Measuring Russia’s attention to Europe and the world
Based on a mapping of mentions of country names in more than 30,000 Russian official speeches, press conferences, meeting transcripts, and official statements, this brief provides insights into changes to Russia’s engagement with the world during the 21st century. Without disentangling the subtleties of relations – such as their security, economic, or cultural dimensions and their benign or adversarial features – this approach allows the brief to sketch answers to questions that would otherwise be left to guesswork.
Trade and trust: the role of trade in de facto state conflict transformation
De facto states – unrecognized secessionist entities that eke out a living on the margins of the international system – are often heavily dependent on external patron states for economic aid and investment. When the parent state – the state that the de facto state seeks to break away from – responds to the secessionist attempt by imposing sanctions or economic blockades, this further exacerbates such dependency. Moreover, due to their lack of international recognition, de facto states often have limited opportunities to engage with the outside world beyond the patron and the parent state. However, closer examination of one such de facto state, Abkhazia, reveals that de facto states can enjoy some bounded independent economic agency. Abkhazia’s maneuvering between Russia as “patron,” Georgia as “parent state,” and the wider international community (here exemplified by the EU) in the sphere of trade and economic interaction has important implications for de-facto state conflict transformation.
Is France in a no-win situation in Sahel region?
Leaders of a group of five West African Sahel nations are currently meeting for the second day in Chad’s capital N'Djamena. The summit seeks to find ways to boost security, and comes as France prepares to drawdown its troops in the volatile region. Andrew E. Yaw Tchie from the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs weighs in.
Nordic research cooperation is more important than ever in a rapidly changing world: concrete proposals for developing cooperation
The Nordic Ministers of Foreign Affairs were meeting 10 February. Their virtual meeting was an opportunity to discuss the potential for increased Nordic research cooperation at a time where the world around us is changing rapidly.
Ingen troverdig leder
US' International leadership was in crisis long before Donald Trump.
Tax compliance, culture and local institutions: The legacy of pre-colonial centralization in Uganda
We are excited to announce that this semester’s first webinar in our Tax for Development Webinar Series featuring Merima Ali (CMI and Syracuse University)
Russland, Norge og NATO i nord
Interview with NRK Finnmark about Russia's relations with Norway and NATO after the deployment of the US military aircraft in Norway in 2021.
Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheet: Somalia
Somalia is highly susceptible to the effects of climate change and extreme weather. Without anticipatory preventive approaches, these factors are likely to exacerbate existing vulnerabilities and reduce the people’s livelihood options, which in turn may have negative impacts for stability and security in Somalia.
Hundreds flee Western Darfur after militia attack
Interview with CGTN AFRICA NEWS on Western Darfur: Sudan and recent killings.
Interview on BBC Newsday
Interview on BBC Newsday on the Central African Republic. Starts at 37 min 42 sec into the program.