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7601. Dispelling the Myth that Israel Is the Largest Beneficiary of US Military Aid

Author:
Hillel Frisch
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
The Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies (BESA)
Abstract:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Many American detractors of Israel begin by citing that Israel receives the lion’s share of US military aid. The very suggestion conjures the demon of an all-powerful Israel lobby that has turned the US Congress into its pawn. But these figures, while reflecting official direct US military aid, are almost meaningless in comparison to the real costs and benefits of US military aid – above all, American boots on the ground. In reality, Israel receives only a small fraction of American military aid, and most of that was spent in the US to the benefit of the American economy
Topic:
International Relations and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Israel

7602. The Fight Goes On: The Islamic State’s Continuing Military Efforts in Liberated Cities

Author:
Daniel S. Hamilton and Muhammad Al-Ubayadi
Publication Date:
06-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract:
This report examines the Islamic State’s self-reported military activities in 16 cities, 11 in Iraq and five in Syria. From each city’s date of liberation from the Islamic State until April 2017, the Islamic State reported that it carried out 1,468 separate attacks in these 16 cities. The volume of military operations in these cities provides evidence for the idea that the Islamic State, once relegated in Iraq to guerilla warfare from 2003-2011, may be returning to this form of existence in Iraq and Syria. However, this activity is not uniform across each of the cities. As the coalition edges closer to taking formal control of Mosul and Raqqa back from the Islamic State, this report highlights trends in the data to provide additional insight for those planning and implementing post-liberation security, reconstruction, and governance plans.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

7603. Then and Now: Comparing the Flow of Foreign Fighters to AQI and the Islamic State

Author:
Brian Dodwell, Daniel S. Hamilton, and Don Rassler
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract:
Using two different sets of data derived from internal, bureaucratic documents produced by the Islamic State (and its predecessor group) during two distinct periods of time (2006-2007 and 2011-2014), this report evaluates how the make-up, scale, and scope of the Iraq- and Syria-bound foreign fighter problem has changed over the last decade. It does so across three dimensions. First, it outlines the similarities and differences that exist in the backgrounds of the foreign fighters who joined the Islamic State during separate blocks of time. Second, it provides insight into the local travel and flow of foreign fighters across time as well as the mobilization infrastructure that the Islamic State had in place to facilitate the travel of recruits into Syria or Iraq. Third, it details changes in the preferences of foreign fighters, as reflected by the roles they wanted to fill within the organization.
Topic:
International Affairs and Military Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

7604. From Cradle to Grave: The Lifecycle of Foreign Fighters in Iraq and Syria

Author:
Arie Perlinger and Daniel S. Hamilton
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point
Abstract:
In April 2016, the CTC released a major report on Islamic State foreign fighters. This report, based on over 4,000 leaked personnel records, gave an interesting inside look at who the group was able to bring into the organization and also how the group was trying to manage the large number of recruits. The Combating Terrorism Center is pleased to announce the release of another major report on foreign fighters. This report, From Cradle to Grave: The Lifecycle of Foreign Fighters in Iraq and Syria, breaks down the experience (or lifecycle) of foreign fighters into three stages: pre-departure, in theater, and return. However, because the personnel records used in the previous report do not speak to each of these stages, this report then uses open-source reporting on these fighters to code variables in each of these different stages. Using a dataset of nearly 1,200 foreign fighters from mostly Western Europe and North America, this report offers a more holistic examination of what the fighter flows look like, but also what challenges policymakers and practitioners will face as they continue to deal with this enduring and complicated problem.
Topic:
International Affairs and Military Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

7605. Russia-India Energy Cooperation: Trade, Joint Projects, and New Areas

Author:
Amit Bhandari and Vasily Shikin
Publication Date:
10-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
Abstract:
In 2017, Russia and India celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations. Over the years the two states have implemented a wide range of long-term and large-scale joint projects in energy sector, first and foremost in the nuclear area, making it one of the foundations of their special and privileged strategic partnership. However, in order to boost comprehensive ties and bring them to a new level corresponding to the changing global economic environment Russia and India are in need of innovative approaches in energy sector. The present paper is a result of Russian and Indian experts’ joint efforts to evaluate the potential of new collaboration formats and develop specific recommendations for enhancing cooperation.
Topic:
International Organization and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

7606. A decentralized, consumer-driven model for the solar eco-system

Author:
Amit Bhandari
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
Abstract:
The transition to renewable energy is hampered by the lack of suitable, affordable products and specialised financing for its infrastructure. This infographic, as part of a policy brief put forth by Gateway House, set to be tabled at the 2017 Hamburg G20 conference, outlines an ecosystem to overcome these hurdles
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

7607. Measuring cross-border trade in services by trading partner country and company

Author:
Akshay Mathur
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
Abstract:
Cross-border trade in services is increasingly the pre-eminent driver of growth for developed and developing countries alike. Service-related commitments are included in most of the new trade agreements. Effective policy-design however, is dependent on collection and presentation of accurate data. Inter-agency task forces of multilateral organizations such as UN, WTO, IMF and OECD have designed a framework to capture cross-border trade in services but data classification by partner trading company, partner trading country and by modes-of-supply, remains a challenge. The G20 can plug this gap through comprehensive information-collection and sharing
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

7608. México ante el espejo

Author:
COMEXI
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI)
Abstract:
El Consejo Mexicano deAsuntos Internacionales (COMEXI), a través de su Grupo de Trabajo de Energía, presenta un análisis y serie de recomendaciones para garantizar la continuidad de la Reforma Energética, implementada en el 2013. El Grupo de Trabajo de Energía (GTE) es una iniciativa de COMEXI que surgió ante la necesidad de atender los retos que el sector energético ha representado para México en los últimos años, así como para aprovecharla oportunidad de convertirlo en un motor de desarrollo para los mexicanos. Para ello, diversos expertos, actores clave y directivos de empresas energéticas en nuestro país han sumado esfuerzos para recopilar mejores prácticas internacionales en el tema, con el fin de influir positivamente en el fortalecimiento del mercado energético
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Mexico

7609. Redefiniendo la relación para la prosperidad de Norteamérica

Author:
COMEXI
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI)
Abstract:
l Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales, COMEXI, es una Asociación Civil sin fines de lucro dedicada al estudio, análisis y diálogo sobre las relaciones internacionales. Su objetivo es generar propuestas que contribuyan a la toma de decisiones y que incidan—de manera estratégica—en la definición e implementación de las políticas públicas que afectan a México. También busca contribuir efectivamente en el posicionamiento e impacto de México en el mundo. La riqueza de COMEXI radica en el talento de su membresía, la cual está integrada por más de 500 asociados expertos en diferentes sectores y disciplinas (académicos, empresarios, funcionarios públicos, diplomáticos y líderes de opinión). También contamos con la participación de embajadas, organismos internacionales, y centros de investigación dedicados al estudio de la vida política, social, y económica del país.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Mexico

7610. 2017 Natural Resource Governance Index

Author:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
This report presents the key findings and core messages of the 2017 Resource Governance Index. The index measures the quality of resource governance in 81 countries that together produce 82 percent of the world’s oil, 78 percent of its gas and a significant proportion of minerals, including 72 percent of all copper. It is the product of 89 country assessments (eight countries were assessed in two sectors), compiled by 150 researchers, using almost 10,000 supporting documents to answer 149 questions
Topic:
International Security and Natural Resources
Political Geography:
Global Focus