This Week at ISN

28 May - 01 June 2012 Following on from last weeks focus upon West Africa, we now turn to another part of the African continent that is attempting to overcome aspects of its not so distant past in order to confront a rapidly changing international system. This week, we consider whether the end of apartheid and rise of the global 'South' can potentially allow Southern Africa to become a zone of distinct geopolitical significance.

Southern Africa
Southern Africa: Under the Influence?
28 May 2012 / ISN Special Feature

South Africa needs to balance welcoming foreign investment - especially from China - with acting to safeguard its status as a hegemon in Southern Africa, writes Sven Grim. More Rainbow Nations or Shades of Grey?
29 May 2012 / ISN Podcast

Despite the end of Apartheid, South Africa continues to experience xenophobia and ethnic violence. The CSVR's Delphine Serumaga outlines what these problems mean for the regional dynamics of Southern Africa. More Security Dynamics in West Africa
23 May 2012 / ISN Podcast

Babatunde Afolabi, a former member of the ECOWAS Commission, examines the regional security dynamics of Western Africa. More Nigeria: Regional Kingpin?
24 May 2012 / ISN Podcast

Jennifer Giroux, a senior researcher at the Center for Security Studies, discusses the paradox of Nigeria, a state that can be considered West Africa's regional hegemon but which also often seems on the verge of collapse. More West Africa: The Coming Years
25 May 2012 / ISN Special Feature

In light of its governance issues, the influence of foreign actors and the fragility of its major state and regional actors, today we sketch West Africa's future, with excerpts from Emerging Security Threats in West Africa by the organization Security Council Report. More

Security Watch
Justice in Sierra Leone: Delivering on Different Levels
21 May 2012

Effective national and local judicial systems reform are still lagging in this West African state, writes Lisa Denney. More Why Were Regional Institutions Unable to Avert Mali's Political Crisis?
22 May 2012

Burkina Faso and Niger seem likelier to resolve Mali's problems than ECOWAS, a reality the international community should note, writes Vikki Chambers. More Negotiating a Peaceful Settlement in the Complexity of the Ivorian Political Crisis: Which Way Forward?
23 May 2012

This article from the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding argues that the resolution of the political crisis in Cote d'Ivoire still requires greater support from regional states, leaders and institutions. More Boko Haram: Racing to Reclaim the Initiative
24 May 2012

Boko Haram's escalation of violent activity across northern Nigeria has been relentless, writes Elizabeth Donnelly. More Terrorism in West Africa: The Anarchy That Hasn't Come
25 May 2012

While riddled with weak states, West Africa has not become the international terrorist playground some feared it would. However, argues Charlie Warren, that does not mean warnings about extremists should be overlooked. More

ISN Blog
Giving the Well-Performing State Its Due
21 May 2012

Ana Palacio contends that the future of capitalism is linked to effective governance and the rule of law, and thus to the consolidation of well-functioning states. More Missing Pieces: China's Challenges, Africa's Mixed Picture, and More
22 May 2012

Charles Landow discusses stories on China and Africa, as well as a report on US international engagement. More The Anarchy Factor in Syria
23 May 2012

Itamar Rabinovich addresses why the current preference for inaction from the West with regards to Syria, while perhaps understandable, threatens to lead to precisely the outcomes that its advocates want to avoid. More Turkey at the Crossroads (Literally)
24 May 2012

Stewart M Patrick analyzes why Turkeys evolving might, its geographic position and model of moderate political Islam make it a natural candidate for strategic partnership with the US. More The Nixon Option for Iran?
25 May 2012

William H Luers argues that the US and Iran need to set a path toward broad bilateral discussions on worldviews, regional security and plans to improve mutual understanding in order to minimize differences. More

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