In The News

Al Jazeera: Regional Powers Brace for a Showdown in Syria

Farah Najjar February 13, 2018
Multiple nations intevene in the Syrian civil war and this could expand the fighting. “A surge in Israeli-Syrian cross-border incidents has turned into the ‘biggest’ confrontation between the two countries in decades and confronted Russia with a new dilemma: how to preserve its ties with both sides,” reports Farah Najjar for Al Jazeera. “Israel and Syria have been at the brink of war ever since...

Spiegel Online: Brexiteers Are Driving Britain Into a Wall

Jörg Schindler February 12, 2018
Great Britain faces a deadline in 13 months for reaching a deal to end European Union membership and retain some benefits. Hardliners pressure the British prime minister, dictating conditions for complete separation, or “a national reawakening, no matter the price,” writes Jörg Schindler for Germany’s Spiegel Online. “They seem to have forgotten that in the summer of 2016 the Brits only voted on...

The Miami Herald: The US Pushes Latin America Into China’s Arms

Andrés Oppenheimer February 9, 2018
The Monroe Doctrine, a US policy adopted in the early 19th-century, warned other powers to stay away from Latin America. Today, as the United States nags and overlooks the region, China has made gains. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made a speech on February 1 describing the region as a US priority and warned that China has more influence. Latin America’s total US imports shrunk from 50...

Foreign Affairs: How Sharp Power Threatens Soft Power

Joseph S. Nye Jr. February 5, 2018
Authoritarian regimes strive to interfere with democratic governments via social media and other information warfare. Such interference can be regarded as “sharp power” as opposed to “soft power,” or government’s reliance on culture and values to enhance strength. “Over the past decade, Beijing and Moscow have spent tens of billions of dollars to shape public perceptions and behavior around the...

The Conversation: Is a Unified Korea Possible?

Ji-Young Lee January 26, 2018
North and South Korea, divided since 1945, are making a small, symbolic gesture by marching together under one flag for the opening ceremony of the Olympics. “Unfortunately, history suggests such efforts to reunite the peninsula as a single country often don’t go far,” notes Ji-Young Lee, professor of international affairs for the Conversation. She outlines the history of unification talks. “What...

The Diplomat: Central Asian States Step Up Afghan Diplomacy

Catherine Putz January 24, 2018
Challenges in any of the landlocked Central Asian nations impact overall regional security. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are taking steps for regional diplomacy and reduced isolation for Afghanistan. Regional discussions on water management, energy cooperation, transportation links and trade are underway; representatives express concern about terrorism and women’s rights. “Kazakhstan, the first...

Deutsche Welle: Iran Rebuffs US Demand for More Nuclear Negotiation

January 14, 2018
The Iranian government rejects US President Donald Trump’s proposal of reopening the 2015 nuclear deal for more negotiations. “The agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed by former US President Barack Obama and other world leaders after two years of intense talks, marking a significant shift after decades of animosity between Tehran and the West,” reports...