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Begin New Search Topic International Affairs Content Type Special Report Publication Year within 25 Years Publication Year within 10 Years

401. A decentralized, consumer-driven model for the solar eco-system

Author:
Amit Bhandari
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
Abstract:
The transition to renewable energy is hampered by the lack of suitable, affordable products and specialised financing for its infrastructure. This infographic, as part of a policy brief put forth by Gateway House, set to be tabled at the 2017 Hamburg G20 conference, outlines an ecosystem to overcome these hurdles
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

402. Measuring cross-border trade in services by trading partner country and company

Author:
Akshay Mathur
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Gateway House: Indian Council on Global Relations
Abstract:
Cross-border trade in services is increasingly the pre-eminent driver of growth for developed and developing countries alike. Service-related commitments are included in most of the new trade agreements. Effective policy-design however, is dependent on collection and presentation of accurate data. Inter-agency task forces of multilateral organizations such as UN, WTO, IMF and OECD have designed a framework to capture cross-border trade in services but data classification by partner trading company, partner trading country and by modes-of-supply, remains a challenge. The G20 can plug this gap through comprehensive information-collection and sharing
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

403. Mexico in a Mirror: International Lessons for the Consolidation of the New Mexican Energy Model/México ante el espejo: Lecciones internacionales para la consolidación del nuevo Modelo Energético Mexicano

Author:
COMEXI
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI)
Abstract:
The Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI), through its Energy Work Group, presents an analysis and a set of recommendations to guarantee the continuity of the Energy Reform, implemented in 2013. The Energy Work Group (GTE in Spanish) is a COMEXI-driven initiative that emerged in response to the need of addressing the challenges the energy sector has brought about for Mexico in the last years; it seeks to seize the chance to turn the country into a driver of development for all Mexicans. To this end, several experts, key players and leaders of energy companies in our country have joined forces to compile the best international practices in the field to have a positive impact on the strengthening of the energy market. Throughout its existence, the GTE has issued several recommendations concerning the instrumentation, implementation and effective date of the Energy Reform. These recommendations can be consulted on COMEXI’s official website. Also, many of them have been encompassed in the laws passed for the energy-market opening in Mexico. Hence, in this new release, we wish to contribute to guaranteeing the permanence of the Reform in the light of the unforeseeable circumstances we are currently undergoing, from the political ups and downs in Mexico to the renegotiation and future of NAFTA. This proposal summarizes some of the different alternatives Mexico could adopt to achieve this objective. Furthermore, it compares success stories in other regions of the world to shed light on the ups and downs of other country’s experiences and traces clear routes towards implementation. GTE will continue combining forces to contribute to the sector’s development and to consolidate our country as a competitive and relevant energy player. / El Consejo Mexicano deAsuntos Internacionales (COMEXI), a través de su Grupo de Trabajo de Energía, presenta un análisis y serie de recomendaciones para garantizar la continuidad de la Reforma Energética, implementada en el 2013. El Grupo de Trabajo de Energía (GTE) es una iniciativa de COMEXI que surgió ante la necesidad de atender los retos que el sector energético ha representado para México en los últimos años, así como para aprovecharla oportunidad de convertirlo en un motor de desarrollo para los mexicanos. Para ello, diversos expertos, actores clave y directivos de empresas energéticas en nuestro país han sumado esfuerzos para recopilar mejores prácticas internacionales en el tema, con el fin de influir positivamente en el fortalecimiento del mercado energético
Topic:
Energy Policy, Markets, International Affairs, Reform, and NAFTA
Political Geography:
North America and Mexico

404. Redefining the Relationship for Prosperity in North America/Redefiniendo la relación para la prosperidad de Norteamérica

