Content Type: Special Report / Journal:

2701. Election Uncertainty: Preventing Atrocity Crimes in Côte d'Ivoire

Author:: Arsène Brice Bado and Mollie Zapata
Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Abstract:: As Côte d'Ivoire's 2020 presidential elections near, he country is at a crossroads: It can continue an era of relative peace or revert to the type of ethnic-delineated violence that has marred its past. Every political transition in the country's history has resulted in violence against civilians. Most recently, the crisis that erupted as political parties disputed presidential election results in 2010-11 led to systematic civilian targeting by both sides---that of current President Alassane Ouattara and former President Laurent Gbagbo---including the alleged commission of atrocity crimes by Gbagbo and his followers. Although atrocity crimes---large-scale, systematic violence against civilian populations---are not yet taking place in Côte d'Ivoire, early warning signs are apparent. Immediate attention and early action by the Ivorian government and international partners are required to mitigate risks, prevent violence, and help save lives. To this end, at the end of this report we offer detailed recommendations to the government of Côte d'Ivoire, political party leaders, civil society, foreign governments and international organizations, and the media. Our analysis suggests that in the period before, during, and after the election, clashes between the main political parties may lead to violence and mass atrocity crimes. In past high-stakes elections, members of political parties have demonstrated the willingness to use violence. Risk is heightened during this period in part because of the zero-sum nature of Ivorian politics; politicians and their supporters perceive the 2020 elections to be "winner-take-all" for political and economic control of the country. In the past, this attitude has led political leaders to manipulate ethnic identity and economic grievances, dividing communities and inciting violence to solidify allegiances and generate political support. Today there is a risk of the resurgence of such exclusionary ideology.
Topic:: Elections, Domestic Politics, Violence, and Atrocity Prevention
Political Geography:: Africa and Côte d'Ivoire

2702. Lessons Learned from the First Generation of UN Investigative Mechanisms for Future Criminal Accountability: Considerations for CSO engagement with the United Nations Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar

Author:: Ferencz International Justice Initiative
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Abstract:: 1. The struggle for justice and accountability in Burma/Myanmar (hereinafter Myanmar1 ) has reached a milestone. Until now, concrete steps to address impunity for the most serious international crimes committed by the military—including well-documented patterns of mass atrocities indicating war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide—have largely been ad hoc, partial, or symbolic. In 2018, however, Member States of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council took the extraordinary step to pursue justice and accountability with the establishment of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM). While there is no guarantee that the IIMM process will lead to meaningful accountability, it provides the best chance to date. The engagement of CSOs with the IIMM will be an essential part of the process. 2. This Report is designed primarily to inform and assist CSOs from Myanmar that may wish to engage with the IIMM. Based on desk research and interviews with UN staff and CSOs working with similar mechanisms in other contexts, the Report aims to help CSOs from Myanmar better appreciate what to expect in terms of the risks, benefits, and the various forms of engagement with the IIMM. The Report can also assist IIMM staff to build the best possible relationship with CSOs from Myanmar. 3. The Ferencz International Justice Initiative consulted UN staff and civil society activists working at, or engaged with, the following investigative mechanisms (collectively referred to as “the Mechanisms”) 2 : • Syria: The International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes Under International Law Committed in the Syrian Arab Republic Since March 2011 (Syria IIIM); • South Sudan: The Commission on Human Rights in South Sudan (CHRSS); and • Iraq: UN Investigative Team for Accountability of Da’esh (UNITAD)
Topic:: Security, United Nations, Accountability, Justice, Investigations, and Protection
Political Geography:: Southeast Asia, Myanmar, and Global Focus

2703. Towards Sustainability and Empowerment: Reforming America’s Syrian Refugee Policy

Author:: Sahar Aziz, Joanna Gardner, Tamara Anaie, and Omar Rana
Publication Date:: 01-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Security, Race and Rights (CSRR), Rutgers University School of Law
Abstract:: The number of refugees and displaced people worldwide has reached unprecedented levels. Of the world’s 68.5 million refugees and displaced people, by far the largest number are Syrian. The nearly 13 million Syrian refugees and internally-displaced persons account for sixty percent of Syria’s pre-war population. While media coverage has focused on Syrian refugees seeking asylum in third countries, such as Europe and the United States, eighty percent of the seven million externally displaced Syrians have sought refuge in the countries neighboring Syria: Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt and Lebanon resulting in an enormous strain on government services and the local economies. As an influential player in Middle East politics, the United States has a national interest in sustaining the capacity of international systems to respond to protracted refugee crises. Toward Empowerment and Sustainability: Reforming America’s Syrian Refugee Policies examines Jordan as a case study for informing U.S. Syrian refugee policy. Jordan’s experience exemplifies the myriad challenges facing neighboring countries that warrant a rethinking of America’s approach to the Syrian refugee crisis. Four recommendations for government policy makers would contribute toward more sustainable and effective U.S. refugee policies: Increase U.S. aid to fund programs that empower refugees to be economically independent in their host countries rather than indefinitely dependent on international aid. Refugees unable to survive off of limited international and domestic subsidies are forced to take their sons out of school to work, borrow money from friends and family, and marry off their daughters at a young age. Use development aid to strengthen both state institutions and the private sector. A promising model is the Jordan Compact, an agreement between the Jordanian government and several European and international non-state actors launched in 2016. Fund humanitarian projects with need-based eligibility criteria not limited solely to Syrian refugees. Increase the number of Syrian refugees admitted into the United States. Less than 100 Syrian refugees were admitted in fiscal year 2018 as compared to 12,000 in 2017.
Topic:: Reform, Refugees, Asylum, Sustainability, and Empowerment
Political Geography:: Middle East and Syria

2704. Starvation, Diplomacy and Ruthless Friends: The Yemen Annual Review 2018

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 01-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review – launched in June 2016 as ‘Yemen at the UN’ – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. The Yemen Annual Review is a synthesis of these monthly publications that also accounts for, and provides analysis of, the broader dynamics that occurred throughout the previous 12 months. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Diplomacy, Politics, United Nations, Food Security, Economy, Currency, UN Security Council, Houthis, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Middle East and Yemen

2705. Stockholm Agreement Meets Yemeni Reality – The Yemen Review, January 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 02-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Politics, United Nations, Economy, Conflict, and Military
Political Geography:: Middle East and Yemen

2706. Diplomacy Sinking at Hudaydah Port – The Yemen Review, February 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Diplomacy, Human Rights, Foreign Aid, Conflict, UN Security Council, Ceasefire, and Military
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, Yemen, and United States of America

2707. The UN’s Stockholm Syndrome – The Yemen Review, March 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country
Topic:: Security, Diplomacy, Politics, United Nations, Economy, Conflict, and Military
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and United States of America

2708. Game of Parliaments – The Yemen Review, April 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Human Rights, Politics, United Nations, Economy, Conflict, and Military
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, Yemen, and United States of America

2709. An Environmental Apocalypse Looming on the Red Sea — The Yemen Review, May 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Environment, Human Rights, Politics, Treaties and Agreements, Economy, and Conflict
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, Yemen, United States of America, and Red Sea

2710. Drone Wars – The Yemen Review, June 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Humanitarian Aid, Politics, United Nations, Economy, and Military
Political Geography:: Middle East, Yemen, and United States of America

2711. An Interim Capital of Carnage – The Yemen Review, July 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Humanitarian Aid, Politics, United Nations, Conflict, and Military
Political Geography:: Middle East, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and United States of America

2712. The Southern Implosion – The Yemen Review, August 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, Politics, United Nations, Economy, Conflict, and Military
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, and Yemen

2713. Aramco’s Ashoura – The Yemen Review, September 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 10-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Human Rights, Politics, United Nations, Economy, Conflict, Houthis, and Military
Political Geography:: Middle East, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia

2714. Riyadh Picks Up the Pieces – The Yemen Review, October 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Human Rights, Sovereignty, United Nations, Economy, Conflict, and Military
Political Geography:: Pakistan, Europe, Middle East, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia

2715. Negotiation and Deescalation – The Yemen Review, November 2019

Author:: Sana'a Center for Strategic Studies
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Sana'a Center For Strategic Studies
Abstract:: The Yemen Review Launched in June 2016, The Yemen Review – formerly known as Yemen at the UN – is a monthly publication produced by the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies. It aims to identify and assess current diplomatic, economic, political, military, security, humanitarian and human rights developments related to Yemen. In producing The Yemen Review, Sana’a Center staff throughout Yemen and around the world gather information, conduct research, hold private meetings with local, regional, and international stakeholders, and analyze the domestic and international context surrounding developments in and regarding Yemen. This monthly series is designed to provide readers with a contextualized insight into the country’s most important ongoing issues.
Topic:: Security, Human Rights, United Nations, Conflict, Negotiation, Transportation, Military, and Deescalation
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and United States of America

2716. Fragile States Index 2019

Author:: Fund for Peace
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Fund for Peace
Abstract:: The Fragile States Index, produced by The Fund for Peace, is a critical tool in highlighting not only the normal pressures that all states experience, but also in identifying when those pressures are pushing a state towards the brink of failure. By highlighting pertinent issues in weak and failing states, The Fragile States Index — and the social science framework and software application upon which it is built — makes political risk assessment and early warning of conflict accessible to policy-makers and the public at large.
Topic:: Authoritarianism, Democracy, Fragile States, Political stability, Arab Spring, Peace, and Risk Assessment
Political Geography:: Africa, Caucasus, Middle East, Brazil, Yemen, South America, Central America, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Ethiopia, Somalia, Mauritius, and Global Focus

