Publications

This report summarizes the results of a conference held on 18 July 2016 in Amman, Jordan. The topics discussed include 1) the question of borders, ethnicities and confessions in the MENA region from World War I to the present; 2) whether the decisions taken...chevron_right

This paper looks at how the Brexit decision might impact the United Kingdom’s future prospects as a unitary state. More specifically, the text’s author 1) contemplates the possible departures of Scotland and Northern Ireland from the UK; 2) analyzes the various reactions of political parties to the Brexit debate; and 3) examines how the EU might influence the future unity of the UK.chevron_right

This paper 1) investigates the socio-political impact low oil prices will have on the economies of North Africa and the Middle East over the medium and long-term; 2) highlights the “wise” policy decisions oil producing states will have to make in order to prevent further regional economic turmoil; and...chevron_right

The aim of this DBC study is threefold. First, it lays out the defense spending of 31 European countries, primarily to highlight their levels of investment and procurement. Second, the study synopsizes the defense cooperation that occurred across the continent between October 2015 and March 2016. Finally, it highlights the opportunities that exist for greater defense collaboration in Europe.chevron_right

This paper argues that the G20 should be at the center of Australia’s approach to international economic engagement in the years ahead. The text’s authors further assert that 1) the G20 is a valuable, if flawed, institution that provides...chevron_right

This analysis argues that Russia’s announcement in early 2016 that it would provide significant amounts of equipment and ordnance to Fiji confirms that the traditional security order in the Pacific Islands region is changing. In response, Australia and New Zealand should...chevron_right

Diego Ruiz Palmer believes NATO should develop a military strategy that functions just below the Alliance’s Strategic Concept and that reflects Europe’s current security environment. As he sees it, the Framework Nations’ Concept (FNC), which Germany first proposed, fits the bill. It could, for example, create “coherent forces” and much more.chevron_right

In this article, Daniel Koehler examines right-wing political violence and its security implications for Germany, Western Europe and beyond. The problem with this specific form of mayhem is that it has unique characteristics that are hard for security agencies to detect and then blunt. It also doesn’t help that right-wing and Islamist extremists have been lumped together in ways that block the adaptations that are needed to address two distinct threats.chevron_right

This brief traces the evolution of Sweden’s security policy over the last 25 years, which has progressed from overt neutrality to military and political non-alignment. The text’s author also wonders whether...chevron_right

In the shadow of China’s recent launch of several new development banks (AIIB, OBOR, NDB), this brief reminds us of the economic problems that arose when Beijing pursued large infrastructure-related initiatives in the past – i.e., 1) low usage and low profitability; 2) significant debt and broken contracts; and 3) favoritism towards state-owned companies.chevron_right

This paper focuses on the Norway-led Specialized Police Team (SPT) that has been deployed to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Its charter is to improve the capacity of the Haitian National Police to investigate sexual and gender-based violence, which the text’s authors believe represents an innovative approach to deploying police personnel in UN peacekeeping operations and building the capacity of host state police forces.chevron_right

This paper discusses the mapping process used in the Philippines in order to determine 1) how key leaders and organizations perceive the ongoing peace negotiations between the Philippines government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP); 2) what are the conflict-affected problems that...chevron_right

This briefing considers what the Brexit vote might mean for the UK’s short, medium and long-term defense and foreign policies. The text’s authors specifically focus on the constitutional uncertainties now surrounding Scotland and Northern Ireland; the budgetary implications of a likely recession; and...chevron_right

This bulletin does indeed focus on the failed coup in Turkey, to include what happened, the further consolidation of power in President Erdoǧan’s hands, and the coup’s potential impact on Turkish foreign policy. In the last case, a revitalized partnership with Russia is a distinct possibility.chevron_right

This Bulletin examines the growing scope and aggressiveness of Russian espionage, as reported in the annual assessments conducted by the Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian counterintelligence services. The text’s authors break down...chevron_right