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16322. Russia: Briefing sheet
- Publication Date:
- 04-2020
- Content Type:
- Country Data and Maps
- Institution:
- Economist Intelligence Unit
- Abstract:
- No abstract is available.
- Topic:
- Politics, Summary, Outlook, and Briefing sheet
- Political Geography:
- Russian Federation
16323. eSwatini: Country outlook
- Publication Date:
- 04-2020
- Content Type:
- Country Data and Maps
- Institution:
- Economist Intelligence Unit
- Abstract:
- No abstract is available.
- Topic:
- Economy, Outlook, Forecast, and Overview
- Political Geography:
- Swaziland
16324. Preparing for the worst: Was North Korea’s decision to develop nuclear weapons rational?
- Author:
- Sanghoon Kim
- Publication Date:
- 04-2020
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Pacific Forum
- Abstract:
- North Korea’s foreign policy decision-making procedure is highly centralized to a single leader or, at most, a few political/military elites. While democratic governments are restrained both horizontally and vertically, authoritarian regimes are relatively free of constraints from the public. This paper examines the motivations behind North Korea’s nuclear weapons development in light of the rational deterrence model, then discusses the strategic implications of a rational, or irrational, North Korea. It concludes that North Korea’s decision to develop nuclear weapons was rationally motivated by the deteriorating security environment surrounding the state, but that this will not guarantee deterrence.
- Topic:
- Nuclear Weapons, Authoritarianism, Deterrence, Denuclearization, and Rationality
- Political Geography:
- South Korea, North Korea, and Korean Peninsula
16325. Maritime Issues in the Indo-Pacific: Building a Shared Vision of "Free and Open"
- Author:
- Nicholas Millward, Caitlin Doornbos, and John Bradford
- Publication Date:
- 03-2020
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Pacific Forum
- Abstract:
- Pacific Forum, the Yokosuka Council on Asia Pacific Studies (YCAPS), and Tama University’s Center for Rule-making Strategies, with support from the US Embassy in Japan, organized a conference discussing maritime issues in the Indo-Pacific as they relate to the “Free and Open” concept. The event was hosted by the Center for Rule-making Strategies in Tokyo November 21-22, 2019. Approximately 35 senior officials, scholars, scientists, and security specialists attended in their personal capacity for an off-the-record discussion. The closed-door conference covered an array of maritime challenges including territorial conflicts, erosion of the rule of law, piracy and other criminal activities, unsustainable fishing practices, and environmental destruction. Synchronizing the efforts of uniquely qualified experts, this conference and its initiatives developed important messages for regional and global thinkers.
- Topic:
- Regional Cooperation, Navy, Maritime, and Fishing
- Political Geography:
- Japan, Asia, and Asia-Pacific
16326. Building Resilient Health Systems: Experimental Evidence from Sierra Leone and the 2014 Ebola Outbreak
- Author:
- Bilal Siddiqi, Maarten Voors, Johannes Haushofer, Oeindrila Dube, and Darin Christensen
- Publication Date:
- 03-2020
- Content Type:
- Working Paper
- Institution:
- Empirical Studies of Conflict Project (ESOC)
- Abstract:
- Developing countries are characterized by high rates of mortality and morbidity. A potential contributing factor is the low utilization of health systems, stemming from the low perceived quality of care delivered by health personnel. This factor may be especially critical during crises, when individuals choose whether to cooperate with response efforts and frontline health personnel. We experimentally examine efforts aimed at improving health worker performance in the context of the 2014–15 West African Ebola crisis. Roughly two years before the outbreak in Sierra Leone, we randomly assigned two accountability interventions to government-run health clinics — one focused on community monitoring and the other gave status awards to clinic staff. We find that over the medium run, prior to the Ebola crisis, both interventions led to improvements in utilization of clinics and patient satisfaction with the health system. In addition, child health outcomes improved substantially in the catchment areas of community monitoring clinics. During the crisis, the interventions also led to higher reported Ebola cases, as well as lower mortality from Ebola—particularly in areas with community monitoring clinics. We explore three potential mechanisms: the interventions (1) increased the likelihood that patients reported Ebola symptoms and sought care; (2) unintentionally increased Ebola incidence; or (3) improved surveillance efforts. We find evidence consistent with the first: by building trust and confidence in health workers, and improving the perceived quality of care provided by clinics prior to the outbreak, the interventions encouraged patients to report and receive treatment. Our results suggest that accountability interventions not only have the power to improve health systems during normal times, but can additionally make health systems resilient to crises that may emerge over the longer run.
