Reset redux – how to coordinate US and Russian foreign relations
A brief contrast between US and Russian political histories and diplomatic philosophies enables us at least to trace the contours of a possible resolution, with... Read More
Europe in crisis – an agenda for peace
We no longer have the certainties of the Cold War, but we do maintain its dangers after an illusory period of apparent monopolistic security. Understanding... Read More
Questions and answers about some of the raging events in the Middle East
Dr. Alon Ben-Meir, professor of international relations at the Center for Global Affairs at NYU, answers some questions concerning the turmoil in the Middle East and America’s... Read More
The Balkans and the latest twists in Transatlantic decline
Given Brexit and Trump, the relationship between Putin and Merkel increasingly will provide the fulcrum of Balkan – and European – security.
Trump’s daunting foreign challenges
Although President-elect Trump is inexperienced and lacks the nuanced knowledge of the complex crises America is confronted with, he must now navigate his own way... Read More
Peacebuilding prospects in Abkhazia
Whilst the conflict between Georgians and Abkhazians has contributed to icy relations, local organisations on the ground have an important role to play in rebuilding... Read More
Close criminal case against Valentina Cherevatenko
As representatives of civil society, we are deeply concerned about the attempts by Russian authorities to prosecute Valentina Cherevatenko, one of the most prominent civil... Read More
The global crisis of leadership
Yes, leaders are a reflection of their time, and people the world over might have finally reached the breaking point. Their cry for trusting, caring, and... Read More
Mistakes were made – part II
The US is now in the process of choosing its next president. Everyone – in America and beyond – should insist that all the candidates... Read More
The US and Russia
Russia and the US have a deep shared interest in their own and global security. They form, in effect, the Western and Eastern boundaries of... Read More
Power, corruption and lies – the vortex of ‘Frozen Conflict’
‘Frozen conflicts’ blight a number of ex-Soviet states where reformist voices seek a more democratic and liberal path. Resolving these disputes has proved exceptionally difficult... Read More
America’s default setting – part two
Berlin and Brussels should be spearheading efforts to pull together a diplomatic approach – to accompany US/Russian military actions – to gaining some level of... Read More
National versus corporate interests and the EU-Russia energy dialogue
Russian gas export giant Gazprom strikes another deal with German EON and French Engie to expand the pipeline project known as ‘Nord Stream’. The project... Read More
Cold War-style hostility in Syria?
Russia has a very clear goal in Syria – to back Assad and keep him in power. Unlike the West – which clearly said that... Read More
Putin takes a gamble
The free-for-all in Syria has become a proxy war between Russia and the United States, even though Washington refuses to fight it. The problem for... Read More
Between Russia and the west
Dysfunctionality in Serbia and Bosnia reflects the larger economic conflict between Russia and the west.
Before and beyond the Syrian calamity
No solution to the Syrian calamity can be found without first establishing the historical perspective and the root causes that gave rise to this catastrophe.... Read More
NPT – nuclear weapons and tension areas
Today, there are four tension areas that involve States which have nuclear weapons and where no negotiations to reduce tensions are going on: Korea, India-Pakistan,... Read More
Agreeing to end civil wars – reflections from the Balkans to Ukraine
If civil wars were not destined as a rule to yield uneasy but stable partition, then it is hard to see why they would be... Read More
Putin – next steps in conquest and subversion
The West needs a lot more than tepid sanctions and tired rhetoric to counter Russia’s patient, skillful effort to rebuild its empire.
Ukraine’s outlook is bleak
After initial enthusiasm the outlook for Ukraine’s Maidan revolution is turning increasingly bleak. In the East there is a war. Everywhere there is an economic crisis.... Read More
Fighting Cold War in Russia and Ukraine
Cold War has not two protagonists but three or more. The contemporary struggle over the future of Ukraine betrays a similar pattern. The familiar exhortations... Read More
Serbia – back to the future
One irony of Vladimir Putin’s visit to Belgrade is that it coincides with increasing talk of regional reconciliation in the Balkans. Yet the problem with... Read More
NATO reform needed
It is time for the citizenry of NATO countries to demand that the principles contained in the original NATO treaty be honoured and that Article... Read More
2014 – the year Europe’s map changed (again)
Europe’s map has changed in one crucial way already in 2014, even if most maps outside Russia will not reflect this change. The other change... Read More