2717. Young Women & Girls Read, Lead & Build Peaceful Communities

Author:: Elenore Veillet-Chowdhurry
Publication Date:: 01-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP)
Abstract:: The need to address girls’ and women’s empowerment remains pressing now more than ever, as we live in times of some of the worst refugee and humanitarian crises witnessed to date. Women are disproportionately affected by these conficts, and engaging them in peacebuilding efforts by investing in their leadership skills will have a multiplier effect in countering extremism and achieving lasting peace. With these objectives at heart, NAMA Women Advancement Establishment (NAMA) and the Global Network of Women Peacebuilders (GNWP), launched the Girl Ambassadors for Peace Program (GA4P) in Bangladesh and Indonesia in 2017, in response to the escalating Rohingya crisis in these countries. The GA4P programme has trained 600 girls and young women above the age of 16 in Bangladesh (including Rohingya refugees). Sponsored by NAMA and developed collaboratively by GNWP and NAMA, this toolkit contains all materials used in the Bangladesh and Indonesia trainings, and includes interactive and instructive modules on all of the programme’s pillars: literacy, leadership, peacebuilding, economic empowerment, and the use of media, theater, and information and communication technologies. It has been translated to Bahasa and Bangla to ensure that it will be accessible to individuals, civil society organizations and institutions working at the grassroots level. It is important to mention that the security situation, economic divisions, and other challenges on the ground will differ from country to country. Any effort, thus, must have a locally-driven approach. Given the complexity of these goals, we believe in the power of leveraging collective strengths through strong partnerships in the territories we work in. NAMA’s outreach at both local and international levels is made possible by the unwavering support and guidance of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasim, Wife of the Sharjah Ruler and Chairperson of NAMA. Extending our reach into new territories, combined with our partnerships with committed organizations, have helped take our message of creating an equitable world for women to a much larger audience. Dedicated, like-minded partners are critical to extending the reach of our expansion program to equip young women and girls with the necessary leadership and advocacy skills. At NAMA, we strongly believe that by empowering women and girls, we give peace, stability, and security a greater chance of success.
Topic:: Education, Peacekeeping, Feminism, Peace, and Gender
Political Geography:: Global Focus

2718. State-Sponsored Homophobia (2019)

Author:: Lucas Ramón Mendos
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: ILGA World (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association)
Abstract:: Every year, ILGA World publishes its State-Sponsored Homophobia report, a world survey of sexual orientation laws. Since its first edition, back in 2006, ILGA World’s State-Sponsored Homophobia has been a fundamental resource for those interested in accessing the core information on legislation affecting people on the basis of their sexual orientation. Not only human rights defenders, but also civil society organisations, governmental and United Nations agencies, allies and media worldwide value the publication as one of the main sources of information on the issue. The publication is accompanied by a series of maps and charts illustrating where criminalisation, protection and recognition laws exist.
Topic:: Human Rights, Law, LGBT+, and Homophobia
Political Geography:: Global Focus

2719. State-Sponsored Homophobia (2019): Global Legislation Overview Update

Author:: Lucas Ramón Mendos
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: ILGA World (International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association)
Abstract:: Every year, ILGA World publishes its State-Sponsored Homophobia report, a world survey of sexual orientation laws. Since its first edition, back in 2006, ILGA World’s State-Sponsored Homophobia has been a fundamental resource for those interested in accessing the core information on legislation affecting people on the basis of their sexual orientation. Not only human rights defenders, but also civil society organisations, governmental and United Nations agencies, allies and media worldwide value the publication as one of the main sources of information on the issue. The publication is accompanied by a series of maps and charts illustrating where criminalisation, protection and recognition laws exist.
Topic:: Human Rights, Law, LGBT+, and Homophobia
Political Geography:: Global Focus

2720. Adversity and Resiliency for Chicago's First: The State of Racial Justice for American Indian Chicagoans

Author:: William Scarborough, Faith R. Kares, Ivan Arenas, and Amanda E. Lewis
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy (IRRPP), University of Illinois at Chicago
Abstract:: Although Native American Chicagoans play a central role in the social fabric of the city, relatively little attention has been directed to documenting the experiences of racial discrimination and inequities for Native American Chicagoans. In this report, we examine the state of racial justice for Native Americans in Chicago. Our report is organized across five substantive areas, Population, Housing, (Mis)Representations of American Indians in Popular Culture, Education, Economics, and Justice, each focusing on a different aspect of racial equity. In each section, we draw on available data to describe the current conditions and experiences of Native American Chicagoans, including areas where they are thriving and areas where they are negatively affected by the legacy of racial exclusion as well as ongoing discrimination.
Topic:: Civil Society, Race, Minorities, Inequality, Discrimination, Local, and Community
Political Geography:: North America and United States of America

2721. Monetizing The Linchpin: Trump's Foreign Policy versus the U.S.-Korea Alliance's Value to Washington

Author:: Kyle Ferrier
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI)
Abstract:: The Trump administration’s increased emphasis on the cost of the U.S.-South Korea alliance has called into question its appreciation of Seoul’s contributions and raised concerns about the future of the relationship. Amid this uncertainty, this paper highlights key, yet underappreciated benefits that Washington receives from a strong alliance with Seoul. The cost-centric approach being applied to the U.S.-South Korea relationship follows an overarching trend in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, which the paper terms as “trading intangibles for tangibles.” In effect, the White House greatly underestimates the intangible value of longstanding U.S. foreign policy norms, often leveraging them—and in doing so, undermining them—in favor of short-term economic gains. Though intrinsically more difficult to quantify in dollars, intangible aspects of U.S. foreign policy have much greater financial and economic value to the United States. Consequently, and counterproductively, the Trump administration’s approach may actually prove to challenge the U.S. financially, even in areas where the economy isn’t directly involved, such as the U.S. alliance system. In the case of South Korea, Washington is putting its alliance credibility—consisting of deterrence against Pyongyang and assurance with Seoul—on the line by attempting to extract major financial concessions from Seoul, chiefly through military burden-sharing negotiations. The annual $5 billion contribution the U.S. is reportedly asking South Korea to agree to by the end of the year is a steep jump from the just under $1 billion Seoul agreed to earlier in the year. However, this annual $5 billion is dwarfed by what strong alliance credibility with Seoul provides Washington, which is at risk from the Trump administration’s intensified focus on cost. Still, the challenge remains that the nature of these benefits makes them difficult to quantify in dollars. To bridge this gap, the paper recontextualizes existing monetary figures across an array of areas to illustrate a baseline value of the key security benefits Washington enjoys through a strong U.S.-South Korea alliance—essentially, “tangibilizing” the intangibles. Though the actual list of benefits is far more expansive, the three explored in the paper are: preventing the return of armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula, fostering foreign policy convergence on the Korean Peninsula, and supporting common values in the Indo-Pacific.
Topic:: Security, Foreign Policy, Bilateral Relations, Alliance, and Donald Trump
Political Geography:: Asia, South Korea, North America, and United States of America

2722. Digital Jihad: Online Communication and Violent Extremism

Author:: Francesco Marone
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: The internet offers tremendous opportunities for violent extremists across the ideological spectrum and at a global level. In addition to propaganda, digital technologies have transformed the dynamics of radical mobilisation, recruitment and participation. Even though the jihadist threat has seemingly declined in the West, the danger exists of the internet being an environment where radical messages can survive and even prosper. Against this background, this ISPI report investigates the current landscape of jihadist online communication, including original empirical analysis. Specific attention is also placed on potential measures and initiatives to address the threat of online violent extremism. The volume aims to present important points for reflection on the phenomenon in the West (including Italy) and beyond.
Topic:: Communications, Violent Extremism, Radicalization, Internet, Ideology, and Jihad
Political Geography:: Italy and Global Focus

2723. Iran Looking East: An Alternative to the EU?

Author:: Annalisa Perteghella
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: In February 2018, anticipating the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared a policy of “preferring East over West”, thus paving the way for deeper cooperation with Asian powers such as China, Russia, and India. Differently from the “Look East” policy promoted during the presidency of Ahmadinejad (2005-2013), the current Iranian strategy is not only functional to escape the US-led isolation, but it rather seems devoted to the consolidation of a block of power which can commit to security and economic schemes in alternative to the Western-dominated ones. This ISPI report aims to answer few crucial questions: Which are the major initiatives promoted within the Iran’s “Look East 2.0” strategy? To what extent will Tehran succeed in creating a solid Eastern block? What will be the influence of the wider geopolitical context? And finally, what role is left for the EU?
Topic:: Security, Nuclear Weapons, Treaties and Agreements, European Union, Economy, and JCPOA
Political Geography:: Russia, China, Europe, Iran, Middle East, and India

2724. The Rise and the Future of Militias in the MENA Region

Author:: Ranj Alaaldin, Federica Saini Fasanotti, Arturo Varvelli, and Tarik M. Yousef
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: In recent decades, militias and sub-national armed groups have played a decisive role in politics and security in the MENA region. Their prominence with local and outside actors in areas where state institutions have collapsed presents multiple policy challenges. Armed groups have access to substantial resources and in some cases enjoy considerable local legitimacy. That makes them formidable but also resilient forces. This is why their suppression – through coercive measures or marginalization – can bring more costs than benefits to already fragile state institutions and exhausted populations. This volume addresses the void in the current debate on subnational armed groups, focusing particularly on the multiple ongoing conflicts and turmoil in the MENA region. It places a particular emphasis on whether armed groups can be integrated into state-building initiatives and whether they can play a constructive role with other key actors.
Topic:: Security, Politics, Non State Actors, Armed Forces, Legitimacy, and Militias
Political Geography:: Middle East and North Africa

2725. Europe in Identity Crisis: The Future of the EU in the Age of Nationalism

Author:: Carlo Altomonte and Antonio Villafranca
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: Today’s European Union is in an identity crisis as it seems to be losing its points of reference. The principles that upheld its creation are being increasingly questioned around the world and within the EU itself. Its chances to survive hinge upon its ability to deliver at home and abroad, without abandoning its values and principles but rather adapting and re-launching them. This volume offers policy options on key questions for the future of the EU: How to scale-up its role abroad? How to benefit from new partners without severing ties with traditional allies such as the US? How to contain Eurosceptic forces by reducing inequalities? And how to reinforce the euro while aiming at more sustainable and balanced growth?
Topic:: Nationalism, European Union, Economic Growth, Multilateralism, and Identity
Political Geography:: Europe

2726. Geopolitics by Other Means: The Indo-Pacific Reality

Author:: Axel Berkofsky and Sergio Miracola
Publication Date:: 02-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: The Asia-Pacific has become the Indo-Pacific region as the US, Japan, Australia and India have decided to join forces and scale-up their political, economic and security cooperation. The message coming from Washington, Tokyo, Canberra and New Delhi is clear: China’s Belt and Road Initiative is no longer the only game in town and Beijing’s policymakers better get ready for fierce competition. Japan’s ongoing and future "quality infrastructure" policies and investments in the Indo-Pacific, in particular, make it very clear that Tokyo wants a (much) bigger slice of the pie of infrastructure investments in the region. China’s territorial expansionism in the South China Sea and its increasing interests and presence in countries in South Asia have done their share to help the four aforesaid countries expand their security and defence ties. Beijing, of course, smells containment in all of this and it probably has a point. Who will have the upper hand in shaping and defining Asian security and providing developing South and Southeast Asia with badly-needed infrastructure: the US and Japan together with its allies or the increasingly assertive and uncompromising China and its Belt and Road Initiative?
Topic:: Infrastructure, Geopolitics, Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and Strategic Competition
Political Geography:: Indo-Pacific

