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1472. War in NagornoKarabakh A Two-Track Strategy for the EU
- Author:
- András Rácz
- Publication Date:
- 10-2020
- Content Type:
- Commentary and Analysis
- Institution:
- German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP)
- Abstract:
- After two weeks of heavy fighting, the new war between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh is likely to escalate further. International actors have so far been unable to broker a ceasefire. In this case, the EU, with its limited leverage, can add most value by leading a response to the inevitable humanitarian catastrophe. EU diplomatic efforts should be led by France and Germany, coordinated with other member states, and also with Russia, to the extent necessary.
- Topic:
- Diplomacy, War, European Union, and Conflict
- Political Geography:
- Russia, France, Germany, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Nagorno-Karabakh
1473. A Search for Independence in President Duterte’s Foreign Policy
- Author:
- Denise Layla P. Miram
- Publication Date:
- 12-2020
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- East-West Center
- Abstract:
- The Duterte administraƟon’s move toward favoring non‐tradiƟonal partners above other equally valuable— and perhaps more beneficial—trade and development partners, such as the United States and the European Union, has significantly changed the direcƟon of the country’s foreign policy and impacted its naƟonal security. While the government maintains that it is pursuing an “independent foreign policy”, many experts have criƟcized the administraƟon’s supposed strategy for its lack of clarity and posiƟon. In the absence of clear guidelines and a well‐defined vision, the administraƟon has merely pivoted away from one superpower, its treaty ally in the US, to global superpowers China and Russia.
- Topic:
- Foreign Policy, Foreign Direct Investment, European Union, Trade, and Rodrigo Duterte
- Political Geography:
- Russia, China, Philippines, Asia-Pacific, and United States of America
1474. 2020 Country Brief: Russia
- Author:
- Third Way
- Publication Date:
- 09-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- Third Way
- Abstract:
- Under Vladimir Putin, Russia is our adversary. The goals of Vladimir Putin are simple and dangerous: 1) reassert Russian global “great power” status; 2) have supremacy over the territory of the former Soviet Union; and 3) create a sphere of influence in the international system to achieve dominance. To do so, the Kremlin seeks to weaken America and its allies by sowing domestic discord, discrediting the institutions of democracy, and destroying US alliances and partnerships. Under Donald Trump, they are winning.
- Topic:
- Diplomacy, Military Strategy, Hegemony, Conflict, and Power
- Political Geography:
- Russia and Europe
1475. Inside Extreme Left Wing Antifascist & Anarchist Group ‘The Set’
- Author:
- Julia Sweet
- Publication Date:
- 12-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- TRAC: Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium
- Abstract:
- According to the authorities, The Set group planned to conduct revolts and terror attacks during the World Cup of 2018 and had plotted attacks to occur prior to the presidential election. Allegedly, its members plotted attacks on traffic police patrols, Post Office buildings, facilities of “United Russia” political party, etc. The Set’s main goal was the destabilization of the Russian state.
- Topic:
- Terrorism, Violent Extremism, Anarchism, Political Extremism, and Countering Violent Extremism
- Political Geography:
- Russia
1476. Outsourcing warfare: Proxy forces in contemporary armed conflicts
- Author:
- James K. Wither
- Publication Date:
- 12-2020
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Security and Defence Quarterly
- Institution:
- War Studies University
- Abstract:
- The aim of this article is to provide a comprehensive examination of the different types of armed non-state proxy groups. It discusses their characteristics and sponsorship and how they are employed by states in pursuit of their security and foreign policy objectives. The article also analyses the reasons for the recent increase in the use of proxy forces, including the benefits and risks for states that employ them, as well as the broader impact of proxy forces on the international security environment, including great power competition. Data was collected and analysed from a wide range of secondary source documents. A descriptive, qualitative research methodology was applied to print and on-line publications available from governmental, institutional and academic sources. This involved literature reviews and case studies to provide an in-depth understanding of current thinking on the topic, while also identifying potential areas for further research. The article provides a comprehensive, qualitative analysis of the existing literature and case studies on the topic of proxy forces, which due to the research methodology applied, also relies on the researcher’s judgement, choices and assumptions. Proxy wars will remain the norm for the foreseeable future. Two strategic developments drive this conclusion. Firstly, there is the renewal of great power competition for influence, resources and security, and secondly, the imperative for states to achieve these objectives without employing their military forces in a manner that could cause a major war.
