Category: Blogs

Russian Policies towards Ukraine are Illogically Consistent

By Taras Kuzio

The European Parliament on September 12 called on Russia to respect the right of EU Eastern Partnership members such as Ukraine to enter Association Agreements. The resolution, which received overwhelming support across the parliament’s political groups, called on Russia to not use trade sanctions to force Ukraine to choose the Eurasian over the European Union.

Bahrain in Egypt’s Shadow

By Kristin Diwan

The popular movement to overthrow the Mubarak government in Egypt in 2011 served as motivation for a political uprising in Bahrain. Now, after two and a half years of political unrest and social polarization, another Egypt-inspired campaign—Bahrain’s “Tamarod” (Rebellion)—has unwittingly facilitated the expansion of security measures that threaten to curtail the activities of Bahrain’s main […]

Cameron Announces Britain will Host 2014 NATO Summit

By Office of the Prime Minister of the UK

The UK will host the 2014 NATO Summit.

An Eye on Egypt’s Amended Constitution: Committees and Bylaws

At the beginning of September, the fifty-member committee tasked with amending the 2012 constitution was announced with a presidential decree. The committee began its work on September 8, tackling the constitution that had been amended by a ten-person legal committee. The ten person committee, formed of six judges and four constitutional law professors, completed their […]

US Non-Recognition of the Syrian Interim Government

By Frederic C. Hof

Things have not been going well for Syrians opposed to the Assad regime, especially those who favor a united, constitutional, non-sectarian Syria. No news here: this has been the case since 1970, and particularly since March 2011.

Egypt’s Minimum Wage Hike: More Populism

By Mohsin Khan and Svetlana Milbert

The installation of the transitional government headed by Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi gave hope to Egyptians that the new technocratic economic team would turn the Egyptian economy around. The Beblawi government, with renowned economists like Finance Minister Ahmed Galal and Planning Minister Ashraf al Araby, was expected to reverse the downward spiral the economy was […]

EADS Head Says EU Lacks Clear Security Policy

By Daniel Michaels, Wall Street Journal

European policy on foreign affairs and security is less coherent now than at any point since the Cold War ended, widening a military gap with the U.S.

Why Nairobi

By Bronwyn Bruton

The attack on Nairobi’s Westgate mall is a vicious development in the war on terrorism: It signals the evolution of an unpopular splinter faction of a radical Somali group into a truly transnational terrorist organization. It also marks a major failure for the United States’ counterterrorism strategy in Somalia.