Erik Mobrand

Erik Mobrand is an associate professor of Korean Studies at Seoul National University. His research and teaching deal with politics in East Asia, with an emphasis on Korean and Chinese societies. Erik holds a PhD in Politics from Princeton and worked previously at the National University of Singapore. He is the author of a forthcoming book called Top-Down Democracy in South Korea (University of Washington Press, 2019).

South Korea’s Local Elections Underscore a Political Shift

On June 13, for the first time since the thaw in inter-Korean relations earlier this year, South Koreans went to the polls. They voted...

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BRICS+ cooperation in a complex economic and geopolitical environment: Opportunities and impediments

BRICS+ offers vast potential in trade, technology and local currency cooperation, but geopolitical rivalries and divergent strategic priorities will shape whether it emerges as a cohesive force or remains a loose coalition.

BRICS and De-Dollarization: Is the Global Financial Order Really Changing?

BRICS may not end dollar dominance, but it is accelerating a shift toward a more multipolar financial order where currencies, influence, and economic power are becoming increasingly contested.

Between Two Fronts: Why Japan-South Korea Security Cooperation Is No Longer Optional

Japan and South Korea can no longer afford fragmented security policies. In a Taiwan-Korea dual contingency, coordination is no longer strategic preference, but the foundation of deterrence and regional stability.

Islamabad as Intermediary: Pakistan’s Calculated Turn to Crisis Diplomacy

As Gulf tensions rise, Pakistan has quietly become the channel neither Washington nor Tehran can afford to lose. Islamabad’s diplomacy is no longer reactive; it is positioning itself at the center of crisis management.

Epstein Case and the Crisis of Transparency in the West

The Epstein case is no longer just about one predator. It’s about whether Western institutions can investigate power honestly — or whether wealth, influence, and secrecy will always outrun accountability.