Information on "Nation States"
June 2013
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10 Jun 2013
Italy's Political Crisis
Italy’s most recent elections left the impression that it is a politically divided and seemingly ungovernable country. That may seem like a familiar tale, argues Roberto Mastroianni, but the election results actually reflect a 20-year transformation in Italian politics and a new capacity to export instability. More on «Italy's Political Crisis»
May 2013
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22 May 2013
Map Room: Borders on Top of The World
Yes, the melting polar ice caps are opening up new transportation routes and revealing untapped mineral wealth that will benefit us all. Uh, hold on, say Mark Terry and Adam Scholl. They remind us that increased accessibility could well lead to overlapping and dangerous territorial claims. More on «Map Room: Borders on Top of The World» -
8 May 2013
The Beting Serupai Incident
The People's Liberation Army Navy recently undertook 'patrol and training missions' within territorial waters claimed by Malaysia. Tang Siew Mun considers this an error of strategic judgment on Beijing’s part. Kuala Lumpur has always advocated a more reasoned and diplomatic approach to problems in the South China Sea. More on «The Beting Serupai Incident» -
3 May 2013
Palestine After Fayyad: The Choice Between Cooperation and Conflict
Why did Salam Fayyad recently resign as Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority? Today, Nathan Thrall explores the factors that led to his departure, including the challenges of holding a position that is widely backed by Western powers but only weakly supported by Palestinians. More on «Palestine After Fayyad: The Choice Between Cooperation and Conflict»
April 2013
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30 Apr 2013
Uzbekistan: A 'Dress Rehearsal' for a Succession Crisis?
Unconfirmed reports indicate that Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov suffered a severe heart attack on March 19. Writing for the Center for Eastern Studies, Marek Matusiak considers the likelihood of follow-on power struggles and uprisings, as well as possible political instability in Central Asia. More on «Uzbekistan: A 'Dress Rehearsal' for a Succession Crisis?» -
2 Apr 2013
Is International Pressure Failing in Sri Lanka?
The end of the decades-old civil war in Sri Lanka enabled the world to shift its focus to events in Africa and the Middle East. Not smart, argue numerous observers. Colombo now appears unwilling to integrate meaningful reconciliation and reintegration processes into its official policies. More on «Is International Pressure Failing in Sri Lanka?»
March 2013
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20 Mar 2013
Our Arctic Strategy Deficit
William Edwards believes that the United States is ill-prepared to defend its strategic interests in the Arctic. To overcome this problem, he recommends that Washington concentrates its energies on crafting a workable Arctic treaty with other legitimate powers in the region. More on «Our Arctic Strategy Deficit» -
14 Mar 2013
The Security Council in Yemen: Strong Commitment, Limited Leverage
According to Casey L. Coombs, the United Nations Security Council has provided considerable support for Yemen’s political transition. However, a recent upsurge in political violence has exposed the limits of its influence over events in this fractured state. More on «The Security Council in Yemen: Strong Commitment, Limited Leverage» -
5 Mar 2013
Security Force Assistance: It's Not Just for Weak States
In Derek Reveron’s eyes, France’s reliance on American airlift assets to operate in Mali confirms yet again that a transatlantic capabilities gap still exists. The gap, however, is not merely military in scope. It also exists between the strategic objectives of some states and their actual ability to carry them out. More on «Security Force Assistance: It's Not Just for Weak States»
January 2013
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18 Jan 2013
The Year of Not Living Dangerously
According to Robert Latona, ETA and other Basque separatist groups have rebranded their once-violent struggle into "a dream of self-determination." ETA in particular is struggling to convince the Spanish people that it is now a politically legitimate independence movement. More on «The Year of Not Living Dangerously»
