December, 2025 - The Sixteenth Council

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The House of Lords: A Blueprint for Strengthening Britain’s Democratic Architecture

The future of the House of Lords has become a defining question for British democracy. While calls for abolition grow louder, removing the upper chamber would erode expertise, weaken scrutiny, and concentrate excessive power in the executive. The real opportunity lies in intelligent reform—introducing term limits, strengthening committees, increasing transparency, and modernising appointments. A reformed Lords can offer continuity, strategic insight, and stronger governance at a time when the UK needs long-range thinking more than ever.

Prioritising Safety and Accountability: Addressing the Drug Cartel Threat in the US

Over the past ten months, some political debates have centred on complex issues: opposition to a comprehensive audit of federal government operations, decisions around the deportation of certain undocumented immigrants, and questions about the inclusion of biological males in women’s sports. Among these, the matter of drug trafficking has drawn particular attention.

Political shifts in South Africa following introduction of coalition government

South Africa has entered a new political era as the ANC loses its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994, forming a historic coalition government with the Democratic Alliance. This shift emphasizes negotiation, compromise, and multiparty consensus, reshaping domestic policy on land reform, economic inclusion, and social inequality. The coalition also complicates foreign policy, with internal ideological divisions affecting relations with the US, BRICS, and regional actors. Stability and effectiveness will depend on sustained collaboration amid domestic and geopolitical pressures.

Anti-Corruption Agencies in Transitional Democracies: Ukraine and Georgia

Anti-corruption agencies remain pivotal in transitional democracies, but their impact is context-dependent. In Ukraine, NABU and SAPO resisted political encroachment in mid-2025, with civic mobilization and EU pressure restoring independence, enabling high-level corruption investigations in defense procurement. In Georgia, the Anti-Corruption Bureau is being dismantled, with powers absorbed by a state audit office under executive control, suppressing civil society and signaling democratic backsliding. These cases highlight how anti-graft institutions can either bolster resilience or enable authoritarian consolidation, depending on political context and external leverage.