Author:
COMEXI
Publication Date:
12-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI)
Abstract:
T he Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (COMEXI, for its acronym in Spanish) submits for the consideration of political and business leaders, as well as of public opinion, ideas to help guide the U.S.-Mexico relationship in the new binational context. The initiative is made up of general guidelines, as well as a series of specific recommendations for each of the main components of the relationship: NAFTA, Security, Migration, Border, Consulates and Communications. Because of the impending NAFTA re-negotiations, the chapter related to trade is much more detailed, and much longer, than the other position papers. For this reason, we have chosen to keep the recommendations and quotes from the text of the agreement within the main body of the text. The issues are, by nature, technical and detail-driven. The upshot is one of the most complete papers that has been published on the topic in recent times. We are confident that it will become required reading during the long negotiation process that is just beginning. This English-language compendium contains a complete translation of the original text in Spanish. Our guiding principle is that what is good for Mexico is good for the rest of North America, and vice versa. For this reason, we are fostering this dialogue in both languages, confident that a mutually beneficial, “win-win” view of the relationship will ultimately prevail for the benefit of the 475 million inhabitants of our region. // E l Consejo Mexicano de Asuntos Internacionales presenta su propuesta para conducir la relación bilateral México-Estados Unidos en el nuevo contexto. El proyecto está integrado por un planteamiento global y una serie de recomendaciones específicas para cada uno de los principales componentes de la relación: TLCAN, Seguridad, Migración, Frontera, Consulados y Comunicación. En virtud de la necesidad inmediata de implementar estrategias relativas al inminente proceso de renegociación del TLCAN, el documento en esta materia es mucho más amplio, detallado y específico. Por esa razón, decidimos mantener el cúmulo de observaciones y citas en el cuerpo del texto, ya que el tema es, por naturaleza, técnico y minucioso. Este es uno de los documentos más completos que se han publicado recientemente sobre el TLCAN y confiamos en que se convertirá en un referente obligado durante el largo proceso de negociación que se avecina. Este conjunto de ensayos representa la culminación del trabajo de COMEXI, liderado por su presidente, Luis Rubio. Surge gracias a la amplia participación de los miembros del Consejo y reconocidos expertos, quienes se organizaron por tema para dar a luz los trabajos aquí integrados. Es menester, también, reconocer el trabajo coadyuvante de la directora del COMEXI, Mariana Campero y de Miguel Toro, cuyos esfuerzos para editar y homologar los trabajos fueron fundamentales.
Topic:
Security, Migration, International Affairs, Communications, NAFTA, and Borders
Political Geography:
North America and Mexico

405. The political economy of the transformation of Islamic finance in Turkey

Author:
SETA
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research
Abstract:
When Islamic finance is mentioned around the world, the first thing that comes to mind is Islamic banks. The sphere of Islamic finance has expanded in the last decade with developments particularly in capital markets and the insurance sector. Nonetheless, the market share of Islamic finance in the world’s financial market accounts for approximately 1 percent. Still, many segments are interested in Islamic finance because of its high growth figures, resilience against crises, and the fact that it offers a system that prioritizes ethical values in contrast to conventional finance. Islamic banks in Turkey date back to the establishment of the Adapazarı Islamic Trade Bank (Adapazarı İslam Ticaret Bankası) in Sakarya (Adapazarı) in 1913. However, examples of globally accepted Islamic banking models in Turkey appeared with the emergence of Special Finance Houses (SFHs) following the passage of relevant legal regulations in 1984
Topic:
International Political Economy and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Markets

406. The Changing Balance of Power in the Age of Emerging Cyber Threats

Author:
Ivo Tsekov
Publication Date:
04-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Institute for Security and International Studies (ISIS)
Abstract:
This paper addresses one of the key issues of the international security agenda today: the role of cyber warfare in the changing security landscape of the 21st century. Cyber warfare involves the actions by a nation-state or international organization to attack and attempt to damage another nation's computers or information networks through IT means. While a great deal has already been written on the topic, there needs to be a stronger examination of how the combination of cyber weapons with traditional strategic approaches might impact strategic choices related to cyber war. In order to understand whether there is a security competition in cyberspace, it is necessary to assess the current balance of power. Therefore, the issue of cyber warfare has relevance to practitioners, policy-makers, and scholars in the national, regional and international levels.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

407. Towards Enhancing the Role of the Georgian Orthodox Church in the Country's Democratic Development

Author:
GFSIS
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgian Foundation for Strategic International Studies -GFSIS
Abstract:
The publication includes research findings assessing the attitudes and perceptions within the Georgian Orthodox Church on the issues of domestic and foreign policy and recommendations for enhancing the Church’s role in the country’s democratic development. This study was conducted in the framework of the project “Investigating the Attitudes of the Georgian Church on Democracy and Development” supported by the National Endowment for Democracy
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

408. Georgia-EU: Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area

Author:
Kakha Gogolashvili
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgian Foundation for Strategic International Studies -GFSIS
Abstract:
The European integration has a narrow and broad understanding. The narrow sense of this term implies the processes taking place within the EU - legislative harmonization, deepening of joint policies, relations within the common market, economic and monetary union.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

