The Race for Quantum Computing

By Josh Litvak Almost a century ago, Erwin Schrödinger proposed his “Schrödinger’s Cat” thought experiment to demonstrate the absurdity of measuring quantum mechanics at the macroscopic level. In this hypothetical, a cat exists in a superposition of being both dead and alive until observed, when its state is confirmed. This idea—that a particle can exist in multiple states at once until measured—helps form the foundation … Continue reading The Race for Quantum Computing

“Surveillance superpowers”: the push and pull of American-Chinese cyber relations

By Anna Bader For the greater part of China’s rise as a global superpower, U.S. domestic policy makers have agonized over Chinese access to Americans’ information. The real question, however, is what information Silicon Valley has willingly given away. From the newest NVIDIA AI chip to IBM’s I2 surveillance and analysis software, it’s clear that Capitol Hill is underestimating the extent of these conspiracies. The … Continue reading “Surveillance superpowers”: the push and pull of American-Chinese cyber relations

Maintaining Sovereignty Through Energy Independence

By Leah Glaspey Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the European Union (EU) responded with a comprehensive sanctions package on Russian goods. In return, Russia restricted gas flow into Europe to 20 percent capacity. Left with no other viable source for oil, Europe plunged into an energy crisis and intensified its focus on developing clean energy infrastructure. Independence from Russian oil meant the EU … Continue reading Maintaining Sovereignty Through Energy Independence

A Need for Space Law Reform

By Khue Edwards On May 13, 2025, the Satellite Industry Association published the 28th annual State of the Satellite Report, highlighting shifts in the commercial satellite industry. The industry has been growing at an unprecedented rate – 11,539 satellites were operating in Earth’s orbit at the end of 2024, compared to 3,371 satellites in 2020, representing a nearly 400 percent increase in four years. With … Continue reading A Need for Space Law Reform

Space and the Security Dilemma

By Colby O’Connor In a world wrought by war, there is one domain in which peace has persevered until now: space. Space has been lauded as an area of cooperation even amongst rivals, with the U.S. working with Russia on the International Space Station and international consensus on agreements such as the Outer Space Treaty. These agreements prohibit the use of nuclear weapons in space … Continue reading Space and the Security Dilemma

2025 Journal Issue: Trading Places

View the latest issue of Hemispheres (vol. 48, no. 20) here or by clicking the image below. Congratulations to this year’s four authors! The following letter from our executive board offers a prolegomenon to the journal and annual theme, “Trading Places.” As students of international affairs, power is the language we first learn to speak. In introductory classes or seminar discussions, we continuously scrutinize structures … Continue reading 2025 Journal Issue: Trading Places