CGM Insights

Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban has imposed one of the most repressive regimes for women in the modern era. This policy brief examines the far-reaching economic consequences of what has been described as gender apartheid. By excluding women and girls from education, employment, and public life, the Taliban has not only inflicted profound social harm but also dramatically reduced the country's economic potential. Drawing on available data, this analysis quantifies the cost of women's exclusion and shows how reversing these restrictions is essential not just for human rights, but for Afghanistan's long-term economic recovery.

In this policy brief, I draw on first-hand encounters and personal experience to shed light on the complex realities facing Uzbek migrants in the United States. Uzbeks have migrated to the United States since after World War II, but the flow has gained momentum in recent years, particularly as instability caused by the crisis in Ukraine threatens Uzbek migrants in Russia. Applicants from Uzbekistan face rejection rates for legal migration to the United States that are higher than for other Central Asian countries, thus migrants from Uzbekistan have increasingly used irregular means to enter the United States. These encounters are a point of departure to consider who the Uzbek irregular migrants in the United States are, their challenges, and how policy might improve opportunities to for migrants to this country.

This brief explores a regional investment fund for shared prosperity as a way to move from transactional relationships to regional trust and stability in the Middle East. In this context, trust goes beyond formal diplomacy or market integration; it refers to the sustained, credible cooperation required to build shared institutions and deliver visible public value. In a region marked by conflict, mistrust, and social fragmentation, deeper economic integration depends on more than supply chains and capital flows; it requires mechanisms that foster joint problem-solving, empathy, and long-term alignment. The proposed fund offers a bottom-up, cross-sectoral framework to do just that. By pooling Gulf capital, Israeli and international innovation, and regional human talent and by engaging both business and nonprofit actors, the fund would enable collaborative ventures that address urgent civilian challenges, such as health, water, education, and food security. Backed by international partners, this mechanism would help institutionalize cooperation and generate trust through implementation, thereby building stability from the ground up.

Digital platforms have become essential spaces for civic participation and democratic discourse, yet governments increasingly seek to control online content through expansive regulatory frameworks. In India, the world’s largest democracy, citizens face a growing accountability gap as the 2021 Information Technology Rules have fundamentally altered the balance of power between state authorities and tech platforms, with the “hostage provision” making local employees criminally liable for noncompliance. This provision creates a chilling effect where platforms preemptively censor content to avoid government retaliation, leaving citizens with diminished avenues for free expression and democratic engagement. These conditions invoke two questions: How can democratic societies maintain legitimate content governance while preserving constitutional rights to free speech? When do regulatory frameworks cross the line from protecting public order to undermining democratic discourse? This policy brief examines those critical questions in the context of India’s evolving digital governance model.

This brief analyzes US federal approaches to artificial intelligence governance under the previous Trump and Biden administrations, along with developments in the early months of Trump’s second term. Despite differing priorities, both administrations relied primarily on soft law—nonbinding executive orders, voluntary industry standards, and advisory frameworks—over formal regulation. The result has been a market-driven, decentralized governance model that emphasizes innovation and competitiveness but offers limited enforcement and oversight. In contrast to regulatory-heavy models in the European Union and China, the US approach remains rooted in public-private coordination, industry leadership, and flexible federal action