409. Chronic Poverty and Income Inequality in Georgia

Author:
Merab Kakulia
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgian Foundation for Strategic International Studies -GFSIS
Abstract:
Poverty alleviation still remains one of the key challenges for Georgia, as for any sovereign country. According to our calculations, in 2016, every seventh family consumed less than the subsistence minimum. Further, following a significant decrease in 2012-2014, the poverty level did not substantially change in 2015-2016; which means that the mentioned decrease might be of episodic nature and in reality there is serious risk of an increase in the scale of poverty. In 2014-2016, the situation became even more complicated, since the trend of reduction in the difference between the income levels of the richest and the poorest people, observed before, almost came to a stop. This points to the need for further economicstatistical research into poverty and inequality, and the implementation of a more effective policy for poverty reduction
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

410. Belt And Road Initiative, The Russian Factor And Main Challenges For Georgia

Author:
Vladimer Papava
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgian Foundation for Strategic International Studies -GFSIS
Abstract:
Beijing’s new global project Belt and Road Initiative (DRI) includes the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

411. EU-Georgia Relations Future Perspectives

Author:
Kakha Gogolashvili
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Georgian Foundation for Strategic International Studies -GFSIS
Abstract:
This paper discusses the main stages of the development of EU-Georgia relations as well as important achievements and existing challenges
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

412. Crafting Resistance through Narratives in Afghanistan

Author:
Tahir Ul Mulk Kahlon
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Abstract:
Narrative offers an evocative opportunity to understand the power of knowledge manipulation within the public policy system. Despite the influence of narratives in designing, formulating, and implementing of public policies, it is a relatively nascent concept in public policy studies.The war in Afghanistan truly represents a battle of narratives. This paper takes a Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) approach to explore the narratives used by resistance forces in Afghanistan within the belief system of a religion. It acknowledges that narratives matter and that by studying the same, one can construe their influence on policies. The paper finds that resistance groups such as the Taliban, mobilize support and operate in battlefields across Afghanistan; simultaneously bolstering their legitimacy and community influence garnering support from within and outside Afghanistan.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

413. Building Structures of Solidarity and Instruments of Justice: The Catholic Immigrant Integration Surveys

Author:
Donald Kerwin
Publication Date:
06-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Center for Migration Studies of New York
Abstract:
The Center for Migration Studies of New York (CMS) released findings from two surveys distributed to two broad sets of US Catholic institutions – (1) Catholic social and charitable agencies and (2) parishes and schools – to capture their work in helping integrate immigrants in the United States. The surveys – administered in collaboration with the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC), the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church, and Catholic Charities USA
Topic:
Migration and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

414. Defence Industries in Russia and China: Players and Challenges

Author:
Richard A. Bitzinger
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
European Union Institute for Security Studies
Abstract:
This Report turns the spotlight on two major players in the global defence industry: Russia and China. It examines how both countries, however different in their trajectory and ambition, have in recent years narrowed the industrial and technological gap with the European armaments sector and are now openly chal­lenging the West’s traditional superiority in this domain
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

415. Chinese Futures: Horizon 2025

Author:
Eva Pejsova
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
European Union Institute for Security Studies
Abstract:
What kind of global actor can we expect China to be, given its growing international profile and ambitions? What do current trends indicate regarding the direction of its future foreign and security policy in Asia and beyond? And how can Europe engage with its Chinese partner while securing its own position and interests?
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

416. What if ... Conceivable crises: unpredictable in 2017, unmanageable in 2020?

Author:
Florence Gaub
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
European Union Institute for Security Studies
Abstract:
In a world increasingly shaped by unexpected events and developments – ranging from ‘strategic surprises’ like 9/11 or the Arab Spring to the unintended consequences of often well-meant decisions – trying to imagine contingencies that challenge current assumptions may well prove a useful exercise.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

417. Prevention better than cure: the EU’s quiet diplomacy in Asia

Author:
Guy Banim and Eva Pejsova
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
European Union Institute for Security Studies
Abstract:
Preventive diplomacy, or the resolution of disputes by peaceful means, has been one of the foundations of the EU’s foreign and security policy in Asia and beyond and stands as an expression of a rule-based international order. Moreover, in its key strategic documents, including the recently released Global Strategy, the EU has highlighted the importance of preventive diplomacy, as reflected in the proposed ‘integrated approach’ to conflicts and crises.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

