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UkraineAlert

Jan 22, 2018

Ukraine: Where Watchdogs Need Safeguards

By Luke Drabyn and Samantha Feinstein

It is ironic but fitting that in Ukraine, the agency tasked with protecting whistleblowers has instead fostered so much corruption that its own employees, after speaking out, have become victims of retaliation. In mid-November, Hanna Solomatina, the former head of the financial control department within the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP), alleged that she […]

Ukraine

UkraineAlert

Jan 22, 2018

When Will We See a Breakthrough in Ukraine?

By Pavlo Sheremeta

When asked what the exchange rate will be in 2018, I answer a question with a question: when will elections in Ukraine take place? A definite answer  is hard to come by in our country. Only one thing is certain: the fight in Ukraine will continue. Anders Åslund, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, […]

Ukraine

EconoGraphics

Jan 22, 2018

The Irish Border Question

By Ole Moehr

The future of the Irish border is one of the key sticking points in the ongoing Brexit negotiations between the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK).

Economy & Business European Union

IranSource

Jan 22, 2018

The Lion and the Dragon: Iran Looks to China for Trade and Development

By Sina Azodi

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) last week entered its third year of implementation under a cloud of uncertainty from Washington. As President Trump threatens to withdraw from the deal absent major changes, Tehran increasingly views China as a reliable partner and model for economic development.

Rebuilding Syria

Jan 22, 2018

Considering a US Protectorate in Syria

By Faysal Itani

On January 18, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson offered some long-awaited clarity on US policy in post-ISIS Syria. As recently as a few weeks ago some observers (including this author) did not believe the United States would stay in Syria at all after defeating the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, or Daesh). Secretary Tillerson presented an […]

Syria

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2018

Energy Cooperation Should Be a Catalyst for Cyprus Peace Talks

By Matthew Bryza

Presidential elections in the Republic of Cyprus, the southern Greek side of the divided island, on January 28 could provide an opportunity to restart reunification talks that collapsed last year. The very real prospect of energy cooperation should serve as a catalyst for those talks. The two sides have missed past opportunities to come to […]

Southern & Southeastern Europe

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2018

In Germany, Social Democrats Hold Merkel’s Future in their Hands

By Jörn Fleck

The SPD’s upcoming vote on the future of coalition negotiations government will not only dictate the trajectory of the country’s politics, but could have serious ramifications for the future of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. For a brief moment on January 21, all eyes in German politics will shift from Berlin to Bonn. In the predicted […]

Germany

New Atlanticist

Jan 19, 2018

Trump’s NATO Policy ‘Trending Positive’

By Clementine G. Starling

This article is part of a series reflecting on the first year of the Trump administration.  US President Donald J. Trump’s public skepticism toward multilateral organizations has created uncertainty among traditional US allies. Washington’s commitment to NATO, in particular, has been called into question in the first year of the administration. Despite critical rhetoric and […]

NATO Politics & Diplomacy

SyriaSource

Jan 19, 2018

The Conditions and Implications for the Afrin Attack

By Emily Burchfield

The first substantial evidence of a US plan for stabilization in post-ISIS Syria was revealed this week—and it didn’t go well. On Sunday, spokesmen from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the US-led coalition to defeat the Islamic State (ISIS, ISIL, Daesh) announced intentions to build a “border security” force of around 30,000 troops; made […]

Syria

MENASource

Jan 19, 2018

Tunisian civil society’s unmistakable role in keeping the peace

By Wafa Ben-Hassine

Regardless of the protesters substantive demands, it is important for the government to keep in mind that Tunisia would not be where it is today had it not been for civil society work and vigilance.

Civil Society Democratic Transitions