2727. Infrastructure for Growth: How to Finance, Develop, and Protect It

Author:: Carlo Secchi and Stefano Riela
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: This study is an initiative of the ISPI’s Centre on Infrastructure, promoted with the knowledge partnership of McKinsey & Company. It analyses the importance of economic infrastructure and how to finance and develop it. Economic infrastructure is the backbone that, in many cases, crosses the borders of political geo- graphy and defines the space supporting the movement of goods, services, people and their ideas. The eight articles of this study are structured into four main sections: 1) The economic impact of infra- structure, with a focus on the transportation network of the EU; 2) The geopolitical role of infrastructure; 3) The infrastructure gap at the global level and how to ease its financing; 4) The efficient development of infrastructure.
Topic:: Development, Infrastructure, Finance, and Economic Growth
Political Geography:: Europe and Global Focus

2728. Russia and China: Anatomy of a Partnership

Author:: Aldo Ferrari and Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: While the “decline of the West” is now almost taken for granted, China’s impressive economic performance and the political influence of an assertive Russia in the international arena are combining to make Eurasia a key hub of political and economic power. That, certainly, is the story which Beijing and Moscow have been telling for years. Are the times ripe for a “Eurasian world order”? What exactly does the supposed Sino-Russian challenge to the liberal world entail? Are the two countries’ worsening clashes with the West drawing them closer together? This ISPI Report tackles every aspect of the apparently solidifying alliance between Moscow and Beijing, but also points out its growing asymmetries. It also recommends some policies that could help the EU to deal with this “Eurasian shift”, a long-term and multi-faceted power readjustment that may lead to the end of the world as we have known it.
Topic:: Partnerships, Economy, and Alliance
Political Geography:: Russia, China, and Eurasia

2729. China’s Race to Global Technology Leadership

Author:: Alessia Amighini
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: The current trade war between the US and China looks like a small piece in a much larger puzzle over world leadership in which China plays the part of the ascending challenger seeking to upset the existing balance of power. Technology and innovation seem to be Beijing’s weapons of choice in its frontal assault on Washington in sectors traditionally led by the US. China is not only acquiring technology. Its ambitions include the regulation of international trade and global governance. Just what a China-led global order would look like is still unclear, but the inherent dangers of technology need to be meticulously assessed, as they have the potential to alter the core values of modern societies. To what extent will technology facilitate China’s rise?
Topic:: International Trade and Finance, Science and Technology, Governance, Leadership, and Trade Wars
Political Geography:: China and Asia

2730. India’s Global Challenge

Author:: Ugo Tramballi and Nicola Missaglia
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: India wins yet again!” Narendra Modi announced in May 2019, just after securing a second term as Prime Minister of the world’s largest democracy in a landslide general elections victory. When Modi was elected for a first term five years ago, he promised that India would win back its place at the high table of leading world powers. Indeed, after decades of sustained growth, India today is at a tipping point in terms of socio-economic prospects for its 1.35 billion citizens. As the global balance of power and economic growth shifts towards Asia, and a whole new set of forces is seeking to redefine the international order, opportunities abound for the subcontinent to carve out its place as a leading, democratic, global actor. Is India ready to do so?
Topic:: Elections, Economic Growth, Domestic Politics, and Socioeconomics
Political Geography:: South Asia and India

2731. Rebuilding Syria: The Middle East's Next Power Game?

Author:: Eugenio Dacrema and Valeria Talbot
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: Over the last eight years the Syrian conflict has developed into one of the worst humanitarian tragedies of modern times. More than half a million victims, 5 million refugees abroad and 6 million internally displaced: the figures only capture part of Syria’s catastrophe. In addition, there is the less quantifiable damage to the country’s social fabric. Against this dramatic backdrop, this ISPI Report aims to answer a few crucial questions: how can a country whose society has gone through such traumas and destruction reimagine itself and its future? What conditions would allow those Syrians who were forced to leave their homes to return? And what are the regional and international dynamics and interests that will shape Syria’s future? The Report provides the reader with key tools to understand where Syria is headed and what can be done to avoid the worst scenarios.
Topic:: Displacement, Conflict, Syrian War, and Society
Political Geography:: Middle East and Syria

2732. The MENA Region: A Great Power Competition

Author:: Karim Mezran and Arturo Varvelli
Publication Date:: 10-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: The MENA Region: A Great Power Competition volume deals with competition among regional and external players for the redistribution of power and international status in the Middle East and North Africa, with a focus on Russia’s renewed role and the implications for US interests. Over the last few years, a crisis of legitimacy has beset the liberal international order. In this context, the configuration of regional orders has come into question, as in the extreme case of the current collapse in the Middle East. The idea of a ‘Russian resurgence' in the Middle East set against a perceived American withdrawal has captured the attention of policymakers and scholars alike, warranting further examination. This volume, a joint publication by ISPI and the Atlantic Council, gathers analysis on Washington's and Moscow's policy choices in the MENA region and develops case studies of the two powers’ engagement in the countries beset by major crises.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Legitimacy, Engagement, Strategic Competition, and Regional Politics
Political Geography:: Russia, Middle East, North Africa, and United States of America

2733. Leaders for a New Africa: Democrats, Autocrats, and Development

Author:: Giovanni Carbone
Publication Date:: 10-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI)
Abstract:: Political leadership can be a crucial ingredient for the development of sub-Saharan Africa. The region has been going through important transformations, with both political landscapes and economic trajectories becoming increasingly diverse. The changes underway include the role of leadership and its broader impact. This volume argues that, on the whole, African leaders and the way they reach power generally do contribute to shaping their countries’ progresses and achievements. It also zooms in on some influential African leaders who recently emerged in key states across the continent, illustrating and explaining the individual paths that brought them to power while reflecting on the prospects for their governments’ actions. Far from the simplistic stereotypes of immovable, ineffective and greedy rulers, the resulting picture reveals dynamic and rapidly evolving political scenarios with key implications for development in the region.
Topic:: Development, Politics, Democracy, Leadership, and Autocracy
Political Geography:: Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa

2734. Broadening Participation of Women of Ethnic Political Parties in the Peace Process

Author:: The Carter Center
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Carter Center
Abstract:: This report identifies a large array of needs that still require to be addressed to ensure greater inclusion of women’s and civilian voices in the Myanmar peace process. It also adds to the limited public information on the ethnic political parties, their structures, strategies, visions of the peace process, and the role they play or could play in peace talks. The findings and conclusions provide a unique platform for future programming in support of women’s participation in the peace process, as well as a better understanding of the ethnic political parties of Myanmar.
Topic:: Civil Society, Gender Issues, Women, Ethnicity, and Peace
Political Geography:: Asia, Burma, and Myanmar

2735. The Role of Cities in the Energy Transition

Author:: Jorge Camargo, Clarissa Lins, Bruna Mascotte, Hans van Ammers, Luis Antonio Lindau, Marcelo Porto, and Paul Antoine Matthieu
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI)
Abstract:: The first event organized by the CEBRI Infrastructure and Energy Program in 2019 counted with the support of the Dutch Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, and discussed the global trends that are reshaping cities and how these interconnect with the energy transition. Starting with opening remarks by Jorge Camargo, CEBRI Trustee, the event was moderated by Clarissa Lins, Catavento Consultoria’s Founding Partner and CEBRI Senior Fellow. The panel benefitted from insights presented by Marcelo Porto, Vice-President at IBM Cloud Latin America; Luis Antonio Lindau, Director at WRI Cities Brazil; Paul Antoine Matthieu, Project Director for the Energy Transition in Nijmegen, Netherlands; and Hans van Ammers, Senior Advisor on Climate Mitigation and Adaptation in Arnhem, Netherlands. This paper consolidates the content presented by each participant, as well as the debate that followed, respecting the Chatham House rules applied to the events hosted by CEBRI’s Infrastructure and Energy Program. It also includes additional insights provided by Catavento Consultoria.
Topic:: Energy Policy, Infrastructure, and Cities
Political Geography:: China and Brazil

2736. Whither US-China Trade War? Impacts on global trade, technology and finance, and strategies to mitigate risks

Author:: Lia Valls Pereira, Tatiana Rosito, and Gabriel de Barros Torres
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI)
Abstract:: For its twelthth meeting, CEBRI's China Analysis Group organized discussions on the economic and geopolitical causes and consequences of trade frictions between China and the United States, considering its impact on different actors and on the multilateral trading system at large. Despite the original focus on trade imbalances, participants noted that the bilateral rivalry’s underlying drivers relate to competition for leadership in high-tech sectors and, fundamentally, to the conciliation of practices associated with different development models. Notwithstanding the uncertainty surrounding the next steps in the dispute, there was a consensus among participants that a complete decoupling between both economies is virtually unfeasible in the short-term and not likely in the long-term. The speakers at the event were Marcos Troyjo, Jin Canrong, Kellie Meiman and Niu Haibin and comments were made by Lia Valls and Tatiana Prazeres. The event was coordinated by CEBRI Senior Fellow Tatiana Rosito.
Topic:: Science and Technology, Bilateral Relations, Finance, Trade Wars, Risk, and Trade
Political Geography:: China, Asia, North America, and United States of America

2737. Chinese-Brazilian partnerships in digital economy and innovation

Author:: Anna Jaguaribe, Tatiana Rosito, Adalberto Maluf, Li Yan, and Pan Wei
Publication Date:: 08-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI)
Abstract:: At its 13th meeting, CEBRI’s China Analysis Group promoted in-depth discussions on the main features of the Chinese national innovation system, addressing the underpinnings of the digital economy in China and current challenges in the process of transitioning from technological catching-up to an innovation-driven economy. First of all, as an illustration of the overall prosperity of the Chinese digital economy, participants highlighted the fast transformation of Shenzhen into a global hub for entrepreneurship and innovation, becoming a reference for business models in Silicon Valley itself. Notably, the recent establishment of a pilot demonstration zone for socialism with Chinese characteristics in Shenzhen illustrates the city’s key role in Chinese innovation and industrial development policy. The speakers at the event were the Director of Marketing, Sustainability and New Business at BYD Brasil Adalberto Maluf; the Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Tus-Clean Energy Group Jiao Jiwen; and Researcher at the Chinese Academy of Science and Technology for Development (CASTED) Li Yan. Comments were made by CEBRI Trustee, Anna Jaguaribe; the Vice-President of the Private Sector of the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) Jorge Arbache; and Professor at Peking University Pan Wei. The event was coordinated by the Senior Fellow of CEBRI Tatiana Rosito.
Topic:: Partnerships, Digital Economy, and Innovation
Political Geography:: China, Asia, Brazil, and South America

