WPR Articles Monday, Oct. 19, 2015 - Friday, Oct. 23, 2015

Smoke and Mirrors? Putin, Russia and the U.N. Security Council

By: Richard Gowan | Column

Some observers view Vladimir Putin’s disruptive behavior as part of a campaign to regain Russia’s lost status as a great power. This argument has particular resonance around the U.N. because Moscow often links its claims to a special place in the world to its permanent seat on the Security Council.

Merkel’s Open-Door Refugee Policy Brings New Critics at Home and Abroad

By: Maria Savel | Trend Lines

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has become Europe’s moral voice during the refugee crisis that has seen over 710,000 people arrive at the EU’s borders so far this year. While praised by many Germans, Merkel’s open-door policy represents a detour from her usual wait-and-see approach to other issues.

Abbas Caught Between Israel’s Intransigence and ‘Stabbing Intifada’

By: Michael A. Cohen | Column

Both Israelis and Palestinians must shoulder some of the blame for the recent wave of lone-wolf Palestinian terrorist attacks. But the violence is a direct result of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies and his refusal to treat Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as a partner for peace.

Vietnam Takes Steps to Reinforce Its South China Sea Claims

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

Last week, Vietnam protested China’s construction of two lighthouses on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, saying the construction violates Vietnam’s sovereignty. In an email interview, Gregory Poling, director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, discussed Vietnam’s claims to the South China Sea.

The U.S. Must Adopt Realistic Objectives for Afghanistan

By: Steven Metz | Column

A few years ago Afghanistan seemed on the path to success. The economy was doing relatively well; the Taliban were losing ground; and President Ashraf Ghani seemed willing to tackle the country’s political problems. By all indications, things were looking up. Sadly this has proven to be an illusion.

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Russia Banks on Brief Campaign to Determine Syria Endgame

By: Michael Kofman | Briefing

Russia’s Syrian intervention is a multilayered gambit, but the tertiary goals and machinations are often exaggerated to mask its straightforward purpose: This is about changing the facts on the ground and imposing new realities to leverage a different political outcome in Syria.

Scandal Forces Vanuatu to Address Inadequacies of Political System

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

Last week, the speaker of Vanuatu's Parliament pardoned himself and 13 lawmakers for allegedly accepting bribes to vote down the previous government. In an interview, Derek Brien, the executive director of the Pacific Institute of Public Policy, discussed politics in Vanuatu.

Factional Rivalries Threaten Guinea-Bissau’s Post-Coup Progress

By: Francisco Galamas | Briefing

Last week, in a bid to end a months-long political crisis, Guinea-Bissau’s president, Jose Mario Vaz, swore in a new government after initial talks collapsed with Prime Minister Carlos Correia—the country’s third since August—over the formation of a Cabinet. But Guinea-Bissau is not in the clear yet.

Pragmatism Versus ‘Big Think’ in Democrats’ Foreign Policy Priorities

By: Ellen Laipson | Column

It’s hard for a global superpower with worldwide interests and responsibilities to come up with a very short list of national security priorities. But that’s what the Democratic presidential candidates tried to do at their recent debate to convince voters of their national security to-do lists.

Stalled Transition: Burkina Faso’s Fading Chance for Reform

By: Peter Dörrie | Feature

Hailed as the start of an “African Spring,” the revolution that ousted President Blaise Compaore in Burkina Faso was destabilized by a military coup staged in September. The coup’s failure opens a window of opportunity for democratic progress, but questions over the likelihood of true reform remain.

Unrest Threatens Sheen of Stability in Iraq’s Kurdistan Region

By: Hannes Cerny | Briefing

In Iraqi Kurdistan, the times of plenty and stability are over. Once hailed as Dubai in Mesopotamia, Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region is descending into civil strife, economic recession and a political stalemate that threatens to paralyze a potent U.S. ally in the war against the Islamic State.

Bin Laden Controversy Puts Spotlight on Obama’s Risk Aversion

By: Frida Ghitis | Column

A recent article challenging the generally accepted narrative of how the U.S. found and killed Osama bin Laden has inadvertently put what has been one of the most salient characteristics of President Barack Obama’s foreign policy back into the spotlight: His intense aversion to risk-taking.

How the International Community Can Help Secure Colombia’s Peace

By: Adam Isacson | Briefing

As an accord to end Colombia’s long-running conflict with FARC guerrillas draws near, the international community is willing to help—but not quite ready. It could end up playing a wide variety of post-conflict roles, but Bogota has been reluctant to say specifically what it needs from its partners abroad.

Student Protests Just the Tip of South Africa’s ‘Grievance Iceberg’

By: Karina Piser | Trend Lines

Students have been rallying at South Africa’s universities since Oct. 13 to oppose a planned tuition hike amid declining public investment in education. But even though social discontent is strong, particularly among black South Africans, popular upheaval is unlikely to create change.

For U.K., China Ties Worth Costs of Breaking Ranks With West

By: Andrew Small | Briefing

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s U.K. visit has largely attracted the wrong kind of headlines. Criticism of British policy privileging trade with China above all else has almost become a distraction from figuring out what the U.K. is up to and looking seriously at a more troubling question—what if it works?