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This Week at the ISN

Our Weekly Content Roundup

19 23 January 2015

JUMP TO Editorial Plan | Security Watch | Blog | Video

// Security Watch
This week, our hard power-centered Security Watch (SW) series asks why Brazil wants to build a blue-water navy;
whether the US Army should worry about the ethical dimensions of deploying 'enhanced' soldiers; whether Russia has
placed nuclear weapons in Crimea; why the United States and China need to develop a greater understanding of each
other's space capabilities; and whether terrorism as a concept is analytically useful. Then, in our second, more wideranging SW series, we look at the economic rationale behind Israeli settlements in the West Bank; how the EU-Africa
partnership needs to evolve; how the threat of revolution can lead to preemptive democratic reforms; why the EU's
relations with Iran remain strained; and what Russia's domestic politics might look like after the Putin era.

The Brazilian Navy: Green Water or Blue?

19 January 2015

Paul Pryce thinks that there are two reasons behind Brazil's push for a blue-water navy. Not only is the country keen to
demonstrate that it is the leading maritime power in the Southern Hemisphere, it also wants its shipbuilding industry to be
a launching pad for future economic growth. More

The Economics at the Heart of Israeli Settlements

19 January 2015

What motivates Israeli citizens to settle in disputed areas of the West Bank? IRIN reports that while some of them are on a
religious quest to reclaim 'lost' territory, the majority have been enticed by government-sponsored economic incentives.
More

Ethics and the Enhanced Soldier of the Near Future

20 January 2015

The EU-Africa Partnership: Another Lost Year?

20 January 2015

Arnold Kammel doesn't doubt that Africa and the EU have many goals in common, particularly when it comes to peace
and security. That's why it's time for a 'partnership of equals' that might then act as a stepping-stone towards a more
comprehensive bilateral relationship. More

Rumors about Nuclear Weapons in Crimea

21 January 2015

Hans Kristensen thinks it's unlikely that Russian forces stationed in Crimea are equipped with nuclear weapons. Yet, this
should not stop Moscow and Washington from being more open about the deployment of dual-use assets around the
region. Misinterpretation, after all, often leads to exaggerated threat perceptions. More

Democracy and the Threat of Revolution: New Evidence

21 January 2015

Does the threat of revolution play a pivotal role in democratizing states and societies? Toke Aidt and others confirm that
such threats have triggered preemptive reforms throughout history, but let's not underestimate the additional importance of
economics. More

Bringing Space Crisis Stability Down to Earth

22 January 2015

Why do the United States and China need to develop a greater understanding of each other's space capabilities? As
James Finch sees it, seemingly provocative actions by either power could exacerbate tensions and stability here on Earth.
More

Europe and Iran: The Nuclear Dispute and the Syrian Crisis
22 January 2015

Relations between Tehran and Brussels remain frustrated by two problems the Syrian Civil War and Iran's nuclear
ambitions. However, given that the official goals of both sides are similar - a stable Syria and civilian nuclear power for Iran
- Gawdat Bahgat remains confident that their differences can be overcome. More

Is the Concept of Terrorism still Useful?

23 January 2015

Jarrod Hayes argues that there is nothing analytically distinctive about the tactics, perpetrators and psychology of
'terrorism.' As a result, he thinks scholars and policymakers should stop using the term, particularly since it tends to
undermine our efforts to tackle political violence. More

Russia after Putin

23 January 2015

Will the eventual departure of Vladimir Putin lead to a transformation in Russia's political culture? Neil Thompson doesn't
think so. That's because the Russian President has created a 'deep state' that self-aggrandizing political elites will want to
preserve. More

// Blog

Inspired, Networked & Directed The Muddled Jihad of ISIS & Al Qaeda Post Hebdo
19 January 2015

Has global terrorism metastasized into a loose, broad-based social movement? Although the Charlie Hebdo attack might
convince us that it has, it's a 'vision' of jihad that doesn't seem to be shared by current al Qaida chief Ayman al Zawahari
and the so-called Islamic State. More

Why Are European Leaders so Afraid of Greece's Syriza Party?

20 January 2015

Indeed, why are so many European politicians worried about this left-wing party winning Greece's upcoming general
election? Myrto Tsakatika thinks it's because of Syriza's determination to reshape the terms of the 2010 financial bailout
agreement with Brussels and much more.More

Deciphering Sun Tzu: How to Read "The Art of War"

21 January 2015

Derek Yuen's new book on "The Art of War" provides Western readers with a deeper understanding of Chinese strategic
culture than previous texts. That's potentially useful, argues Gavin Hall, especially if it helps prevent policy makers from
stumbling into confrontations with China before they even realize it. More

Floating Liabilities? Maritime Armouries, Risks and Solutions

22 January 2015

Is it time to regulate the use of 'floating armories', which private security companies are increasingly relying upon to
combat maritime piracy? While national legislation is an important first step, the Omega Research Foundation also
believes we need an international regulatory framework to monitor these floating repositories. More

The Future of NATO Missile Defense

23 January 2015

NATO's missile defense program remains controversial. Its critics think it's too costly, undoable and unnecessary. They
also believe it's still a major source of friction between the Alliance and Russia. But are the naysayers right? Here's what
Roberto Zadra and Bruno Rsli had to say at a recent CSS Evening Talk. More

// Video

Asia Pivot 2.0

In this video, eight CSIS analysts discuss their report, "Pivot 2.0," which 1) posits policies that the US should follow
towards Japan, Korea, China, Southeast Asia, and India, and 2) recommends changes to Washington's Asia-Pacific
defense policy. More

Undercover Jihadi: Inside the Toronto 18 - Al Qaeda Inspired, Homegrown Terrorism in the West

In this video, Anne Speckhard and Mubin Shaikh discuss their book, "Undercover Jihadi," which provides an account of
how an Al Qaeda-inspired group arose in Canada and how former Islamist militant Shaikh helped thwart the group's plans
for a terrorist attack. More

Information Control and Strategic Violence

In this video, Anita Gohdes explores 1) how government oversight and surveillance of the Internet can be used to support
state violence and repression; 2) how the Assad regime has used its control of information as an instrument of repression
in the Syrian Civil War; and 3) the difficulties of documenting violent deaths in today's conflicts.More

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

Publications More
// Can Mediation Do Harm? Conflict Sensitivity in International Peace Negotiations More
// Cybersecurity: Some Critical Insights and Perspectives
More
// Libya's Political Transition: The Challenges of Mediation
More

Videos More
// Public International Law and Peace Negotiations with Paul Williams
More
/The
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Crackdown on Independent Voices in Azerbaijan More
/Stratfor:
/
2015 Annual Forecast Preview More

Audio / Podcasts More

// Top Risks and Ethical Decisions 2015
More
// US Energy Diplomacy Priorities for 2015
More
// What to Worry About in 2015
More

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