Publications
Leaving Iraq?
After seven years, the United States is in the final stages of exiting Iraq. Only 50,000 U.S. troops will remain by the end of August, but the country is far from stable as political squabbling keeps the country gridlocked, the economy is in shambles and violence is once again rising.
The Modernization of Russia's Foreign Policy
The Russian government’s drive to modernize its economy is increasingly reflected in its foreign policy priorities, including its relations with the United States, Europe, and China and its position on Iran's nuclear program.
Why Go Strategic?: The Value of a Truly Strategic Dialogue Between the United States and China
While the United States and China—the world’s two largest economies—are becoming increasingly interdependent, there is a growing risk of misunderstanding or even clashes. The two powers need a dialogue to provide strategic vision to their relationship.
The Arab State: Assisting or Obstructing Development?
Although full democracy in the Arab world remains a distant goal, broader participation in the political process, with a marked effect on human development, can be achieved.
The Effect on Public Opinion
The disclosure of thousands of classified military documents reveals a darker picture of the war in Afghanistan that is likely to increase public opposition to the war.
The Hague Court Decision on Kosovo
The Hague ruling on Kosovo's independence indirectly strengthens the position of other self-proclaimed states—from Abkhazia and South Ossetia, to Nagorno-Karabakh and North Cyprus. However, legal rulings do not negate the need to find a political solution.
Turkey, a Silver Lining of the Crisis
The crisis in the eurozone may prove a blessing in disguise for Turkey, given its strong economic performance over the past years, and could even revitalize Turkey’s prospects for membership in the European Union.
Building Cooperation in the Eastern Middle East
A formal framework for communication and cooperation in the eastern Middle East could reduce the risks of conflict and encourage stability and economic development in this tense but critical location.
All Together Now: Missile Defense
Missile-defense cooperation would be a potential game changer in U.S.-Russian and NATO-Russian relations and a crucial step toward a sounder European security order.
Don't Blame Europe for Turkey's Moves Away From the West
Fully engaging with and understanding Turkey is of critical importance for the United States, and blaming the European Union's continued reluctance to accept Turkey into its ranks oversimplifies the situation and could lead to unintended consequences.
Saudi Arabia's Nuclear Ambitions
With the cooperation of the United States and other advanced nuclear countries, Saudi Arabia's budding nuclear energy program would directly challenge Iran's aspirations for regional leadership in nuclear power.
The China-Pakistan Nuclear “Deal”: Separating Fact From Fiction
China’s commitment to provide Pakistan with two additional civilian nuclear reactors has created great unease in the international nonproliferation community. While some compare this assurance to the U.S.- India nuclear cooperation agreement, the differences between the two are significant.
Turkey's Other War
While Turkey, led by Prime Minister Erdogan, pursues an activist foreign policy in the Middle East, troubles with an insurgent Kurdish minority threaten the stability of the AKP’s leadership.
Turkey’s Shifting Foreign Policy: What Next?
The recent flotilla incident involving Turkey and Israel marked the culmination of a significant shift in Turkish foreign policy, one in which Turkey emerged as an assertive regional actor.
The Future of the World Trading System
As international integration deepens and the global trading system becomes increasingly more complex, the WTO can take important steps to not only promote trade liberalization, but also to reaffirm its role as the ultimate regulator of global trade.
Political Dimensions of Police Reform in Pakistan
Pakistan’s police force has historically been constrained by the military and intelligence agencies and often politicized as an instrument of repression. Reforming civilian security forces will diminish Islamabad’s dependence on the military and increase the legitimacy of the regime.
The Chess Game Continues
As the political stalemate in Iraq continues to drag on, the major parties and politicians continue to attempt to wrangle the greatest amount of power for themselves even as they continue to break constitutionally mandated deadlines.
China's Political Awakening
While China’s labor activism signals a broader political re-awakening of its civil society, this emerging phenomenon does not guarantee fundamental change to the country’s autocratic political order.
The China Capital Surge
Investors concerned that China will dump its holdings of U.S. Treasury bonds should be worrying instead about an increase of foreign capital in U.S. markets, which will cause the U.S. trade deficit to surge.
G20 Could Shed More Light, Less Heat
While the G20 is right to concentrate on short-term macroeconomic policy for now, its rhetoric must shift to better reflect reality, and more attention needs to be paid to structural reforms.