Content Type: Policy Brief / Political Geography: Global Focus / Topic: International Affairs

51. Return the Favour with a Thousand Cuts: India’s Pakistan Policy

Author:: Vivek Chadha
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
Abstract:: During the last couple of years, India has recalibrated its policy towards Pakistan by adopting a two-pronged approach. One prong consists of not holding formal talks until Pakistan stops using terrorism as an instrument of state policy against India.1 And the second prong involves retaining the right of retaliation against those elements and locations along the Line of Control (LoC) that are complicit in perpetrating cross border terrorism.2 In essence, India's aim has been to gain leverage over Pakistan by striking it where it hurts the most.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

52. Resituating Menser and Darchen-Labrang in the Boundary Negotiations with China

Author:: P. Stobdan
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: The Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses
Abstract:: The recent launch of the China-Pakistan-Economic Corridor (CPEC) by China and Pakistan has provided India with a fresh impetus to assert its sovereign claim over Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), including Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) region, which had hitherto remained in diplomatic abeyance. The Instrument of Accession signed by Maharaja Hari Singh on October 26, 1947 warranted India’s control over the entire territory of the erstwhile Princely State of Jammu & Kashmir. And, Section 4 of the Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Constitution defined the State’s territory as comprising all the territories which, on the fifteenth day of August 1947, were under the sovereignty or suzerainty of the Ruler of the Stat
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

53. IMF Quota and Governance Reform Once Again

Author:: Edwin M. Truman
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Peterson Institute for International Economics
Abstract:: Once again, the United States and other members of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have been asked to address the adequacy of IMF financial resources and the distribution of voting power in the Fund. Observers are justified in thinking that they just witnessed this drama. IMF members completed an agreement on the size of IMF quota resources and governance—or voting power—reform in November 2010. As part of that agreement on the 14th general review of IMF quotas, members committed to bring forward the completion of the 15th general review of quotas to January 2014. The target was not met because the United States delayed approving the 2010 agreement until December 2015, which was necessary for the implementation of the 14th review. As a result, in December 2016, the governors of the IMF freshly resolved to complete the 15th review by the spring of 2019 or the fall of 2019 at the latest.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

54. The Case for Raising de minimis Thresholds in NAFTA 2.0

Author:: Gary Clyde Hufbauer, Euijin Jung, and (Lucy) Lu Zhiyao
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Peterson Institute for International Economics
Abstract:: The fraught negotiations over revising the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) have focused largely on US demands to limit imports from Canada and Mexico. But one little discussed step could help the United States increase exports to Canada and Mexico in a way the Trump administration ought to support. US express shipments to its NAFTA partners are far below potential, partly due to what are called low de minimis thresholds in those countries. The de minimis threshold refers to the value of imported goods below which no duty or tax is collected, and the customs declaration is very simple.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

55. The Dispute Settlement Crisis in the World Trade Organization: Causes and Cures

Author:: Tetyana Payosova, Gary Clyde Hufbauer, and Jeffrey Schott
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Peterson Institute for International Economics
Abstract:: Since its inception in 1995, the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) dispute settlement mechanism has resolved an impressive number of trade disputes and has earned a reputation as the “crown jewel” of the global trading system. Today, however, the mechanism is in crisis. WTO members have failed to negotiate updates to the rulebook, including rules on dispute settlement itself. As a result, the WTO Appellate Body increasingly is asked to render decisions on ambiguous or incomplete WTO rules. Its interpretations of such provisions have provoked charges by the United States and others that binding Appellate Body rulings, which establish precedents for future cases, effectively circumvent the prerogative of member countries to revise the WTO rulebook and thus undercut the national sovereignty of WTO members. For the past few years, US officials have blocked appointments of Appellate Body members to force WTO members to negotiate new rules that address US concerns and limit the scope for judicial overreach. If this problem is not resolved, the Appellate Body soon will not have enough members to review cases and the vaunted WTO dispute settlement system will grind to a halt.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

56. The New Tax Law’s Impact on Inequality

Author:: William R Cline
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Peterson Institute for International Economics
Abstract:: The centerpiece of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 is the reduction in the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. The Joint Committee on Taxation has estimated the net revenue loss from the tax overhaul at $1 trillion over the next decade. The underlying premise of the legislation is that lower corporate taxes will spur growth, with trickle-down wage benefits that spread the resulting economic gains.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

