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This Week at ISN

29 July 02 August 2013

Our Weekly Editorial Roundup

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// Central Asia's Fragile Security Context

Energy resources, historical and cultural affinities, and outright political expediency have revived strategic interest in Central Asia. This week, we look at the external actors who are interested in the region and how local states are exploiting this interest to fulfill their own political objectives. Given this trend, we then ask whether closer regional and economic cooperation can actually occur or not. Finally, we look at some of the domestic challenges to the region's security, with a particular emphasis on the threat posed by political Islam.

Central Asia's 'New Great Game'

29 July 2013

External powers have revived their strategic interests in Central Asia. Today, Stephen Blank outlines how these competing interests are creating a new Great Game in the region. Sbastien Peyrouse and others then consider whether it is possible for these parties to work together in fulfilling their objectives. More

The Foreign and Security Policies of the Central Asian States

30 July 2013

Despite the potentially suffocating interests of external powers, the Central Asian states still have enough political space to pursue their own foreign and security policy agendas. In today's Q&A session, the CSS' Stephen Aris reveals the domestic and external factors that help shape these policies.More

Central Asian Regional Integration and Cooperation

31 July 2013

How successful have past efforts been to foster economic integration and cooperation among the Central Asian states? According to Johannes Linn, the region's states have gone down this road before. They've been repeatedly hindered, however, by fragmented and weak institutional cooperation.More

Central Asia: Region in Decline

01 August 2013

Because of its lackluster attempts at regional integration, Central Asia continues to face serious security problems. Today, our partners at the ICG show us how this regional governance vacuum constitutes a major risk to the region's security.More

Political Islam in Central Asia

02 August 2013

Following yesterday's analysis of the region-wide governance crisis in Central Asia, Arne Seifert looks at the role of political Islam in this fragile context. He believes that the region lacks a moderate counterweight to Islamist extremism, a deficiency that may eventually lead to conflict.More

// Security Watch
Mugabe Likely to Win Elections, But Who Will Lead Zimbabwe Next?
29 July 2013

While Robert Mugabe is expected to win this week's presidential elections, his age raises questions about his successor. Fiona Blyth looks at the possible contenders from across Zimbabwe's political spectrum. And what does she conclude? Yes, a handover of power to yet another authoritarian figure.More

Learning to Love NGOs: The Growing Role of Civil Society in Asian Security
30 July 2013

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) are playing an increasingly important role in promoting human security across Asia. James Gannon, however, believes they can do better, especially if national governments and regional institutions provide increased support to the nonprofit sector. More

Political Warfare
31 July 2013

The United States currently lacks the capabilities needed to win 'hearts and minds' in places such as the Middle East, or so argues Max Boot. Consequently, it's time for Washington to redouble its efforts and call this requirement by its rightful name political warfare.More

Negotiating with the Taliban: Pakistan's Dangerous Dilemma

01 August 2013

The newly elected Pakistani government remains at the forefront of efforts to negotiate with the Taliban. However, given its identity and ideology, Salma M Siddiqui warns that the risks of accommodation could be grave indeed.More

Central Asia: Labor Migrants Caught in Russian Politicians' Crosshairs

02 August 2013

Sending illegal economic migrants back to Central Asia has become a staple of many Russian politicians' election campaigns. This is a major cause for concern for the region's ruling elites, writes Murat Sadykov. Will it lead to political unrest, they ask. More

// Blog
The Detroit Syndrome
29 July 2013

Sanjav Sayal wonders what global-level lessons we should learn from Detroit's recent bankruptcy. In his view, the city's demise should serve as a warning to all those emerging economies that believe developing 'cookie-cutter' industrial centers is both necessary and wise. More

What International Community?

30 July 2013

Whenever something 'bad' happens Iran moves closer to acquiring nuclear weapons, North Korea fires yet another missile some official or observer will call upon the international community to act. There is only one problem with this, says the CFR's Richard Haass. There is no 'international community'.More

Disarming Egypt's Militarized State

31 July 2013

Omar Ashour thinks Egypt's ongoing political turmoil bears a striking resemblance to events that occurred almost 60 years ago. Today, he traces the similarities between both periods of Egyptian unrest and outlines how he would try to resolve the current crisis.More

North Korea's Powerful Weakness

01 August 2013

Although China's patience with North Korea might be wearing thin, Joseph Nye is adamant that Pyongyang's 'surprisingly powerful' influence over Beijing remains unaffected. This is because China still shudders at the thought of what the collapse of the Kim regime might bring.More

Obama's Russian Roadblock

02 August 2013

Barack Obama recently reaffirmed his commitment to wholesale nuclear disarmament. The problem, argues Richard Weitz, is that Russia's leaders do not share his aversion to nuclear weapons. The result? No further weapon cuts from Moscow without further US concessions on ballistic missile defenses.More

// Video
What Effects Do Transnational Threats Have on Governance in Central Asia?
In this video, Tom Sanderson, who is the Co-Director of the CSIS's Transnational Threats Project, outlines how poor governance across Central Asia often compels the region's populations to participate in underground political activities. He then reminds us that a range of illicit activities and the presence of Islamist extremists continue to make the region highly susceptible to outbreaks of violence.More

The Role of Economics in Democratic Transitions: The Case of Tunisia

In this video, Dr Mondher Ben Ayed, who is the President and CEO of TMI, explores the relationship between economic reforms and the successes or failures of democratic governance, particularly in relation to Tunisia. In the latter case, Ben Ayed argues that the country's future political stability and success will indeed depend on reversing its economic stagnation, high unemployment and general lack of entrepreneurship.More

India and the New Silk Road

In this video, William Burns, who is the US Deputy Secretary of State, describes how India has become instrumental to the continuing development of the New Silk Road, which links South and Central Asia together in myriad and important ways. More

Coming Up
Next week, we look several issues that are likely to shape the political and security dynamics of Central Asia over the coming years.

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