WPR Articles 16 Apr 2011 - 22 Apr 2011

Mongolia's Uranium Boom

By: Jonathan Berkshire Miller | Briefing

In March, reports surfaced that Mongolia and the U.S. had been holding informal discussions on a proposal to build a regional depository of spent nuclear fuel in Mongolia. News of the story spread quickly, and Mongolian public opinion came out decidedly against the proposal. Though Mongolia officially denied the reports, it made sure not to cast any doubt on its interest in the continued growth of its uranium exports.

India, China Try to Reset Relations at BRICS Summit

By: Neeta Lal | Briefing

The signals emanating from the mini-summit between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao, held on the sidelines of the recently concluded BRICS conference in Hainan, China, were largely positive. The leaders of the two Asian neighbors both showed an interest in arresting the downward slide in bilateral relations that had lately touched a low.

Over the Horizon: Initial Lessons Learned From Libyan Intervention

By: Robert Farley | Column

Though the situation on the ground is still unsettled, it is not too early to think about the lessons learned from the NATO intervention in Libya. Indeed, with disturbances continuing across the Arab world, it is worth thinking through not simply the lessons that have been learned thus far, but the disjuncture between those lessons and the ones the international community might have wanted to impart.

India Needs a New Strategy to Deal With Somali Piracy

By: Saurav Jha | Briefing

The plight of the Indian freighter MV Asphalt Venture added a new dimension to India's fight against piracy in the Indian Ocean when Somali pirates announced they would retain seven Indian sailors as hostages, even though they had released the ship itself. India can no longer afford a purely defensive strategy on the high seas, but must now look at both economic and political intervention in the Horn of Africa.

Nigeria's Election Highlights Challenges Ahead

By: Nancy E. Brune | Briefing

In the glare of global anticipation, and despite a botched first attempt, Nigeria conducted presidential and national assembly elections that have been largely viewed by domestic and international observers as fair and free. This is a significant achievement compared to the last three marred attempts. But deadly post-election riots in the north have cast a shadow over the balloting and highlighted challenges ahead.

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Structuring Economic Assistance for Egypt and Tunisia

By: Nader Habibi | Briefing

As Egypt and Tunisia move forward with their democratic transition, current economic problems may escalate into a full-scale economic crisis and undermine democratic reforms. To help prevent that from happening, the international community must put together a comprehensive economic aid and investment plan for these countries. Where, though, should the funds for this proposal come from?

The New Rules: Strategic Balancing vs. Global Development

By: Thomas P.M. Barnett | Column

The World Bank's 2011 World Development Report highlights the interplay between "conflict, security, and development." But although the growing international awareness of these crosscutting issues is long overdue, the report disappoints by focusing on the available tools with which great powers might collaborate on these stubborn problems, while ignoring the motivations that prevent them from doing so.

Global Insights: World Internet Freedoms Under Threat

By: Richard Weitz | Column

Although events in the Middle East confirm that the power of an angry crowd in a public square remains potent, the Internet is fast becoming the medium of choice for spreading political ideas. The number of global Internet users has doubled during the past five years, and now exceeds 2 billion people. In response, governments worldwide are seeking new means to influence and often control this discourse.

Physical Infrastructure: Cyberspace's Real-World Target

By: Mike Cronin | Feature

A number of recent incidents involving accidentally severed transmission cables have highlighted the importance of securing the physical infrastructure of cybersystems. But too little is being done about it, according to experts. Cybersecurity analysts say private-sector executives and government officials together must do a better job of protecting cybersystems' material components -- and educating the public about those efforts.

Evolutions in Asymmetric Cyberpower

By: Chris C. Demchak | Feature

Cyberspace has long been seen as shifting power toward the individual, with attacks over the past decade on corporations and governments largely corroborating this view. But while the structure of cyberspace itself will always lend advantages to individuals, governments and institutions are now beginning to regain the upper hand against asymmetric cyberwarfare.

Stuxnet and Cyberpower in War

By: John B. Sheldon | Feature

Since Stuxnet was discovered, there has been much commentary about what it means for cyberwar. The problem is that "cyberwar" is an inaccurate descriptor of what Stuxnet and other possible cyberweapons portend. Instead, it is more useful to talk of cyberpower in war, or war by cyber means. While the Stuxnet worm reveals a number of characteristics about war by cyber means, it also raises many questions about this kind of warfare that policymakers would do well to ponder.

For China, Spending but Few Results on Green Energy

By: Iain Mills | Briefing

Much has been written about China's huge investment in alternative energy sources. China spends twice as much as the U.S. on clean energy, and critics of U.S. energy policy have claimed that Beijing is "steaming ahead" in the field. Beneath the headline figures, however, a more complex picture emerges, in which China is struggling to translate capital investment into tangible benefits.

World Citizen: World's Tyrants Keep an Eye on Arab Revolts

By: Frida Ghitis | Column

When the Arab uprisings started spreading across the Middle East, human rights and democracy activists held high hopes that the peaceful push for reform would spread to other countries living under repressive leadership. But more than three months after the so-called Arab Spring began, there is little sign that the flame of the Arab democratic uprising is setting freedom fires anywhere outside the Arab world.

The Realist Prism: Mubarak's Fate Could Resonate Beyond Egypt

By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column

A trial for former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak would convincingly demonstrate that no one in Egypt is above the law. On the other hand, death or imprisonment for Mubarak would make it that much more difficult to convince future Egyptian presidents to peacefully relinquish power, while also complicating efforts to encourage entrenched autocrats in other parts of the world to peacefully step down.