2738. China as a Military Power: Strategic Vision and Global Action

Author:: Marcos Azambuja, Monica Herz, Tatiana Rosito, Andy Mok, Durval Durães Neto, and Rafael Almeida
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI)
Abstract:: At its 14th meeting, the China Analysis Group promoted insightful discussions on the goals and priorities of Chinese security and defense strategy, considering its regional and global implications – as well as opportunities for cooperation with Latin America and Brazil. Against the backdrop of China-US geopolitical rivalry, China’s more assertive foreign policy under Xi Jinping has often been perceived as a threat by other nations. However, one of the key messages conveyed by Chinese official documents and narrative is the peaceful nature of China’s military ascent, based on a defensive modernization of its armed forces – even though a less conciliatory tone is adopted in regard to Chinese core interests, especially concerning territorial integrity. The speakers at the meeting were Senior Research Fellow at the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) Andy Mok; the Brazilian Army Attaché to People’s Republic of China for bilateral exchange Col. Durval Durães Neto; and CEBRI's Trustee Emeritus Marcos Azambuja. The event had as commentators Professor at the Institute of International Relations of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (IRI/PUC-Rio) Monica Herz and Chief of Staff of the Sixth Army Division, Col. Rafael Almeida. CEBRI's Senior Fellow, Tatiana Rosito, coordinated the meeting.
Topic:: Security, Foreign Policy, Defense Policy, Armed Forces, Military Affairs, and Geopolitics
Political Geography:: China, Asia, Brazil, South America, and United States of America

2739. Brazil and China facing global environmental challenges

Author:: Izabella Teixeira, Ana Toni, Tatiana Rosito, Akio Takahara, Gabriel de Barros Torres, Marco Túlio Scarpelli Cabral, Wi Wang, and Wenhong Xie
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI)
Abstract:: At its 15th meeting, the China Analysis Group promoted insightful discussions on global environmental challenges shared by Brazil and China, highlighting priority topics for bilateral cooperation in the short-, medium- and long-term, within and beyond the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Despite the huge potential for bilateral cooperation in areas ranging from the bio-economy to climate-resilient cities, participants consensually noted a lack of bilateral frameworks dedicated to sustainable development between China and Brazil – for instance, the absence of a sub-committee aimed at environmental cooperation within the Sino-Brazilian High-Level Coordination and Cooperation Committee (COSBAN). Ultimately, better exploring the co-benefits associated to bilateral cooperation on shared environmental challenges – including but not restricted to climate change – could contribute to strengthening multilateral frameworks and global environmental cooperation. The speakers at the 15th meeting were CEBRI Trustee Izabella Teixeira; Vice-President of the Institute of Science and Development (ISD) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Wang Yi; Professor of Contemporary Chinese Politics at the University of Tokyo Akio Takahara; Head of the Environment Division II at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Marco Túlio Scarpelli Cabral; and China Programme Manager at Climate Bonds Initiative Wenhong Xie. The event's commentator was CEBRI Senior Fellow Ana Toni, and the coordinator was Senior Fellow Tatiana Rosito.
Topic:: Development, Environment, Bilateral Relations, and Sustainable Development Goals
Political Geography:: China, South Asia, Asia, and Brazil

2740. Unequal Ventures: Results from an Endline Study of Gender and Entrepreneurship in East Java, Indonesia

Author:: Mayra Buvinic, Erika Deserranno, Hillary C. Johnson, James C. Knowles, Gianmarco Leon, and Firman Witoelar
Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Global Development
Abstract:: This report presents the endline results of a randomized controlled trial in East Java, Indonesia, of demand- and supply-side interventions to increase the use of saving and other branchless banking services by women business owners.
Topic:: Development, Gender Issues, Women, Entrepreneurship, Business, Demand, Supply, Banking, and Business Management
Political Geography:: Indonesia and Asia

2741. Building an EU-Africa Partnership of Equals: A Roadmap for the New European Leadership

Author:: Anita Kappeli
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Global Development
Abstract:: The arrival of a new leadership team in Brussels provides an opportunity for Europe to reinvigorate its role as a global development power and to build a true partnership with its continental neighbour, Africa. These tasks have never been more urgent. With only 10 years to go, the world is far from achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. A confluence of well-documented global trends, including accelerating climate change, declining multilateralism, and the erosion of democratic norms, is only increasing the challenge.
Topic:: Development, Diplomacy, International Cooperation, European Union, Sustainability, and African Union
Political Geography:: Africa and Europe

2742. Focusing on Fragility: The Future of US Assistance to Fragile States

Author:: Sarah Rose
Publication Date:: 10-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Global Development
Abstract:: Global development is increasingly intertwined with state fragility. Poverty is becoming concentrated in fragile states, and conflict, violent extremism, and environmental stresses can both stem from and be ex- acerbated by fragility. As a result, many donors—including the United States—are rethinking how their engagement can better help countries address the underlying causes of fragility, build peace and stability, and cope with complex risks. The United States is the top provider of official development assistance to fragile states, but much of this aid has not focused on reducing fragility. Even where confronting fragility has been a central objec- tive of US development assistance, the track record of success has been mixed, at best. New efforts are emerging to change this story. Reflecting on lessons of the past, the United States government has been developing new policy frameworks, initiatives, and proposed reforms that seek to address shortcomings in how the US government engages in fragile states. To contribute to this conversation, the Center for Global Development convened a working group of more than 20 experts, including former officials from the State Department, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Department of Defense (DOD), and the US intelligence community, along with noted academics and policy experts to identify specific ideas for how the US government can more effectively use its develop- ment assistance—in conjunction with diplomatic and security assistance tools—in fragile states.
Topic:: Foreign Aid, Fragile States, State Building, and Strategic Stability
Political Geography:: North America and United States of America

2743. High Hopes, Long Odds: On the False Promises of Brexiteer Deals with the EU and US

Author:: John Ryan, Gabriel Felbermayr, Clemens Fuest, Jasmin Katrin Gröschl, and Daniel Stöhlker
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: LSE IDEAS
Abstract:: This report explores a No-Deal Brexit which would leave the UK economically, politically and diplomatically weakened and isolated. It further examines the relationships with its two main allies - the European Union and the United States - which would become more difficult and complicated.
Topic:: Diplomacy, Politics, Treaties and Agreements, European Union, and Brexit
Political Geography:: Britain, Europe, and United States of America

2744. Weapons Compass: Mapping Illicit Small Arms Flows in Africa

Author:: Nicolas Florquin, Sigrid Lipott, and Francis Wairagu
Publication Date:: 01-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: In the first-ever continental analysis of illicit arms flows in Africa, the African Union Commission and the Small Arms Survey identify the scale, availability, characteristics, and supply patterns of illicit small arms in Africa. The African Union (AU) Master Roadmap of Practical Steps to Silence the Guns in Africa by Year 2020 was adopted in January 2017 and sets out practical steps to address the underlying drivers of conflict as well as the tools and enablers of violence. Preventing the illicit flows of weapons within Africa, including to conflict zones, is a vital component of the AU Roadmap, and this report aims to provide AU member states with a synthesis of relevant information on the topic. Weapons Compass: Mapping Illicit Small Arms Flows in Africa finds that cross-border trafficking by land is the most prominent type of illicit arms flow affecting countries on the continent. The weapons trafficked comprise both those sourced from within the continent—such as legacy weapons recycled from earlier conflicts and weapons diverted from national stockpiles—as well as arms sourced from other parts of the world, including embargo-breaking transfers from the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The report provides practical recommendations for AU member states to tackle illicit arms flows by noting specific assessments that can be generated to fill knowledge gaps; practical guidance and tools to develop; and ways in which to support and coordinate the implementation of those recommended actions.
Topic:: Arms Control and Proliferation, Weapons, Arms Trade, Conflict, and African Union
Political Geography:: Africa, Europe, and Middle East

2745. Third MPOME Regional Workshop Report: Making Peace Operations More Effective

Author:: Claire McEvoy
Publication Date:: 02-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: This Report summarizes the formal contributions made by presenters at the third MPOME Regional Workshop and the discussions that ensued. The workshop was held at the National Peace Operations Training Center of Uruguay (ENOPU) in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Topic:: Peacekeeping, Conflict, and Training
Political Geography:: Uruguay and Global Focus

2746. Fourth MPOME Regional Workshop Report: Making Peace Operations More Effective

Author:: Claire McEvoy
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: This Report summarizes both the formal contributions made by presenters at the fourth MPOME Regional Workshop and the discussions that ensued. The workshop was held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
Topic:: NATO, Arms Control and Proliferation, Peacekeeping, and Peace
Political Geography:: Belgium and Global Focus

2747. Beyond Blue Helmets: Promoting Weapons and Ammunition Management in Non-UN Peace Operations

Author:: Eric G. Berman
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: This report details efforts to improve weapons and ammunition management in non-United Nations (UN) peace operations in order to enhance force protection and mandate implementation. More than 25 organizations apart from the UN have deployed more than 100 peace operations to date. These non-UN organizations face the same challenges as the UN in securing their contingent-owned equipment (COE) and the lethal materiel they recover. Non-UN peace operations may even be more vulnerable to these challenges than UN operations. Thousands of small arms and light weapons as well as millions of rounds of ammunition have been lost in recent years as a result of attacks on fixed sites, patrols, and convoy movements. Forced abandonment of COE, burglary, theft, corruption, as well as poor discipline and practices also contribute to diversion of materiel. Beyond Blue Helmets: Promoting Weapons and Ammunition Management in Non-UN Peace Operations focuses on defining key terms, identifying the actors undertaking non-UN peacekeeping operations, and analyzing the challenges they face as well as the control measures that exist to mitigate the risks and reduce the loss of arms and ammunition. The report also highlights efforts some of these actors are presently undertaking to develop more effective checks and balances to enhance weapons and ammunition management (WAM) practices in peace operations, and suggests additional measures that could be undertaken towards these ends.
Topic:: Arms Control and Proliferation, United Nations, Peacekeeping, and Weapons
Political Geography:: Global Focus

