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This Week at ISN

07 11 October 2013

Our Weekly Editorial Roundup

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Editorial Plan | Security Watch | Blog | Video

// Comparative Connections, September 2013

Our partners at the Pacific Forum recently published the latest issue of "Comparative Connections," which is their electronic journal on East Asian bilateral relations. Given the perishable and worthy information contained in this issue, the focus of our dossier this week is on selected portions of its content. We will return to our scheduled coverage of Europe and Russia and its neighbors in the following weeks, but for now our attention is on the US's pivot toward Asia, China's growing willingness to flex its geopolitical muscles, and Australia's attempts to navigate its way through an 'Asian Century'.

US Rebalance Continues Despite Distractions

07 October 2013

The US's pivot towards Asia has been buffeted about by the civil war in Syria, the Edward Snowden scandal and other developments. Not to worry, argue Ralph Cossa and Brad Glosserman. Not only is the realignment alive and kicking, it is starting to make its presence felt within the economic domain.More

China's Toughness on the South China Sea Year II

08 October 2013

Is China advancing its territorial claims in the South China Sea with the same political, economic and military gusto that it did last year? Yes, say Robert Sutter and Chin-hao Huang, and the improved leverage it now enjoys over its opponents will only lead to a more aggressive approach in the future.More

China-Russia Relations: Summer Heat and Sino-Russian Strategizing

09 October 2013

As illustrated by their recent military exercises and responses to the Edward Snowden affair, the Sino-Russian strategic partnership appears to be healthy and in sync. Yet, as Yu Bin reminds us, there have been notable differences in their muted responses to the Syrian crisis. More

How Does China Solve a Problem like North Korea?

10 October 2013

When it comes to North Korea's nuclear weapons program, China, South Korea and the US are increasingly singing from the same sheet of music. Yet, as Scott Snyder observes, Beijing remains more confident that Pyongyang will respond to engagement and dialogue than its counterparts in Seoul and Washington.More

Australia-East Asia/US Relations: Election plus Marines, Joint Facilities and the Asian Century
11 October 2013

Australia has spent the past year redefining its defense and security policies, as well as setting out how it plans to manage its relations with the United States and Asia. Today, Graeme Dobell reviews what has been a momentous and indeed tumultuous 12 months in Canberra. More

// Security Watch
Windows of Opportunity: Switzerland's Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2014
07 October 2013

In today's Question and Answer presentation, the CSS' Christian Nnlist outlines the challenges Switzerland is likely to face as the OSCE's chairman in 2014. He also considers how Bern's stewardship might benefit its broader diplomatic efforts in the long run.More

Trust-Building in European Security

08 October 2013

Why has it proven so difficult to sustain mutual levels of trust between the Eastern and Western flanks of the OSCE? Since neither side is proposing specific trust-building measures, argues Nadia Alexandra-Arbatova, it's no surprise that Cold War suspicions have returned to the fore. More

The Swiss-Serbian Chairmanship of the OSCE: A Trust-Building Agenda

09 October 2013

How will Switzerland and Serbia use their upcoming chairmanships of the OSCE to overcome the deep-seated mistrust that exists between a number of participating states? Today, Matthew Rojansky outlines the steps Bern and Belgrade might take to turn the organization into an 'undivided and functioning' community. More

Helsinki +40
10 October 2013

As the upcoming chairman of the OSCE, Switzerland will be responsible for guiding the reform efforts of the Helsinki +40 process. In today's Question and Answer presentation, the CSS' Matthias Bieri looks at the tough problems Bern is likely to face and whether it will be able to push through meaningful reforms or not. More

OSCE 2014: The View from Bern

11 October 2013

In today's podcast, Raphael Ngeli offers an official perspective of the challenges Switzerland expects to face as the next Chairman of the OSCE. He believes Bern's unique approach to diplomacy may help enhance the organization's relevancy, but he also expects the East-West divide among its members to carry into next year. More

// Blog
In Gaza, the Worst Is Yet to Come
07 October 2013

How has the standoff between Egypt's military and the Muslim Brotherhood, the unwanted presence of armed groups in the Sinai Peninsula, and Hamas' relations with the Palestinian Authority impacted life in Gaza? The situation is grim, argues Jose Vericat, and it's not going to get better.More

Dissolving the Seleka Rebel Group Could Be a Recipe for Disaster in the CAR
08 October 2013

The Central African Republic's Michel Djotodia recently dissolved the rebel coalition that swept him into power almost a year ago. The decision might come back to haunt him, warns David Zounmenou. This war-torn African state now has up to 25,000 armed fighters available for future rebellions.More

Review Mexican Cartel Essays and Notes

09 October 2013

Should Robert Bunker's "Mexican Cartel Essays and Notes" be required reading for policymakers, academics and security experts? James Phelps thinks so. It provides a disturbing portrait of how Mexican drug cartels continue to affect the country's government and society in negative ways.More

No New Dawn Likely in US-Iran Relations

10 October 2013

Will Hassan Rouhani's recent calls for rapprochement lead to a new era in US-Iranian relations? Stephen McGlinchey has his doubts. He thinks that Iran's president has limited influence over the country's supreme leader, which means that renewed dialogue between Washington and Tehran remains unlikely.More

1950s UN Resolution Could Break Security Council Deadlock on Syria

11 October 2013

For more than two years, calls for a Security Council resolution to impose coercive measures against the Syrian regime have been frustrated by the prospect of vetoes from Russia and China. According to Jrmie Labb, however, there may yet be a way out of this impasse via an obscure and decades-old resolution which provides for a deadlocked Security Council to refer especially thorny issues to the General Assembly.More

Richard Weitz Talks US-China Relations

11 October 2013

The success of the Obama administration's pivot to Asia will certainly depend on its rapport with China. In today's podcast, Richard Weitz takes stock of this vital bilateral relationship and speculates on what the future may hold for these two Asia-Pacific powers.More

// Video
The Pivot to Asia with Kurt Campbell and Susan Shirk
In this video, former US diplomat Kurt Campbell talks about the unintended consequences of choosing the word 'pivot' to describe America's reorientation towards Asia during Hillary Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State. Campbell also shares other interesting anecdotes about China-Japan relations at the time and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest in Myanmar.More

Fanon & Violence

In this 'evergreen' video, Lewis Gordon, who is a Professor of Philosophy and African Studies at the University of Connecticut, examines the question of revolutionary violence by focusing on the writings of Frantz Fanon.More

The Real North Korea: Life and Politics in the Failed Stalinist Utopia
In this video, three experts discuss the book "Real North Korea," which tries to dispel numerous misconceptions about the country. They also look at its history and how it helps explain the current regime's behavior. More

Coming Up
Next week our editorial focus examines security dynamics in Europe.

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