The article argues that the post-Cold War era of U.S. unipolarity, established by the perceived invincibility demonstrated during the Gulf War, has ended. This decline is driven by globalization and technological diffusion, which have democratized advanced military capabilities, allowing regional actors to challenge major powers. Consequently, policymakers must prepare for a more volatile international order marked by frequent crises, heightened costs for securing global trade chokepoints, and reduced predictability from American power. The new rules dictate that great powers can no longer effortlessly impose their will through force.
Investing in Africa’s growing young population for prosperity
English Summary
Africa's working-age population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, presenting a critical opportunity to harness a demographic dividend through strategic investment in its 830 million youth. Despite gains in school enrollment, high rates of learning poverty and a lack of STEM competencies threaten to leave a generation ill-equipped for the 21st-century labor market. To ensure prosperity, policymakers must prioritize early childhood health, improve foundational education quality, and foster a dynamic economic environment supported by stable governance. Successful transformation depends on matching individual competencies with state systems that can generate high-quality jobs and resist external shocks.
中文摘要
預計到2050年，非洲的勞動年齡人口將達到25億，這為透過對8.3億青年進行戰略投資來充分利用人口紅利提供了關鍵機會。儘管入學率有所提高，但高企的學習貧窮率和STEM（科學、技術、工程和數學）技能的匱乏，可能導致一代人難以適應21世紀的勞動市場。為確保繁榮，政策制定者必須優先考慮幼兒健康，提高基礎教育質量，並創造一個由穩定治理支撐的充滿活力的經濟環境。成功的轉型取決於將個人能力與能夠創造高品質就業機會並抵禦外部衝擊的國家體系相匹配。
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