CSIS: Publication Feed

Polio in Nigeria

jdunton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Since 1988, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI)—an international partnership of government and private institutions—has reduced the number of reported polio cases worldwide by more than 99 percent, successfully eliminating polio from much of the globe. Yet Nigeria remains one of the most entrenched reservoirs of poliovirus in the world.

Leading from Behind in Public-Private Partnerships?

jdunton — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

European countries have consistently been significant contributors of international official development assistance (ODA); in 2010, the EU and its member states spent €53.8 on ODA, nearly 60 percent of global development aid.

Afghanistan: The Failed Metrics of Ten Years of War

sherry — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The US has now been at war in Afghanistan for more than a decade, and is committed to stay through 2014 – with a possible advisory, aid, and funding presence that may extend to 2025. There still, however, are no convincing unclassified ways to measure progress in the war, or the trends in the fighting and level of violence.

Pacific Partners Outlook: The Pacific's New Market

gpoling — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

One should not be surprised when Nauru, a nation of less than 10,000, is offered $50 million from Russia. Nor should the opening of diplomatic missions from Georgia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates in the South Pacific be remarkable when considering what is at stake.

The Pacific's New Market: Trading Aid for Votes

sherry — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Xi Jinping Comes to Washington

sherry — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Vice President Joe Biden will host Vice President Xi Jinping of China on February 14–17. Xi, who is 58 years old, is the heir apparent to China’s top leader Hu Jintao. He will become secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) this fall at the 18th Party Congress and will become China’s president in March 2013.

NRC Approves Construction and Operating License for Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant

sherry — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: What does the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s approval of the Combined Construction and Operating License for the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Burke County, Georgia, mean?

The Crisis in Syria

sherry — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: How has President Bashar al-Assad of Syria been able to remain in power in the wake of mounting unrest?

A1: A number of local and regional factors have and are likely to continue to enable Assad to hang on to power, at least in the short to medium term.

Blue Ribbon Commission on America's Nuclear Future Issues a Final Report

sherry — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On January 26, the Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future delivered its final report to the U.S. secretary of energy. The commission was formed at the request of President Barack Obama two years ago after he announced that his administration would no longer pursue the Yucca Mountain, Nevada, nuclear waste site. Led by former U.S. representative Lee Hamilton and former U.S.

Islam, Islamism, and Politics in Eurasia Report (IIPER) - No. 51, 8 February 2012

azikibayeva — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Contents:

Russia

Iraq and the Challenge of Continuing Violence

sherry — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from Iraq at the end of 2011 did not leave that country with a functioning democracy or effective governance; nor has it put an end to high levels of local violence, or ethnic and sectarian tension.

PacNet #9 - Protecting Chinese Citizens Abroad: What next?

ellise — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The dramatic rise in overseas travel and expatriate work by Chinese was punctuated by the recent kidnappings of Chinese workers in Sudan and Egypt. "Overseas Chinese protection" (haiwai gongmin baohu) has been a critical priority since deadly attacks killed 14 Chinese workers in Afghanistan and Pakistan in 2004.

U.S. and Iranian Strategic Competition: The Impact of China and Russia

ecurran — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

US competition with Iran has become the equivalent of a game of three-dimensional chess, but a game where each side can modify at least some of the rules with each move.

The Evolving U.S. Footprint in Southeast Asia

kate — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Over the past two weeks, U.S. defense secretary Leon Panetta and his key officers, including Admiral Robert F. Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, have actively explained details of President Barack Obama’s January 5 announcement about the new defense budget and its implications for the Asia Pacific. Southeast Asian counterparts want to clearly understand U.S.

Southeast Asia from the Corner of 18th and K Streets: The Evolving U.S. Footprint in Southeast Asia

gpoling — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Over the past two weeks, U.S. defense secretary Leon Panetta and his key officers, including Admiral Robert Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, have actively explained details of President Barack Obama’s January 5 announcement about the new defense budget and its implications for the Asia Pacific.

PacNet #8 - A Moment for Action for the Life Sciences

ellise — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

An important research finding in the life sciences has galvanized and divided the international scientific and security communities.

