This Week at ISN

09 - 13 July 2012 Having concluded Part Two of the Editorial Plan, we are now playing a little "jazz" to catch our breath and gather our thoughts before we continue August 6th with Part Three where we consider what impact changing power dynamics have had on a variety of topical issues that are familiar to us all. This week, we look at how different international actors perceive and exert power in the contemporary international system.

Revisiting Power
The Security Council in a Changing World
09 July 2012 / Special Feature

The UN Security Council is tasked with safeguarding international peace and security. More often than not, however, it serves the distinct geopolitical interests of its permanent members, says Ian Hurd. More Australia in the Asian Century
10 July 2012 / Podcast

The global power shift toward Asia presents Australia with economic opportunities, but it also raises the specter of increased geo-strategic competition, argues Michael Wesley of the Lowy Institute in Sydney. More Power and NGOs
11 July 2012 / Special Feature

As power shifts away from states, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are becoming increasingly influential. Taha Kehar and Paul Collier discuss the theory and practice of how NGOs wield power. More The Occupy Movement's Search for Alternative Power Structures
12 July 2012 / Special Feature

The Occupy Movement has been criticized for a lack of strategy, leadership, and concrete demands. However, a closer look at its philosophy and actions at the grassroots level shows that this is just what the movement wants. More Looking Back to the Future of Power
13 July 2012 / Podcast

Joseph Nye shares his outlook on the future of power in the mid-term. He discusses the factors which are driving the evolution of power and challenges the conventional notions of waning US power and the rise of Asia. More

Security Watch
How Globalization Affects Transnational Crime
09 July 2012

Globalization not only facilitates international trade but also transnational crime. Phil Williams writes about the myriad transnational criminal networks operating in a globalized world. More How the Trans-Pacific Partnership Will Change Canada
10 July 2012

Canada's inclusion into the Trans-Pacific Partnership will boost Ottawa's bargaining power on trade and

security issues, or so argues Christopher Sands. More Every Nation For Itself
11 July 2012

The commitment to global leadership by key international players may be eroding due to a growing lack of will, resources and durable alliances, writes Yelena Niazyan. More The Transformation of El Salvador's Gangs into Political Actors
12 July 2012

El Salvador's novel approach to dealing with its gang problems may provide a blueprint for other Central American countries to follow. However, as the gangs regroup and become involved in 'legal' activities, the benefits may prove to be short-lived, writes Douglas Farah. More Los Zetas and MS-13: Nontraditional Alliances
13 July 2012

The notorious gangs Los Zetas and MS-13 are increasingly coordinating their drug trafficking activities. Rather than being a literal merger however, the partnership is more about Los Zetas gaining new organizational skills and pursuing new opportunities, write Adam Elkus and John P Sullivan. More

ISN Blog
US Ambassadors: Local Powerbrokers in the Balkans
09 July 2012

Diplomatic ties between the US and Albania and Kosovo remain strong, prompting speculation over the extent of American influence over the two nations' domestic politics, writes Besar Likmeta. More Saudi Arabia Moves Closer to a New Generation of Leaders
10 July 2012

Will the emergence of a new generation of leaders in Saudi Arabia lead to significantly different economic and foreign policies? Not in the short term, argues Thomas Lippman. More The Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation
11 July 2012

Balancing the competing geopolitical and strategic interests of Russia and China still remains the order of the day for SCO summits, writes Krzysztof Strachota. More Predictions on the Power Structure and Policy Changes of the Kim Jong-un Regime
12 July 2012

Kim Jong-un seems to be consolidating his power over the military and party. Chang-Hyun Jung discusses this and what it will mean for North Korea's domestic and foreign policies. More OPEC and Saudi Shrewd Middle Power Diplomacy
13 July 2012

Robert A Manning discusses how Saudi Arabia's status as the world's largest oil producer still allows the kingdom to influence significantly the pricing and production policies of OPEC, also demonstrating that middle powers must continue to be shrewd operators in the realm of international relations. More

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