418. Securing the Energy Union: five pillars and five regions

Author:
Gerald Stang
Publication Date:
01-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
European Union Institute for Security Studies
Abstract:
Two years after the EU formally launched its strategy for an Energy Union, this Report examines the energy challenges facing the different regions of Europe, investigating shared priorities and common projects, as well as barriers to integration and cooperation. A series of chapters devoted to distinct regions examines what role the Energy Union can play to help address their energy challenges, including those related to energy security and relations with external suppliers. The Report also looks at efforts to push forward with the construction of the Energy Union via regional initiatives, including some that reach beyond the borders of the EU. Such initiatives have shown how progress on all five pillars of the Energy Union is important for the energy security of the EU and how progress need not be uniform across Europe. Notably, the deepening and interconnection of energy markets – nationally, regionally, within the EU, and beyond its borders – are central to this process
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

419. Making the ‘Special Relationship’ Great Again?

Author:
Tim Oliver and Micheal Williams
Publication Date:
09-2017
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
LSE IDEAS
Abstract:
Donald Trump’s election poses uncomfortable questions for Britain about the future of the UK-US ‘Special Relationship’.
Topic:
International Political Economy and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

420. What To Do With the UK? EU perspectives on Brexit

Author:
Charles Wyplosz
Publication Date:
10-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Slovak Foreign Policy Association
Abstract:
The negotiating table is almost set for Britain’s exit from the European Union. In recent months, the Brexit debate has been primarily focused on the UK’s future position within Europe. Little has been discussed about how this decision will affect the remaining 27 member states. With a preliminary date of March 2017 chosen to invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, now is the time to begin formally discussing the challenges that both the UK and EU will face during negotiations.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Europe

421. Slovakia: (Re)Discovering of the international crisis management

Author:
Samuel Goda
Publication Date:
04-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Slovak Foreign Policy Association
Abstract:
The security environment in “wider Europe” has changed significantly in recent years. Depending on one’s preferences, a wide range of milestones may be named – the airstrikes in Yugoslavia, the 9/11 attacks, the Madrid attacks, the war in Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq, etc. In this study, however, the main issue we are addressing is the Ukrainian crisis (or war), Ukraine being our direct neighbor and a country of special interest – and this being the issue, according to a wide range of experts, that has had the most impact on the region’s security in decades.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Europe

422. Libya Extremism and the Consequences of Collapse

Author:
The Soufan Group
Publication Date:
01-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Soufan Group
Abstract:
Following the failure to form a unity government in Libya, the country will continue to face monumental hurdles to stabilization. • Existing divides between the East and West of Libya have been exacerbated by the security situation in the country. • The absence of rule of law and the high levels of violence in Libya—when combined with the proliferation of weapons—have allowed violent extremist groups such as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda to thrive.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Libya

423. Guide to Land Contracts: Agricultural Projects

Author:
Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment
Publication Date:
03-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Abstract:
Agricultural investment contracts can be complex, with complicated provisions that are difficult to understand. This Guide provides explanations for a range of common provisions, and includes a Glossary of legal and technical terms. It assists non-lawyers in better understanding agricultural investment contracts, such as those available on OpenLandContracts.org. The Guide was prepared by International Senior Lawyers Project staff and volunteers in collaboration with the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.
Topic:
Agriculture and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

425. The state of the European Union 2016: Europe at the political crossroads

Author:
Fundación Alternativas
Publication Date:
06-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:
The 4th Report on the State of the European Union –”Europe at the political crossroads”– is published as a contribution to a campaign to relaunch the EU, motivated by the belief that the serious problems with which the Union is currently grappling can only be resolved if we address the political challenges it faces. The publication of this report coincides with perhaps the most difficult moment for the Union since its creation. With the EU still struggling to overcome the drastic impact of the economic crisis, it is threatened by the storm clouds of another recession or, at the very least, weak growth.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Europe

426. Informe sobre sostenibilidad en España 2016: hoja de ruta hacia un modelo sostenible

Author:
Ana Belén Sánchez
Publication Date:
05-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Fundación Alternativas
Abstract:
Hace unos años propuse que entre los Informes que la Fundación Alternativas dedica a los grandes temas de nuestro país y de Europa –la Democracia, la Desigualdad, la Unión Europea, la Cultura– no podía faltar uno consagrado a la Sostenibilidad.
Topic:
International Relations and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Europe

427. 9th U.S.-China High-Level Political Party Leaders Dialogue

Author:
Natalie Pretzer-Lin
Publication Date:
11-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
EastWest Institute
Abstract:
A delegation of senior officials from the Communist Party of China (CPC) met with U.S. Democratic and Republican Party leaders and global business leaders in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2016. These discussions were part of the U.S.-China High-Level Political Party Leaders Dialogue organized by the EastWest Institute (EWI) in partnership with the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (IDCPC) and was the ninth round of this dialogue process.
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
China and America

428. Victimized by Geopolitics

Author:
Wael Abdul-Shafi
Publication Date:
10-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
EastWest Institute
Abstract:
The EastWest Institute and the Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient (CARPO) held a two-day confidential dialogue meeting between participants from Iran and Saudi Arabia in Bonn on April 27-28, 2016. The two groups from Iran and Saudi Arabia were composed of former diplomats, senior analysts, and security and military experts. In addition, a group of distinguished experts from the European think tank community contributed with their input and analysis. Held under strict Chatham House Rule, the dialogue aimed at gaining insights on how Saudi Arabia and Iran view the ongoing crises in the Middle East and how they believe Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Yemen can be stabilized and how the escalating refugee crisis can be contained.
Topic:
International Affairs and Refugee Crisis
Political Geography:
Iran and Saudi Arabia

429. Afghanistan Reconnected: Cross-Border Cooperation at a Critical Juncture

Author:
Annie Cowan
Publication Date:
09-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
EastWest Institute
Abstract:
In the lead-up to the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan, the EastWest Institute's Regional Security Initiative has released a major report, Afghanistan Reconnected: Cross-Border Cooperation at a Critical Juncture, which highlights problems in regional cooperation in the areas of trade and transit and energy, offering actionable recommendations that have been developed over three years of consultation with participants in the Afghanistan Reconnected Process, a high-level network including members of governments, the private sector, business leaders, and experts throughout the region. This report aims at encouraging government and private sector actors in the region, as well as the broader international community, to sustain momentum and commitment towards the development and stabilization of Afghanistan despite the declining security situation. The report includes an introduction by Ambassador Sabine Sparwasser, Chair of the International Contact Group on Afghanistan, Special Representative of the German Federal Government for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and chapters addressing various issues areas, prepared by project experts.
Topic:
International Security and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Afghanistan

430. The path to normalisation between Israel and Turkey

Author:
Arad Nir
Publication Date:
11-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Global Political Trends Center (GPoT)
Abstract:
Israel-Turkey policy dialogue publication series
Topic:
International Affairs
Political Geography:
Israel

431. Expert Opinion on AMISOM Contributing Countries Continued Provision of Troops

Author:
David Mastro
Publication Date:
10-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Brookings Institution
Abstract:
The international community is beginning to grapple with several questions regarding whether one or more countries contributing troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)—which has been key to successes against al-Shabaab in recent years—will prematurely withdraw their troops from the mission due a confluence of regional and international factors.1 What is the likelihood that one or more troops contributing countries (TCCs)—Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda—withdraw from AMISOM? How would AMISOM’s operational effectiveness be impacted if a TCC left the mission? Would another country or countries be willing and able to fill the void created by a TCC’s withdrawal? This paper attempts to provide answers to these questions to inform policy discussions related to the long-term commitment of the TCCs to the mission. It also seeks to provide some actions or policies that the international community could undertake to reduce the likelihood that a TCC leaves AMISOM early.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution, International Affairs, and Peacekeeping
Political Geography:
Somalia

432. A Bond Worth Strengthening Understanding the Mexican Military and U.S.-Mexican Military Cooperation

Author:
Iñigo Guevara Moyano
Publication Date:
10-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Wilson Center
Abstract:
Over the past decade, the Mexican military has been crafted into hardened and more professional military, skilled in fourth generation warfare, operating across the spectrum of conflict from surgical small-unit Special Forces missions to division-level stability operations in areas comparable in size to Belgium. As new—state and non-state—threats loom on the horizon, the U.S. and Mexican militaries will need to rely on deepening their connection and increasing bilateral trust to build a stronger and interdependent defense relationship. The increase in dialogue and cooperation builds trust and promotes mutual understanding between Mexico and the United States, crafting deep ties between both militaries during a time when the radicalization of political ideas threatens to transcend electoral campaign rhetoric and affect the economic and social fields of North America. For two neighbors that share an annual trade worth USD 534 billion along a 2,000-mile border, understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses should be a priority. This paper is meant to provide a deeper understanding of the Mexican military and its contribution to the defense and security of North America. It does so by analyzing the evolution of Mexico’s armed forces, and the past and present cooperation between the Mexican and the U.S. militaries.
Topic:
International Cooperation, International Affairs, Armed Forces, and Military Affairs
Political Geography:
America and Mexico

