Author: Vincent Sipeer
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Entering a New Phase of Geopolitical De-Risking
Can U.S. cities protect themselves from foreign influence? As Sino-U.S. sister city partnerships come under growing scrutiny, Vincent Sipeer examines how local diplomacy has become an overlooked front in great power competition. He argues that while China’s tightly coordinated system gives it an asymmetric advantage, the U.S. must not emulate authoritarian control. Instead, he calls…
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Climate COP Heading Towards Challenged Cooperation
In light of the credibility problem of #COP29 in Azerbaijan, our fellow Vincent Sipeer examines whether a new legitimacy crisis under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is starting to develop. Faced with strained cooperation, low recognition and calls for more inclusive instruments, revitalising global collaboration is key to preventing COPs from losing legitimacy.