57. Four reasons why Denmark should speak up about lethal autonomous weapons

Author:: Johannes Lang, Robin May Schott, and Rens van Munster
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Abstract:: Formal UN discussions have begun to address how the international community should regulate the development and use of lethal autonomous weapons – also known as ‘killer robots’. Denmark has so far chosen not to participate in these discussions, but there are good reasons to get involved.
Topic:: International Affairs and Weapons
Political Geography:: Global Focus

58. Failure to define killer robots means failure to regulate them

Author:: Johannes Lang, Rens van Munster, and Robin May Schott
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Abstract:: Disagreements on how to define “autonomy” are stalling formal UN discussions on the compliance of autonomous weapons with international humanitarian law. A pragmatic approach that focuses on the weapon’s critical functions, such as target selection and firing, can help move discussions forward in the future.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

59. Armed groups are here to stay

Author:: Jairo Munive and Finn Stepputat
Publication Date:: 01-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Abstract:: Armed non-state actors are significant players in most conflicts. The international community is often forced to engage with them in order to secure humanitarian aid for civilians or to end armed political conflicts. The question of when and how to engage is being debated. We suggest a more pragmatic approach.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

60. Unfinished Business: An Appraisal of the Latest UNDS Reform Resolution

Author:: Max Otto Baumann and Silke Weinlich
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:: Can the United Nations Development System (UNDS) become a resourceful, well-organised partner for member states in implementing the 2030 Agenda? The UNDS is the biggest multilateral development actor, accounting for $18.4 billion, or 33 per cent, of multilateral aid in 2015. Its functions range from providing a forum for dialogue, decision-making and norm-setting, to research, advocacy, technical assistance and humanitarian aid. Numerous governments, including those of high-income countries, are counting on the UN’s assistance for advancing their development in a sustainable way. More than any other development organisation, the UNDS needs to adjust in order to fulfil these expectations. In May 2018, UN member states set the course for reforming the UNDS by agreeing on a draft resolution. The resolution contains five potentially transformative decisions that will bring the UNDS a step closer to being “fit for purpose”, the term under which the reform process was initiated more than three years ago. The global structures of the UNDS are to be strengthened, making the system more strategic and accountable; Resident Coordinators are to coordinate more effectively and objectively; their funding will be guaranteed by a new 1 per cent levy on tightly earmarked contributions; common business operations are to be advanced, with potential efficiency gains of $380 million per year; and the UN’s vast network of country offices is to be consolidated for more efficiency and effectiveness.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

61. Data for Development: An Agenda for German Development Cooperation

Author:: Claudia Schwegmann and Sarah Holzapfel
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:: Data is a central but underestimated prerequisite for the realisation of the 2030 Agenda. Although technical innovations such as smartphones or the internet of things have led to a data explosion in recent years, there are still considerable gaps in the availability and use of data in developing countries and development cooperation (DC) in particular. So far it is not possible to report regularly on the majority of the 230 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Topic:: International Affairs and International Development
Political Geography:: Global Focus

62. Do Trade Deals Encourage Environmental Cooperation?

Author:: Jean-Frédéric Morin, Vera Chaudhuri, and Mathilde Gauquelin
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:: Trade agreements have mixed effects on the environment. On the one hand, trade generates additional pollution by raising production levels. Trade rules can also restrict the capacity of governments to adopt environmental regulations. On the other hand, trade agreements can favour the diffusion of green technologies, make production more efficient and foster environmental cooperation. Whether the overall effect is positive or negative partly depends on the content of the trade agreement itself. Recent studies have found that trade agreements with detailed environmental provisions, in contrast to agreements without such provisions, are associated with reduced levels of CO2 emission and suspended particulate matter (Baghdadi et al., 2013; Zhou, 2017). It remains unclear, however, which specific provisions have a positive environmental impact and how they are actually implemented.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

63. From Damage Control to Sustainable Development: European Development Policy under the Next EU Budget

Author:: Svea Koch, Niels Keijzer, Christine Hackenesch, and Julian Bergmann
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:: The EU is one of the leading global players in international development, trade, peace and security. Therefore, a key part of the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) is the one reserved for action beyond EU’s borders. This budget heading is called ‘Global Europe’ (also referred to as Heading IV). Under the current budget for the period of 2014 to 2020, including the inter-governmental European Development Fund (EDF), over 90 billion euros are available for the EU’s external action. The lion’s share of this is reserved for development cooperation. In previous years, the EU has dealt with new challenges in external action mostly by creating specific initiatives and new financial instruments. At the start of the negotiations on the next MFF, Heading IV thus appears to be rather complex and fragmented compared to other headings.
Topic:: International Affairs and International Development
Political Geography:: Global Focus

