Future Why Japan’s ‘Strategic Shrinkage’ Could Rewrite Growth Models Built Since Britain’s Industrial Revolution When Britain began laying railway lines in the early 1800s, it had no precedent to follow. There were no return-on-investment (ROI) models for building a coal factory, a railway tunnel,
Future Europe's Climate Urgency: Driven by Green Ideals or Fear of an African Refugees? I’ve always been a bit puzzled by the intensity of Europe's focus on climate change. For East Asia, the motivation seemed clear: countries like Japan and China are almost
economics Who’s the Real Capitalist? Japan’s Government is Smaller Than America’s It might come as a surprise, but Japan—often caricatured as a bureaucratic society—has the lowest public sector employment among all major developed countries. Meanwhile, the United States, long
Future Japan’s Economic Evolution: From Stagnation to Global Landlord The last 30 years have often been described as a unipolar moment for the United States in political and military terms. However, economically, the world has been far more multipolar.
economics Japan's Secret Weapon? How Decades of Investment Are Tackling its Aging Crisis The world is getting older. From Toronto to Tokyo, governments are grappling with the ballooning costs of supporting aging populations – think pensions, healthcare, and social care. Japan, with the world's
Artificial Intelligence The Next Cars and Computers? Pet Robots & Bio-Homes Answer Today's Needs History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes. Look back at the dawn of the automotive age or the early days of personal computers. Cars (1900-1970) weren't just transportation; they
Future Silicon Valley's Detroit Moment: Is the AI Gold Rush Entering its Twilight? From Moore's Law to AI Safety The air in Silicon Valley still crackles with the energy of artificial intelligence – the promise of transformation, disruption, and unprecedented innovation. It feels like an endless frontier, a digital gold
economics Britain's Trade to Service and Echoes of Empire in Modern Account Surplus Japan For centuries, the British Empire stood as a titan, its influence stretching across continents. But beneath the grand narrative of territorial control and global power lay a fascinating and often
International Relation The Dollar’s New Deal: Exit the Middle East, Enter Alberta Since 1973, the legitimacy of the US dollar (USD) has hinged on the petrodollar agreement, where global oil trade—primarily from the Middle East—was exclusively conducted in USD. The
economics Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs and Economic Complexity: Who Really Gets Hurt? Recently, former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed imposing "reciprocal tariffs" on several trading partners based on the tariffs they charge U.S. goods. Here's a quick overview: Tariff across
International Relation The Next 1947 Moment: From Anti-Colonial Independence to Today's Civilizational Uprising The 20th century witnessed one of history's most profound shifts: the end of Western colonialism. Today, we're on the cusp of another massive shift—one that could rewrite global power
International Relation End of Civil War Narrative in US - Post-Trump Fragmentation End of an Era: The Media Giants FallThe collapse of legacy media institutions like The New York Times, CNN, BuzzFeed News, and Vice Media isn't merely a financial story—it's
International Relation The Trump Effect: Navigating a Fragmented Global Currency Order The global currency landscape is shifting—but perhaps not in the way most people think. Recent geopolitical tensions, economic shifts, and political developments—particularly involving former President Donald Trump and
EU AI Investment, Too Small to Catch Up Von der Layen EU announcement in Feb 11, 2025Today, EU govenrment announced. It'll pledge €50 billion of the government investment to the AI sector marking how serious they are in this race to catch up against US and China. The plan is to bring
International Relation Cultural Humility: The Hidden Pattern of Rising Powers The Japanese Paradox: Looking Beyond BordersGrowing up in Japan, I was immersed in the country's rich pop culture, particularly through manga and anime. Yet something fascinating struck me about beloved
The U.S. in Denial: Navigating the Loss of Global Dominance through the 7 Stages of Grief When a nation’s influence begins to wane, its citizens and leaders often go through emotional cycles akin to the stages of grief. As the U.S. grapples with China’
Artificial Intelligence Delving into Thought and Reasoning in the Era of Artificial Intelligence We live in an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an integral part of our everyday lives and industries. With AI stepping into numerous roles that were traditionally occupied
City The Decline of Nation States and the Rise of City-States in Modern Era Throughout history, nation states have served as arbiters of power, security, and resources. However, today's globalized and interconnected world is gradually pushing modern societies towards a more decentralized and local
International Relation "Shifting Tides: The Evolution and Potential Future of Global Trade" Global trade has seen a vast evolution over centuries. From the early voyages of Africa/Atlantic trade in 1450, it has experienced waves of expansion and contraction that have defined
International Relation Navigating 21st Century Scenarios: East Asia’s Potential Future Amid Great Powers The power dynamics and geopolitics of East Asia could drastically change in the coming years, particularly if scenarios involving China, the United States, and their respective allies unfold. Based on
International Relation The Historical Cycles of Global Peace: An Analysis The history of global superpowers has often been characterized by long periods of peace followed by abrupt, destructive conflicts. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, these powers, such as the
International Relation Europe and North America: The Population Boom, Economic Impact, and the Lingering Refugee Crisis The world as we know it is changing faster than ever before. Countries that were once classified as 'developing' are now boasting bustling economies and infrastructures that rival traditionally 'developed'
International Relation The Fall of Ancient Dynasties and Modern Power Structures: Historical Insights In this blog, we'll delve into the historical significance of the fall of the Southern Song dynasty, lessons from the Yuan period, and implications for modern power structures. We hypothesize
International Relation The Parallels of Progress: Comparing the Tang and Song Dynasties to Europe's Transition Whether it's the world of politics, economics, or culture, the patterns of history often repeat themselves across different parts of the globe. One of the most fascinating comparisons lies between
International Relation Gigantism vs. Practicality: A Historical Perspective on Exploration and Warfare Gigantism, the pursuit of extravagantly large objects, has always been alluring and captivating, synonymous with strength, might, and power. For centuries, people have marveled at overly large ships or impressive
