April 2013
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Whither Goes Iran?
Iran’s determined pursuit of its own geopolitical interests remains a source of concern throughout the Middle East and beyond. This week, we consider Tehran’s current relations with its neighbors and whether its becoming a nuclear-capable state is defensible or not. More on «Whither Goes Iran?»
March 2013
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'Managing' Israel-Palestine
Is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict an intractable one or are there realistic ways to settle it? This week we grapple with this knotty question by looking at the conflict’s current status and how it might be resolved in the future. More on «'Managing' Israel-Palestine»
February 2013
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Managing Civil Wars and Intrastate Conflict
Intrastate conflicts and civil wars have replaced inter-state wars as the dominant forms of organized violence that shape our world. What factors explain the upsurge in intrastate violence and how have actors attempted to resolve them? More on «Managing Civil Wars and Intrastate Conflict»
January 2013
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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» -
Killing War?
Despite fears that the end of the Cold War would usher in a new era of instability, fewer wars, fewer deaths and a decline in the legitimacy of political violence have led some to announce the ‘demise of war.’ But is this decline temporary or reflective of an increasingly peaceful world? More on «Killing War?»
November 2012
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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»
October 2012
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Intelligence - Adapting to the Threats
Intelligence agencies have struggled to adapt to a world of open source technologies, information overload and a diverse range of new threats. This week, we consider how they have adapted their missions to address these challenges. More on « Intelligence - Adapting to the Threats » -
Safeguarding Cyber-Security, Fighting in Cyberspace
Linking cyber-security with national security is a relatively new phenomenon. This week we analyze the increasing securitization of cyberspace and ask a fundamental question – has the era of cyber-warfare finally arrived or does the concept remain more fantasy than reality? More on «Safeguarding Cyber-Security, Fighting in Cyberspace» -
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»
September 2012
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Nuclear Deterrence in a Multipolar World
The concept of nuclear deterrence arguably added a degree of predictability and stability to the superpower rivalry of the Cold War. This week we consider, among other things, the relative value and utility of this concept in a multipolar world. More on «Nuclear Deterrence in a Multipolar World» -
Transnational Terrorism – Complex Threat or Back to Normal?
While transnational terrorism is by no means a new phenomenon, its ability to exploit and thrive within a networked world makes it a continuing threat to global and local security. This week we provide an update on this disconcerting political-cultural phenomenon. More on «Transnational Terrorism – Complex Threat or Back to Normal?» -
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»
August 2012
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The Privatization of Violence and Security
Are private security companies a necessary part of modern military operations or an under-regulated waste of money that jeopardize the international reputations and democratic credentials of states that use them? This week we will present both sides of this debate. More on «The Privatization of Violence and Security» -
Identity Politics and Security
How might identity politics influence and impact the geopolitical and security dynamics of today's international system? This week, we attempt to address such concerns through a series of case studies that analyze the interconnections between identity and security. More on «Identity Politics and 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»
April 2012
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Grand Strategies and Strategic Cultures
Looking at the examples of the US, Iran and other Asian powers, we ask whether the concepts of strategic culture and grand strategy are still relevant today. More on «Grand Strategies and Strategic Cultures»
February 2012
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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»
November 2011
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Forecasting in the ‘Real World’: Near-, Mid- and Long-Term Trend Analysis
In this dossier, we present and discuss concrete examples of near-, mid- and long-term future forecasting regularly used by forecasters to make predictions about the future of the international system. More on «Forecasting in the ‘Real World’: Near-, Mid- and Long-Term Trend Analysis» -
Future Forecasting and Its Challenges
As part of our fundamental inquiry into global political change, this dossier looks at future forecasting from an international relations perspective. More on «Future Forecasting and Its Challenges»