2748. Displaced and Immiserated: The Shilluk of Upper Nile in South Sudan’s civil war, 2014–19

Author:: Joshua Craze
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: The civil war that began in South Sudan in December 2013 has had dire consequences for the Shilluk people of Upper Nile, with civilians killed, villages and buildings destroyed, and humanitarian aid blocked. Although exact figures are elusive, estimates suggest that as much as 50 per cent of the Shilluk population has left the country during the current civil war—a figure that rises to 80 per cent if internally displaced people are included. Displaced and Immiserated: The Shilluk of Upper Nile in South Sudan’s civil war, 2014–19, a report from the Small Arms Survey’s Human Security Baseline Assessment for the Sudan and South Sudan (HSBA) project, places events in Upper Nile from 2014–19 in their historical context and analyzes the main military tactics employed by government forces in Shilluk areas.
Topic:: Civil War, Displacement, and Violence
Political Geography:: Africa, Sudan, and South Sudan

2749. Trade Update 2019: Transfers, Transparency, and South-east Asia Spotlight

Author:: Michael Picard, Paul Holtom, and Fiona Mangan
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Small Arms Survey
Abstract:: Authorized small arms imports to South-east Asia were worth at least USD 443 million in 2016, a 48 per cent increase from 2015, as revealed by the Small Arms Survey’s Trade Update 2019: Transfers, Transparency, and South-east Asia Spotlight. This increase, combined with the diversification in their small arms trading partners, highlights the region’s growing significance for international small arms flows. The increased value of imports for South-east Asia mirrors the growth in the value of the global small arms trade, which was worth USD 6.5 billion in 2016—a 13 per cent increase compared to 2015 and the highest ever since the Small Arms Survey began collecting trade data in 2001. Almost 90 per cent of the USD 751 million global increase can be attributed to the world’s top tier of small arms exporters—most notably from Austria, Croatia, and Germany. The Small Arms Survey’s Trade Update features the 2019 edition of the Small Arms Trade Transparency Barometer—which scores the transparency of top and major exporters’ reporting on arms trade activities out of a maximum 25 points. The 2019 Barometer identifies Switzerland as the most transparent small arms exporter with 21.25 points for activities carried out in 2016, followed by Germany and the Netherlands with 19.5 points each, and Serbia and the United Kingdom with 18.25 points each. The least transparent major exporters were North Korea and Iran with zero points, Saudi Arabia with 0.5 points, and Israel with 1.25 points.
Topic:: Arms Control and Proliferation, Weapons, Arms Trade, and Transparency
Political Geography:: United Kingdom, Iran, Israel, North Korea, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Croatia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Austria, and Southeast Asia

2750. Preventive Diplomacy: The Vanguard of Multilateralism

Author:: Arvid Hallberg
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: European Institute of Peace (EIP)
Abstract:: In 2008, the UN led by Kofi Annan quickly mediated between the parties in Kenya and developed a process for a peaceful transition of power. In 2014, the UN Special Representative, the AU and ECOWAS helped to assist the democratic transition process in Burkina Faso, culminating into peaceful, free, and fair elections the following year. From 2007, a regional Preventive Diplomacy Centre (UNRCCA) has aimed at creating favourable conditions for constructive dialogue, seeking long-term and sustainable solutions to the existing disagreements and taking into account the interests of all the states in the Central Asia region. EIP started looking specifically at preventive diplomacy in 2016 and since then much has changed. The UN and other international bodies are still the main arena but they are under threat as agreements and accords are ignored by powerful states. When “what’s in it for me” is the guiding political principle, prevention – where benefit is hard to measure – loses out in favour of harder security options. However, preventive diplomacy is still the most effective and cheapest way to stop a conflict from worsening. This is particularly important today as the already notable impact of climate change will only continue to grow in the coming decades. In this project, EIP has worked with UN-, EU- and other international special envoys, experts, and other practitioners to try to understand how preventive diplomacy works, why it is effective, and how we can do more. The results, presented in the attached booklet as the 10 Commandments of Preventive Diplomacy are not revolutionary. Instead, they underline the importance of the work diplomats do every single day and urges the international community to think about how they can adopt a preventive mindset in other activities. Over the past three years, we have learned that preventive diplomacy is not only something that happens immediately before, during, and after a crisis. Preventive Diplomacy is the quiet everyday work of thousands of diplomats all over the world. Prevention is making connections that may be useful later. Prevention is listening to voices otherwise unheard. It is raising sensitive issues that may fester and turn into violence-inducing grievances. It is understanding the people, culture, history and personalities. In short, preventive diplomacy is the vanguard of multilateralism in a conflict setting.
Topic:: Conflict Prevention, Diplomacy, Multilateralism, and Preventive Diplomacy
Political Geography:: Global Focus

2751. REFUGEE RETURN IN SYRIA: DANGERS, SECURITY RISKS AND INFORMATION SCARCITY

Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: European Institute of Peace (EIP)
Abstract:: This report examines the broad concerns of all categories of returnees—those returning to Syria as refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), or as the result of the so-called reconciliation process— to identify the key challenges and the extent of the risks involved. The conditions to which refugees are returning, and how the mechanics of the process work, are poorly understood.
Topic:: Migration, Refugee Issues, Refugees, Refugee Crisis, Displacement, and Internal Displacement
Political Geography:: Middle East and Syria

2752. Q&A with Kristin Smith (MAAS ’14): A Day in the Life of Beirut’s Cultural Attaché

Author:: Vicki Valosik and Kristin Smith
Publication Date:: 02-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: For Kristin Smith, MAAS alum and Cultural Affairs Officer for the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, culture and diplomacy go hand-in-hand. “My job is really using culture and art to bring people closer together,” Smith told the Lebanese newspaper The Daily Star at a U.S. Embassy event celebrating the Lebanese writer Khalil Gibran. “It’s not just about deepening our ties and getting to know each other on a cultural level though. If we have these similarities in [the arts], then perhaps that will lead to future cooperation in other ways.” During her time in the MA in Arab Studies program, Smith—who holds a BA in Near Eastern Languages and Civilization from Harvard—pursued an academic concentration in Culture and Society, managed a yoga studio, and served as a Public Diplomacy Fellow at the U.S. Consulate General in Casablanca. Following graduation, she joined the Foreign Service, serving in Taiwan before beginning her current position in 2017. Her portfolio as Cultural Affairs Officer covers five primary issues: arts and culture, non-formal education, academic outreach, interfaith and minority outreach, and alumni programming.
Topic:: Diplomacy, Culture, Language, and Arabic
Political Geography:: Middle East, Lebanon, North America, Beirut, and United States of America

2753. Diplomacy and the Art of Storytelling

Author:: Isabel Roemer
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: A MAAS grad’s work at the intersection of diplomacy and cinematic arts is shaping American narratives and empowering storytellers around the globe. When people think about the tools of diplomatic engagement, narrative storytelling is not one that usually comes to mind. But for Rachel Gandin Mark, Program Director of the American Film Showcase (ASF)—the State Department’s film, television, and digital diplomacy program —the two go hand-in-hand. “I love thinking about how to incorporate entertainment, particularly story and character, into specific foreign policy strategies,” says Gandin Mark, who graduated from MAAS in 2003. “Some of our country’s biggest diplomatic challenges today stem from conflicting global narratives. Film and TV, when produced with authenticity and nuance, have the potential to complicate narratives and reveal a shared human experience.”
Topic:: Diplomacy, Culture, Media, and Film
Political Geography:: Middle East, North America, and United States of America

2754. Refugees and Water Security

Author:: Skylar Benedict
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Examining the historic roots of Jordan’s water management policy. First, Jordan deals with natural water scarcity arising from the country’s arid semi-desert climate and seasonally fluctuating surface water sources. Second, Jordan currently depends on costly water projects such as the Disi Water Conveyance Project and the King Abdullah Canal to meet its municipal, agricultural, and industrial water needs. Third, the sudden influx of refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war has led to an increased strain on water resources. While realistic, this narrative’s exclusive focus on the present hardships obscures a much longer history of water management in Jordan—one characterized by successive political conflicts and increasingly centralized and unsustainable water extraction policies—that has equally contributed to the country’s current scarcity challenges.
Topic:: Environment, Water, Refugees, and Syrian War
Political Geography:: Middle East, Syria, Jordan, and United States of America

2755. Mobilizing Memories

Author:: Carol Graham
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Carol Madison Graham (MAAS ’81) was the first MAAS graduate to enter the United States Foreign Service. She reflects on how the 1984 embassy bombing in Beirut inspired her current work to strengthen the Foreign Service for future generations.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Violence, and Memoir
Political Geography:: Middle East, Lebanon, North America, and United States of America

2756. Reflections from Singapore

Author:: ONG Keng Yong
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Ambassador ONG Keng Yong, who graduated from MAAS in 1983, remembers his time in Washington and sheds light on Singapore’s “price taker” approach to foreign policy.
Topic:: International Relations, Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, and Higher Education
Political Geography:: Middle East, Asia, Arab Countries, Singapore, and United States of America

2757. Renewable Energy in the Gulf Arab States

Author:: Aisha Al-Sarihi
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Since the 2014 drop in oil prices, Gulf countries have begun to shift their attention toward renewables.
Topic:: Climate Change, Development, Oil, Natural Resources, Gas, Economy, and Renewable Energy
Political Geography:: Middle East, Arab Countries, and Gulf Nations

2758. New Law Hinders Public Diplomacy and Penalizes Palestinian Students

Author:: Kaylee Steck and Mohammed Alhammami
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Last fall, Congress enacted a law that indirectly led to 29 young Arab leaders losing their scholarships to U.S.-accredited universities and dealt another blow to educational and cultural exchange programming, a critical part of U.S. public diplomacy efforts.
Topic:: Diplomacy, Government, Law, and Higher Education
Political Geography:: Middle East, Palestine, North America, and United States of America

2759. Grassroots Diplomacy Matters More Than Ever

Author:: Kala Carruthers Azar
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Alum Kala Carruthers Azar, who serves as Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Amman, writes about the important role of people-to-people exchanges to American soft power.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Culture, and Soft Power
Political Geography:: Middle East, North America, Jordan, and United States of America