433. Back from the Brink Toward Restraint and Dialogue between Russia and the West

Author:
William Perry and Deep Cuts Commission
Publication Date:
06-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Brookings Institution
Abstract:
This report contains a number of bold proposals on how to better manage relations between the West and Russia in order to avert worst-case scenarios. Specifying that cooperative solutions are pos- sible without giving up on the fundamental interests of each side, it warrants a close look by officials in both Moscow and Washington.
Topic:
International Relations, International Cooperation, International Security, International Affairs, and Geopolitics
Political Geography:
Russia, America, Europe, and Global Focus

434. Towards an Inclusive Israeli Foreign Policy

Author:
Mitvim
Publication Date:
11-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Mitvim: The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies
Abstract:
Due to developments in the international diplomatic arena, as well as the information revolution, foreign relations are no longer the sole purview of government officials. Increasingly, civil society organizations, businesses and private entrepreneurs are playing a pivotal role in international relations among states. Nevertheless, Israeli foreign policy is still considered the exclusive domain of experts. Indeed, significant sub-groups of the population – women, Palestinian citizens of Israel, ultra-Orthodox Jews, new immigrants and residents of the country's geographic periphery – do not participate meaningfully in the Israeli public debate concerning foreign affairs, let alone the corresponding decision- making process.
Topic:
International Relations, Foreign Policy, International Cooperation, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Israel

435. Cooperation between Israel and the Arab world

Author:
Mitvim
Publication Date:
09-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Mitvim: The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies
Abstract:
Israelis see high importance in advancing cooperation with Egypt, while cooperation with the Palestinian Authority is of low priority. This is the main finding from a public opinion poll conducted for the Mitvim Institute on July 13, 2016 by the Rafi Smith Institute and in cooperation with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung. It sampled 500 men and women, as a representative sample of the Israeli adult population (aged 18 and older, from both the Jewish and Arab sectors).
Topic:
International Relations, International Cooperation, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Israel

436. Committed: U.S. Foreign Policy in Asia and Completing the Rebalance

Author:
Shihoko Goto, Robert Daly, Michael Kugelman, Sandy Pho, Meg Lundsager, Robert Litwak, Robert Person, and James Person
Publication Date:
09-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Wilson Center
Abstract:
The United States is a Pacific power. It may be so reluctantly, but its continued military, political, and economic engagement has been key to Asia’s stability and prosperity. Ensuring that the Asia-Pacific remains robust politically and economically will be in the United States’ own interest, and will be a key foreign policy challenge for any administration. The realities on the ground in Asia, though, are rapidly changing. The region has become increasingly divided, and rivalries are manifesting themselves in territorial disputes, competition for resources, as well as a growing arms race. Having overtaken Japan as the world’s second-largest economy, China has sought to become as much a political and military power as much as an economic one. Beijing’s vision for the region puts China at its center, which has led to rifts in relations among Asian nations, not to mention Sino-U.S. relations. Continued stability in the region cannot be taken for granted. Washington must continue to be committed to Asia, not least amid growing concerns about North Korea’s nuclear aspirations, maritime disputes, and alternative visions for economic development.
Topic:
Foreign Policy, International Cooperation, International Political Economy, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
America and Asia

437. Global Energy Debates and the Eastern Mediterranean

Author:
Ayla Gürel Moran, Harry G. Tzimitras, and Hubert Faustmann
Publication Date:
12-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Atlantic Council
Abstract:
On 16 November 2016 the PRIO Cyprus Centre (PCC), the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Cyprus (FES) and the Atlantic Council (AC) co-hosted a one-day conference entitled ‘Global Energy Debates and the East Mediterranean’. The conference, held in the UN Buffer Zone in Nicosia, was organised with a view to introducing the Cypriot public to the increasingly complex global energy terrain. Thus, the main focus of the deliberations was not the Eastern Mediterranean, but rather the broader energy picture surrounding the region. The international experts who attended the conference presented topics that concern some of the more salient broader debates, such as the link between energy and global warming as well as the energy relations of the European Union, which constitutes the largest potential market in the neighbourhood for the hydrocarbons of the Eastern Mediterranean. The latter included examination of three important cases to Europe’s east: Russia, Iran, and Turkey. East Mediterranean energy develop- ments and regional cooperation prospects were also discussed by a panel of experts from Cyprus, Egypt and Israel. This edited volume comprises contributions submitted by speakers based on their talks delivered at the conference.
Topic:
Energy Policy, Environment, International Organization, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