Russia’s Self-defeating Game in Syria

kate — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Russia’s opposition to a new UN Security Council resolution calling on Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to step down should hardly come as a surprise. Reflecting a series of calculations about the Middle East as well as relations with the West, Moscow has staunchly backed Assad throughout the popular unrest roiling Syria over the past 10 months.

The Real Issues in Afghanistan: Looking Beyond Undefined Policy Statements and Slogans

ian — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Secretary’s Panetta’s comment about ending the US combat role in Afghanistan in 2013, and focusing on building up Afghan forces, have triggered a predictable firestorm of criticism, guesswork, and speculation.

Key Official US and IAEA Statements About Iran’s Nuclear Programs

ian — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

There is a great deal of speculation about Iran’s nuclear programs that do not list sources or reflect the views of the US intelligence community.

India Votes 2012

ian — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

While the United States is in the throes of an election year, with state primaries and debates taking place nearly weekly, India too is in the midst of an important round of state elections. The first elections began on January 28, and they will continue through the end of the year. The final results for the first five elections will be announced on March 6.

Hemisphere Insider: Volume II, Issue 1 - January 2012

Mgraybeal — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 -0500

IN BRIEF: Cuba, Honduras, Southern Cone, Foreign Relations

UPDATES: Chile's Former President Ricardo Lagos Discusses New Book; Upcoming Events; Elections 2012

The Private-Sector Role in Public Health

jdunton — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In recent decades, there has been a decided evolution in perspectives on the roles and responsibilities of business in society. The classic position was Milton Friedman’s 1970 pronouncement that the only responsibility a business has is to return a profit to its shareholders.

Egypt and U.S. Health Assistance

jdunton — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Few countries have been as successful as Egypt in parlaying its strategic position into an economic asset. At the nexus of two continents, astride the Suez Canal, and with one-quarter of the Arab world’s entire population, Egypt has made itself an object of interest, and often an object of concern, among the world’s great powers for more than a half-century.

PacNet #7A - US-India Relations: Pivot Problems

ellise — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

There is a conundrum at the heart of the Obama administration's "pivot" toward Asia, at least as it relates to India.

Senegal’s Democracy at the Crossroads

ian — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The pursuit of a third term in office by Senegal’s octogenarian president, Adboulaye Wade, is in clear defiance of a constitutional change he himself enacted. It highlights once again the difficulties of framing effective international responses to nonmilitary, but nonetheless illegitimate, attempts by heads of state to hold onto power.

What Does the ICC Decision Mean for Kenya?

ian — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

What does the ruling by the International Criminal Court (ICC) mean for Kenya’s presidential election later this year, now that cases against two top aspirants—First Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta and Kalenjin leader William Ruto—are to proceed to trial in The Hague?

PacNet #7 - Return to Asia: It's Not (All) About China

ellise — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

"All right China, come out with your hands up; we've got you surrounded!" When one reads about the US "pivot" to Asia, it is almost always cast in terms of countering China's rise, as if it - and everything else that Washington does in Asia - is always all about China. Of course, Beijing thinks it's all about China . . .

Global Hunger and Food Price Volatility in 2012

ecurran — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Early in 2011, food price riots helped trigger one of the most unexpected and significant events of the past decade: the Arab Spring, which saw the downfall of governments in the Middle East, the death of a long-time dictator in Libya, and ongoing strife in Syria and Yemen.

The “New” US Defense Strategy and the FY2013 US Defense Budget: The Details of What the Department Has Said to Date

ian — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

During the last month, the US Department of Defense has issued a series of announcements, and two white papers summarizing its “new” approach to strategy and the decisions it is making in its FY2013 budget submission to cut the size and cost of US military forces.

The Link: January Newsletter

ncollins — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A summary of events hosted by PPD as well as commentary and reports published during the last 6 months.

DIIG Current Issues No. 27: Internal R&D Productivity in Aerospace and Defense

gsanders — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

In an environment of declining defense spending by what have traditionally been the largest customers on both sides of the Atlantic, aerospace and defense companies face difficult decisions on how to deploy their cash.

Measuring the Causes of Instability in the Middle East and North Africa

ian — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Burke Chair at CSIS has developed a new report entitled The Causes of Instability in the Middle East and North Africa, which is available on the CSIS web site at:

http://csis.org/files/publication/120126_MENA_Stability_Slides.pdf

Protection of Health Care in Armed and Civil Conflict

jdunton — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

During recent uprisings in Bahrain, Syria, and Libya, security forces obstructed access to health facilities; harassed, arrested, and prosecuted medical personnel; and even assaulted patients within hospitals.