2760. Q&A with Her Excellency Hunaina Al Mughairy

Author:: Isabel Roemer
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Her Excellency Hunaina Sultan Al Mughairy has served as the Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to the United States since 2005. In this role, she has applied her extensive expertise in business and diplomacy to advocate for free trade between the U.S. and Oman. As the first Arab woman appointed to serve as ambassador to the U.S., Her Excellency also strives to dispel misconceptions of Arab women. Prior to this position, Ambassador Al Mughairy worked for the Permanent Mission of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations, the Omani Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Omani Center for Investment Promotion and Export Development. She also serves on the CCAS Board of Advisors and as Chair of the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., an organization that focuses on building bridges between the American and Omani peoples.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Regional Cooperation, Bilateral Relations, and Peace
Political Geography:: North America, Oman, United States of America, and Gulf Nations

2761. A Unique Viewpoint on Diverse Landscapes

Author:: Uma Mencia
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: MAAS alum Uma Mencia shares how her career as an endurance horse racer has introduced her to new landscapes and peoples and given her a deeper connection with the natural world
Topic:: Environment, Sports, and Arabic
Political Geography:: North America, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Gulf Nations

2762. Serving Citizens Abroad in Times of War

Author:: Julie A. Eadeh
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: For MAAS alum Julie Eadeh, diplomacy is all about human relationships, whether building connections with local communities or helping Americans abroad in times of crisis.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, War, and Hezbollah
Political Geography:: Middle East, Lebanon, North America, and United States of America

2763. Climate Change and the Syrian Conflict?

Author:: Marwa Daoudy
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: Over the past few decades, a new narrative has emerged that seeks to link climate change with political and social unrest. This idea of a climate-conflict nexus is similar to the “water wars” scenario of the 1990s, in which the media and some scholars predicted that water scarcity would be the major driver of inter-state conflict in the twenty-first century. More recently, this climateconflict narrative has been applied to the Syrian case. According to this logic, climate change caused the 2006-2010 drought in Syria, the drought caused agricultural failure, agricultural failure caused poverty, and the resulting displacement and discontent culminated with the 2011 uprising. My forthcoming book, The Origins of the Syrian Conflict: Climate Change and Human Security (Cambridge University Press, spring 2020) questions this line of reasoning, arguing that government policies were at the heart of Syria’s vulnerabilities in the buildup to the uprising. Although global warming is real and international action is urgently needed, climate change was not what was at the forefront of the minds of Syrians in 2011. Instead, most people were focused on a moral ideal: the end of repression and injustice.
Topic:: Agriculture, Climate Change, Environment, Water, Food Security, Inequality, Syrian War, and Revolution
Political Geography:: Middle East and Syria

2764. Enhancing Development with New Teaching Approaches

Author:: Sima Aldardari
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: This summer I had a teaching opportunity like never before. I designed and taught a course in Lebanon on international development as part of an independent study with Prof. Fida Adely. The two-and-a-half-week course aimed to offer youth in Lebanon the base knowledge necessary for understanding a wider scope of development approaches and theories and the opportunity to engage with development professionals. The local organization Chams Network provided space and marketing for the class.
Topic:: Development, Education, and Water
Political Geography:: Middle East, Lebanon, and Syria

2765. Training Georgetown’s Future Diplomats

Author:: Vicki Valosik
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: A certificate program at the School of Foreign Service offers theoretical knowledge and practical training for aspiring diplomats. According to Ambassador Barbara Bodine, Director of Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD), the skills needed by today’s aspiring diplomats haven’t changed significantly since the days when she was preparing for her own long and successful diplomatic career. “On one level, they will need the skills diplomats have always needed: the ability to understand and shape policy, to work comfortably globally, to be able to analyze a large amount of information, and—critically important—the ability to write,” she says. “At the same time,” adds Bodine, who served as Ambassador to Yemen from 1997 to 2001, “twenty-first century diplomats also need to be able to manage large amounts of data and comfortably move from a known issue, a comfortzone issue, to something new. They need to be able to extrapolate from past experience to a new experience without rigid templates.”
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Government, and Higher Education
Political Geography:: United States of America and North America

2766. MAAS Alum Builds Jordan’s First Windfarm

Author:: Diogo Bercito
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS)
Abstract:: MAAS alum Samer Judeh built Jordan’s first windfarm and catalyzed the country’s renewable energy industry.
Topic:: Energy Policy, Natural Resources, and Renewable Energy
Political Geography:: Middle East, Arab Countries, Egypt, and Jordan

2767. R2P Monitor, Issue 48, 15 November 2019

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: R2P Monitor is a bimonthly bulletin applying the atrocity prevention lens to populations at risk of mass atrocities around the world. Issue 48 looks at developments in Afghanistan, China, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Yemen, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Libya, South Sudan and Venezuela.
Topic:: Genocide, Human Rights, International Law, Conflict, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Afghanistan, China, Libya, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Venezuela, Burundi, Mali, Myanmar, South Sudan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Burkina Faso

2768. R2P and Outcomes of the Human Rights Council’s 42nd Session

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 10-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: The 42nd regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) was held in Geneva between 9 and 27 September 2019. As the primary international human rights body, the HRC has the capacity to prevent and respond to mass atrocity crimes, as systematic violations and abuses of human rights can be an indicator of potential genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing. The summary below highlights major outcomes from the 42nd session as they relate to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) populations from such crimes. As part of the session, the Netherlands delivered a statement on behalf of 53 members of the Group of Friends of R2P.
Topic:: Human Rights, Transitional Justice, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Atrocities, and UN Human Rights Council (HRC)
Political Geography:: Sudan, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations, Syria, Somalia, Burundi, Bolivia, Myanmar, and Central African Republic

2769. R2P Monitor, Issue 47, 15 September 2019

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: R2P Monitor is a bimonthly bulletin applying the atrocity prevention lens to populations at risk of mass atrocities around the world. Issue 47 looks at developments in Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Yemen, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Nigeria and Venezuela.
Topic:: Human Rights, United Nations, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Afghanistan, China, Libya, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Venezuela, Nigeria, Burundi, Mali, Myanmar, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Burkina Faso

2770. R2P and Outcomes of the Human Rights Council’s 41st Session

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: The 41st regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) was held in Geneva between 24 June and 12 July 2019. As the primary international human rights body, the Human Rights Council has the capacity to prevent and respond to mass atrocity crimes, as systematic violations and abuses of human rights can be potential indicators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing. The summary below highlights major outcomes and relevant dialogues from the 41st session as they relate to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) populations from such crimes. As part of the session, the Netherlands and Rwanda delivered two statements on behalf of members of the Group of Friends of R2P.
Topic:: Human Rights, International Law, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Atrocities, and UN Human Rights Council (HRC)
Political Geography:: Philippines, Democratic Republic of the Congo, United Nations, Syria, Netherlands, Rwanda, and Eritrea

2771. R2P Monitor, Issue 46, 15 July 2019

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: R2P Monitor is a bimonthly bulletin applying the Responsibility to Protect lens to populations at risk of mass atrocities around the world. Issue 46 looks at developments in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Yemen, Cameroon, Mali and Burkina Faso, Sudan, Central African Republic, Libya, Nigeria, South Sudan and Venezuela.
Topic:: Genocide, Human Rights, International Law, United Nations, Ethnic Cleansing, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Afghanistan, Sudan, Libya, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Syria, Venezuela, Nigeria, Mali, Myanmar, South Sudan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Burkina Faso

2772. Summary of the Report of the UN Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect: Lessons Learned for Prevention

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: The eleventh report of the UN Secretary-General on the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) emphasizes the important role of prevention. The report takes stock of a range of measures that individual states and the international community can undertake while upholding their preventive responsibilities based upon best practices since the adoption of R2P at the 2005 UN World Summit. While acknowledging a growing number of contemporary atrocity situations around the world, the Secretary-General cautions that “there is a growing gap between our words of commitment and the experience of protecting vulnerable populations.” The report offers a number of practical policy suggestions based upon experiences of the last decade and serves as a call to action for member states and international institutions.
Topic:: International Cooperation, International Law, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: United Nations and Global Focus

2773. 2020-2021 UN Security Council Elections and the Responsibility to Protect

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: Today, 7 June 2019, the United Nations General Assembly elected Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Viet Nam to the UN Security Council for the period of 2020-2021. With their election, 6 of the 15 members of the Council in 2020 will be “Friends of the Responsibility to Protect” – having appointed an R2P Focal Point and/or joined the Group of Friends of R2P in New York and Geneva.
Topic:: Conflict Prevention, Human Rights, Sovereignty, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), UN Security Council, and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Vietnam, Estonia, United Nations, Tunisia, Niger, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

2774. R2P Monitor, Issue 45, 15 May 2019

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: R2P Monitor is a bimonthly bulletin applying the Responsibility to Protect lens to populations at risk of mass atrocities around the world. Issue 45 looks at developments in Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Yemen, Cameroon, Nigeria, Burundi, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Mali, South Sudan and Venezuela.
Topic:: Conflict Prevention, Human Rights, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Afghanistan, Israel, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Syria, Venezuela, Nigeria, Burundi, Mali, Myanmar, South Sudan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Global Focus

2775. R2P and Outcomes of the Human Rights Council’s 40th Session

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: The 40th regular session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) was held in Geneva between 25 February and 22 March 2019. As the primary international human rights body, the Human Rights Council has the capacity to prevent and respond to mass atrocity crimes, as systematic violations and abuses of human rights can be potential indicators of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity or ethnic cleansing. The summary below highlights major outcomes and relevant dialogues from the 40th session as they relate to the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) populations from such crimes. As part of the session, the Netherlands delivered a statement on behalf of members of the Group of Friends of R2P.
Topic:: International Law, State Violence, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), Atrocities, and UN Human Rights Council (HRC)
Political Geography:: Middle East, Israel, North Korea, Palestine, United Nations, Nicaragua, Syria, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Global Focus

2776. R2P Monitor, Issue 44, 15 March 2019

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: R2P Monitor is a bimonthly bulletin applying the Responsibility to Protect lens to populations at risk of mass atrocities around the world. Issue 44 looks at developments in Afghanistan, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Yemen, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Nigeria, South Sudan, Sudan and Venezuela.
Topic:: Human Rights, International Law, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Afghanistan, Sudan, Israel, Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Venezuela, Nigeria, Myanmar, South Sudan, Cameroon, and Global Focus

