WPR Articles Sept. 8, 2014 - Sept. 12, 2014

Despite Fighting Words, NATO Haunted by Three Recent Defeats

By: Richard Gowan | Column

After a summer characterized by global turbulence and uncertainty in both the U.S. and Europe over how to react, last week’s NATO summit in Wales signaled that the West has some sense of shared purpose. Yet it will take more than a summit to restore the Western powers’ vigor.

Protests Leave Pakistan’s Sharif Bruised, Military Boosted

By: Shehzad H. Qazi, Sehar Sarah | Briefing

Weeks of protests in Pakistan have renewed pressure on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to deliver at home, while upsetting the country’s delicate balance between civil and military authority. The Sharif government looks likely to survive, but the military has hamstrung it.

South Africa’s Cautious Intervention in Lesotho’s Political Crisis

By: David Klion | Trend Lines

South African President Jacob Zuma was in Lesotho to try to resolve a political crisis that began Aug. 30, when Lesotho’s Prime Minister Thomas Thabane fled to South Africa claiming to have escaped a coup. Thabane's political future hinges on South Africa’s leadership role in the region.

Having Amassed Power, Thailand’s Junta Still Faces Legitimacy Gap

By: John Brandon | Briefing

After Thailand’s military took power in a coup in May, proclaiming the junta the National Council for Peace and Order, its leader, Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha, said he wanted to “reform the political structure, economy and society.” But under what terms—and who gets to decide?

China Tries to Rebuild Regional Trust With Maritime Silk Road

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

In an email interview, Geoffrey Wade, professor at the Australia National University College of Asia and the Pacific, discussed the objectives of China’s Maritime Silk Road initiative, the partners involved and the challenges facing its implementation.

More Cuban Import Restrictions Highlight Dilemma of Economic Reform By: The Editors | Trend Lines Last week, Cuba announced significant restrictions on the number of goods travelers can bring into the country. In an email interview, William LeoGrande, professor of government in the School of Public Affairs at American University, discussed the recent Cuban import restrictions. Nuclear Deal Puts India, Australia on Path for Expanded Strategic Ties By: Saurav Jha | Briefing Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s visit to India last week highlighted the two countries’ increasingly complementary geoeconomic objectives. The visit saw the conclusion of a much-delayed bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement that paves the way for expanded strategic ties. Despite Modi Visit, Nuclear Impasse Continues to Limit India-Japan Ties By: Yogesh Joshi | Briefing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan in early September generated huge expectations in New Delhi and Tokyo. Nevertheless, the euphoria surrounding the visit was dampened by the impasse on a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between the two countries. Once Again Relevant, NATO Will Now Be Judged on Effectiveness By: Richard Weitz | Column Last week’s NATO summit in Wales was a mixed bag, with the alliance marking strong progress on some fronts but proving less successful on others. Nevertheless, the fact that the summit took place under such heavy scrutiny highlights NATO’s resurgent relevance in European security. The Politics of Advocacy: Setting and Vetting the Global Agenda By: Charli Carpenter | Feature A U.N. conference this year on fully autonomous weapons, or “killer robots,” raises the question: Why do some issues and not others attract global policy attention? This article explores the channels through which humanitarian concerns are guided from grassroots activism to the highest levels of the international political agenda. In Shelving Kenyatta Trial, ICC Confronts Limited Options in Africa By: Michael D. Rettig | Briefing On Sept. 5, the International Criminal Court announced it was “indefinitely” halting its prosecution of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta. The court’s decision appears to reflect its limited authority as well as unease over global governance jurisdiction in sub-Saharan Africa. Peace With the PKK High Priority for Erdogan Presidency By: The Editors | Trend Lines In an email interview, Mehmet Ümit Necef, associate professor at the Centre for Contemporary Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Southern Denmark, discussed the prospect of peace talks with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) under the Erdogan presidency. Though Politically Attractive, U.S. ‘Train and Equip’ Missions Often Disappoint By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column The default policy recommendation in the U.S. to the outbreak of any sort of violence in another part of the world is to “train and equip” local forces. But the recent history of these efforts reveals the limited potential for U.S. arms to successfully serve U.S. strategic objectives. Don't Underestimate Significance of India-Japan Love Affair By: Frida Ghitis | Column By all accounts, Indian Prime Minister Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, share a remarkable chemistry. It doesn’t hurt that their political, economic and strategic goals are almost perfectly consistent with their dreams of improved ties. Scotland Referendum Raises Many Foreign Policy Questions By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines The uncertainty of which way the referendum on Scottish independence will go reflects the uncertainty of what the consequences would be if Scotland were to be become an independent nation, especially in regards to foreign policy. Assessing Obama’s Legacy in National Security Policy By: Steven Metz | Column Obama’s national security legacy will be an important benchmark for future American national security strategy. If seen as a success, it will serve as a model. If seen as a general failure, it will offer a warning. Therefore it is important to begin thinking about it now. Mistral Conundrum Leaves France’s Hollande Navigating Competing Interests By: Bruno Tertrais | Briefing On Sept. 3, France announced that it would suspend the delivery to Russia of a multipurpose amphibious warship of the Mistral class. The issue has forced French President Francois Hollande to choose between economic interests and solidarity with his NATO and European allies.