438. The World After the Paris Climate Agreement of December 2015

Author:
Eduardo Viola and Leonardo Paz Neves
Publication Date:
05-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI)
Abstract:
In December 2015, members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) gathered in Paris at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP). Expectations regarding the Conference were high: having failed to agree on a legally binding treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol at COP 15, in Copenhagen, when expectations were very high because of the new climate friendly presidency of Obama and the possibility of a shift in the Chinese position, and in 2012, when the first commitment period of the Protocol expired, members settled COP 21 as the new deadline. Achievements of the Conference, especially the Paris Agreement, will be judged differently depending from the point of view.
Topic:
Climate Change, International Cooperation, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

439. Advice for the 45th U.S. President: Opinions from Across the Pacific

Author:
Lindsey. W Ford
Publication Date:
12-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Asia Society
Abstract:
ON JANUARY 20, 2017, AMERICA’S FIRST “PACIFIC PRESIDENT” WILL DEPART OFFICE. Many Asian observers fear that America’s regional commitments will depart along with him. The election of Donald Trump raises more questions than answers for Asian leaders eager to under- stand the nature of U.S. engagement in the region in the future. There has been a remarkable history of consistency and bipartisanship in the U.S. approach to Asia over many decades. But this election has upended many assumptions about U.S. policy in ways that leave foreign policy experts, both in the United States and abroad, unsure of what to expect next. President-elect Trump has made clear that few things will be “business as usual” for the future. Several of his proposals, including withdrawing the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, and annulling U.S. ratification of the Paris Climate Agreement would reverberate across the region and mark a significant about-face in U.S. policy. Other proposals, less directly related to Asia, such as suspending immigration from certain Muslim nations, would also have implications for Asian countries with significant Muslim majorities or minorities.
Topic:
International Relations, International Organization, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Global Focus

440. UN 2030: Rebuilding Order in a Fragmenting World

Author:
Kevin Rudd
Publication Date:
08-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Asia Society
Abstract:
As the world faces a slew of complicated challenges and the international community comes together to select the next UN Secretary General, there is renewed debate about the role of the UN in international affairs. In UN 2030: Rebuilding Order in a Fragmenting World, Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) President Kevin Rudd argues that the UN continues to matter. The report makes the case that if the UN fails, falters, or fades away, it would fundamentally erode the stability of an already fragile global order. At the same time, Rudd contends, we tend to take the UN for granted, overlooking the reality that its continued existence is not inevitable. The UN, while not yet broken, is in trouble. The report concludes, however, that the UN is capable of reinventing itself. This requires not one-off reforms but a continual process of reinvention to ensure the institution is responding to the policy challenges of our time.
Topic:
United Nations, International Affairs, Political Theory, Geopolitics, and Political and institutional effectiveness
Political Geography:
Global Focus

441. Trends in US Congressional Support for Israel

Author:
Amnon Cavari and Elan Nyer
Publication Date:
06-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies (BESA)
Abstract:
American political leaders have supported the “special relationship” between the US and Israel since the earliest days of Israel’s existence. Support for Israel is invariably invoked during presidential campaigns and in party platforms. During their terms in office, US presidents regularly address issues relating to Israel and assert their commitment to Israel’s security.
Topic:
International Cooperation, International Security, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
America and Israel

442. Indian Responses to Israel’s Gaza Operations

Author:
C S Samuel Rajiv
Publication Date:
05-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
The Begin-Sadat Centre for Strategic Studies (BESA)
Abstract:
This study examines Indian governmental responses to the three major Israeli military interventions in the Gaza Strip over the past decade. It reviews the unprecedented parliamentary debate that took place in India during Operation Protective Edge, when the government sidestepped opposition demands for a resolution critical of Israel. It also assesses the Modi government’s intention to inject new dynamism into the India-Israel relationship.
Topic:
International Security and International Affairs
Political Geography:
India and Israel