2777. After 8 Years and 500,000 Dead, No ‘Normalization’ in Syria without Justice

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: Today, 15 March, marks eight years of deadly conflict in Syria. Since 2011 half a million people have been killed, 11.9 million have been displaced from their homes and 13 million remain in dire need of humanitarian assistance. As the conflict enters its ninth year and the prevailing media narrative is that the civil war is coming to an end, civilians in Syria still face the threat of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Topic:: Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, International Law, Syrian War, Justice, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Middle East and Syria

2778. R2P Monitor, Issue 43, 15 January 2019

Author:: Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Publication Date:: 01-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: The Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect
Abstract:: R2P Monitor is a bimonthly bulletin applying the Responsibility to Protect lens to populations at risk of mass atrocities around the world. Issue 43 looks at developments in Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Myanmar (Burma), Syria, Yemen, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Nicaragua, Nigeria, South Sudan and Venezuela.
Topic:: Human Rights, International Law, Responsibility to Protect (R2P), and Atrocities
Political Geography:: Afghanistan, Sudan, Israel, Yemen, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Nicaragua, Syria, Nigeria, Burundi, Myanmar, South Sudan, Cameroon, Central African Republic, and Global Focus

2779. Human Rights from the International Relations

Author:: Alejandro Anaya Muñoz
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL)
Abstract:: Human rights are a very important area in contemporary international relations. The doctrine of human rights was concretized after a process of development of more than three centuries after the end of the Second World War and has changed the institutional panorama and the relations between actors at the international level. On the other hand, regardless of its «lack of teeth», the international regime on the subject has transformed the way states relate to international bodies, transnational civil society organizations and other governments.
Topic:: International Relations, Civil Society, Human Rights, International Political Economy, International Affairs, and Norms
Political Geography:: Global Focus

2780. Climate Change, Carbon Politics, and Kenya’s Democratic Future

Author:: Jacqueline M. Klopp and Abdullahi Boru Halakhe
Publication Date:: 10-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Carbon politics is playing out in oil-producing African countries with lethal consequences. Countries like Nigeria, Angola, Sudan, and South Sudan are conflict-ridden and economically unequal, and, as climate change concerns clash with new fossil fuel-driven development efforts, carbon politics is taking on ever-greater significance. While the scramble for fossil fuels could increase authoritarianism as it spreads in East Africa, an ecologically-driven imperative to address climate change could reinforce stronger democratic institutions.
Topic:: Climate Change, Development, Oil, Natural Resources, and Democracy
Political Geography:: Africa, Sudan, Nigeria, Angola, East Africa, and South Sudan

2781. A Court Worth Having? Growing Pains at the International Criminal Court

Author:: Tod Lindberg
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: The establishment of the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague is a testament to liberal normative aspiration in international politics—the conviction that there should be a neutral juridical body, beyond the influence of the ebb and flow of political power among states, that is capable of holding the perpetrators of atrocities or aggression to account. Now, more than twenty years after the negotiation of the 1998 Rome Statute––the treaty establishing the court––and coming up on seventeen years since the ICC entered into force in 2002 with the ratification by sixty state-parties, one vexing question for proponents of international justice is that of how far beyond mere aspiration the court has managed to get.
Topic:: Politics, Rule of Law, Justice, and International Criminal Court (ICC)
Political Geography:: Yugoslavia, Rwanda, United States of America, and The Hague

2782. Gender Issues in Kurdistan

Author:: Michael M. Gunter
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: In the Kurdistan National Congress (KNK) headquarters in Brussels, one may be surprised to find that the co-chair rule governing the activities of the congress requires joint male and female leaders to share the office. As inefficient as such a dual head might seem, it sets the stage for gender equality. Overall, the duties of both men and women in the Kurdish movement leave no time for marriage or other traditional gender roles. This is particularly true of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its related organizations, such as the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party/Peoples Defense Units (PYD/YPG).
Topic:: Gender Issues, Government, Politics, and Women
Political Geography:: Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Kurdistan, and Brussels

2783. Indigenous Elder Societies as Leaders for Global Protected Areas Governance

Author:: Melanie Zurba and Eli Enns
Publication Date:: 10-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Many models for parks and protected areas have been created globally to preserve biodiversity and natural heritage and to provide visitors with “wild places” to experience. This establishment of conventional parks and protected areas has typically been done through governance processes that do not acknowledge Indigenous peoples, including their connections to and their governance systems for such areas. Area-based conservation through parks and protected areas has, therefore, displaced and systematically oppressed Indigenous Peoples, disenfranchising them from their custodial roles and responsibilities within their traditional territories. In addition to oppression, conventional governance systems have also produced intrusive infrastructure and circulated tourists, creating human-wildlife conflict that often results in wildlife mortality. Through disenfranchising Indigenous peoples of their traditional territories, parks and protected areas in colonized regions of the world have separated nature from the societies that have the most deeply embedded place-based knowledge systems and governance structures.
Topic:: Environment, Governance, Land Rights, Indigenous, and Land
Political Geography:: Canada and Global Focus

2784. LGBTIQ Rights in Kenya: On Artivism and Social Change

Author:: Deborah P. Amory
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: The struggle for LGBTIQ rights in Kenya provides a unique and fascinating case study of the powerful social change taking place right now. On May 24, 2019, the High Court of Kenya will rule on whether to decriminalize same-sex relationships, which are currently punishable by up to fourteen years in prison. The court was originally scheduled to decide this case in February but delayed the ruling, citing mounds of documents that had still not been read. Activists pointed out that judges had already had several years to read the documents, and some worried that the delay was a sign of government interference with the judicial process.
Topic:: Social Movement, Political Activism, Courts, and LGBT+
Political Geography:: Kenya and Africa

2785. Turkey, Erdogan, and the Kurds: War as a State-Building Strategy

Author:: Joost Jongerden
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: While Trump always advocated disengagement from Syria, Turkish mainstream opinion and political leadership have never accepted Kurdish self-rule of territory on its Syrian border, which Turkey treats as an existential threat and dismisses with the trope of “terrorism.” Thus, Turkey’s military intervention should hardly be surprising. Indeed, not only is the assault an upscaled version of last year’s intervention and occupation of Afrin—a pocket in the western part of northern Syria—but it also fits a wider pattern of Turkish military aggression. Looking back over the past four years, we see Turkey repeatedly waging war for a “strong” state construction and regional power development.
Topic:: War, Conflict, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and State Building
Political Geography:: Turkey, Middle East, Syria, and Kurdistan

2786. Musical Diplomacy: The Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv

Author:: Dean Vuletic
Publication Date:: 03-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: After winning the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) with her song “Toy” (inspired by the #MeToo movement), Netta Barzilai issued the declaration, “Next year in Jerusalem!” By using the traditional Jewish phrase, she was suggesting that the 2019 ESC would be held in that city.
Topic:: Diplomacy, Culture, and Music
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, and Israel

2787. PART I: Russo-Georgian Dystopia

Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: “Georgians have always had a grievance complex, because Turks or Persians have always suppressed them. The lack of independence, the inability to have one’s own state — all this instilled in Georgians a sense of deprivation. Now they are hot-tempered, light up for any reason. Now flashed.” This is what Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party leader tweeted after riot police in Tbilisi fired rubber bullets against thousands of nonviolent protesters outside of the Georgian Parliament on June 20, 2019. On that day, Georgian officials welcomed into the Georgian Parliament a Russian delegation, headed by member of the State Duma Sergey Gavrilov, within the framework of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy. Outside of the Parliament, civilians staged a snap protest against the ongoing Russian occupation of 20 percent of Georgian territory. Days before his scandalous appearance in the chair of the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Mr. Gavrilov gave an interview to the Georgian television network Rustavi 2 and stated, “We have recognized the independence of Ossetia and Abkhazia [two breakaway Georgian regions where Russian military forces are stationed] and we have to build our relations on new reality.” Soon after, Georgians saw him chairing an international assembly in the Georgian Parliament in Russian, an occurrence which was deeply humiliating for members of the Georgian public, many of whom lost friends and family members in the 2008 Russo-Georgian war.
Topic:: Bilateral Relations, Territorial Disputes, Economy, and Conflict
Political Geography:: Russia, Eurasia, and Georgia

2788. PART II: (Un)Accountability for Torture

Author:: Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: “The category of public reputational accountability,” Keohane asserts, “is meant to apply to situations in which reputation, widely and publicly known, provides a mechanism for accountability even in the absence of other mechanisms.” The effectiveness of public reputational accountability, in particular, has floundered because of the fact that the U.S. public’s views have shifted since the inception of the torture program. Even while recognizing that enhanced interrogation techniques are now against the law, former CIA director Michael Hayden defended the Agency’s past use of the techniques in 2014, claiming that “we thought we were doing the nation’s will.” Today, though, it can be argued that the absence of public reputational accountability stems from the fact that the issue of torture has been reframed in the public imagination.
Topic:: Intelligence, Torture, Impunity, War on Terror, and Accountability
Political Geography:: Middle East and United States of America

2789. PART II: Russo-Georgian Dystopia

Author:: Kaha Baindurashvili
Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Russian sanctions might not be that impressive, but they are extremely dangerous for Georgian unity. Russia has been destabilizing that unity since Georgia’s independence in 1991, first through its proxies— Abkhaz and Ossetian separatists and militias— and then later more openly from 2004 onwards. The Kremlin’s political aims behind the sanctions are obvious. Russian officials do not have high expectations for their numerical impact, but the propaganda accompanying them could have a more powerful impact. The Ivanishvili victory in 2012 and promised political and media tolerance has opened doors to Russian propaganda too; since then, banned Russian media outlets have started freely broadcasting in Georgia, while the anti-Kremlin, Georgian-funded, Russian-language television network PIK was shut down.
Topic:: Bilateral Relations, Sanctions, Economy, and Trade
Political Geography:: Russia, Eurasia, and Georgia

2790. Part I: (Un)Accountability for Torture

Author:: Elizabeth Grimm Arsenault
Publication Date:: 06-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: With the nomination and eventual appointment of Gina Haspel to the directorship of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), debates around the legality and the morality of the torture program undertaken during the early years of the War on Terror resurfaced. Some editorials asserted that condoning torture was now a roadmap for promotion at the CIA. Others, including former senior leaders of the CIA, argued that none could lead the Agency better than Haspel and claimed she was a person of integrity. Yet, amid the debates about her leadership of the Agency loomed two larger questions: 1) who is most responsible for the torture program, and 2) what does accountability mean? In the balancing act between the demands of justice and the imperatives of national security, how can we best ensure that the right people are held accountable for the U.S. torture program? Forceful repudiations of the program did occur through both internal agency proceedings as well as in the form of checks and balances across the federal government, but the public view of torture has changed in the almost two decades since 9/11. This shift is significant because U.S. popular opinion against the torture program a decade ago significantly contributed to pushback against it, pushback that manifested in the accountability measures detailed below. In the absence of public opposition, accountability measures will be more elusive.
Topic:: Intelligence, Torture, War on Terror, and Accountability
Political Geography:: Middle East, North America, and United States of America

