This issue brings four peer-reviewed contributions in Czech language. The articles deal with internal characteristics of de facto states, interpretation of Al-Shabaab's strategy through the lenses of liquid territoriality, motivations of some of Taiwan’s former allies to newly recognize China, and finally conceptualisation of the European Union as an energy actor. The issue further features a discussion forum on racism in development cooperation that reacts to an article from the March issue of our journal (1/2020). Finally, you can reed through three reviews of recently published scholarly books.

This issue presents two original Research Articles focusing on the recent international identity constrution of the Czech Republic & Slovakia and Estonia, a Discussion Article critically engaging with Timothy Snyder’s book The Road to Unfreedom. Russia, Europe, America, and four Book Reviews of recent scholarship.

The three peer-reviewed articles of this issue focus on highly relevant matters of contemporary international security: indirect interventions in civil wars, European defence cooperation, and the Women, Peace, and Security agenda. The issue also features seven reviews on recently published titles.