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International Relations and Security Networkwww.isn.ethz.ch
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14 - 18 December 2015
// Security Watch
This week, our hard power-centered Security Watch (SW) series examines whether today's militaries should incorporate a
"Human Warfighting Domain" (HWD) into their doctrines; how China's reliance on hybrid warfare might impact Europe;
how threat perceptions differ across the EU; why US space systems need better defenses against electronic warfare; and
how Big Data might enhance defense intelligence analysis and its functions. Then, in our second, more wide-ranging SW
series, we look at the power of neoliberal economics in today's world; the EU's Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR)
arrangements; the electoral strategies of Azerbaijan's political opposition; the lessons learned from the Philippines'
Mindanao peace process; and how the securitization of Africa has failed to address the problems of human insecurity.
Indeed, should today's militaries incorporate the HWD concept into their doctrines? As Thomas Doherty sees it, creating
and operating within such a domain would facilitate the changes needed to fight conflicts where winning the hearts and
minds of the people is central to victory or defeat. More
Robert Wade on Zombie Ideas, the Death of Ethics in Economics and More
14 December 2015
In this Theory Talk, the LSE's Robert Wade discusses 1) the ongoing experiments in international economic regimes, 2)
the omnipresence of neoliberal thinking in the world economy, 3) why international financial institutions don't fight against
economic crises, and 4) the power and peril of working inside the World Bank. More
Taiwan was once the principal target of China's hybrid warfare activities. Not any more, says Michael Raska. Members of
the European Union have also become the focus of Beijing's strategic influence operations, especially those countries that
are part of China's 16+1 regional cooperation formula. More
Will the EU's Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements facilitate a joint approach to large-scale
emergencies? That remains to be seen, says Pierre Minard. What we do know is that activating the arrangements signals
an improvement over Brussels' past efforts.
More
What are the primary conclusions of the EU's Evolving Concept of Security (EvoCS) project? Two of the more prominent
ones are that 1) notions of security continue to drift from state-centric to citizen-based models, and 2) state and regional
conceptions of security are intimately linked to perceptions of state-stability. More
As Sofie Bedford sees it, the Republican Alternative (REAL) movement cleverly distanced itself from other opposition
parties in Azerbaijan's recent parliamentary elections. Instead of accepting its marginal role in Azeri politics, it boldly
proclaimed itself as "something new" to the electorate. More
The Peace Process in Mindanao, the Philippines: Evolution and Lessons Learned
17 December 2015
What lessons should we learn from the Philippine government's multi-year peace efforts with the Moro Islamic Liberation
Front? Kristian Herbolzheimer's answers remind us that 1) peace is not so much a product as it is a process, and 2)
negotiations are just one path to reconciliation. More
How will Big Data transform defense intelligence analysis and its functions? Paul Symon and Arzan Trapore believe it will
make it increasingly possible to automate labor-intensive tasks while also mastering new forms of analysis and
presentation. However, Big Data's utility will also have its limits. More
As Agnes Wanjiru Behr sees it, the securitization of Africa has been a double-edged sword. While it has broadened
people's understanding of what it means to be safe, it has failed to ensure that African leaders address the root causes of
insecurity throughout the continent. More
// Blog
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: November 25 December 2, 2015
14 December 2015
Which parts of Syria have been targeted by Russian airstrikes in recent weeks? Find out in this infographic presentation
by our partners at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). More
As David Goldwyn sees it, we can solve today's energy security problems with smart policies, innovative collaborations
and a generous dose of political courage. More specifically, here are the ten steps we need to accomplish in order to fulfill
this important goal. More
How has Malaysia fared as this year's head of ASEAN? Sanchita Basu Das is disappointed with Kuala Lumpur's
performance, particularly in the case of the disputed South China Sea. However, it can't be held wholly responsible for
failing to fulfill all the expectations that were placed on its shoulders. More
Kenya's armed forces are illegally trading sugar and charcoal with Somalia's al-Shabaab, argues Peter Aling'o. As a
result, they're not only making a mockery of Nairobi's efforts to defeat this dangerous group, they're also upending the
entire region's efforts to stabilize the Somali state. More
Why should climate financing be diverted to local actors? Because that's where "adaptation funding" is needed most, says
Lily Saloum Lindegaard. Local authorities in poorer countries have the ability to deal with the immediate impact of climate
change, but they lack the necessary funds to do it.
More
// Video
In this video, Stratfor's Ben Sheen and Adriano Bosoni explore the economic and political challenges that will test the unity
of the European Union in 2016. More
Renewed Violence in the Central African Republic: The Roots of a Political Crisis
In this video, six contributors to the "Making Sense of the Central African Republic" report discuss the country's political
problems and its potential for peaceful democratic change. More
In this video, the US Air Force's Chief of Staff, General Mark Welsh, discusses the current and future state of American
airpower. More specifically, Welsh contemplates how his service will maintain its long-term strategic edge over its
competitors and yet also deter aggression. More
// Multimedia Content
Here is a selection of this week's additions to the ISN Digital
Library:
Publications More
// Crisis Response: Institutional Innovation in the United States Marine Corps More
// Blocked for Good by the Threat of Treaty Change? More
// Humanitarian Trends and Challenges for the Pacific Region More
Videos More
// Assessing Iran's Support for Regional Militias More
/Developmental
/
Approaches to Countering Violent ExtremismMore
/Full
/
Spectrum Missile Defense More
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