2791. What North Korea’s Push for Economic Development Means for Human Rights

Author:: Bradley O. Babson
Publication Date:: 04-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Since his first-annual New Year’s speech in 2012 setting North Korea’s policy priorities, Kim Jong Un has emphasized his commitment to economic development, notably promising his people that they will never have to tighten their belts again. The Byunjin policy of equally prioritizing economic development and security through nuclear and missile programs reflects Kim’s desire to assure regime stability by delivering broad-based economic development while establishing a security environment that deters external threats and potential domestic unrest. While United States policy has used sanctions and other pressures to stymie Kim’s ambitions, the Kim regime has nonetheless modestly furthered economic development and significantly advanced security through its nuclear and missile testing programs.
Topic:: Security, Development, Economics, Human Rights, and Sanctions
Political Geography:: Asia, North Korea, North America, and United States of America

2792. The Weaponization of Minorities in Syria and Beyond

Author:: Mohanad Hage Ali
Publication Date:: 01-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: The Syrian conflict has magnified threats to minorities with long-term implications both within and beyond Syria’s borders. The deployment of excessive firepower by the Russian and Iranian-backed Assad regime, and the concurrent rise of Islamic extremism have had both direct and indirect impacts on minorities. Local, regional, and international actors have weaponized minority groups to bolster their influence, further intensifying schisms in the Syrian social fabric and in the international community as a whole. The flow of one million Syrian refugees to Europe between 2015 and 2016 strengthened an already powerful wave of anti-immigration, nationalist populism throughout the continent and across the Atlantic. As an openly Islamophobic and, more implicitly, anti-Semitic movement, the wave has contributed to widening the scope of the Syrian conflict’s schismatic effects beyond the country’s borders.
Topic:: Minorities, Violent Extremism, Refugees, and Syrian War
Political Geography:: Russia, Europe, Middle East, and Syria

2793. Let the Pacific Islands Co-Design Solutions to Climate Change

Author:: Fale Andrew Lesa
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Beyond the palm trees and crystal-blue waters of a South Pacific paradise lies an ecosystem on the brink of collapse. But for native Samoans like myself, this is hardly a surprise. Subtle changes to the local environment have been appearing for decades now. First, the Samoan community noticed differences in the soil quality (making it harder to grow crops), the fresh water supply, local fisheries, and eventually even personal safety, with natural disasters becoming ever more frequent and far more fatal. Agriculture and tourism are the two largest industries, and fears of an impending climate crisis could threaten the backbone of our economy, denying future generations much needed growth and development. Climate justice—like its sister, social justice—is underpinned by the idea that the poorest of the poor, and the most remote, are the first to lose. In the Pacific, these communities are predominantly indigenous.
Topic:: Climate Change, Environment, Natural Resources, Water, and Justice
Political Geography:: Asia-Pacific, Samoa, and Oceans

2794. Hong Kong’s Escalating Protests: Three Questions

Author:: John J. Chin
Publication Date:: 12-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Hong Kong, once renowned as an apolitical and orderly British entrepôt, is now seething with political discontent, student unrest, and pro-democracy protests. Nothing less than the future of “one country, two systems”—the framework through which China agreed to maintain Hong Kong’s autonomy for fifty years in exchange for British agreement to restore Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in July 1997 after more than a century of British administration—is at stake.
Topic:: Government, History, Social Movement, Law, Democracy, and Protests
Political Geography:: Asia and Hong Kong

2795. Examining the International Community’s Long-Standing Double Standard on Refugees

Author:: Natalie Hilder
Publication Date:: 07-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: The plight of Palestinian refugees was catapulted back into the spotlight last month, after a pair of events brought the issue to the forefront of international attention. While the Trump administration unveiled a new peace plan, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) received multinational pledges of $113 million in aid. Although these quick-fix efforts aimed to bring peace to, and improve living conditions for, Palestinians, they were rightfully met with widespread disenchantment.
Topic:: United Nations, History, Foreign Aid, Refugees, and International Community
Political Geography:: Middle East, Palestine, and North Africa

2796. Collateral Damage No More: Urban Conflict, Explosive Weapons, and a Case Study in Multilateral Norm Building

Author:: Cesar Jaramillo
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Twenty years after the UN Security Council first adopted the resolution on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict—and 70 years after the Geneva Conventions—the international community has yet to adequately respond to and prevent some of the most injurious manifestations of armed conflict to date. With civilians bearing the brunt of contemporary warfare, the development of robust new standards that protect the lives and livelihoods of noncombatants must become both a policy priority and a humanitarian imperative.
Topic:: Treaties and Agreements, Weapons, Conflict, Multilateralism, Urban, and Norms
Political Geography:: United Nations, Vienna, and Global

2797. China and the “Near-Arctic:” An Opportunity Lost Over 150 Years Ago

Author:: Barry Zellen
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: With Greenland making front page news, the world’s attention is turned to the Arctic. And yet, this region has been the focus of increasingly consequential geopolitical competition for centuries, whether for furs, whales, fish stocks, gold, oil, strategic-military corridors, or (particularly as the ice has retreated) maritime trade routes. In recent years, China has articulated an invigorated vision of Arctic engagement as part of its Polar Silk Road strategy—a component of its broader Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). In its 2018 white paper on Arctic policy, China described itself as a “near-Arctic” state, a definition that has proven controversial and that, earlier this year, was publicly rejected by U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo at an Arctic Council (AC) ministerial: “Beijing claims to be a ‘Near-Arctic State,’ yet the shortest distance between China and the Arctic is 900 miles. There are only Arctic States and Non-Arctic States. No third category exists, and claiming otherwise entitles China to exactly nothing.” Such a visible diplomatic smackdown in a forum better known for its consensus governance and multilateral approach to Arctic issues generated headlines (and some indignation) worldwide. But Pompeo is right—China cannot reasonably be considered a “near-Arctic” state, owing to its lack of geographical, climatic, and cultural attributes of the Arctic. What kind of seat at which tables a state receives is determined, to a significant degree, by its claims to have a say in the region (combined with its capacity to persuade other states of the merits of its claims), so Beijing’s assertion of near-Arctic statehood weighs on the balance of power and diplomacy in the Arctic region.
Topic:: Power Politics, Natural Resources, Geopolitics, and Trade
Political Geography:: China, Asia, and Arctic

2798. The Battle of Ideas in the Question for Wealth and Prosperity in Brazil: Policy Proposals of a Right-Wing Government

Author:: Monica Arruda De Almeida
Publication Date:: 05-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: Brazil’s income inequality is among the world’s worst. The country’s unemployment rate is currently 13 percent, compared to 4.6 percent in 2012, and the number of Brazilians in poverty or extreme poverty is now close to 30 percent, a far cry from 2014 when that number was less than 10 percent of the population. Brazil has one of the highest tax rates in Latin America—with tax revenue equal to 33 percent of GDP, against the regional average of 20 percent—but it is also notorious for its poor performance with respect to the ease of paying taxes and opening a business: the country ranks 184 and 140, respectively, out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s 2019 Doing Business Report. It is surprising, therefore, that Jair Bolsonaro, a conservative politician from the Social Liberal Party (PSL), was elected to the country’s highest office without meaningfully addressing his administration’s plans to solve the nation’s social injustices and other economic issues. Instead, Bolsonaro campaigned mostly on strengthening public security and fighting corruption, the two areas on which the former army captain built his reputation during his almost thirty years as a congressman. During the campaign, Bolsonaro recruited Paulo Guedes, a Chicago School-trained economist to be his Minister of the Economy. Guedes was tasked with building a “dream team” of experts that would design a plan to further liberalize the economy and turn Brazil into a much friendlier place to conduct business.
Topic:: Corruption, Government, Poverty, Economy, Social Policy, and Economic Inequality
Political Geography:: Brazil and South America

2799. The Arms Trade and Syria

Author:: Shannon Dick
Publication Date:: 09-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
Abstract:: In 2013, the United States began a secret operation to train and equip opposition forces fighting against the Assad regime in Syria. Through the CIA, the United States facilitated the transfer of an estimated $1 billion in arms, ammunition, and training to Syrian rebel groups in hopes of influencing a negotiated end to the war. But these were not the only weapons flowing throughout Syria — Syrian government stockpiles served as a key source of armaments, and countries from around the region funneled arms into the country to support a variety of actors. In this way, the story of weapons in Syria reads as a cautionary tale about the unintended and lasting consequences of arms transfers, especially to countries in conflict.
Topic:: Intelligence, Weapons, Arms Trade, and Syrian War
Political Geography:: Middle East, Syria, North America, and United States of America

2800. National Security Update 11: Hypersonic Missiles and U.S. Security

Author:: Jack Kelly
Publication Date:: 11-2019
Content Type:: Special Report
Institution:: Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis (IFPA)
Abstract:: This eleventh IFPA National Security Update examines hypersonic weapons; their unique capabilities and characteristics; their military and strategic implications; U.S., Chinese, and Russian efforts to develop hypersonic weapons; technical challenges; and the urgent need to develop missile defenses to counter the threat posed to the United States by hypersonic weapons. Previous National Security Updates have examined topics including U.S. missile defense priorities, nuclear modernization issues, U.S. options to counter the electromagnetic pulse (EMP) threat, the status of the U.S. Space Force, China’s actions in the South China Sea and U.S. options, and the military applications of artificial intelligence. In early 2017, the Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis initiated an online series entitled National Security Update. Its purpose is to examine key foreign policy/defense issues and to set forth policy options. These updates are made available to the broad policy community within and outside government, including key policy makers in Washington, D.C.; members of Congress and their staffs; academic specialists; and other members of the private-sector security community. Future National Security Updates will address a range of topics in an effort to provide timely analyses and policy options.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, National Security, Science and Technology, and Weapons
Political Geography:: Russia, China, Asia, North America, and United States of America

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COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS