‘War is the continuation of politics by other means’. This well-known quote from 19th century Prussian military strategist Carl von Clausewitz epitomises the Russian and Chinese role in the Syrian conflict, which is now in its tenth year. The conflict began in March 2011 after pro-democracy protests in Syria were brutally crushed by the Syrian […]
Archive | Conflict
Explaining the China-Russia Partnership in Syria
Posted on September 4, 2020.
Posted in China, Conflict, Middle East, Russia, Syria, UN, World
Deterrence and Inclusivity in the South China Sea
Posted on April 28, 2019.
Rapid economic growth and the modernization of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has allowed China to expand its regional influence. Within the South China Sea, China’s expansion has materialized in the form of a coercive maritime strategy. Aside from straddling the key sea lanes of communication used for trade, the South China Sea also contains […]
Posted in Asia, Australia, China, Conflict, India, Security Issues, US, World
In Pursuit of Accountability for War Crimes in Iraq
Posted on September 14, 2017.
What comes next as British Government targets lawyers and closes investigative body? By Thomas Obel Hansen This Article is based on research conducted under a British Academy grant involving interviews with relevant stakeholders. A more comprehensive academic article addressing the same topics is scheduled for publication later this year. An examination opened by the International […]
Martin McGuinness and the Not so Uncommon Transition from Terrorist to Statesman
Posted on March 25, 2017.
With the death of Martin McGuinness, the former Provisional IRA senior commander turned peace-maker and Deputy First Minister, one is struck that such a transition was simultaneously, impressive and outrageous. I had the opportunity of meeting McGuinness last January when I interviewed him. I was struck by his warmth and generosity in taking time out […]
Posted in Conflict, Europe, Security Issues, Terrorism, UK News, World
Colombia’s Rebel Reintegration Quagmire
Posted on February 1, 2015.
Colombia has endured more than five decades of civil discord. Peace negotiations between FARC representatives and the Colombian State have, though, been ongoing since 2012 as the country attempts to realise a future of security and peace. Yet it is the massive human toll that is perhaps the most potent issue to arise from this […]
Posted in Conflict, Drugs, Security Issues, World
Kony 2016: Ugandan Pullout a Big Win for LRA
Posted on June 24, 2016.
In 2012 a 30 minute documentary about a rebel leader in Uganda set the internet alight. KONY 2012 brought to the public view the gruesome activities of Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony and his kidnapping of young children. While the campaign itself was short lived, the Bush and later Obama administrations had already pledged […]
Reviving Islamic Epistemology as a Solution to Jihadi Terrorism
Posted on September 20, 2017.
I do not pretend to have a silver bullet solution to the problem of Islamic terrorism. A successful strategy against Islamic terrorist organisations would encompass a re-organisation of geopolitical alliances in the Middle East, effective military actions, and socio-economic changes (fairer distribution of resources, better education, etc.) in the majority of Muslim nations. On the […]
Posted in Conflict, Iran, Iraq, Islam, Middle East, Religion, Saudi Arabia, Security Issues, Terrorism, World
Kabila and the DRC: A Perfect Storm of Problems
Posted on March 19, 2018.
The UN Under-Sectretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, visited the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) this week for the first time. Following meetings with internally displaced persons, Lowcock underscored that the DRC is the site of one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in the world today. A year after his term ended, Congolese […]
China is Winning the Propaganda War on Taiwan
Posted on June 22, 2018.
Last month, two more countries broke away from the fast dwindling assortment of diplomatic allies that officially recognise Taiwan as a sovereign state. The political volte-face in May by the Dominican Republic and Burkina Faso in favour of closer ties with Beijing follows a long trend of diplomatic shifts that leave Taiwan increasingly isolated on the […]
Posted in Asia, China, Conflict, Political Security, Security Issues, World
An Iraqi-Kurdish Conflict Casts Doubt on the “Shia Crescent” Theory
Posted on September 9, 2017.
An alliance between Kurdish leftists and Iraqi militias shows why it’s dangerous to overestimate Iran’s role in the so-called “Shia crescent.” In light of the breakdown of state structures in Iraq and Syria, it’s tempting to try to build narratives that portray entire ethnic groups or sects as pawns of great powers like Iran, as […]
Posted in Conflict, Iran, Iraq, Islam, Middle East, Religion, Security Issues, Syria, Terrorism, Turkey, World
Reassessing the Impact of State Terrorism
Posted on November 4, 2017.
