The Path to a Political Solution in Afghanistan
The gradual withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, announced by President Barack Obama on June 22, 2011, has made the problem of achieving a political settlement in Afghanistan more urgent…
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Stepanova
48 posts
The Syria Crisis and the Making of Russia’s Foreign Policy
Russia’s policy on the Syria crisis has been a litmus test revealing the more general pattern of Russian foreign policy thinking and behavior. This policy can hardly be understood fully…
The Role of Information Communication Technologies in the ‘Arab Spring’: Implications Beyond the Region
The tide of mass protests that swept through the Middle East in early 2011 highlighted the distinct role of modern information-communication technologies (ICT) and digital social media tools and networks.…
Radicalization of Muslim Immigrants in Europe and Russia: Beyond Terrorism
In the second half of the 1990s, Islamist terrorism emerged as a serious security threat to both Europe and Russia. For Europe, in contrast to the United States, Islamist terrorism…
Iran and Afghanistan: Cross Border Security Challenges, Conflict Management, and Iran-U.S. Relations
Political, security, and humanitarian developments at the intersection of the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia are interrelated to such an extent that one issue or country cannot be adequately addressed…
Does Russia Want the West to Succeed in Afghanistan?
As in the United States, Russia’s policy on Afghanistan has recently undergone an evolution of sorts, prompting speculation about Moscow’s “true” motivations for engagement. Two prominent assessments of Russia’s agenda…
Illicit Drug Trafficking and Islamic Terrorism as Threats to Russian Security: The Limits of the Linkage
The post-9/11 war against terrorism has increased international attention to illicit drug business as a source of terrorist financing. For politicians and the media, the contentious term narcoterrorism has become…
Russia’s Middle East Policy: Old Divisions or New?
For years, Russia’s role in the Middle East was viewed primarily through its relations with Iran, Iraq, and, more recently, Syria. In 2006, however, a nearly forgotten dimension of Russia’s…
Partners In Need: U.S.-Russian Cooperation on and Approaches to Anti-terrorism
Shaken to the core by the September 11 attacks, the United States naturally took the leading role in the global fight against terrorism. By demonstrating that even unprecedented military might…
Postwar Iraq: Policy Options for Russia
As foreseen by many observers, the fall of Baghdad to U.S. forces on April 9, 2003, was just the beginning, not the end of the story. In postwar Iraq, the United…