64. How to Identify National Dimensions of Poverty? The Constitutional Approach

Author:: Francesco Burchi
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
Abstract:: With the signing of the 2030 Agenda, the international community has committed to ending poverty in all its forms. This first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) recognises poverty as a multidimensional phenomenon that goes beyond the simple lack of a sufficient amount of income. However, the way the SDG 1 and, in particular, Target 1.2 – “reduce … poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions” – are formulated poses challenges for its operationalisation. Which specific dimensions of poverty should a country focus on? How can we identify them? Is it possible to agree on a universal set of dimensions with which to compare poverty across several countries?
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

65. Fighting Military Corruption in Fragile States

Author:: Louise Riis Andersen
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS)
Abstract:: Anti-corruption is central to building capable and legitimate security institutions in fragile states. However, military capacity-building programs often do not include anti-corruption measures. Denmark should strive to put the fight against military corruption on the international agenda
Topic:: Corruption, International Affairs, and Global Security
Political Geography:: Global Focus

66. Encryption Policy in Democratic Regimes

Author:: Tony Bricktua and Abigail Lawson
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: EastWest Institute
Abstract:: Report Recommends Approaches to Meet Needs of Law Enforcement While Managing Risks to Cybersecurity and Privacy
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

67. Environmental Challenges in a Conflictive Environment

Author:: Wael Abdul-Shafi and Jan Hanrath
Publication Date:: 09-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: EastWest Institute
Abstract:: The repercussions of climate change and environmental challenges pose enormous risks to Iran and Saudi Arabia alike. While there are differences in geography and climate in both countries, they also have many environmental challenges in common. Problems such as sand and dust storms or diminishing water resources are border-crossing phenomena that no country can deal with alone; therefore, cooperation is key. At this point in time, however, willingness to cooperate is utterly lacking in a region marked by geo-strategic rivalries, ongoing military conflicts and deep-rooted mutual distrust between regional rivals, and between Saudi Arabia and Iran in particular.
Topic:: Environment and International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

68. Returnees: who are they, why are they (not) coming back and how should we deal with them? Assessing policies on returning foreign terrorist fighters in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands

Author:: Thomas Renard and Rik Coolsaet
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: EGMONT - The Royal Institute for International Relations
Abstract:: Some 5000 men, women and children have travelled from Europe to Syria and Iraq since 2012. An estimated 1500 of these foreign terrorist fighters (FTF) have returned so far. Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands represent a third of European FTF and returnees. This report looks into the evolution of policies on returning foreign fighters in these three countries, comparing responses with regard to fighters that are still in the conflict zone, policies to deal with returnees in prison and attitudes towards the children of foreign fighters. It is the very first systematic and in-depth study into national approaches and policies vis-à-vis returnees. Its added value lies in the wealth of data, including data that has not been published before, and in the comparative angle.
Topic:: Human Rights, International Affairs, and Refugees
Political Geography:: Global Focus

69. Humanitarian Action and Sustaining Peace

Author:: Alice Dabarre
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: International Peace Institute
Abstract:: While humanitarian action was traditionally designed to be a short-term emergency response, this is increasingly perceived as inaccurate and even undesirable. Humanitarian actors have acknowledged a responsibility to work toward bridging the “humanitarian-development divide” and not to overlook the nexus between addressing and reducing humanitarian needs and building the foundations for sustaining peace.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

70. Aligning Agendas: Drugs, Sustainable Development, and the Drive for Policy Coherence

Author:: International Expert Group on Drug Policy Metrics
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: International Peace Institute
Abstract:: Current drug policy too often has a negative impact on communities and runs counter to efforts to ameliorate poverty through sustainable development. However, this is often not captured by the metrics used to measure the impact of drug policy. One way to improve these metrics is to align them with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This would not only help overcome many of the limitations of drug policies resulting from suboptimal metrics but also make sure these policies enhance, rather than hinder, efforts to achieve the SDGs.
Topic:: International Affairs and Narcotics Trafficking
Political Geography:: Global Focus

71. Evaluating mechanisms for investigating attacks on heathcare

Author:: Els Debuf
Publication Date:: 01-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: International Peace Institute
Abstract:: IPI’s research project on mechanisms to investigate attacks on healthcare aims to assist the Security Council, relevant UN organs, member states, and other stakeholders in operationalizing Resolution 2286 and the UN secretary-general’s recommendations for its implementation. The project focuses on recommendations regarding the use of international mechanisms to ensure that the “full, prompt, impartial and effective investigations” required by Resolution 2286 are carried out when parties to the conflict are unable or unwilling to do so themselves. Through a combination of desk research, key informant interviews, and an expert meeting bringing together stakeholders in the implementation of Resolution 2286 and experts on international fact-finding and investigation into violations of international humanitarian law, the project developed a set of tools, available on this page. These include:
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

