Stimson’s Top 10: Our Most-Read Pieces in 2024 Publications exploring regional conflicts from the Middle East to Ukraine and projecting future risks in defense and international security were among our most-read pieces in 2024. By Joakim Matamis December 13, 2024

 Stimson’s Top 10: Our Most-Read Pieces in 2024

Publications exploring regional conflicts from the Middle East to Ukraine and projecting future risks in defense and international security were among our most-read pieces in 2024.

By Joakim Matamis

December 13, 2024

#10. The Impact of the US Presidential Election on the Future of the International Order

#9. Current Defense Plans Require Unsustainable Future Spending

#8. Ending the War in Ukraine: Harder Than It Seems

#7. Would Anyone “Win” a Taiwan Conflict?

#6. India’s Military Modernization Efforts Under Prime Minister Modi

#5. Scenarios for the Middle East to 2026: Worse Before It’s Better

#4. Impacts of Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal an

d Implications for Mekong Cooperation

#3. Iran and Russia Enter A New Level of Military Cooperation

#2. Top Ten Global Risks for 2024

#1. Consumers Protest the Gaza War by Boycotting US Goods

As more than half of the world’s population headed to the polls, 2024 has been dubbed ‘the

 year the world votes.’ Against the backdrop of

 major global elections, conflict stretched and

 shape-shifted as multiple wars marked grim

 anniversaries. Conflict, defense, and political

 upheaval were the common theme among our

 most read pieces in 2024. Explore our top 10

 publications from the year.

#10. The Impact of the US Presidential Election on the Future of the International Order

As part of our Global South Experts Turn the Tables series, Project Manager Aude Darnal brought in experts from the Global South to discuss their views on how a new US administration would affect Global South countries ahead of this year’s US presidential election in this commentary collection.

Commentary

The Impact of the US Presidential Election on the Future of the International Order

A discussion with Global South experts on their view of the U.S. presidential election and its potential impact on efforts to reform the world order

Aude Darnal • Karim Makdisi • Chris O. Ògúnmọ́dẹdé...

#9. Current Defense Plans Require Unsustainable Future Spending

Experts from the National Security Reform Program, our latest program at Stimson, projected the future trends in the US defense industry and the persistent problems that come from unsustainable and unstrategic spending in their issue brief on the topic.

Issue Brief

Current Defense Plans Require Unsustainable Future Spending

US defense spending has increased nearly 50% since the start of the 21st century, with no signs of slowing down

Dan Grazier • Julia Gledhill • Geoff Wilson

#8. Ending the War in Ukraine: Harder Than It Seems

Days before the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, Distinguished Fellow Mathew Burrows examined the possible outcomes of the war in Ukraine while countering the reigning assumptions around the conflict in this policy memo.

Policy Memo

Ending the War in Ukraine: Harder Than It Seems

Examining the possible outcomes of the war in Ukraine, two years on

Mathew Burrows

#7. Would Anyone “Win” a Taiwan Conflict?

At the beginning of the year, Distinguished Fellow Robert Manning provided his insights in his policy memo on the potential political and economic ramifications of a US-China confrontation around Taiwan as tensions persist between the two great powers in the Indo-Pacific region.

Policy Memo

Would Anyone “Win” a Taiwan Conflict?

The global economy would face devastating consequences in a US-China clash even with actions short of direct conventional conflict

Robert A. Manning

#6. India’s Military Modernization Efforts Under Prime Minister Modi

Published in late May, South Asia Visiting Fellow Ladhu Choudhary argued for the U.S. and India to bolster is defense cooperation in order to stimulate India’s current military modernization efforts in his capstone policy memo.

Policy Memo

India’s Military Modernization Efforts Under Prime Minister Modi

Bolstering U.S.-India defense cooperation is necessary to stimulate India’s ongoing military modernization

Dr. Ladhu R. Choudhary

#5. Scenarios for the Middle East to 2026: Worse Before It’s Better

Following a meeting of U.S. regional experts convened at the Stimson Center, Distinguished Fellows Barbara Slavin, Robert Manning, and Mathew Burrows outlined three scenarios for the Middle East and regional conflict for the next year in their foward-looking policy memo.

Policy Memo

Scenarios for the Middle East to 2026: Worse Before It’s Better

A war in Gaza, uncertain elections, and growing social tensions; “I’ve never seen such an unsettled situation in the region.”

Barbara Slavin • Robert A. Manning • Mathew Burrows

#4. Impacts of Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal and Implications for Mekong Cooperation

As Cambodia’s problems around its Funan Techo Canal project continue to grow, experts Brian Eyler, Regan Kwan, and Courtney Weatherby highlighted the water and flood risks the canal poses to communities along the Mekong Delta region in this issue brief.

Issue Brief

Impacts of Cambodia’s Funan Techo Canal and Implications for Mekong Cooperation

How a new Belt and Road project in Cambodia could increase water and flood risks in Vietnam and weaken the 1995 Mekong Agreement

Brian Eyler • Regan Kwan • Courtney Weatherby

#3. Iran and Russia Enter A New Level of Military Cooperation

After news broke of Iran and Russia’s growing ties and recent arms transfers, Georgia-based international relations professor Emil Avdaliani provided his overview of Iran-Russia cooperation and its implications for longer-term prospects in this commentary.

Commentary

Iran and Russia Enter A New Level of Military Cooperation

Moscow is in need of missiles and might be more forthcoming in response to Iran’s requests for high-tech Russian weaponry

Emil Avdaliani

#2. Top Ten Global Risks for 2024

At the beginning of the year, Distinguished Fellows Mathew Burrows and Robert Manning introduced their list of global risks to watch out for in the coming year while projecting their probabilities in their seventh-annual commentary.

Commentary

Top Ten Global Risks for 2024

Persistent conflict in Africa, the Middle East, and Ukraine, the consequences of climate change, and emerging technologies may pose heightened risks this year

Mathew Burrows • Robert A. Manning

#1. Consumers Protest the Gaza War by Boycotting US Goods

As international boycotts began ramping up in early April and late May, Dubai-based Dr. Kristian Alexander outlined the effects of grassroots international protests on the war in Gaza and the pressure it posed on countries like Israel and the U.S.

Commentary

Consumers Protest the Gaza War by Boycotting US Goods

McDonald’s, Starbucks, and other high-profile American companies have been targeted because of their perceived support for Israel and its war on Gaza

Kristian Alexander

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