Category: Blogs

New Wave of Sanctions Spurs Iranian Political Repositioning

By Giorgia Perletta

While ordinary Iranians struggle to find imported medicine and buy basic foods due to re-imposed sanctions, the political debate inside the Islamic Republic is anything but static. As announced, the new wave of US secondary sanctions came into force on November 5. This came after unsuccessful efforts by Europe to dissuade President Donald Trump from […]

Why Iran won’t succumb to Trump’s sanctions

By Amir Handjani

The Trump administration has put into place a punishing new wave of sanctions against Iran that targets critical components of the Iranian economy from banks to energy, shipping and insurance. From the start of his administration, President Donald Trump has insisted that he can coerce Iran into reaching a “better deal” than the 2015 Joint […]

Securing the consumer internet of things

By Beau Woods and Jack Watson

Unfortunately, the norm for IoT devices is lax security—simple, hardcoded (unchangeable) passwords, and operating systems that can’t be patched or updated with security protection. Thus, on October 14, 2018, the United Kingdom’s department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) published its “Code of Practice for Consumer IoT Security.”

Will China’s economic slowdown lead to a major crisis?

By Josh Rudolph

Both bears and bulls make equally compelling arguments about China’s current challenges, suggesting the probability of a major crisis is in line with the historic precedent of 50/50.

Chinese infrastructure project drives Pakistan further into debt

By Aafreen Afzal

While the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has the potential to bring much-needed economic development to Pakistan, its price tag threatens to plunge the country further toward fiscal instability.

Turkish policy in Syria: Divining intent and options for the United States

By Aaron Stein

Turkey was once the main sponsor of the Syrian opposition’s effort to topple Bashar al Assad. However, beginning in late 2016, Turkish policy has shifted following the Russian defeat of Turkish backed proxies in Aleppo. This change in policy sparked a reassessment of Turkish strategy away from the overthrow of the regime and towards close cooperation with Russia and competition with the United States.

Escalation between Turkish and Kurdish leadership alters Kurdish relations with Assad

By Dan Wilkofsky

Over the summer the Kurdish-led Autonomous Administration (AA) focused on strengthening its hand in talks with the Syrian government, in an attempt to win concessions on self-rule before a potential withdrawal of US support. Among other escalatory actions, the AA inserted itself into service provision initiatives previously left to the state, and arrested dozens of candidates for local elections organized by Damascus. 

Emmanuel Macron can make France great again

By Nicholas Dungan

Macron’s approval ratings stand at an all-time low with over seventy percent of French people polled not expressing confidence in his leadership.Yet great hopes have been pinned on Macron and he has worked hard to fulfill them.

TRADE IN ACTION November 16, 2018

By Global Business & Economics Program

How Iran Will Cope With US Sanctions

By Aafreen Afzal

The Trump Administration’s second wave of sanctions against Iran went into effect earlier this month, directed against Iran’s vital oil and petrochemical sector, its Central Bank, and other financial institutions. However, Washington’s diplomatic isolation as a result of its unilateral withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and its desire to mitigate oil […]