72. The ICC and the RtoP in a post-interventionist world: Adapting to critique?

Author:: Katja Cruetz
Publication Date:: 08-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Finnish Institute of International Affairs
Abstract:: The International Criminal Court (ICC) and the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) principle both seek to respond to mass atrocities. They are products of the heyday of the international liberal order, which allowed the formation of projects based upon interference in the internal affairs of states in order to protect populations from atrocity crimes. The changing international system with the redistribution of power between states has affected these projects by bringing uncontroversial activities to the fore in order to secure state acceptance. Consensus on the RtoP extends to the primacy of the state in protection of its populations, while actions of the international community going beyond assistance and capacity-building are contested, particularly highly coercive ones such as military intervention. Alongside its judicial task of trying perpetrators of international crimes, the ICC has focused on positive complementarity whereby national capabilities are enhanced. It has also engaged in symbolic activities, such as highlighting certain international crimes.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

73. Migration, Jobs and Wages: Reassessing Benefits and Challenges of Labour Migration

Author:: Jose Ma, Luis Montesclaros, and Mely Caballero-Anthony
Publication Date:: 04-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies
Abstract:: As Southeast Asian economies become deeply integrated, there are concerns as to whether movement of people through labour migration should be part of this integration. While labour migration offers benefits especially in addressing labour shortage in countries with shrinking working age population, for countries at different levels of economic development, opening up the labour markets presents disadvantages to locals facing more job competition and falling wages. This paper re-examines this debate by analysing a number of factors that have allowed states to maintain their competitiveness and improve wages. By comparing the experiences of a number of countries that have seen rising wages with those countries that saw falling wages with labour migration, and using a statistical (two-sample difference of means) test, this preliminary study shows that labour migration by itself is neither boon nor bane. A more nuanced view is needed, as labour migration’s impacts on wages hinge on the nature of institutional support provided by governments in helping firms to be internationally competitive.
Topic:: Migration and International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

74. Inadvertent Escalation and the Entanglement of Nuclear Command-and-Control Capabilities

Author:: James M. Acton
Publication Date:: 11-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Abstract:: This policy brief is based on “Escalation through Entanglement: How the Vulnerability of Command-and- Control Systems Raises the Risks of Inadvertent Nuclear War,” which appears in the summer 2018 issue of International Security.
Topic:: International Relations, International Security, and International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

75. How the U.S. Foreign Policy Establishment Constrains American Grand Strategy

Author:: Patrick Porter
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
Abstract:: Political scientists and historians continue to debate the sources of U.S. grand strategy. Some emphasize the importance of the United States’ material capabilities and large share of relative power; others point to the significance of ideas in shaping policymakers’ choices. Both accounts are incomplete. Two case studies—the first eighteen months of the presidency of Donald Trump and the presidency of Bill Clinton—demonstrate that the United States persists with a strategy of primacy because it has become a habit—an axiomatic, sacrosanct belief system that the American foreign policy establishment perpetuates.
Topic:: International Affairs and Geopolitics
Political Geography:: Global Focus

76. Egypt's New Realism: Challenges Under Sisi

Author:: Barak Barfi
Publication Date:: 09-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Abstract:: When Abdul Fattah al-Sisi became president in 2014, Egyptians were clamoring for stability after the chaos of the post–Arab Spring years and the failed leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood government. Emblematic of this stability, Sisi was at one point so highly regarded that his face adorned chocolate bars. Although he remains popular four years later, Sisi can no longer rest on prior achievements and promises of financial improvement. Grappling with a moribund economy, domestic unrest, jihadist threats, and foreign policy challenges, he will need even stronger support as he implements an austerity plan approved by the IMF in November 2016. In this new study, Barak Barfi methodically sets the leadership of President Sisi in the context of his military predecessors Gamal Abdul Nasser, Anwar Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak. He then examines trends in the country such as the growing role of the military, the need for reductions in subsidies, and the looming water crisis posed by the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. The U.S. role, as well, is subject to a much-needed assessment. Among the limited ways Washington can influence Cairo, he argues, is by tying increased aid to the enactment of essential economic reforms.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

