The Cundill History Prize: Mark Gilbert Chair of Jury

Mark Gilbert has been named the 2018 Chair of Jury for the prestigious international Cundill History Prize that recognizes and rewards the best history writing in English. The prize is administered by McGill University in Montreal, and Gilbert will chair a jury of world-leading historians in choosing this year's winners.

New study shows close link between GVCs participation and economic development

Richard Pomfret presented at the 2018 Forum on Globalization and Industrialization in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization on the importance of Global Value Chains in development. “Empirical work at macro, micro, and individual firm level reinforces the importance of GVCs in 21st century industrialization,” said Pomfret. “By requiring expertise in a task rather than creation of an integrated industry, GVCs ease the pathway to industrialization.”

Iran warns North Korea not to trust the US over historic summit: 'Trump might cancel deal before returning home'

The Independent gained insight from Sanam Vakil as comparisons emerged between the Iran Deal and the potential outcomes of the US-North Korea summit. “The North Korea deal and any new Iran deal would be maybe similar in structure, but the context is very different," said Vakil. “Iran has a wide variety of strategies that are predicated on a variety of timelines to deal with the Trump administration.”

Will Iran Agree to Be Kept Away From the Golan Border in Syria?

Carnegie surveyed leading Middle East experts, including Sanam Vakil, on the issue of Iran's presence at the Golan border in Syria. "For the time being Iran has no choice but to accept the Israeli-Russian agreement to block movement of its militias near the Golan border," Vakil said. "However, this does not change Tehran's long-term calculation regarding the value of its strategic investment in Syria."

A Conflicted Nation. Storia dell'Italia nella Guerra Fredda (1943–1978)

Mark Gilbert has provided the introduction to a new book which assesses the arguments and importance of Guido Formigoni's book" Storia dell'Italia nella Guerra Fredda". Gilbert and colleagues analyze the domestic and foreign policy constraints that shaped Italy during the Cold War through the lens of Formigoni's work.

The Fall and Rise of Matteo Salvini

Erik Jones profiled Italy's new Interior Minister and Northern League leader Matteo Salvini in Foreign Affairs, concluding that Italy's new "government will last only so long as Salvini has his way." As his party's polling number rise, Jones outlines why the League leader will make or break Italy.

Italy accuses the ECB of political interference — but the experts are unconvinced

The European Central Bank is being criticised for buying fewer Italian sovereign bonds last month as Italy struggled with political instability, leading some to question the ECB's motive. "This is an artefact of people not understanding the two sides of the large scale asset purchasing program," said Erik Jones. "A lot of German bonds matured in April, so (the ECB) bought a lot of German bonds (in May)."

Italy Hands Antiestablishment Parties New Task: Governing

As the Five Star Movement and the Lega Nord coalition officially took office in Italy, the Wall Street Journal wrote on the prospects of governing for the two antiestablishment parties now in power. Gianfranco Pasquino takes issue with the political platforms that each side bring to the government, noting that “They hope and wish these two plans could live together, but it is impossible.”

Megaregionalism 2.0: Trade and Innovation within Global Networks

Michael Plummer is the editor of the recently released book, "Megaregionalism 2.0: Trade and Innovation within Global Networks". In the aftermath of the U.S. withdraw from the TPP, the book "provides new insights for policy debates on how to strengthen the gains from trade for innovation through an inclusive trading environment that facilitates access to knowledge for all."

Transformar as finanças: o desafio lançado pela Igreja (in Portuguese)

Stefano Zamagni discussed the recent release of the Vatican document Oeconomicae et pecuniariae quaestionis (Considerations for an ethical discernment regarding some aspects of the present economic-financial system). Zamagni, a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, said that the document "proposes to transform, not only reform...to bring finances back to their original vocation: to serve the common good."