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This Week at the ISN

Our Weekly Content Roundup

10 14 November 2014

JUMP TO Editorial Plan | Security Watch | Blog | Video

// Security Watch

This week, our hard power-centered Security Watch (SW) series wonders if NATO's easternmost members are
succumbing to Russia's 'carrot and stick' approach to foreign policy; how counterinsurgency has changed in the 21st
century; whether closer security cooperation between Brazil, India and South Africa will undermine their interest in
partnering with NATO; if drone proliferation may be beneficial rather than harmful; and whether nuclear and space
deterrence share common traits. Then, in our second, more wide-ranging SW series, we consider how Switzerland, in its
capacity as this year's OSCE's Chairman, has handled the Ukraine crisis; how South Korea should 'sell' its new 123
Agreement with the US to its citizens; what are the odds of future resource wars; how the United States should protect its
interests in the Middle East; and what contributions the EU has made to Myanmar's ongoing political transition.

NATO: Rebellion in the Ranks?

10 November 2014

Are the likes of the Czech Republic and Poland succumbing to Russia's arm-twisting or buying into its charm offensives?
Not according to John Feffer. Members of NATO's eastern flank are trying to improve relations with Moscow just so they
can avoid getting trapped in yet another Cold War. More

Renewed Relevance and Visibility Switzerland's Chairmanship of the OSCE

10 November 2014

While acting as the OSCE's 2014 Chairman, has Switzerland been effective in handling the Ukraine crisis? Yes, says
Stephanie Liechtenstein, and for three reasons the resources Bern has dedicated to the task; its ability to act as an
honest and neutral broker; and its capacity to lead under difficult circumstances. More

How Counterinsurgency Has Changed Across the 20th and Into the 21st Century
11 November 2014

Beyond the Politics of the US-South Korea 123 Agreement

11 November 2014

Are the United States and South Korea close to reaching a new 123 Agreement, which is designed to govern the nuclear
commerce between both states? Duyeon Kim thinks so, but Seoul has yet to build the public support it needs for a deal
that falls short of what was first promised. More

The Incongruence of IBSAMAR

12 November 2014

Will closer security cooperation between Brazil, India and South Africa undermine their interest in partnering with NATO?
Paul Pryce thinks so. But let's not kid ourselves the tri-national IBSAMAR IV exercises they held last month weren't
conducted by frontline naval powers. More

Emily Meierding on Resource Wars

12 November 2014

Are conflicts over natural resources set to increase? What roles might national and international companies play in such
conflicts, particularly in the oil sector? The answer to these and other questions can be found in today's Q&A session with
the Graduate Institute Geneva's Emily Meierding. More

Drone Proliferation: A Cause for Concern?

13 November 2014

Is the growing proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) an automatic security threat? Ulrike Franke doesn't think so. In her view,
drones only become a problem when they are armed, used irresponsibly by states, or deployed by terrorists. More

Lessons from Versailles for Today's Middle East

13 November 2014

As the post-World War I treaties that established the borders of the Middle East continue to unravel, how should the
United States protect its core interests in the region? Today, Marc Grossman and Simon Henderson provide a five-part
answer, which includes the promotion of regional institutions. More

The Absolute Weapon and the Ultimate High Ground

14 November 2014

Do nuclear and space deterrence have more in common with each other than other versions of the theory? Karl Mueller
doesn't think so. The contrasts between these two particular forms of deterrence are far more pronounced and instructive
than their similarities. More

The EU in Myanmar: Preventive Diplomacy in Action?

14 November 2014

Has the EU played a major role in facilitating Myanmar's political transition to civilian rule? Absolutely, says Guy Banim. In
fact, Brussels' contributions demonstrate that preventive diplomacy can be applied to internal conflicts without being
perceived as 'interventionist'. More

// Blog
'Cybersecurity' and Why Definitions Are Risky
10 November 2014

When it comes to non-standardized terms such as 'cybersecurity', 'information security' and 'network security', do we have
our definitional house in order? Tim Maurer and Robert Morgus don't think so, which also means we're not talking the
same language when trying to deal with cyber risks. More

Back to the Future in Turkish Politics?

11 November 2014

If Turkey wants to safeguard its regional stature and influence, then its leaders will have to avoid the pitfalls of the past.
According to Kristin Fabbe and Joshua Walker, that means rejecting 'exclusionary nationalism' and making sure power
isn't concentrated in the hands of the few. More

Religious Leaders Help Counter Extremist Violence

12 November 2014

Religious leaders and activists recently gathered in Washington, DC to discuss the roles that faith-based organizations
can and should play in the fight against violent extremism. Today, Melissa Nozell reviews what they discussed and the
policy recommendations they made. More

Chemical Disarmament in Syria and the Future of the Chemical Weapons Control Regime
13 November 2014

How successful has the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) been in eradicating this specific type of weapon? How
might advances in science and technology affect the CWC regime in the future? The answers to these questions and
other equally important ones were bandied about at a recent CSS Evening Talk. More

The Economic Rules of Geopolitics

14 November 2014

What steps do Asia's economies need to take in order to sustain high growth, promote regional stability and advance
socio-political integration? Peter Drysdale's three-part answer stresses continued trade liberalization, greater capital
market integration, and next-step structural reforms. More

// Video

Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice

In this video, John Nagl discusses his new book, "Knife Fights: A Memoir of Modern War in Theory and Practice," which is
both a personal memoir and a treatise on American counterinsurgency strategy in the post-9/11 era. More

The History and Significance of the Berlin Wall

In this video, George Washington University's Hope Harrison discusses the processes that led to the rise and fall of the
Berlin Wall, and its subsequent legacy in Germany and around the world. More

COIN in Thailand: Combining Security and Socio-Economic Policies

In this video, Jeff Moore discusses his book, "The Thai Way of Counterinsurgency," which explores the lessons learned
from Thailand's past COIN operations.More

// Multimedia Content
Here is a selection of this week's additions to the ISN Digital
Library:

Publications More
// Europe as an Agent of Change More
// Al Qaeda Today: Transitions and Trajectories More
// Myanmar: The Politics of Rakhine State More

Videos More
// Could World War I Happen Again?
More
/Arab-US
/
Energy Cooperation More
/David
/
Keyes on Advancing Human Rights More

Audio / Podcasts More

// New Challenges for CSDP A Military Perspective
More
// From Paris to Moscow: The Rise of New Far-Right Movements Across Europe
More
// The Islamic State and Beyond: US Military Strategy in the Middle East with General Austin
More

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