77. The 2018 Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer

Author:: Paul Holtom and Irene Pavesi
Publication Date:: 08-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: The 2018 Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer (the Barometer) identifies the most and least transparent of 49 major small arms exporters, based on their reporting of their arms-trading activities undertaken in 2015.1 For the first time the Barometer assesses Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and UN Programme of Action on small arms (PoA) reports to determine small arms exporters’ levels of transparency. These sources provide new information for the Barometer’s assessment of national transfer control systems, while ATT annual reports on arms exports reveal new data compared to national arms export reports; United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database (UN Comtrade) data, and the UN Register of Conventional Arms (UN Register). Despite the increase in reports containing information on national transfer control systems and small arms exports assessed by the Barometer, no major exporter received full marks for transparency.
Topic:: International Security, International Affairs, and Arms Trade
Political Geography:: Global Focus

78. Estimating Global Law Enforcement Firearms Numbers

Author:: Aaron Karp
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: Available sources indicate that as of 2017 there was a global total of at least 22.7 million known or estimated law enforcement firearms, equal to roughly 2.2 per cent of all firearms identified by the Small Arms Survey around the world. Worldwide, 4.8 million law enforcement firearms have been reported to the Small Arms Survey or documented from other sources. An additional 17.9 million or so firearms owned by law enforcement agencies can be estimated with reasonable confidence. The global estimate is slightly lower than the previous Small Arms Survey global estimate for 2006, the result of methodological changes and a decision not to estimate the holdings for many specialized or smaller law enforcement agencies. There are several reasons to assume that the total of 22.7 million law enforcement firearms given in this Briefing Paper is an underestimate. The state of research on law enforcement armament makes it hard to say whether global law enforcement weapons inventories are increasing or decreasing. But the types of firearms used by law enforcement agencies appear to be changing more rapidly than those of military services, also becoming more alike to military armament
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

79. Estimating Global Civilian-held Firearms Numbers

Author:: Aaron Karp
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: Uncertainty about any firearms data requires systematic estimation that relies on a broad spectrum of sources and makes approximation unavoidable. The Small Arms Survey’s estimates of civilian firearms holdings use data gathered from multiple sources. However, with much of civilian ownership concealed or hard to identify, gun ownership numbers can only approximate reality. Using data from several different sources, at the end of 2017 there were approximately 857 million civilian-held firearms in the world’s 230 countries and territories. Civilian firearms registration data was available for 133 countries and territories. Survey results were used to help establish total gun civilian holdings in 56 countries. The new figure is 32 per cent higher than the previous estimate from 2006, when the Small Arms Survey estimated there were approximately 650 million civilian-held firearms. Virtually all countries show higher numbers, although national ownership rates vary widely, reflecting factors such as national legislation, a country’s gun culture, historical and other factors. While some of the increase reflects improved data and research methods, much is due to actual growth of civilian ownership.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

80. Handmade and Deadly: Craft Production of Small Arms in Nigeria

Author:: Matthias Nowak
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: Craft weapons production in Nigeria is under-researched, yet it is highly relevant for any future actions to counter small arms and light weapons proliferation.1 This Briefing Paper provides new research findings based on extensive fieldwork in four Nigerian states (Adamawa, Anambra, Benue, and Plateau). It reviews demand and supply factors that shape the craft market in Nigeria, finding that demand is driven by insecurity and conflict, but also by cultural and societal factors. Supply is mostly demand driven. The quality of the products and production methods varies greatly across the surveyed states. Craft production poses a significant challenge for the Nigerian state and will require a mix of holistic measures to regulate or deter it, ranging from improving security (and security perceptions) and the relationship between security providers and communities, to licensing, measures aimed at providing alternative livelihoods for craft producers, and a more comprehensive application of the relevant legal framework.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

81. Ways Forward: Conclusions of the Small Arms Symposia

Author:: Glenn McDonald
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: This Briefing Paper outlines possible next steps in the UN small arms process as proposed by participants in the thematic symposia that were held in October–November 2017 as part of a European Union project designed to support preparations for the Third Review Conference of the UN Small Arms Programme of Action (PoA). The paper outlines the main observations and recommendations made by participants in the following areas: small arms control in conflict and post-conflict situations; small arms and the SDGs, and gender-related aspects of small arms control; recent developments in small arms manufacturing, technology, and design; and synergies between the PoA and other arms control instruments and processes. Each of the symposia sought to identify practical, actionable steps that could be taken by the UN membership in strengthening small arms-related work after the Review Conference.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

