The Syrian Civil War: Transition without Intervention?
The events of summer 2012 marked an important shift in the Syrian crisis. On July 15, the International Committee of the Red Cross classified the conflict as a civil war,…
Can There Be Common Ground? The Iranian Nuclear Program in the U.S.-Russia Dialogue
The development of the Iranian nuclear program continues to rank highly among challenges to international security, with tensions around this issue climbing to new heights in 2012. Since 2006, multiple…
The Southern Kuril Islands Dispute
The dispute between Russia and Japan over the southern Kuril Islands represents one of the longest standing territorial disputes in East Asia. The dispute concerns possession of the four southernmost…
Faking It in Russian Politics
Russia’s hot political season of 2011-2012 has raised a set of important questions: Who can be trusted in Russian politics? Can the identities of public figures be taken for granted?…
Escalating Uncertainty: The Next Round of Gubernatorial Elections in Russia
Subnational electoral competition has been crucial to nationwide democratization in countries like Mexico. To what extent could the recent return of gubernatorial elections in Russia’s regions open such possibilities in…
“Natsdem”: The New Wave of Anti-Putin Nationalists
In the December 2011 protests in Russia, pro-Western democrats marched together with new and old nationalists. Some of the latter, such as Eduard Limonov and his Limonovtsy, are accustomed to…
The Twilight of the Vertical: Can a Governor in Volgograd Play a New Game?
The political crisis ignited by Russia’s parliamentary elections in December 2011 was marked by mass demonstrations in Moscow but little opposition mobilization elsewhere. However, its influence on Russia’s tight system…
Why “Reputation” Is Irrelevant in Russian Public Politics
It is rather easy to find compromising information about the majority of Russian politicians irrespective of political affiliation. In established democracies, even just accusations of impropriety often end political careers.…
Protests Without Leaders: Making Multiple Choices into a Source of Strength
One striking and puzzling feature of the wave of protests that has risen in Moscow since the fraudulent parliamentary elections last December is the absence of a group of leaders…
The Constraints of Partnerships: China’s Approach to Afghanistan
Given China’s alliance with Pakistan, strategic partnership with Russia, and key role in developing the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), the Chinese leadership would seem to be uniquely placed to play…
Drug Trafficking in Central Asia: A Poorly Considered Fight?
As strategizing for the “post-2014” regional order in Central Asia picks up speed, the fight against drug trafficking from Afghanistan is evolving as a key objective of international donor involvement…
Central Asia’s Cold War? Water and Politics in Uzbek-Tajik Relations
At the end of 2011, Louise Arbour, head of the International Crisis Group (ICG), listed Central Asia among the top ten crisis areas in the world and a region that…