WPR Articles April 4 — April 8

U.N. Peace Operations Need Less Jargon and More Direction

By: Jim Della-Giacoma | Column

Peace and the U.N. go together. But in the organization’s New York headquarters, diplomats often argue over the buzzword vocabulary of compound words and phrases for advancing the U.N.’s peace mandate. Maybe it’s time for the semantic arguments to be replaced with a focus on results.

A Three-Player Chess Game: Colombia’s Peace Talks With ELN—and FARC

By: Adam Isacson | Briefing

Colombia is inching closer to a future free of armed guerrilla groups, after announcing last week the launch of peace talks the National Liberation Army (ELN). The prospect of continued war with the ELN has threatened to dampen the impact of a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Mutual Distrust Feeds Tensions on Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Border

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

In late March, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan both deployed military forces to an undemarcated area of their border after Kyrgyz authorities refused Uzbek workers access to a water reservoir located in Kyrgyz territory. In an email interview, Józef Lang discusses Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan relations.

Fear of Terrorism Is Pushing U.S. Politics to a Point of No Return

By: Steven Metz | Column

The specter of terrorism is haunting American politics. There will almost certainly be more attacks to come. The fear of those attacks is adding to the turmoil that already characterizes American politics and, combined with partisanship, pushing the political system in some very dark directions.

Deby Set to Keep Power in Chad Election, but Discontent Is Growing

By: Celeste Hicks | Briefing

Ahead of Sunday’s presidential elections in Chad, civil society groups are still calling for people to take to the streets despite a ban on demonstrations. Even with President Idriss Deby’s likely victory, there have been many recent portents of change, including protests that are a chink in Deby’s armor.

Criticize Trump’s Worldview for Its Weaknesses, but Take It Seriously

By: Judah Grunstein | Trend Lines

Donald Trump’s recent declarations on foreign policy have been greeted by many pundits with horror, derision and disdain. But it would be a mistake to ignore the common sense appeal of Trump’s language and proposals to the vast majority of voters with little or no knowledge of foreign policy.

Is It Really a ‘New Myanmar’ Under the National League for Democracy?

By: Prashanth Parameswaran | Briefing

On April 1, a new civilian government in Myanmar, headed by the long-time opposition National League for Democracy, assumed power after more than a half-century of military rule. The party has signaled for significant political, economic and social changes, but will likely face major challenges.

A Tale of Two Strategies: Limited War in U.S. and Russian Strategic Culture

By: Steven Metz | Feature

Russia and the U.S. approach limited war very differently. The U.S. is limited by a strategic culture that expects big results from small investments. But Russia’s ambitions are more limited, and it will continue to treat limited war as an unfortunate but inevitable aspect of the human condition.

Can Slovakia’s Fico Meet Popular Expectations Despite Unwieldy Coalition?

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

Slovakia’s coalition government was sworn in late last month following parliamentary elections that left Prime Minister Robert Fico’s center-left Smer-Social Democracy party without an outright majority. In an email interview, Sean Hanley discusses prospects for Slovakia’s coalition government.

Can the Laws of War Adapt to a World of Drone Warfare?

By: Ellen Laipson | Column

Drones have captured the imagination of popular culture and the attention of international law experts. The real-time intelligence that makes them so potent can inhibit decision-makers by raising the ethical and political costs of acting. International law has not yet caught up with this reality.

Separating Nusra Front From Syria’s Rebels Is Easier Said Than Done

By: Sam Heller | Briefing

Syria’s nationwide cessation of hostilities has made clear the growing rift between the country’s mainstream opposition and the Nusra Front, al-Qaida’s Syrian affiliate. It has also shown the extent to which the Nusra Front is ultimately dependent on the rest of the Syrian opposition.

Trump’s NATO Policy Would Shoot the U.S. in the Foot

By: Michael A. Cohen | Column

Donald Trump is correct to argue that NATO provides European countries with, if not a free ride, security guarantees at a relative bargain. But as for the U.S. financial investment in NATO, Trump could not be more off-base. NATO might be one of the best deals around for U.S. national security.

France’s Hollande Enters Final Year in Office Disavowed and Ineffective

By: Arun Kapil | Briefing

As he enters the final year of his term, President Francois Hollande is in the weakest position by far of any president in the history of France’s Fifth Republic. For many voters on the left, Hollande has pushed a series of controversial measures seen as incomprehensible coming from a Socialist president.

Reaction to the ‘Panama Papers’ Reveals as Much as the Leaks

By: Frida Ghitis | Column

In the immediate aftermath of the revelations known as the Panama Papers, reverberations from the data drop were felt around the globe. But while the power from the leaks to discredit prominent individuals extended across practically every nation, reaction to the revelations was far from uniform.

Zambia’s Lungu Tries to Cement Power Ahead of August Elections

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

Last month, police arrested Zambian opposition leader Erick Chanda after he accused President Edgar Lungu of using public funds on a vacation. In an email interview, Nick Branson, a senior researcher at Africa Research Institute, discussed politics and the state of the opposition in Zambia.

In Peru’s ‘Chaotic’ Presidential Elections, It’s a Race for Second Place

By: Christine Wade | Briefing

On Sunday, Peruvians will head to the polls to elect a new president and 130 members of Congress. But in a campaign season that has been fraught with controversy and brought up painful reminders of Peru's not-so-distant past, few are likely to be satisfied with the results, with a second round set for June.

Limited Payoff for China’s Investment in Central and Eastern Europe

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

Last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited the Czech Republic, where he signed more than 30 deals worth nearly $4 billion. In an email interview, Richard Turcsanyi, the deputy director of the Institute for Asian Studies, Bratislava, discussed Chinese investment in Central and Eastern Europe.

Limited Wars in U.S. and Russian Military Culture

By: The Editors | Trend Lines

In this week’s Trend Lines podcast, WPR’s editor-in-chief, Judah Grunstein, and host Peter Dörrie discuss the week's events. For the Report, Steven Metz joins us to talk about the concept of “limited war” and the differences in the U.S. and Russian approach to it.