82. Monitoring Illicit Arms Flows: The Role of UN Peacekeeping Operations

Author:: Holger Anders
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: UN Peacekeeping operations are in a unique position to monitor flows of illicit arms and ammunition in their areas of operation. Systematic collection and analysis of data regarding matériel encountered by peacekeeping operations can enhance their situational awareness. It can provide important information about sources and supply chains of armed actors illicitly procuring arms and ammunition, as well as help in assessing capacities, intent, and geographical expansion of those actors. It can also make important contributions to the work of UN Panels of Experts monitoring arms embargoes. This Briefing Paper reviews relevant aspects of UN peacekeeping operations— their mandates, relations with UN Panels of Experts, as well as different approaches towards monitoring illicit arms flows. The Paper presents case studies on the UN peacekeeping operations in Côte d'Ivoire and Mali. The Paper considers the scope for improving management of arms and ammunition by peacekeeping missions to prevent materiel from being lost or otherwise diverted. This Briefing Paper concludes that UN peacekeeping missions could become substantially more involved in monitoring illicit arms and ammunition flows. This requires greater awareness and support for such work within the UN system and in its operations. This Paper’s findings are also relevant to efforts to monitor progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 16 and Target 16.4, which calls on states to significantly reduce illicit arms flows
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

83. Life-cycle Management of Ammunition (LCMA): Lessons from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Author:: Jovana Carapic and Paul Holtom
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: This Briefing Paper analyses the emergence of a life-cycle management of ammunition (LCMA) system in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) during the period 2012–16, with reference to four of the five elements of the Small Arms Survey’s LCMA model: national ownership, planning, stockpile management, and disposal. The paper examines the key challenges faced by the international community and BiH government in addressing the safety and security risks posed by BiH’s post-conflict ammunition surplus, focusing on the international community’s role in facilitating the development, and transfer to national ownership, of an LCMA system. The paper notes ‘ten lessons learned’ that could apply to other post-conflict countries. These lessons stress the importance of building sustainable national capacity in states receiving international assistance. Training, infrastructure, and operating standards need to be country specific to achieve this goal and reduce the risk of unplanned explosions at munitions sites (UEMS) and diversion in the long term.
Topic:: International Security and International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

84. Women in State Security Provision in Nepal: Meaningful Participation?

Author:: Mihaela Racovita
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: The Government of Nepal has recently stepped up efforts to integrate women within the state security apparatus. This Briefing Paper examines recent legislative and institutional changes governing female participation in the security sector, the latest recruitment and advancement trends, and the persistent challenges facing female security providers. It shows that while formal and institutional changes have enabled more women to become part of Nepal’s security sector, women remain under-represented therein, and face challenges including objections to positive discrimination, difficult trade-offs between professional careers and personal lives, and societal attitudes that see security provision as a male-only occupation
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

85. Czechia between V4 and the EU: the impact of migration on Visegrad cohesion

Author:: Vladislav Strnad
Publication Date:: 09-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:: The Visegrad Group (V4) has responded to the migration crisis by an unexpectedly unified and consistent position , which was symptomatic of its identity shift. The long-term confrontation with the European Migration and Asylum Policy, the political changes in Poland and Hungary, the illiberal rhetoric of Visegrad politicians as well as the conflict with the European Commission have significantly influenced the position of V4 and the Czech Republic in Europe.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

86. New Security Challenges from a Visegrad 4 Perspective

Author:: Martin Michelot
Publication Date:: 09-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:: Martin Michelot and Martin Macq wrote an introductory chapter for the new IFAT's (The Institute for Foreign Affairs and Trade) publication on the security challenges for the V4 countries. The chapter wrote by our researchers focuses on the military security and military cooperation of Visegrad Four countries. The main topic for discussion is especially the dual membership of both countries in NATO and in the EU - which is trying to build-up its own military structures notably in the recent years.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

87. Labour market reform and Visegrad countries: Deep rooted concerns and how to address them

Author:: Alena Kudzko
Publication Date:: 01-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:: Issues of labour mobility and labour markets have been among the most contentious discussions on the crowded EU agenda of the past couple years. Proposals calling for reform of the regulations on posted workers and for the enhancement of social rights, advocated primarily by Western countries - including most notably France - and the EU Commission, have been accompanied by both domestic and EU-wide squabbling. Visegrad countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) have often found themselves on the defensive, seeking at once to both fend off accusations of “social dumping” and foil the undesired reforms. They fear that some of the proposals on labour reform fail to coincide with their economic interests and the principle of the free market, or perceive them as an encroachment of the EU Commission on national competencies
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

