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.
Cuban Import Restrictions Highlight Dilemma of Economic ReformBy: 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 TiesBy: 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 TiesBy: 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 EffectivenessBy: 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 AgendaBy: 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 AfricaBy: 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 PresidencyBy: 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 DisappointBy: 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 AffairBy: 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 QuestionsBy: 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 PolicyBy: 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 InterestsBy: 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.
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