List / Dossiers / ISN

April 2013

War, Crime and the Privatization of Violence
This week, New York University’s Mark Galeotti leads us on a guided tour of the “criminal-political nexus.” Our topics will include kleptocracies, warlords and pseudo-states, and the role of private actors who can range from arms dealers to grassroots organizations and NGOs. More on «War, Crime and the Privatization of Violence»

Managing the Global Commons
One consequence of an increasingly multipolar international system is uncertainty about how to manage the global commons. How will access to these vital resources be safeguarded in a post-American world? More on «Managing the Global Commons»

Commerce, Sanctions and Security
Economic sanctions are now a common tactic designed to coerce cooperation from regimes like Burma, North Korea and Iran. As we discover this week, however, there is little consensus about whether or not sanctions actually work. More on «Commerce, Sanctions and Security»

Water Security in a Changing World
Water is becoming an increasingly precious commodity in a world affected by climate change, environmental degradation and other border-defying problems. This week we focus on international efforts to safeguard water security. More on «Water Security in a Changing World»
Understanding the 'Energy Weapon'
This week we consider how states use their energy resources to gain a degree of geopolitical leverage in an oil and gas-hungry world. More on «Understanding the 'Energy Weapon'»
The Challenge of Global Food Insecurity
Safeguarding access to food is now generally perceived to be a major security issue. This week, we analyze the causes of food insecurity, how its growth impacts regional political dynamics, and what steps we might take to alleviate its side effects. More on «The Challenge of Global Food Insecurity»

The Securitization of Organized Crime
Organized crime is widely regarded as a major threat to international order. This week we chart the globalization of criminal networks, how they undermine state security and what might be their possible interconnections with terrorist organizations. More on «The Securitization of Organized Crime»
The Global Arms Trade's Impact upon Security
The global arms trade is a multi-billion dollar industry that continues to have a profound impact on transnational security. This week we consider the current nature of the trade, its specific impact on modern day conflicts, and attempts to establish a viable Arms Trade Treaty. More on «The Global Arms Trade's Impact upon Security»

Demography, Migration and Security
As the international system has become more complex, it has changed the debate about transnational migration. Accordingly, we spend this week considering whether the securitization of demography and migration is an appropriate conceptual tool of analysis to use or not. More on «Demography, Migration and Security»
Climate and Security
Climate change is increasingly considered as a threat to global and regional security. This week we chart the securitization of climate change and attempts at crafting effective responses in a security-conscious world. More on «Climate and Security»

The Future of Transnational Institutions and Organizations
How are transnational institutions wielding power in the world today? Should they 'enforce' the political behavior of others, or should they 'persuade' them with the power of their example? More on «The Future of Transnational Institutions and Organizations»
Power and the Westphalian System: Goodbye to All That?
If power is increasingly being diffused, democratized and individualized, have traditional views of power lost their explanatory might? Are there alternative theories that better explain the changing nature of power in today's world? More on «Power and the Westphalian System: Goodbye to All That?»

The New Information Revolution
The internet has become an integral part of many people’s lives and has undoubtedly changed the way we interact with each other. But has it also affected the way the international system works? More on «The New Information Revolution»
Economics, Politics and War
This dossier concludes our analysis of the fundamental changes impacting upon international economic and financial systems by examining the interaction between economics, politics and war. More on «Economics, Politics and War»
Development: Describing and Prescribing Progress
Following last week’s examination of the evolution of the international economic and financial system, this dossier focuses on their interaction with global development policies. More on «Development: Describing and Prescribing Progress»
The International Economic and Financial System: Past, Present and Future
An examination of the fundamental factors driving international change would be incomplete without considering trade and finance. We look at the past of the international economic and financial system in order to understand the present and speculate about the future. More on «The International Economic and Financial System: Past, Present and Future»

International Organizations: Required Adjustments and New Opportunities for Change
In this dossier, we examine the most important challenges International Organizations face today, as well as the reforms and opportunities for change they need to pursue. More on «International Organizations: Required Adjustments and New Opportunities for Change»
The State in a Globalizing World
This dossier on “The State in a Globalizing World” considers whether we are witnessing the demise of the modern state altogether. More on «The State in a Globalizing World»

Nationalism in a Globalizing World
In this particular dossier, we start by exploring different concepts of nationalism and how they have evolved over time. We then introduce the concept of multiculturalism and wonder whether it is a palliative to some of the more unsettling aspects of nationalism. More on «Nationalism in a Globalizing World»
Global Interdependence and Effective Multilateralism
This dossier explores the debate between two schools of global interdependence: cosmopolitanism and transnationalization. It also provides an anticipatory look at global multilateralism, which will be the focus of an upcoming dossier. More on «Global Interdependence and Effective Multilateralism»