- Topic:
- Power Politics, Conflict, Strategic Competition, Proxy War, and Proxy Groups
- Political Geography:
- Russia, Iran, and United States of America
1477. Russian information offensive in the international relations
- Author:
- Ryszard Szpyra
- Publication Date:
- 09-2020
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Security and Defence Quarterly
- Institution:
- War Studies University
- Abstract:
- The information war is beginning to play a dominant role in international relations. It is important because it occurs intensively in peacetime and determines the results of international clashes. This article aims to identify offensive elements in Russian theoretical and doctrinal views on the role and content of the information offensive in international relations. To meet this aim, a comparative analysis of research studies, documents and official statements was carried out. The study sets out to investigate how Russia assesses the usefulness of the information offensive for conducting international policy. The study revealed that the information war and information warfare in modern conditions in the Russian scientific debate occupy a prominent place. Regardless of the declared defensive nature of the Russian information offensive, both the scientific and doctrinal views emphasise the value of the information offensive for conducting international policy. Russia takes the information offensive in international relations very seriously and treats it as one of the main forms of international confrontation. This has serious consequences for countries close to Russia as it creates a new threat to their national security in peacetime
- Topic:
- International Relations, National Security, Disinformation, and Information Warfare
- Political Geography:
- Russia
1478. Potential Reserve Army and Diverging Paths of Transition in Former State Socialist Economies
- Author:
- Zhun Xu
- Publication Date:
- 08-2020
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Political Economy Research Institute (PERI), University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Abstract:
- Since the rise of neoliberalism in the world in the last quarter of the 20th century, many former state socialist economies also started their transition into different kinds of market economic models. Over the course of the last three decades or so, there emerged distinct paths of transition among these economies. This paper proposes a Marxian framework to help understand the three major models of transitions among former socialist economies: the Russian path, the Chinese path, and the Cuban/North Korean path. The framework focuses on the differences in working class composition and in particular the size of the potential reserve army in these socialist economies. An examination of the historical process of market reforms in former state socialist economies suggests that a sizable potential reserve army could give rise to a gradual approach to neoliberal transition while a negligible potential reserve army could lead to either a shock therapy or a long impasse.
- Topic:
- Political Economy, Neoliberalism, Socialism, and Market Economy
- Political Geography:
- Russia, China, North Korea, and Cuba
1479. Meet the Moment: A Call for Progressive Philanthropic Response to the Anti-Gender Movement
- Author:
- Teddy Wilson, Jenna Capeci, and Gitta Zomorodi
- Publication Date:
- 11-2020
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Global Philanthropy Project (GPP)
- Abstract:
- In early 2020, Global Philanthropy Project worked with our member organizations and philanthropic partners to develop two related pieces of private research: 1) a report mapping the funding of the global “anti-gender ideology” or “anti-gender” movement, and 2) a report mapping the progressive philanthropic response. We offer the following public document in order to share key learning and to offer additional analysis gained in the comparison of the two reports. Additionally, we share insights based on comparing global and regional LGBTI funding data as documented in the 2017-2018 Global Resources Report: Government and Philanthropic Support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex Communities. These findings offer a clear call to action: progressive movements and their philanthropic partners are being outspent by hundreds of millions of dollars each year, and the institutions providing that opposition funding have developed sophisticated and coordinated systems to learn, co-fund, and expand their influence. The philanthropic community is called to recognize the scale of the fight and to be both rigorous and creative in our response. Let us seize this remarkable opportunity to work together and engage our collective learning, spending power, and institutional knowledge to help transform the conditions of our communities. Together we can leverage the collective power that this generational crisis demands.
- Topic:
- LGBT+, Progressivism, Philanthropy, Funding, Transgender, and Gender Minorities
- Political Geography:
- Africa, Russia, Europe, Asia, South America, Global Focus, and United States of America
1480. Russia Attempts to Move Closer to Egypt as US Withdraws
- Author:
- Jonathan Spyer
- Publication Date:
- 10-2020
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security (JISS)
- Abstract:
- The efforts of Moscow to assert itself as a power in the eastern Mediterranean should sound a cautionary note.
- Topic:
- Security, Hegemony, Conflict, and Intervention
- Political Geography:
- Russia and Europe