Mass media and politicians often describe terrorism as one of the greatest security threats to international society. These bold claims have contributed towards an unquestioned belief that terrorism has become a grave threat to our everyday lives. The sporadic and murderous nature of terrorism has been a powerful influence on public threat perception. However, the […]
Posted in Conflict, Europe, Latin America, Security Issues, Terrorism, US, World
Qatar’s Actions Destabilize Bahrain and Gulf Region
Posted on July 5, 2017.
Grievances between Qatar and much of the rest of Middle East go back decades and help explain the schism that burst into the open recently and led to the widespread boycott of Qatar. Take the case of bad blood between Bahrain and Qatar. Bahrain is still angered over Qatar’s attempts to use its vast funds […]
Posted in Conflict, Middle East, Saudi Arabia, World
Understanding the Saudi-Iranian Cold War: A Road Map
Posted on January 22, 2016.
The execution of a renowned Arab Shi’a cleric, Sheikh Nimr, just after the New Year has set long-standing rivals Iran and Saudi-Arabia on a new collision course. Radical elements in Iran attacked the Saudi diplomatic compound in the country prompting Riyadh to sever its relations with Tehran. While the Iranian government condemned the attacks, immediately dismissing some officials […]
Posted in Conflict, Iran, Iraq, Islam, Middle East, Political Security, Religion, Security Issues, Syria, World
Sino-U.S. Competition and India Policy
Posted on February 16, 2016.
Introduction At the time of India’s independence in 1947 the world had just witnessed the end of the Second World War and was slowly being engulfed in a new power struggle with the Cold War. The brewing trend of the time was that of alliance forming with either of the blocs led by the United States (US) […]
Posted in China, Conflict, India, Political Security, Security Issues, US, World
Shaping Safety: How Architects Can Build a Stronger Peace
Posted on March 10, 2016.
I take my home for granted. There, I said it. Chances are you do, too, if your conception of home – like mine – does not include worrying about the daily dangers of a civil war playing out on your doorstep; the mortar shelling that has left your family homeless; or the stability of […]
Posted in Conflict, Humanitarian Intervention, Iraq, Middle East, Refugees, Security Issues, Syria, World
Interview: A Diplomatic View – From the Middle East to Obama’s U.K. Trip
Posted on May 7, 2016.
I sat down with the U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission for the U.K., Minister Elizabeth Dibble, to discuss the Obama visit, the Middle East and the complex Iran-Saudi relationship. The Obama Visit to the U.K. D.M.: You touched on President Obama’s visit in your talk and what he said about the EU referendum. What for […]
Posted in Conflict, Interviews, Iran, Israel, Israeli Palestinian Conflict, Middle East, Political Security, Saudi Arabia, Security Issues, Syria, US, World, Yemen
America’s Allies in Eurasia Face a Common Foe in Russia
Posted on May 12, 2017.
By Eugen Iladi It’s no secret that Russia is using military means and disinformation to try to reassemble its Soviet Union footprint. Ukraine has drawn the most headlines in this effort. But the Kremlin has long been working its land-grab plan in Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan. Russia’s economic failure and social challenges in the 21st […]
Posted in Conflict, Europe, Political Security, Russia, Ukraine Conflict, US, World
A Thought for September 12
Posted on September 13, 2016.
My seventeen-year-old brother doesn’t remember 9/11 – but it’s a day my country can’t forget. Nor should it. Many “millennials,” myself included, will only have vague memories of the day itself and the outpouring of patriotism that followed. Every year, we are reminded of the men and women that died so needlessly and so courageously […]
Posted in Conflict, Security Issues, Terrorism, US
Syria’s Revolution and The Problem of Conspiracy Theories
Posted on December 27, 2012.
Ever since the beginning of the Syrian revolution, the idea of conspiracy has permeated the language of the official Syrian media, the Assad regime’s proponents in Lebanon, and has been reflected in discussions within Arab intelligentsias. As soon as the Syrian revolution started, the Syrian regime claimed that the country had been exposed to an […]
Posted in Conflict, Middle East, Security Issues, Syria, Terrorism, World
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: On the History and Legality of Detention Centres
Posted on May 7, 2016.
It’s official: Australia’s “Stop the Boats” campaign is a success. Or so the government claims. Back in 2013, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott ascended to his post in part because of his pledge to “stop the boats,” or, in less catchy rhetoric, to prevent asylum seekers – mostly arriving by sea from the Middle East […]
Posted in Africa, Asia, Australia, Conflict, Europe, Iran, Political Security, Refugees, Syria, UN, World
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As Ardern storms it in NZ... and a battered UK starts discussing a failed “herd immunity” strategy again, it’s worth remembering: 1) Economies that have kept the virus down have kept the economic damage down. 2) This: pic.twitter.com/ABZ6sXbI96
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