WPR Articles 19 May 2012 - 25 May 2012

NATO Summit Highlights Europe's Vanishing Global Security Aspirations

By: Judah Grunstein | Column

As is customary for a NATO summit, reports of the alliance's imminent demise will be greatly exaggerated. Nonetheless, the fundamental and persistent questions that continue to dog the alliance cannot be easily dismissed -- not only because of their implications for the future of trans-Atlantic security ties, but also because of what they suggest about Europe's future role as a global power.

Toward a Sustainable Peace in Afghanistan: Part I

By: Shehzad H. Qazi | Briefing

The U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan planned for 2014 means that some kind of a settlement with the Taliban is all but inevitable. However, the process of negotiating peace in Afghanistan faces several domestic challenges. Overcoming them will require a robust national reconciliation process that is far more extensive than the currently stalled negotiations toward a power-sharing agreement.

The Arab League: First Steps Toward New Norms

By: Michael Wahid Hanna | Feature

As a regional body, the Arab League has more often than not been the focus of ridicule in light of the ineffectiveness that has characterized its history. In addition to its failure to encourage economic, political and security cooperation, the Arab League has underperformed in its mission to curb the use of force or mediate political disputes. However, the Arab League's response to the Arab uprisings, and notably in Libya and Syria, mark an important historical departure.

Increasingly Isolated, Germany's Merkel Ties Her Fate to Greek Elections

By: Hannes Artens | Briefing

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is increasingly isolated following an underwhelming G-8 summit and local German elections that were a huge setback for her Christian Democratic Union. Given this series of rebuffs, will Merkel change course before the portentous Greek election, or will she risk going for broke by tying her own fate and that of Germany’s role in Europe to the Greek ballot?

The Realist Prism: Can U.S. and Iran Get to Yes on Nuclear Deal?

By: Nikolas Gvosdev | Column

The Baghdad talks between Iran and the P5+1 bloc ended with little more than a commitment to meet again in June in Moscow. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, expressed cautious optimism, saying, "It is clear that we both want to make progress, and that there is some common ground." But there is one glaring problem. Neither Iran nor the U.S. is presently disposed to accept an agreement.

ECOWAS Targets West Africa's Coups

By: Alex Thurston | Briefing

A series of recent crises in Mali and Guinea Bissau have put the Economic Community of West African States in the spotlight, demonstrating the organization’s potential to shape West African politics, but also the limitations on its ability to do so. Through political pressure and threats of military efforts, ECOWAS is attempting to push West African coups beyond the boundaries of political acceptability.

In Afghan Partnership Deal, Obama Applies Lessons of History

By: John Paul Schnapper-Casteras | Briefing

The U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership agreement that President Barack Obama recently signed in Kabul with Afghan President Hamid Karzai is noteworthy for the lessons it draws from similar agreements with Iraq and other countries, as well as for the pitfalls it avoids repeating. In particular, the Obama administration was successful because it identified and applied the lessons of history in three key ways.

Global Insights: NATO's Modest Chicago Summit

By: Richard Weitz | Column

This week’s NATO Summit was less ambitious than some recent summits. With regard to the alliance, the summit announced no new members, or even a timetable for the four aspirant countries, and raised no funds for collective missions. But if the alliance made no policy changes in Chicago, the gathering did allow the allies to renew their mutual solidarity amid recent talk of the U.S. pivot to Asia.

Conflict Resolution in the Americas: The Decline of the OAS

By: Adam Isacson | Feature

The Organization of American States has never been a diplomatic powerhouse, having helped to resolve only a small fraction of the region's armed conflicts or crises that threatened to deteriorate into conflicts. Instead, the OAS has functioned as a multilateral sounding board, a place to build consensus around broad policies. But the OAS has been hampered by its design, which keeps it deliberately weak.

Africa's Layered Approach to Regional Crisis Management

By: Gilbert M. Khadiagala | Feature

In the ten years since it was formed, the African Union has worked closely with Africa's multiple subregional organizations to develop conflict-resolution mechanisms to meet regional security challenges. Since African leaders have invoked the notion of local solutions to African problems, it is important to grasp the opportunities and obstacles facing efforts toward the realization of this objective.

Abu Muqawama: How Credible a Partner Has U.S. Been in Afghanistan?

By: Andrew Exum | Column

When I speak to U.S. military officers and other Americans about why we have failed in Afghanistan, among the various explanations that are advanced, I often hear the argument that we have lacked a “credible Afghan partner.” We Americans, though, should take a long hard look in the mirror and ask ourselves whether or not we ourselves have been a credible partner for Afghanistan.

Toward a Sustainable Peace in Afghanistan: Part II

By: Shehzad H. Qazi | Briefing

Despite the emphasis put on Pakistan’s role in stabilizing Afghanistan, its support is not the only regional element needed to ensure stability there. Several other states in the region have significant interests in Afghanistan and will also directly impact the outcome. Establishing a sustainable peace in Afghanistan will require maneuvering carefully within this minefield of divergent foreign interests.

World Citizen: Unity Agreements Can't Hide Palestinian Rifts

By: Frida Ghitis | Column

Last weekend, emissaries from the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah met in Cairo and signed an agreement to put an end to Palestinian divisions. Again. Even people who try to keep track of how many times the two organizations have agreed to reconcile have lost count. It's easy, on the other hand, to remember how many times the deals have achieved their stated goal of forging Palestinian unity: never.

Bolivia Balances Political Stridency, Economic Pragmatism

By: Marcelo Ballvé | Briefing

Too often, political and economic analysts summarily lump Bolivia together with the rest of South America’s leftist governments. But President Evo Morales’ Bolivia is a special case. The Morales administration follows a mercurial foreign policy and has nationalized natural gas fields and utilities. And yet, it manages Bolivia’s economy and public accounts prudently -- even conservatively.

From Trend Lines:

For Brazil and Turkey, a Natural Defense Partnership Deepens

Global Missile Club Remains Illusive

Syria Kidnapping Heightens Sectarian Tensions in Lebanon

U.S. Must Be More Consistent to Build on Recent Human Rights Successes in Asia

Colombia Jumps on the China Bandwagon

NATO Sticks to Nuclear Status Quo -- for Now