By: The Editors | Trend Lines
In an
email interview, Jennifer Giroux, a senior researcher at the Center for
Security Studies at ETH Zurich who specializes in conflict in
energy-producing and transit regions, explained what the process of
Nigeria’s granting amnesty to Boko Haram might entail, as well as the
obstacles it faces.
By: Dennis Altman | Briefing
Australia
last sat on the Security Council in 1985-1986, and there was no great
enthusiasm when the current Labor government announced it would seek a
temporary seat for the current period. Though critics said it was
unlikely to succeed, Australia won a decisive vote on the first ballot.
And while most Australians cared little about the outcome, it was, in
fact, an important victory for Australian diplomacy.
By: Ersel Aydinli | Feature
Since
1961, civil-military relations in Turkey were characterized by a
powerful military with an autonomous influence over politics alongside a
weak civilian government. In the past decade, however, Turkish
civil-military relations have normalized toward a balance more in line
with liberal democratic expectations. The government is exercising
civilian oversight; the military seems to have accepted its new
subordination; and society seems supportive. Many questions nevertheless
remain.
By: Catherine Cheney | Trend Lines
Over
the weekend, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was airlifted out
of the country for treatment after suffering a mini-stroke. But while
Bouteflika’s doctors said the damage to his health was reversible, their
reassurance has not put an end to speculation about a potentially
abrupt end to his presidency.
By: Nan Li | Feature
The
relationship between the Chinese Communist Party and the People’s
Liberation Army was historically symbiotic, without functional
differentiation or institutional boundaries. With the rise of Deng
Xiaoping, institutional boundaries between the party and the army became
clearer. Under Presidents Jiang Zemin and Hu Jintao, Chinese
civil-military relations have been transformed from a state of symbiosis
to one in which the PLA has quasi-institutional autonomy in its
relations with the CCP.
By: Richard Weitz | Column
The
recent review conference of the Chemical Weapons Convention addressed
many important issues, but overshadowing them all are revolutionary
changes in chemistry, biology and nano and information technologies.
Some of the implications of these scientific and technological
developments are potentially positive. Unfortunately, some of the likely
results could have extremely negative repercussions for the CWC.
By: Adam Isacson | Feature
The
possibility of peace in Colombia comes after a decade-long military
buildup and a series of offensives left both the FARC and the smaller
ELN weakened, but not defeated. Colombia, a distant third in population
among Latin American countries, now has the region’s second-largest
armed forces and its largest army. This buildup turned the tide in the
conflict. But it has also altered the Colombian military’s relationship
with its civilian leaders.
By: The Editors | Trend Lines
In an
email interview, Matthew Levitt, director of the Stein program on
counterterrorism and intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near
East Policy, explained the broad range of Hezbollah’s illicit activities
and the growing savvy of its criminal network.
By: Johan Bergenas | Briefing
Every
year hundreds of rhinos and thousands of elephants are slaughtered and
their parts sold on the black market. For decades, a lack of political
attention has made it difficult to confront this ongoing carnage. Now,
with a wider range of stakeholders from across the security, development
and conservation communities motivated to tackle the problem,
innovative partnerships could emerge to counter poaching.
By: Steven Metz | Column
Africa
has never been central to America's global security strategy. From
Washington's vantage, the continent has always been less important than
other regions. The official approach has normally been one of relative
indifference with a bit of aid when things got really bad. In the past
year, though, several factors have increased the attention being paid to
Africa by American policymakers and military leaders.
By: Peter Dörrie | Briefing
With
French forces drawing down in Mali, the MNLA, a separatist Tuareg rebel
group, remains in control of the northeastern part of the country, with
French support. Meanwhile, there are still no political solutions on the
table to address the underlying causes of the conflict that broke out
in 2012. As a result, the relationship among Bamako, Paris and the
Tuareg remains precarious and characterized by mistrust.
By: Frida Ghitis | Column
India’s
May 2014 general election will focus, as it always has, on the need to
fight poverty, reduce inequality and foster economic growth. And yet,
more than ever before, the issue of corruption will play a pre-eminent
role in guiding the voters’ decision. That’s because the Indian people
are gradually but decisively coming to believe that endemic corruption
is one of the greatest obstacles in their path.
By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column
There
has been a lot of talk in recent days about “red lines” and the
strength of American resolve. Much of it has revolved around the
possibility that chemical weapons may have been used in the Syrian civil
war as well as allegations that China has not fulfilled commitments it
made to resolve the Chen Guangchen affair. But red lines are most
effective when there is already a pre-existing commitment to act.
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