Emmaline Soken-Huberty, Author at International Relations Careers

The 13 Most Powerful People in the World 2023

Power is a complicated concept. It means different things in different scenarios, but in general, it refers to the ability to wield authority, force, and influence. Within international relations, it can refer to economic or military power, as well as an actor’s ability to influence other actors through coercive, cooperative, or competitive means. In this article, we’ll discuss 13 individuals who wield significant power in 2023. We consider factors like their wealth, their positions of authority, and their social influence. …

Direct Democracy 101: Meaning, Facts, Examples

Who holds the most power in society? Who decides what laws and policies govern our lives? In direct democracy, the people exercise the most power. With roots in ancient history, direct democracy is a system where citizens vote on every issue that affects their lives. There are currently no true direct democracies, but many countries weave pure democratic processes into their systems. In this article, we’ll explore the meaning of direct democracy, present the most important facts, and describe modern …

Ambassadorships 101: Meaning, Facts, FAQs

Ambassadorships are the highest-ranking posts for diplomat officials. Known as ambassadors, these officials represent their home country’s interests while living in a host country. They’re vital to communication and negotiation between the states, and so enjoy certain privileges and protections not granted to other non-citizens. In this article, we’ll get into a more thorough definition of an ambassadorship, present five of the most important facts, and answer five of the most frequently asked questions. What is an ambassadorship? Ambassadors are …

What Does an FBI Intelligence Analyst Do?

FBI intelligence analysts play a crucial role at the FBI. They research, analyze information, identify threats, and make recommendations on how to mitigate those threats. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the United States’ domestic intelligence and security service. It’s also its main federal law enforcement agency. Around 35,000 people work at the FBI investigating terrorism, cybercrime, organized crime, violent crime, and much more. FBI intelligence analysts are critical to the agency’s success, but what exactly do these professionals …

Is Japan Part of NATO?

NATO (which stands for North Atlantic Treaty Organization) was established by 12 countries in April 1949. It was a direct response to the aftermath of WWII, which saw ties between the Soviet Union and the Western Allies weaken. Worried about security, the 12 original NATO members established NATO as a shield against threats to European peace and freedom. Japan has had a long history with NATO, but is it a member? In this article, we’ll explore why Japan is not …

What is G7? Purpose, History and Influence

In 1973, finance ministers from West Germany, France, the UK, and the United States met in a library in the White House. This small group of four soon expanded into an intergovernmental forum known as “G7” or the Group of Seven. At its yearly summits, the G7 discusses the global economy, governance issues, international security, energy policy, and more. In this article, we’ll explore the purpose of the G7, its decades-long history, and the complicated influence it has on the …

The 15 Largest Countries in the World

Country size can be measured by population or land mass. In this article, we’re focusing on population. In 2022, around 8 billion people lived on Earth. That’s a growth of about 1 billion since 2011, while the UN predicts the Earth won’t host 9 billion people until 2037. While these numbers represent a deceleration in the global population, 8 billion is still a lot of people. Where are the most populous areas? In this article, we’ll explore the 15 largest …

The 10 Most Technologically Advanced Countries

We live in a technology-saturated era, but certain countries are experiencing more advancement than others. Depending on what criteria you use, the most technologically advanced countries are different, so this article represents just one ranking. For our list, we studied the 2022 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, which measures 63 economies on their “capacity and readiness to adopt and explore digital technologies.” According to the 2022 IMD World Digital Competitiveness Ranking, the 10 most technologically advanced countries are Denmark, the …

The 10 Most Powerful Passports in the World

The most powerful passports let you travel easily without extra requirements. Countries like Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Germany now give passport holders access to most of the countries in the world. Passports are official, government-issued documents that hold a person’s identity. They’re used for travel, so when you cross a border, officials can confirm your identity and nationality. Not all passports hold the same power, however! When a passport is “powerful,” it means you can enter a variety of …

What Countries Have the Highest Life Expectancy?

People tend to live the longest in countries like Japan, Liechtenstein. South Korea, the Faroe Islands, Singapore, Australia, Spain, Norway, Sweden, and Iceland. Life expectancy is one of the most important metrics of a country’s well-being. When people have good healthcare, good-paying jobs, good living conditions, and other essential rights, they tend to live longer. Over the centuries and decades, life expectancy has risen globally, but some countries are doing better than others. In this article, we’ll list the 11 …