For years, the Gulf States sold the world on stability, investment, and distance from the Middle East's wars. Two weeks of Iranian strikes have shattered that narrative. In this Wikistrat analysis, Dr. Neil Quilliam examines how the GCC is absorbing the shock and what the post conflict landscape means for the region's security, economy, and diplomatic future.

Washington is ready to declare victory, but inside Iran the picture is far less conclusive. The regime has absorbed the worst of the air campaign, installed Khamenei's son as successor, and is already planning to rebuild its deterrent underground. The opposition is fragmented, the diaspora is discredited, and the ethnic fault lines that could reshape the country remain poorly understood. Ahmad Hashemi breaks down why the real strategic challenge begins the moment the bombing

Six days into the U.S.-Israeli air campaign, the Islamic Republic is battered but functioning. Dr. Sina Azodi assesses the regime's resilience, the opposition's limitations, and why bombing alone has never produced regime change.

Three days into “Operation Epic Fury,” the headlines say war—but the strategy remains unclear. In a deep analysis with Iran expert Alex Vatanka, we explore why Iranians aren’t revolting, how Tehran is playing the long game, and what real success in this conflict would even look like. The military picture may be evolving, but the political and human dynamics will determine what comes next.

The U.S. sees an Iran that should surrender. Khamenei sees surrender as a path to regime collapse. Wikistrat's latest webinar with Dr. Raz Zimmt unpacks the collision of worldviews driving the crisis toward military confrontation, and what a U.S. strike would mean for the regime, the opposition, Hezbollah, and the Gulf states.

Trump's second presidency reached one year without triggering predicted catastrophes, yet fundamental tensions remain unresolved. Alliances strained but held, tariffs disrupted without collapsing trade, and military force came in sharp bursts. Dr. Richard Weitz examines what this volatile year reveals about Trump's instincts, how the world adapted to his methods, and whether avoiding disaster equals success or simply deferred reckoning.

Thousands dead, internet blackouts, and a currency in freefall, Iran is facing sustained nationwide unrest met with unprecedented brutality. Wikistrat convened Dr. Sina Azodi, Ahmad Hashemi, and Alex Vatanka to assess what makes this wave different, why elite cohesion still matters, and the scenarios ahead, from continued repression to IRGC consolidation, regime collapse, or fragmentation.

Taiwan is not on the brink of a 2027 invasion; the real danger is unfolding quietly in the gray zone. Dr. Minxin Pei dismantles the countdown narrative, arguing Beijing's destabilizing tools are already in motion, from military drills to pressure on undersea cables. The flashpoint is 2028, when elections in Taipei, Washington, and the Philippines collide with a Chinese leadership refining hybrid warfare options that stop short of war yet carry strategic shockwaves.

Physical AI is ending 50 years of rigid robotics. Robots now understand intent, learn from each other via the cloud, and will soon cost less than a year's salary. Dr. Graham Ong-Webb maps out four scenarios for the decade ahead, from accelerated stability to chaotic tipping point, and warns that the real threat isn't the humanoids themselves, but the widening gap between technological capability and institutional readiness.

China dominates the processing and magnet making that power global clean energy and high tech industries, raising fears of overdependence as rare earths return to the geopolitical spotlight. In this webinar, Dr. Marina Zhang explains how China built its ecosystem, why alternatives remain costly, and what the next five years of supply, competition, and technology disruption may look like.

Many of today's most destabilizing crises weren't sudden shocks. They were slow-burning trends we watched unfold in real time. At the 10th anniversary of NYU's Riskathon, Prof. Maha Hosain Aziz revisited predictions made a decade ago and measured them against our fractured present. Her sobering conclusion: the warning signs were visible all along. The question is whether we'll finally act on what foresight tells us before it's too late.

Iran’s nuclear program is trapped between escalation, retreat, and a fragile status quo. In this webinar, Dr. Sina Azodi explains why Tehran views enrichment as essential, how succession politics and regional pressures shape its choices, and why time remains Iran’s most powerful tool. This analysis breaks down the forces driving Iran’s strategy and the scenarios that could define its next moves.

Russia expert Mark Galeotti joined Wikistrat to examine the Kremlin's actual objectives, the forces shaping Russian decision-making, whether Moscow's strategy is working, and what might force Putin to change course

Amid intensifying geopolitical shocks and market shifts, how can companies not just survive but thrive? In a recent Wikistrat webinar, Prof. Benjamin Laker, an expert on leadership, shared lessons from past crises and today’s polycrisis world. From stress testing and rapid response to competitive leapfrogging and scenario planning, he revealed how adaptability and speed define which organizations stay ahead.

Information warfare is entering a new era. From botnets and deepfakes to AI-driven influence, the tools have changed but the mission remains the same: shaping perceptions and undermining trust. In our September 9 webinar, Ari Ben Am of Telemetry Data Labs and FDD examined how today’s information operations target not only states but also the private sector, and what best, worst, and black swan futures could look like.

The four-day workweek is moving from bold experiment to serious policy debate. In a recent Wikistrat webinar, Professor Brendan Burchell of the University of Cambridge shared evidence from the UK’s groundbreaking 2022 trial and beyond. His research shows that shorter hours improve wellbeing, reduce turnover, and can even boost performance—while offering families new possibilities for balance and gender equality.

Agentic AI is transforming the future of work—reshaping how organizations operate, lead, and compete. In this session, White House AI Fellow Matthew Versaggi explores how cognitive agents are moving beyond automation to become reasoning, autonomous collaborators. From new leadership models to the urgent need for self-directed learning, discover what it takes to thrive in a world where machines are teammates, not just tools.

As Israel and Iran traded blows, would Moscow and Beijing truly back Tehran if conflict escalated—or is the “Axis” narrative overstated? In a July 10 webinar, Dr. Richard Weitz examined China and Russia’s cautious reactions, the lessons learned, and what the limits of this partnership reveal. Despite rhetoric of solidarity, the Israel-Iran war exposed the transactional nature of the axis, raising questions about its resilience in a shifting global order.

As headlines fade, the Ukraine war grinds on with global stakes. In a Wikistrat webinar, Keir Giles of Chatham House argues the conflict is not entering a new phase but continuing a brutal war of attrition, with Russia’s imperial goals unchanged. Ukraine’s survival hinges on external support, while Europe remains unprepared for what comes next. Read key insights on what’s really shaping the future of this war.

Iran faces its most critical juncture since the Islamic Revolution. Following Israeli strikes on its nuclear and missile programs, Tehran must decide between restraint and escalation as succession looms and the IRGC gains influence. Dr. Raz Zimmt analyzes Iran’s next moves, from rebuilding deterrence to risking a nuclear breakout. Will Iran stabilize under pressure, or will it spiral into deeper conflict? The choices made now will shape the region’s future.