Global Scans · Totalitarianism · Weekly Summary

---

A global catastrophic risk is a hypothetical future event that has the potential to damage human well-being on a global scale. Some events could cripple or destroy modern civilization. Any event that could cause human extinction is known as an existential risk.

• Controversies & Limitations: The lithium market's volatility, often dictated by regulatory changes in major producing countries such as China, presents both opportunities and risks. Tumirador
• The EU should manage its relationship with China carefully, both embracing the opportunities for European consumers while selectively confronting China when strategic interests dictate. Centre for European Reform
• If the BRICS Pay system is implemented, the countries of the World Majority will be able to conduct economic policy without looking back at third players dictating their terms depending on the political situation. THE INTEL DROP
• The lack of a coherent European security strategy could further enable Trump to unilaterally dictate terms with Russia, leaving Canada and Europe with few options but to react to decisions made in Washington and Moscow. Modern Diplomacy
• The weakening of the multilateral system under the WTO could restrict avenues for a graduating country to seek or negotiate favourable terms and challenge arbitrary trade measures, leaving Bangladesh particularly vulnerable to the shifting norms dictated by dominant geopolitical players. The Daily Star
• The religious dictatorship ruling Iran not only suppresses the basic freedoms and human rights of the Iranian people, but through its aggressive policies and relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons, it poses a grave threat to global security and peace. NCRI
• Metal price performance in 2025 will largely be dictated by sentiment that is sensitive to stimulus announcements and economic data from mainland China, as well as policy developments in the US that will impact global growth, interest rates and the direction of the dollar. Mining Weekly
• With tariffs now being used as a key policy tool, expect a shift toward bilateral agreements where the U.S. dictates terms to individual nations rather than negotiating in multilateral forums. RETAIL INSIDER
• Even without sparking massive wars, China and Russia could gradually transform into gigantic North Koreas, relying increasingly on totalitarianism and military extortion to undermine an international order they can no longer hope to dominate. Foreign Affairs Magazine
• The gradual reduction in interest rates by the Federal Reserve is expected to be the biggest factor dictating the price of gold in 2025. The Times
• Unless Ukraine is able to bring Putin's invasion home to Russia, the Kremlin dictator will have little reason to seek a settlement. Atlantic Council
• The first nation to build an unhackable quantum internet might dictate global policies, spark geopolitical conflicts, or even weaponize information security. februaryToEnd
• Securing support from Russia may encourage the unpredictable dictator in North Korea to take the risk and attack the South, a move that will greatly increase the risk for WWIII. The National Interest
• As dictator Nicolas Maduro consolidates power in Venezuela, the incoming Trump administration faces a critical test: balancing a hardline stance with pragmatic diplomacy amid a crisis threatening regional stability, global oil markets, and millions of lives. FDD
• The sanctions imposed by the Arctic countries on Russia are portrayed as being dictated by the USA and unjustified due to the absence of a Russian threat. Network for Strategic Analysis (NSA)
• Concerns over sovereignty contributed to Brexit, and an inequitable arrangement could see the US dictating terms, undermining the UK's negotiating power and strategic autonomy. Modern Diplomacy
• The interplay of fiscal policy, consumer behaviour, and global economics will greatly dictate the trajectory of inflation. UMA Technology
• A substantial first-innings total could set the stage for Zimbabwe to dictate terms and apply pressure on Afghanistan's batting lineup. Qrius
• If Putin is permitted to dictate terms to Kiev, Beijing might feel more inclined to use military force against Taiwan or other neighbours. Forum for Ukrainian Studies
• Security zone on Israeli border: Israel has ordered its military to establish a security area in Syria beyond the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, in a sign of the potential danger the Jewish state feels from unknown rulers in Damascus following the fall of Assad's dictatorship. CNN
• The current guidelines that dictate how water is shared among the seven Colorado River basin states are set to expire at the end of 2026, and government leaders must create a new plan before then. The Denver Post
• The system that has dictated global finance for over a century could soon be replaced by a new financial architecture rooted in transparency, fairness, and sovereignty. Operation Disclosure Official
• If U.S. policymakers decline to seize the values imperative, they risk a world shaped by autocratic preferences and dominated by dictatorships. CNAS

Last updated: 17 March 2025