443. Revisiting What Works: Women, Economic Empowerment and Smart Design

Author:
Mayra Buvinic and Megan O’Donnell
Publication Date:
11-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Center for Global Development
Abstract:
Expanding women’s economic opportunities bene ts both women and society. Women’s choices widen and societies gain from the contribution that women’s income makes to economic growth and family wellbeing. These bene ts are increasingly well-understood, but much less is known regarding the most effective interventions to empower women economically. The call to nd out what works is long overdue. Gender gaps in economic performance are pervasive and persistent — women earn less than men across countries and occupations, and gender gaps are especially salient in poor countries. A wide range of policies and programs — from long-term investments in health and education to short-term training programs and ‘just-in-time’ information on markets — can potentially help close these gender gaps and bolster women’s economic advancement.
Topic:
Gender Issues, International Affairs, and International Development
Political Geography:
Global Focus

444. Shared Border, Shared Future: A Blueprint to Regulate US-Mexico Labor Mobility

Author:
Carlos Gutierrez, Ernesto Zedillo, and Michael Clemens
Publication Date:
09-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Center for Global Development
Abstract:
Mexico and the United States have lacked a bilateral agreement to regulate cross-border labor mobility since 1965. Since that time, unlawful migration from Mexico to the US has exploded. Almost half of the 11.7 million Mexican-born individuals living in the U.S. do not have legal authorization. This vast black market in labor has harmed both countries. These two neighboring countries, with an indisputably shared destiny, can come together to work out a better way. The time has come for a lasting, innovative, and cooperative solution. To address this challenge, the Center for Global Development assembled a group of leaders from both countries and with diverse political affiliations—from backgrounds in national security, labor unions, law, economics, business, and diplomacy—to recommend how to move forward. The result is a new blueprint for a bilateral agreement that is designed to end unlawful migration, promote the interests of U.S. and Mexican workers, and uphold the rule of law.
Topic:
International Political Economy, International Affairs, Labor Issues, and Border Control
Political Geography:
America and Mexico

445. Not a Leap but a Step in the Right Direction: Mogherini’s Structural and Personnel Reform of the EU’s Diplomatic Service

Author:
Tereza Novotná
Publication Date:
03-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Europeum Institute for European Policy
Abstract:
Federica Mogherini, the EU’s foreign policy chief, has recently been praised for mediating the Iran nuclear deal. However, policy action (or inaction) should not be the only metric by which to judge Mogherini’s successes and failures. Any High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice- President of the European Commission (HRVP) is also responsible for the effective organization and management of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and its officials. The importance of this issue lies in the fact that it is the EEAS personnel who prepares HRVP’s foreign policy proposals and represents the EU in third countries.
Topic:
International Relations and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Europe

446. Ben Gardane Attacks: Achievements and Failures

Author:
Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Publication Date:
03-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Al Jazeera Center for Studies
Abstract:
The 7 March 2016 attacks on Ben Gardane by Islamic State (IS) occurred in the context of growing upheaval in next-door Libya, internal government tension in Tunisia and challenges faced by Tunisia’s security apparatus after several armed attacks in the country during 2015. This policy brief examines the security, political and regional contexts of the Ben Gardane attack, the positive and negative aspects of the state’s response and addresses preventative measures the state is likely to take in the future.
Topic:
Conflict Resolution, Terrorism, and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Tunisia

447. International Affairs

Author:
Len Hoffman
Publication Date:
12-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
East View Information Services
Abstract:
Annual meeting of Russian federation ambassadors and permanent envoys
Topic:
International Relations and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Russia

449. Relations Between Russia and Europe: No Simple Solutions in Sight

Author:
S. Karaganov
Publication Date:
12-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
East View Information Services
Abstract:
The Crisis between Russia and the West is associated with Crimea and Russia’s actions in Donbass and Ukraine; in fact, it has deeper roots while its long-term repercussions might prove to be much graver than expect- ed. a large-scale armed clash cannot be excluded even if this possibility is gradually reducing; we should be ready to political confrontation and contracted economic ties. Today, Europe is facing an even greater threat: a civilizational divorce with Russia.
Topic:
International Relations and International Affairs
Political Geography:
Russia and Europe

450. International Affairs

Author:
East View Information Services
Publication Date:
12-2016
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
East View Information Services
Abstract:
World Issues
Topic:
International Affairs and International Development
Political Geography:
Global Focus