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The research demonstrates that states experiencing civil wars are significantly more likely to be involved in militarized interstate disputes (MIDs). Using data from 1946 to 2001, the authors find that this 'civil peace' effect is comparable in magnitude to the 'democratic peace' effect. Analysis of over 400 MIDs reveals that the increased risk is driven by states attempting to influence the outcome of civil wars through direct intervention, externalization (such as cross-border counter-insurgency), and unintended spillovers, rather than by opportunistic attacks on weakened states or diversionary wars to consolidate domestic power.

The authors argue that non-violent direct action is more effective at undermining autocracies and significantly more likely to lead to democratic transitions than violent conflict. Using a multinomial logit model for the period 1900-2004, the study finds that non-violent campaigns substantially increase the probability of democratization, particularly when the state has a high proportion of democratic neighbors. Conversely, violent direct action is less effective at destabilizing regimes overall and makes transitions to new autocracies relatively more likely. The research suggests that non-violence promotes power dispersion and elite defection, whereas violence tends to centralize power and justify further repression.

The author examines the post-communist trajectories of Central and Southeastern Europe, arguing that the collapse of communism was foreseeable and constituted a comprehensive revolution. The text analyzes debates over whether the process was a 'transition' or 'transformation' and identifies key determinants of democratic consolidation, such as the absence of war, the role of the European Union, and educational attainment. It specifically refutes the 'ancient hatreds' myth regarding the Yugoslav meltdown, attributing the conflict instead to system illegitimacy, economic decay, and the agency of leaders like Slobodan Milošević.

The project targeted the use of non-transparent spatial planning to legalize construction in protected areas, particularly problematic small hydropower plants. While the team successfully pressured decision-makers to abandon one large-scale facility, two other cases of illegal planning continued. Key lessons included the need for more extensive capacity building for local organizations and the importance of engaging professional public officials to prevent corruption before decisions become irrevocable.

The Coca-Cola Company and WWF have partnered since 2007 to improve water stewardship, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and transition to a circular economy for plastics. Key achievements include the restoration of over 5,462 hectares of wetlands along the Danube River, the protection of 200,000 hectares of wetlands in the Yangtze River basin, and the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in Mexico. The partnership has also supported Coca-Cola in setting a science-based target to reduce absolute GHG emissions by 25% by 2030 from a 2015 baseline. In agriculture, 56% of priority ingredient volumes were sustainably sourced as of 2020, supported by certifications like Bonsucro for sugarcane. The partnership was renewed in August 2021 for three years to further build natural capital and climate resilience.