Russia recently conducted military strikes on several fronts in Deir Ezzor province in eastern Syria, especially to the south in the border town of Boukamal. These strikes were conducted to retake ISIS’ last strong- holds in Syria after the liberation of Raqqa, the group’s de facto capital, in mid-October by the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a Kurdish-led militia. The militia, backed the US-led coalition, controls the east side of the Euphrates river in Deir Ezzor and now is in a frantic race with al-Assad’s forces to recapture Boukamal, where Russia’s use of air and naval re- power aims to settle the battle and consolidate its presence ahead of the coming political milestones in Syria.
Topic:
International Cooperation and International Affairs
With the International Olympic Committee excluding the Russian national team from the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea, the importance for Russia’s authorities of the FIFA World Cup is increasing. World Cup competition will be held from 14 June to 15 July 2018. The tournament will be used in Russia’s internal politics, especially in the presidential campaign, and in relations with other countries to strengthen bilateral contacts and portray Russia as a country with a strong international position.
Lance Alred, Sean Michael Kelly, Madina Rubly, Yuliya Shokh, Mariam Tsitsishvili, and Richard Weitz
Publication Date:
10-2017
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Revista UNISCI/UNISCI Journal
Institution:
Unidad de investigación sobre seguridad y cooperación (UNISCI)
Abstract:
U.S. policy faces numerous challenges in Central Asia, such as the decreasing U.S. military and
economic resources in the region; Russian and Chinese hostility to a long-term U.S. military presence
in Eurasia; restrictions on religious and other freedoms due partly to counterterrorism concerns;
limited U.S. involvement in the region compared to other external players (like Japan as well as
Russia and China); an undeveloped U.S. policy regarding regional multinational institutions; and the
indifference and ignorance of U.S. business toward regional commercial opportunities beyond the
energy sector. However, advocates of “America First” in the Trump administration do not see these
threats as sufficiently serious to garner U.S. military intervention beyond occasional training,
equipping, and intelligence sharing. Terrorism, drug trafficking, economic isolation, and human rights
restrictions in Central Asia do not present an immediate existential threat to the United States, sowing
ambivalence over the future of U.S. foreign policy in the region.
Topic:
Terrorism, Cybersecurity, Trafficking, and Donald Trump
Political Geography:
Russia, China, Central Asia, and United States of America
Unidad de investigación sobre seguridad y cooperación (UNISCI)
Abstract:
The use of the EU instrument of political and economic sanctions has continually been rising
since 1987. However, the sanctions are used differently according to geographic vicinity, political
motivation, and which security objectives the EU promotes. Clara Portela explored the European
sanction regime for the period 1987-2003 and showed that the EU has different political motivations
and objectives for each region and that, in particular, geographic vicinity plays a significant role for
the application for sanctions. This article relates to Portela´s analytic approach from 2005 and verifies
her hypotheses for the period 2005-2015. In summary, the article shows that the EU still focuses on
geographic vicinity and security relevance. Only the area of sanction application has changed, moving
from Eastern Europe to the Middle East.
Topic:
International Relations, Security, Foreign Policy, Sanctions, and European Union
Russia experienced its revolution late in the game. By that time, most Western countries had already gone through coups and industrialization and promptly rejected feudal rules and practices. Most importantly, they had had enough time to resign themselves to their revolutions and their consequences and national scars left by any upheaval had healed. Moreover, countries and peoples are – if not proud – not ashamed of the past events. In terms of historical memory, revolutions are often reconciled with national archetypes.
Topic:
Politics, History, Revolution, and Russian Revolution