In Chinese numerology eight is considered as an extremely lucky number. According to this belief it should be natural to be optimistic about everything connected with the Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN), formed on 8/8/67. 2015 brings its 48th year of work devoted, as it has been stated many times officially, to sustainable development and stability of the region. However last few years have been really tough for the organisation and its core values seem to change within time - writes Rafał Tomański in CIR's comment "How to destroy community or is ASEAN still relevant?"

Using the military as a catalyst for an integral approach to the performance of the treaty tasks geared at conflict prevention, crisis management and peacebuilding, focusing on a contribution to territorial defence complementary to NATO and an ability to conduct intervention operations beyond the EU's borders - these recommendations were included in the report "More Union in European defence", presented by the Centre for European Policy Studies and Friedrich Ebert Foundation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic in Prague. CIR's experts participated in the event.

Law and Justice won in parliamentary elections in Poland, held on 25 October 2015, with an anticipated 37,7% of the vote. Civic Platform came second with 23,6% of the vote. Three other parties are projected to win enough votes to get seats in parliament: Kukiz’15 (8,7%), Modern Poland (7,7%) and the Polish People's Party (5,2%). This unofficial results mean that Law and Justice would get 232 seats in parlament and could govern alone. Civic Platform is expected to receive 137 seats, Kukiz’15 – 42, Modern Poland – 30, and the Polish People's Party – 18.

There are many ways to develop an eye disease called tunnel vision. It can be obtained through a glaucoma, blood loss, sleep deprivation, in times of extreme distress and fear. When combined with conducting a vehicle or operating heavy machinery, the consequences can be fatal. Let's then try to imagine a place where the loss of peripheral vision with retention of its central part, resulting in a constricted circular tunnel-like field of vision is the only way to observe the reality - writes Rafał Tomański in CIR's comment "Tunnel vision. A trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone".

The V4 countries have expressed their strong disapproval for the refugee quota plan suggested by the European Commission and received a lot of criticism from the old member states. But what really happened that the old EU member states are trying to chaotically solve the migration crisis through the bureaucratic quota system which creates an artificial burden for the new member states, which are not the final destination for the migrants? - writes Prof. Krystyna Iglicka-Okólska, CIR's expert, in comment "A mere stop to the West. Migrants will not stay in V4 countries".

In the 1930’s a Polish distinguished traveller and reporter, Kazimierz Nowak, biked across Africa – from the North to the South, and back. By bike, on foot, on horseback, on a camel and by boat. The journey which lasted 5 years was quite an achievement at those times. Nowak perfectly documented his African expedition. He died one year after the return, at the age of 37. To honour the person and his accomplishments, the "World Jamboree" Foundation under the auspices of the Polish Scouts Association decided to organise an expedition along the route which Nowak had planned through Asia.

The Chinese economy grew by a factor of thirteen between 1980 and 2010. It is still growing by more than 6% per year. China is justifiably proud of this accomplishment and Chinese economists should be strutting across the global policy stage alongside Chinese exporters, offering sage insights to all comers. The problem is that Chinese economists have not formulated a distinctively Chinese approach to understanding growth and development in their own country - writes Prof. Salvatore Babones (University of Sydney) in CIR's comment "Learning from China. Do what they do, not what they say".