88. Preparations for the EU Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 – chances and challenges for Central Europe

Author:: Andrzej Sadecki
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:: At first glance, reaching an agreement on the next MFF could seem easier than for its previous iterations. The MFF 2014-2020 was negotiated against the backdrop of a financial crisis which put significant strains on the member states, particularly those in the the Eurozone. Currently, economic growth has returned to the European Union and the economic sentiments have reached their highest levels since 2000s . Nevertheless, some key political developments will affect and complicate the process of finding a consensus on the next MFF. Firstly, the negotiations on the post 2020- MFF will coincide with two major processes underpinning the future of European integration: the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union and the debate on the reform of the Eurozone. Secondly, some stakeholders see Brexit as an opportunity to substantially reform the MFF and the EU budget, which in turn widened the debate to the future of main EU policies, and could breach the fragile balance between the various interests of the member states that functioned in this sphere until now.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

89. The Chicago Climate Charter: North American Cities taking Action On Climate Change

Author:: The Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Publication Date:: 12-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Abstract:: On December 4–5, 2017, the City of Chicago hosted the North American Climate Summit in partnership with C40 and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. This was the first time a US climate summit convened following President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. Featuring remarks from former President Barack Obama, the summit brought together mayors from around the world to define collective, city-level actions and commitments to combat climate change. At the time of this publication, upward of 70 cities have signed the Chicago Climate Charter, affirming their commitment to address climate change within their cities
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

90. As China Rises, Americans Seek Closer Ties with Japan

Author:: Craig Kafura
Publication Date:: 12-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Abstract:: Over the first two years of the Trump administration, the United States has simultaneously aggrieved Japan, a pivotal US ally in Asia, while also taking a more confrontational stance against China. This has raised broad concerns about the future of US involvement in Asia and the basis of support for the US-Japan alliance. While the American public is hesitant to get involved in a conflict between China and Japan, public support for US bases in Japan is at an all-time high, and Americans across party lines want to build strong relations with US allies in Asia
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

91. US Public Divides along Party Lines on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Author:: Craig Kafura
Publication Date:: 12-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Abstract:: In the past year, the Trump administration has moved the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, ended aid to the United Nation agency supporting Palestinian refugees, and announced the closure of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) office in Washington, DC. These actions, heavily criticized by the international community, are a dramatic shift from past US policy. The 2018 Chicago Council Survey, conducted after the US embassy move to Jerusalem but before the other actions, finds that the American public has generally not formed an opinion about the embassy relocation and would prefer that the US not take a side in the Israel-Palestinian conflict. A just completed Chicago Council-University of Texas survey of foreign policy opinion leaders shows that leaders have stronger views. Republican opinion leaders approve of the embassy relocation, while solid majorities of Democratic and Independent leaders disapprove
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

92. The Fate of the World Trade Organization in the Age of Trump

Author:: Philip I. Levy
Publication Date:: 12-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Abstract:: The World Trade Organization (WTO) is teetering. The Trump Administration has attacked it repeatedly, blocked moves to restock its judicial panels, and looked skeptically on its multilateral decision-making process. For an organization that embodied the results of decades of trade liberalization and emerged triumphantly in the mid-1990s, this has been a remarkable fall from grace. In this brief, we ask why the WTO is worth saving, consider the complaints lodged against it, and suggest what would be required for a serious rescue attempt. There are several reasons to hope, but more reasons for concern
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

93. Under the gun: Rearmament for arms control in Europe

Author:: Gustav Gressel
Publication Date:: 11-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)
Abstract:: The decrepitude of arms control treaties in Europe is becoming increasingly apparent at the same time as Russia continues to act as a revisionist power. Russia’s unpredictability and lack of transparency is part of its competitive advantage. It will therefore not give this up by returning to arms-control agreements of the late cold war or negotiating new ones. Arms control is an integrated part of Russia’s military strategy: to advance its own military position while weakening that of its enemies. As a result, it is open to arms-control agreements that would entrench its military superiority in eastern Europe and prevent the technological gap between Russia and the West from growing. This logic creates an opportunity for the West. If Europe engages in rearmament, enhances its militaries’ combat-readiness and capacity to quickly conduct large-scale, sustainable deployments to eastern Europe, it will deprive Russia of its relative military superiority. Moscow will then be willing to talk on arms control. Europeans still need to agree a common approach on what they want to achieve vis-à-vis Russia, however. Otherwise, they will be divided and public support for rearmament will falter.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

