to welcome Russia back into the Olympic family. This is why that decision is indefensible.

Nicholas Kozicki·July 11, 2026·5 min read
NATO eastern flank — soldiers on patrol at dusk
Security & Conflict

Is Russia About to Test NATO?

Intelligence warnings, eastern flank escalation, and whether the West will hold when Article 5 is put to the test.

Nicholas Kozicki · July 6, 2026 · 4 min read
Political spectrum — horseshoe theory
Political Theory

Horseshoe Theory: Do the Far Left and Far Right Actually Meet?

The theory proposes the extremes of the political spectrum curve toward each other — sharing more in common than either does with the moderate centre.

Aaron Levin · July 5, 2026 · 6 min read
Sports diplomacy and the 2026 World Cup
Sports Diplomacy
Sport, Diplomacy, and Soft Power: Lessons from the 2026 World Cup

Iran is at war with the United States. Iran is also playing in a World Cup hosted by the United States. An IR analysis of sports diplomacy, soft power, and FIFA’s structural weakness on sovereign borders.

Nicholas Kozicki·June 23, 2026·5 min read
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Russia drone NATO airspace article
Hybrid Warfare
Russia’s Drone Incursions: Hybrid Warfare at NATO’s Border

Russia’s drone violations of NATO member airspace are not accidents — they are deliberate instruments of grey-zone coercion. An IR analysis of hybrid warfare, escalation management, and what this means for Alliance cohesion.

Nicholas Kozicki·June 15, 2026·6 min read
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Narcos as IR actors article
Non-State Actors
Narcos as IR Actors: Non-State Power in a Multipolar World

Drug trafficking organizations have transcended criminality. They operate as geopolitical actors — reshaping state authority, challenging sovereignty, and forcing IR theory to reckon with power that does not wear a uniform.

Nicholas Kozicki·April 13, 2026·7 min read
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