Andrei Alexandru Babadac

The evolving dynamics of global power are increasingly shaped by the intersection of demographics, technological advancement, and geopolitical realignment. As the international order transitions towards a multipolar configuration the United States, China, Russia and the European Union confront multifaceted challenges such as aging populations, climate change, and the rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence. Drawing upon the analytical frameworks of Tim Marshall, Paul Kennedy, and Alfred Thayer Mahan, this article explores how geographical constraints, economic imperatives, and emergent domains like the Arctic and outer space are influencing the strategic trajectories of these global actors. Strategic Realignments in a Multipolar World The geopolitical preeminence of the United States has historically been underpinned by its geographic advantages, including vast natural resources and maritime insulation provided by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. However, the emergent global ord...

 “Nations have no permanent friends or allies, they only have permanent interests.” —  Lord Palmerston In 2025, the world is once again rearranging itself—this time, quietly, unevenly, and with little of the clarity that once defined the Cold War or its end. But beneath the surface of alliances and summits, the old rules still hold. Geography, strategy, and fear remain the basic currencies of international life. As someone trained in international relations and shaped by academic study in both England and Belgium, I often find that behind every flashy summit or sharp diplomatic statement, there is a far more enduring truth:  where you are still determines who you fear, who you trust, and what you want.  Nowhere is this clearer than in Eastern Europe, and perhaps no moment has revealed it more starkly than the policy drift we’ve witnessed under the second Trump administration. The idea that geography still shapes global power may sound obvious—but for much of the past...

In a time when global power feels increasingly unmoored from treaties, territories, and even truth, it’s tempting to assume that small and medium-sized states are doomed to drift. But in a world reshaped by networks, not navies, and influence, not occupation, there is room to maneuver—if a country knows how to frame its strengths. And Romania, though often underestimated, is beginning to show what that looks like. It’s not a story of missiles or military bases. It’s one of servers, standards, and smart diplomacy. At the heart of this quiet transformation is Romania’s rising role in European cybersecurity. Hosting the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) in Bucharest is more than symbolic—it’s strategic. For the first time, an EU-level body focused on digital resilience and research coordination is headquartered not in a Western capital, but in an Eastern European country often dismissed as a consumer of security rather than a contributor to it. But the ECCC isn’t an isolated...

“The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced communist, but        people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction… no longer exists.” -  Hannah Arendt In the aftermath of World War II, authoritarian regimes from Eastern Europe to Latin America learned an important lesson:  you don’t need to crush dissent violently if you can dissolve it culturally . Control of the narrative—of symbols, media, memory—became the quiet cornerstone of their dominance. Romania’s own post-war history offers a precise case study. Beginning in the late 1940s, the communist regime under Gheorghiu-Dej—and especially under Ceaușescu—didn’t just govern through secret police and repression. It governed through  total narrative saturation . Radio, film, books, and especially television served one purpose: not merely to inform, but to drown out all competing versions of reality. The regime didn’t need to argue. It needed only to  r...

At the invitation of the  International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC-ILO) , I recently had the privilege of participating in an online course focused on  responsible business conduct (RBC)  and its crucial role in promoting  sustainable and just transitions . As this was my second time engaging with ITC-ILO, the experience again proved invaluable, enriching my work as an  Investment Adviser  at the  Romanian Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade , and in my role with Romania’s  National Contact Point (NCP) for Responsible Business Conduct . The course offered timely insights into how  multinational enterprises (MNEs)  can align their operations with international standards on  labor rights ,  environmental sustainability , and  social justice —all foundational to achieving a  just transition . In today’s global economy, sustainability is no longer a peripheral concern; it is central ...

On December 10, 2024, I had the honor of participating in the Annual Conference of the Romanian Institute for Human Rights, an event dedicated to exploring key issues around reducing inequality and promoting human rights. The conference, with its theme "Reducing Inequality and Promoting Human Rights," was a gathering of distinguished professionals from various sectors, including academia, government, and civil society, all committed to advancing the rights of individuals and groups in Romania and beyond. The event kicked off with insightful speeches from leaders, such as Senator Costel Vicol, President of the Commission for Human Rights, Equal Opportunities, Cults, and Minorities; Dr. Adrian Bulgaru, Executive Director of the Romanian Institute for Human Rights; and Zsolt Molnár, Deputy Ombudsman. These opening remarks set the stage for the vital discussions that followed, highlighting the importance of integrating human rights into all aspects of governance, business, and so...

The escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas has seized international attention, prompting concerns about its profound implications for the global economy. The data presented in this conversation paints a stark picture, emphasizing the immediate human tragedy and the intricate nexus of economic, geopolitical, and social challenges it poses.As tensions rise in the Middle East, the specter of the conflict spreading beyond Gaza and Israel looms large. Historically, conflicts in the Middle East have sent shockwaves through the global economic landscape, affecting energy supplies, shipping routes, inflation rates, and economic growth. The potential for this conflict to entangle neighboring nations raises alarms about the destabilizing effects it could have on regional stability and, consequently, major global powers. Historically, conflicts in the Middle East have had profound implications for the global economy. The region is a vital supplier of energy, particularly oil, and a crucial ...