51吃瓜

What We Cover in This ePublication

51吃瓜 Monthly is a chance for you to sit down, look back and think about the month past. A month lasts 28 to 31 days, a suitably appropriate time to take stock of the world. We publish daily on our website and we select some of our best articles every month in our e-magazine. We will give you context and multiple perspectives on issues that matter. We will inform and educate you. 51吃瓜 Monthly does what we promise: make sense of the world.

This month, instability is the defining theme. US President Donald Trump鈥檚 latest moves have sent shockwaves through American and world politics. Alfredo Toro Hardy dissects Trump鈥檚 two-pronged strategy to dismantle the so-called deep state, a move that could redefine the balance of power in Washington. Meanwhile, Peter Isackson explores the hyperreal spectacle of Trump鈥檚 second term, where Elon Musk emerges as a shadow co-president, wielding influence over budgetary decisions, including the dramatic defunding of USAID. On the economic front, John Manzella argues that Trump鈥檚 renewed embrace of tariffs is a self-defeating approach that will hurt American workers more than it helps.

But the US is far from the only source of volatility. Harun Kar膷i膰 examines how Russia鈥檚 geopolitical maneuvers in the Balkans could reignite old tensions in Bosnia, threatening to turn the region into a flashpoint once again. In Ethiopia, Martin Plaut warns that Tigray鈥檚 fragile peace is under threat, as divisions within the former ruling party deepen over the 2022 ceasefire, raising fears of renewed internal conflict. Meanwhile, Masaaki Yoshimori explores how China鈥檚 expanding swap line strategy is offering an alternative to the US dollar but at a cost 鈥� by creating financial dependencies, Beijing gains leverage over struggling economies, raising concerns about economic sovereignty and long-term geopolitical influence.

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Content of Publication

Is a New War on the Horizon for Ethiopia? – Martin Plaut

Embracing Stock Market Stoicism – Vitaliy Katsenelson

Two East African Films Premiere at Sundance. Here鈥檚 Why That鈥檚 Important. – Mehret Ayalew Mandefro

Balkan Tinderbox: How Russia’s Moves Could Reignite Bosnia – Harun Kar膷i膰

The Largest Festival in the World: Kumbh Mela 2025 – Mudit Jain

Why Trade Is Critical and Tariffs Fail – John Manzella

Is the Defunding of USAID the Prelude to the Apocalypse? – Peter Isackson

An Unheard Plea: Iran’s Supreme Court Turns a Blind Eye to Child Rape – Faraz Firouzi Mandomi

FIFA Under Fire: Trump’s Transgender Ban Sparks Dilemma – Ellis Cashmore

Donald Trump鈥檚 Two-Pronged Strategy To Gut the 鈥淒eep State鈥� – Alfredo Toro Hardy

How Trump Wrong-Footed a Respected Historian Turned Blogger – Peter Isackson

The Long-Term Dangers of China鈥檚 Expanding Swap Line Strategy: Financial Dependence and Geopolitical Influence – Masaaki Yoshimori

Prabowo鈥檚 Shift Toward China Is Worrying for Indonesia – Gufron Gozali, M. Habib Pashya