PacNet #6A - All Roads to Myanmar

ellise — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

One after another, Western dignitaries are traveling to Myanmar. A standard interpretation of the change in attitude is that Myanmar is finally demonstrating the courage and means to break away from China. But was Myanmar in the Chinese "geopolitical grip" in the first place?

Energy in the State of the Union: Not a Bad Place to Start

ecurran — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Last night, President Barack Obama delivered the State of the Union address to Congress. The speech is being characterized by many in the media as many things: populist in tone, a campaign year positioning speech, and a mild tongue-lashing for Congress.

Islam, Islamism, and Politics in Eurasia Report (IIPER) - No. 50, 25 January 2012

azikibayeva — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Contents:

Russia:

PacNet #6 - Myanmar's Reforms: The Challenges Ahead

ellise — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The recent release of many high-profile political prisoners by the Myanmar government has been hailed as a firm step on the country's path toward democracy. While the effects of many reforms have not yet trickled down tangibly to the masses and remain largely confined to major cities and Bamar-majority areas, noticeable changes have undeniably occurred.

US and Iranian Strategic Competition In Sanctions, Energy, Arms Control, and Arms Transfers

sherry — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Tightening sanctions and Iran’s reactions have become a race against time. Every day brings a new event as the competition between the US and Iran plays out on a global level. The Burke Chair at CSIS is issuing a new report that puts this competition in a broader perspective, as part of its on-going series on US and Iranian strategic competition.

Polio Eradication in India

jdunton — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

India’s struggle against major health challenges in the past few decades has been a white-knuckle ride, with India illustrating some of the best, as well as the worst, of the health problems of the developing world.

The Significance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Negotiations

sherry — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

Q1: What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership?

Middle East Notes and Comment: The Arab Decade?

dholodnik — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

One year ago, the protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square proved that Tunisia was not a fluke. Until January 2011, Tunisia didn’t resonate much in the Arab world. It was too small, too Francophile, and too socially liberal.

The FY2013 Defense Budget Submission: Strategy is Easy (and Usually Vacuous); Money is Hard (And Only Meaningful if Used Wisely)

ian — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The Obama Administration announced a new strategy early this month, but one in which it failed to provide meaningful details as to changes in deployments, force levels and plans, procurement plans, and spending.

Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty

sherry — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the moratorium on nuclear testing by the United States and the Soviet Union. Following a combined total of 2,000 test explosions, only a handful has been detonated since 1992.

Succession and Stability in North Korea

mdumond — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On January 8, Kim Jong Un celebrated his first birthday as the leader of North Korea. As the country moves further into a post-Kim Jong Il era, the world has begun to think about how to deal with Pyongyang's new leadership.

PacNet #5 - Congress and Obama's China Policy, More Bark than Bite

ellise — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The 112th Congress will complete its term in 2012 marked by strong opposition to policies of President Barack Obama on government debt, budget cuts, health care, and other issues.

The Latest in the Keystone XL Pipeline Saga

sherry — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

On January 18, 2012, the Obama administration officially denied the TransCanada application for a Presidential Permit for a 1,700-mile-long pipeline, known as Keystone XL, which would bring approximately 800,000 barrels of oil per day from the Canadian oil sands to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Strategic Partnerships to Build African Scientific Capacity for Agriculture

kate — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

The world faces an enormous challenge over the next 50 years, to double the amount of food produced globally, but without further depleting the soil, water, and other natural resources. This challenge will require a great deal of ingenuity and effort, and will rely on the capacity of the scientific community to develop new and improved crop varieties, to combat pests and diseases.

The Year of the Dragon: ASEAN's Existential Questions

gpoling — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

As the year of the dragon approaches, ASEAN must ask and answer existential questions about itself and the great powers around it.

Southeast Asia from the Corner of 18th and K Streets: The Year of the Dragon

gpoling — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

As the year of the dragon approaches, ASEAN must ask and answer existential questions about itself and the great powers around it.

Significant Cyber Events

ian — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 -0500

A list of significant cyber events since 2006.

Last modified on January 19, 2012.