- Topic:
- Health, Infectious Diseases, Health Care Policy, Mortality, Public Health, and Pandemic
- Political Geography:
- West Africa and Sierra Leone
16327. Resilience in the Face of the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Author:
- David Steven and Alex Evans
- Publication Date:
- 05-2020
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- World Politics Review
- Abstract:
- Just months after reports emerged of a novel coronavirus spreading in central China, our world, and all of our individual worlds, have been transformed by what has become a terrifying pandemic. Governments around the globe are taking unprecedented steps to restrict movement and limit social contact among their populations to contain the virus’s spread. Growing numbers of the world’s inhabitants are now living in either voluntary or imposed isolation, or preparing to. The articles collected here look at what governments, other global actors and individuals must do to survive the crisis and navigate the new world beyond it.
- Topic:
- Health, Public Health, Coronavirus, Pandemic, and Resilience
- Political Geography:
- Global Focus
16328. Do the BRICS care about International Security?
- Author:
- Filippo Cutrera
- Publication Date:
- 01-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- BRICS Policy Center
- Abstract:
- The present paper has three main objectives: first, to show that, over the first decade of existence of the group, between 2009 and 2018, the BRICS have manifested an increasing interest in expanding their cooperation beyond the traditional areas of economy and development to the field of global security; second, to present the content of their common security agenda and how it has developed throughout this period; third, to identify the main factors influencing the agenda-setting process of the group as well as the main challenges to further advancement. The research will conclude that the high levels of informality in the group’s cooperation and heterogeneity in the interests of its members have enabled BRICS to formulate common positions and to establish cooperation mechanisms on a broad range of issues of international security.
- Topic:
- International Cooperation, National Security, Regional Cooperation, and International Security
- Political Geography:
- Russia, China, India, South Africa, and Brazil
16329. Truth and justice initiatives in non-transitional contexts: experiences from Latin America
- Author:
- Victória Monteiro da Silva Santos
- Publication Date:
- 01-2020
- Content Type:
- Policy Brief
- Institution:
- BRICS Policy Center
- Abstract:
- By tracing concepts such as truth, justice, reparations, and nonrepeats, as well as models such as the International Commission against Impunity, the Interdisciplinary Group of Independent Experts, and the Truth Commission, the article discusses some of the ways in which a diversity actors sought to address and transform the complex patterns of organized violence that routinely impact various Latin American societies.
- Topic:
- Conflict Resolution, Transitional Justice, Justice, Reconciliation, Truth, and Reparations
- Political Geography:
- Colombia, Latin America, and Mexico
16330. From White Teyab to Pink Kandakat: Gender and the 2018-2019 Sudanese Revolution
- Author:
- Miriam Engeler, Elena Braghieri, and Samira Manzur
- Publication Date:
- 05-2020
- Content Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal:
- Journal of Public and International Affairs (JPIA)
- Institution:
- School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), Princeton University
- Abstract:
- This paper provides a gender analysis of the 2018-2019 Sudanese Revolution, its goals and outcomes, and the strategies employed by protestors and state security forces. To do so, it sheds a light on how protesters drew on, emphasized, and mobilized along gendered identities. It pays particular attention to the part women played in mobilization efforts in the revolution and historic (dis)continuities of their role in mass mobilization. An analysis of protest spaces brings to light the way gender roles were practiced and negotiated within the movement. Examining the state’s response to the demonstrations, the paper highlights state forces’ gender-specific strategies to intimidate protesters and their practice of sexual violence. Lastly, the analysis turns to the first months of political transition. Women’s important roles in the revolution and their challenging of traditional gender roles have not yet translated into equal political representation in the transition, although some of their human rights demands have been met. The paper concludes by urging the Sudanese interim government to include the grievances and perspectives of women and marginalized groups in the negotiation of the country’s future both at the negotiation table and in the transitional legislative body.
- Topic:
- International Relations, Gender Issues, Politics, Social Movement, Women, Identities, and Revolution
- Political Geography:
- Africa and Sudan