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May 2013

• Militarizing Space
  The increasing securitization if not overt militarization of space continues unabated. Over the next two weeks we’ll first look at the broader implications of this trend, both conceptually and in practice. Then, we’ll examine the space-centered strategies of some of the key actors in this domain.  More on «Militarizing Space»

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»
• Lawfare in Theory and Practice
  Lawfare involves using the law as an instrument of power. In looking at this potentially dubious practice, we'll first look at its theoretical foundations. Then we'll focus on its alleged use.  More on «Lawfare in Theory and Practice»

March 2013

• Today’s Revolutions in Military Affairs
  When thinking about the latest Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA), two questions come to mind. First, is it still a viable conceptual framework to guide the planned use of force? Second, has it influenced non-Western ways of using force, especially in a “post-heroic” era of warfare?  More on «Today’s Revolutions in Military Affairs»

February 2013

• 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

• 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?»

October 2012

• 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»

September 2012

• 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

• 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»

February 2012

• 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»