Russia/China – containment?
Any effort to contain Russian and China should accept that they will insist on their own regional interests and that none of us has anything... Read More
An enquiry concerning the Donetsk People’s Republic
The People’s Republic of Donetsk seems likely to be perpetuated as a chronically unstable catastrophe, as Russia wants neither independence nor sustainable federalisation. For the... Read More
Russia – ‘keep silent or confess that you are a foreign agent’
By presenting the activities of human rights defenders as a betrayal of the nation and its values, the Russian authorities are trying to silence those... Read More
Kosovo and Crimea – what’s the difference?
The only discussion of principle emerging from the debates over Kosovar and Crimean independence is that initiated by Woodrow Wilson towards the end of World... Read More
Winners and losers in the Balkans wars – lessons for Ukraine and the Levant
Absent genuine geopolitical interest in another country’s conflicts, the West should stay out of others’ civil wars lest it risks exacerbating them and contributing to... Read More
Maidan and Armenian political perspectives
Armenia has gone from negotiating an Association Agreement with the EU to expressing a desire to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia; a decision... Read More
April 2014 Review
TransConflict is pleased to present a selection of articles published during April, plus updates from the Global Coalition for Conflict Transformation.
Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. – the saga continues
The current crisis should encourage Europeans and Russians to explore structures to push security and political collaboration to the same high level as economic integration.... Read More
Breaking Ukraine
Russia has real interests in Ukraine, the West does not. The Ukrainians have fundamental interests. The Western role should be to help them make the... Read More
Borders of war – the impact of South Ossetia’s new border
The installation of a 400-kilometre security fence along the Georgian-South Ossetian border has had a huge impact on the lives of local people.
Ukraine – a stake for the long run
The West is stuck in reactive mode to what it perceives as a Crimean crisis; it needs instead to prepare for a strategic competition with... Read More
The merits and pitfalls of comparison – Ukraine, Crimea and the Yugoslav references
Stating that a democratic Ukraine that fulfills the EU membership criteria can become a member,if it so desired, can provide for a strong incentive for... Read More
Why should we care about Crimea?
Beyond the question of what exactly the Western powers expect of Russia and how likely it is that Russia will meet those expectations there is... Read More
Back to the 90s – how past mistakes will drive Ukraine’s future
Russia will create an atmosphere in which European countries – unsure of their relationship with Russia and Ukraine – will question not only Crimea’s right... Read More
US foreign policy and Ukraine
The US might form its policy around building and maintaining multilateral commitment to prevent, diffuse and contain conflicts, using its sense of right and wrong... Read More
Russia, Serbia and South Stream
For Russia, South Stream further consolidates its energy umbilical cord to Europe; whilst for Serbia it will serve as an important bridge between East and... Read More
The fight of ‘who is right’ – perspectives in conflict
Attempts at reconciliation should first begin by working to eliminate antagonism; namely by bringing two or more stories to the table and revealing to each... Read More
Serbia and Russia – far right friendships?
Whilst some may be tempted to use radical, far right organizations as proxies for their daily political goals, they would be wise to remember that... Read More
“What is good for Serbia is good for Russia”
Whether or not relations with Russia are an obstacle to Serbia's EU integration will depend, in part, on the EU's ability to find a solution that will allow it to integrate both Serbia and Kosovo.
New Serbia, new NATO
TransConflict Serbia is pleased to present the contribution of Ambassador Lawrence Rossin, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Operations, to the conference “New Serbia, new NATO – Future Vision for the 21st Century”, which took place in Belgrade in December 2010.
Energy security and ethnic conflict – challenges in the Western Balkans
Energy security and stability in the Western Balkans faces two major challenges - the perception and implication of Russia's presence in Serbia, plus the enduring crisis of Kosovo's status.
Serbia and South Stream
A number of key factors - including Gazprom's financial situation, falling gas production and Ukraine's changed politics - bring into question Russia's capacity to deliver the energy security benefits promised by its deal with Serbia.
NATO not a panacea for energy security
TransConflict, in conjunction with Jagello 2000 from the Czech Republic, organized a panel discussion, entitled 'NATO's new Strategic Concept – Russia and Energy Security', to coincide with the recommendations and analysis of the Group of Experts appointed to lay the groundwork for the development of a new Strategic Concept.
Bosnia is a wicked problem
The international community must recognize the key role of all relevant players, particularly Turkey and Russia, in finding solutions to Bosnia and Herzegovina's worst political crisis since the signing of Dayton.
Russia’s Balkan plan
Russia's re-emergence in the Balkans – thanks, in part, to financial loans, energy investments and the provision of emergency relief – could leave Serbia in the middle of a conundrum as the region itself increasingly becomes a point of contestation between the West and Russia.