Publications

Kevin Kohler and Benjamin Scharte write that whether by predicting the global spread of the novel coronavirus originating from China or detecting wildfires in California, the use of artificial intelligence in civil protection promises to improve the prevention of, response to, and recovery from disasters. However, getting to this point requires the addressing of key challenges related to data, public sector access to AI talent, high-risk applications and more.chevron_right

In this report, Marie Baezner looks at the structure, organization, development, and challenges of reserve forces in military cybersecurity in Estonia, Finland, France, Israel, Switzerland and the US. Baezner finds that while all of these countries are developing cyber units based on their reserve forces, this remains a work in progress. Furthermore, the contextually dependent way these forces are used means it is difficult for countries to replicate each other’s reserve models. Nevertheless, Baezner contends that cyber reserves are a way for armed forces to close the workforce gap for in cybersecurity.chevron_right

The topic of this edition of the RAD is need-based social policies in Russia. First, Martin Brand examines the extent of poverty in Russia and analyzes the government’s policies to combat it. He concludes that Russia needs a sustained high rate of economic growth if the government is to achieve its goal of halving poverty by 2024. Second, Theresa Hornke discusses the latest family policy debates and developments in Russia. To do so, Hornke treats family policy as a multidimensional strategy and analyzes it in terms of communication, benefits and legislation.chevron_right

The RAD issue focuses on Russia's relations with three Central Asian Republics. First, Rico Issacs examines the implications of Nazarbayev’s decision to step down as president for Kazakhstan's policy towards Russia. Second, Edward Lemon and Bradley Jardine consider Russia’s growing unease about China's expanding security cooperation with Tajikistan as it could challenge Moscow's role as Dushanbe’s security guarantor. Third, Luca Anceschi assesses Russo-Turkmen relations, highlighting how these ties are shifting as energy cooperation wanes and security cooperation regarding Afghanistan is increasing.chevron_right

This CAD edition focuses on the interplay between informal and formal institutions in the South Caucasus. More specifically, the articles address 1) the deep-seated cultural roots of clientelism in Armenia and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s efforts to eradicate the power of oligarchs in the country; 2) how formal institutions in Azerbaijan are largely a façade, although one that is used by the ruling elite to package informal power arrangements and thus maintain autocratic rule; and 3) what recent constitutional changes in Georgia highlight about informal and formal institutions in the country.chevron_right

Enzo Nussio writes that even though a series of armed groups have demobilized and violence has declined over recent decades, peace remains partial in Colombia. In this analysis, Nussio explains that the current peace process with the FARC insurgency shows why Colombia has such difficulty in achieving a complete peace.chevron_right

Cora Alder, Palwasha Kakar and Leslie Minney write that while religious issues are not the primary drivers of the conflict in and around Ukraine, religion has played a significant role in it. Not only have religious rhetoric and traditions become part of an increasing level of polarization in Ukrainian society, but centuries-old orthodox institutions have also undergone deep changes through the conflict.chevron_right

This RAD issue focuses on the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). First, Alexander Libman argues that the integration milestones set in the EAEU Treaty are often achieved at the cost of diluting subsequent integration steps. Further, this situation is unlikely to change. Second, Maria Shagina discusses the impact of Russia’s counter-measures against Western sanctions following the Ukraine crisis. She argues that Russia’s counter-sanctions have caused collateral damage, created unintended consequences for Moscow’s fellow EAEU members and hampered the integration in the Union.chevron_right

The topic of this issue of the RAD is ‘Putin‘s Power Games’. In it, eight authors from different institutions (Jan Matti Dollbaum, Maria Domańska, Vladimir Gel’man, Andrei Kolesnikov, Robert Orttung, Michael Rochlitz, Regina Smyth, and Andrei Yakovlev) comment on the recent and ongoing changes in the government and constitution of Russia.chevron_right

The issue of the CAD focuses on pension reform in the Caucasus. First, Gayane Shakhmuradyan looks at pension reform in Armenia, covering the nature of the pension system, the drivers behind the reforms and public opinion. Second, Alexandra Aroshvili and Tornike Chivadze contend that the privatization of the Georgian pension scheme cannot adequately meet the needs of current and future pensioners in the country. Third, Gubad Ibadoghlu addresses the state of Azerbeijan’s pension system, highlighting how it will be unsustainable over the long term and requires reform.chevron_right

Jedes Jahr analysiert das CSS Entwicklungen in der Weltpolitik und deren potentielle Auswirkungen auf die Schweiz im Verlauf der nächsten acht Jahre. Dieses Jahr konzentrieren wir uns insbesondere auf...chevron_right

In this article, Niklas Masuhr writes that intense and protracted combat in towns and cities seems to confirm predictions that urban areas will increasingly become the primary battlefields of wars and conflicts.chevron_right

Michael Haas contends that private-​sector initiatives have created considerable momentum in the space industry. As a result, the importance of space systems as critical infrastructures will continue to increase. At the same time, it is increasingly likely that weapons will be deployed in space. For Switzerland, Haas suggests these trends create economic opportunities as well as increased security risks.chevron_right

In this issue of the RAD, Anna Sorokina and Valeria Kasamara first examine the values and attitudes of Russian students towards their home country as well as federal and regional political elites. They conclude that the majority of young Russian students describe themselves as the “Putin Generation” and perceive President Vladimir Putin as the ideal political leader of a nation-state. In the second article, Irina Meyer-Olimpieva posits that young people in Russia have similarly ambivalent attitudes to corruption to older generations and that Russian youth are also skeptical about public anticorruption initiatives.chevron_right

Henrik Larsen argues that when it comes to Russia, the West should draw inspiration from the intellectual origins of containment, which prescribed a readiness to contain the “expansive tendencies” of the Soviet Union. This includes containment’s core insight, that Russia essentially represents a political-psychological threat. For Larsen, neo-containment should target Moscow’s capacity to undermine public confidence and limit its space for political influence, which constitute bigger threats to Western cohesion than during the Cold War. NATO and the EU’s public diplomacy and counter-subversion initiatives should play a key role in this respect.chevron_right