94. Tip-Toeing Toward Transparency: Jade and Gemstone Sector Disclosures in Myanmar

Author:: Paul Shortell
Publication Date:: 12-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:: Myanmar exports more than 90 percent of global jade supply and is also a leading source of high-quality rubies, sapphires and other varieties of colored gemstones. Mining of these precious stones generates billions of dollars annually, making it one of the country’s most significant sectors. Yet the jade and gemstone industry has remained largely shrouded in secrecy, with most profits flowing to armed groups and political elites rather than supporting broad-based economic and social development.1 The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is a global standard designed to “promote the open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources.”2 Since Myanmar became a candidate country in 2014, the EITI process has helped to shine light on the previously opaque jade and gemstone sector. Myanmar EITI released its first reconciliation report, covering fiscal year
Topic:: International Affairs and Natural Resources
Political Geography:: Global Focus

95. Addressing China's Coercion in the Taiwan Strait

Author:: Ted Yoho
Publication Date:: 02-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Project 2049 Institute
Abstract:: The Project 2049 Institute is pleased to announce the publication of remarks made by Congressman Ted Yoho [R-FL] at our event, “Addressing China’s Coercive Air Power in the Taiwan Strait.” Congressman Yoho, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Asia and the Pacific, asserts his commitment to protecting the interests of Taiwan despite the recent growing aggressive actions and coercive language of Beijing, directed under General Secretary Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party. In addition, Congressman Yoho addressed the fact that China’s declaration of the new M503 flight path is just one part of their larger strategic plan to quell Taiwan, which motivates him to continue to push the U.S. administration and Congress to prioritize Taiwan and to work to meet the mounting challenges with which China presents us.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

96. Permanent Deterrence: Enhancements to the US Military Presence in North Central Europe

Author:: Philip Breedlove
Publication Date:: 12-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Atlantic Council
Abstract:: In September 2018, the Atlantic Council established a Task Force on US Force Posture in Europe to assess the adequacy of current US deployments, with a focus on North Central Europe. The Task Force is co-chaired by General Philip Breedlove, former supreme allied commander Europe, and Ambassador Alexander Vershbow, former NATO deputy secretary general. A full report will be completed in January 2019. This paper is a summary of the task force’s conclusions and recommendations.
Topic:: International Organization, International Political Economy, and International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

97. Global Magnitsky Sanctions: Raising the Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Bar

Author:: Samantha Sultoon
Publication Date:: 12-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Atlantic Council
Abstract:: Economic sanctions have become a policy tool-of-choice for the US government. Yet sanctions and their potential pitfalls are often misunderstood. The Economic Sanctions Initiative (ESI) seeks to build a better understanding of the role sanctions can and cannot play in advancing policy objectives and of the impact of sanctions on the private sector, which bears many of the implementation costs.
Topic:: Human Rights, International Political Economy, and International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

98. Cooperation and Competition: Russia and China in Central Asia, the Russian Far East, and the Arctic

Author:: Paul Stronski
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Abstract:: Since the collapse of Russia’s relationship with the West over Ukraine, the Sino-Russian strategic partnership has become more of a reality. Russia and China share a common desire to challenge principles of the Western-dominated international system. But their relationship is complex, with lingering mistrust on both sides. The balance of competition and cooperation is most evident in Central Asia, the Russian Far East, and the Arctic. Engagement in these theaters has tested Russia’s and China’s abilities to manage their differences and translate the rhetoric of partnership into tangible gains
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

99. Bridging the Bay of Bengal: Toward a Stronger BIMSTEC

Author:: Constantino Xavier
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Abstract:: The Bay of Bengal is one of the world’s least integrated regions, with abysmal levels of trade, connectivity, and cooperation. The deep divide between India and other countries around the bay hinders their efforts to increase their economic and strategic interdependence. The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), a regional multilateral organization founded in 1997, offers a well-positioned platform to help address these challenges. But BIMSTEC’s mission to deepen regionalism will stand a better chance of succeeding if its members (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand) make the organization a priority, endow it with adequate resources, and enact reforms to strength its capabilities.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

100. Tackling Women’s Underrepresentation in U.S. Politics: Comparative Perspectives From Europe

Author:: Saskia Brechenmacher
Publication Date:: 03-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Abstract:: Despite differences in political institutions and culture, the United States could borrow from European approaches to increase women’s representation, especially at the state and local levels.
Topic:: International Affairs
Political Geography:: Global Focus

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COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS