 IA FORUM ARTICLES |
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| IA-Forum speaks with David Satter, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, about Barack Obama’s recent visit to Moscow. By Marina Grushin (07/24/2009) |
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| Author provides analysis of the European Ballistic Missile Defense issue and its impact on the key players involved. By Elizabeth Zolotukhina. (03/24/2009) |
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| Paper that explores the U.S.-Russian relationship and prescribes steps to strengthen it. (3rd place Winner, IA-Forum Essay Competition). By Morgan Cohen. (01/31/2009) |
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| Paper that explores the Russia-U.S. relationship and its future. (2nd Place Winner of the 2009 IA-Forum Essay Competition). By Jerrod Vaughan. (01/31/2009) |
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| Winner of the IA-Forum 2009 Spring Student Essay Competition, author examines the U.S. - Russian relationship. By Daniel Hemel. (01/31/2009) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Jeffrey Mankoff, Associate Director of International Security Studies at Yale University and author of Russian Foreign Policy: the Return of Great Power Politics, about Russia’s relations with post-Soviet states and Western powers. By Marina Grushin. (03/11/09) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Dr. Christopher Preble, director of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute, about Iraq and U.S. foreign policy issues. (IA-Forum, 08/29/2008) |
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| IA Forum speaks with Vladimer Papava, former Minister of Economy (1994-2000) and former Member of the Parliament (2004-2008) of the Republic of Georgia about the Georgia-Russia crisis. By Alexander Jackson. (08/14/2008) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Edward Lucas, Central and Eastern Europe correspondent for the Economist, about his book 'The New Cold War.' (IA-Forum, 04/30/2008) |
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| International Affairs Forum speaks with Prof. Thomas Remington, chair of the Political Science Department at Emory University, about the upcoming Russian presidential election. By Trenton Truitt (IA-Forum 02/27/08) |
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| International Affairs Forum speaks with Dr. Stephen Blank, research professor of National Security Affairs at the U.S. Army War College, about Russia-NATO relations. By Jason Miks (IA-Forum, 02/12/08) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Dr. Lilia Shevtsova from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace about her book "Russia: Lost in Transition" and the state of Russia. (IA-Forum, 12/19/2007) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Dutch Ambassador to Russia, Jan-Paul Dirkse. By Kester Kenn Klomegah. (IA-Forum, 10/26/2007) |
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| International Affairs Forum discusses current and future Russian political issues with William C. Potter, Director of the Center for Nonproliferation Studies and of the Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at the Monterey Institute for International Studies. By Jason Miks. (IA-Forum, 3/6/2007) |
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| EDITORIALS |
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| Authors discuss the possibility that Russia and China now constitute the 'Axis of Evil'. By Ryan Barnes & Steinar Dyrnes. (08/04/2008) |
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| Author discusses recent tensions between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway Georgian province of Abkhazia. By Alexander Jackson. (IA-Forum, 05/06/2008) |
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| In light of the upcoming presidential elections in Russia it might be wise for the American presidential candidates to articulate a coherent Russia policy. Or at least know the name of Putin's heir. By George A. Pieler and Jens F. Laurson (IA-Forum, 02/28/2008) |
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| A well-orchestrated election is a key instrument of a modern, 21st century dictatorship. It’s an important tool in the arsenal of state control, and the rhetorical platform essential to accusing critical Westerners of hypocrisy. Welcome to Russia. By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler (IA-Forum, 01/11/2008) |
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| Death of the Russian Media |
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| Discusses the trend of journalist deaths in the Russian media, implications within the country and externally. By S.R. Brophy. (IA-Forum, 4/16/2007) |
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| We Mustn’t Forget Russia’s Truth Seeker Anna Politkovskaya |
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| An appreciation of slain Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya and discussion of issues surrounding her death. By S.R. Brophy. (IA-Forum, 2/14/2007) |
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| "Backed by oil reserves, Russia is an object lesson of how global self-assertion can quickly turn very ugly. Skilled in the arts of brazen lying, Russia plays international politics like a tin drum." By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler. (first published on Forbes.com, 12/29/2006) |
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| FEATURED ELSEWHERE
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| In an interview with the consulting editor of CFR.org, George F. Kennan Senior Fellow for Russian and Eurasian Studies
Stephen Sestanovich discusses Russia's projects for modernization, including the development of a "technology village" modeled after Silicon Valley. By Bernard Gwertzman. (Council on Foreign Relations, 06/24/2010) |
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| The magisterial Cambridge History of the Cold War views the Cold War as an undifferentiated chunk of history. But the conflict between the superpowers was just one strand of history in the middle and late twentieth century, not the whole story. By Lawrence D. Freedman. (Foreign Affairs - Mar/Apr 2010) |
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| Russia’s future is as uncertain as ever, writes Arkady Ostrovsky. (The Economist, 12/28/2009) |
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| The article underlines the crucial role of US and Russia in lowering the level of nuclear weapons in the world and the importance of the "Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty." By Brent Scowcroft, Joseph Nye, Nicholas Burns, Strobe Talbott (The Brookings Institution 10/13/2009) |
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| Soccer diplomacy in the Caucasus has potential for easing the tense relationship between Armenia and Turkey. However, both countries have conflicting interests in Azerbaijan that have brought rapprochement between the two countries to a stand still, making the prospects of peace more unlikely. By Amberin Zaman. (German Marshall Fund of the United States, 31 August 2009). |
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| The war in Afghanistan has been compared to America's failure in Vietnam, however, this article suggests that its closer to the Soviet's involvement in Afghanistan when it invaded in 1989. (Foreign Policy 09-04-2009 by Artemy Kalinovsky |
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| What is needed is nothing less than a change in the strategic relationship between the two major nuclear powers — in their own interests and in the cause of world peace. By Mikhail Gorbachev (The New York Times, 09/25/2009) |
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| Russia renews pledges to prop up its bilateral strategic partnership with China and strengthen a post-Soviet security alliance in a thinly veiled attempt to counter alleged western influence in Central Eurasia, writes Sergei Blagov for ISN Security Watch.
By Sergei Blagov (ISN Security Watch 8/6/2009) |
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| The current conflict in Afghanistan may hold parallels to the Soviet's war in the 1980s, especially with regard to Pakistan's role as a safe haven. However, there are many substantial differences between the two conflicts as Bruce Riedel points out in this informative report. (Brookings, May 2009) |
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| Though the situation in Afghanistan is grave, it is far from hopeless. In an attempt to find a way forward, author Ronald E. Neumann analyzes the specific issues which must be addressed for the Afghan problem to be resolved. (Council on Foreign Relations, July 2009) |
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| Four experts on Russia assess the importance of Barack Obama and Dmitri Medvedev developing a personal bond and discuss the historical ties between the leaders of the United States and Russia. (The New York Times, 07/06/2009) |
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| Political commentator Andrei Fedyashin analyzes the prospects of Russia and the United States reaching an agreement to replace the START I treaty. (RIA Novosti, 06/22/2009) |
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| There has always been an acute shortage of optimism in Russia. It could be because of the country's harsh climate or its troubled history, writes Andrei Kortunov (The Moscow Times, 05/13/2009 ) |
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| Russia's heated reaction to the NATO-sponsored training exercises planned for next month near Tbilisi has added unnecessary strain to Moscow's relations with the West, argues Alexander Golts. (The Moscow Times, 04/21/2009) |
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| The current paranoia over Russian expansion threatens to turn into outright hysteria as news emerges that a Russian company has acquired one-fifth of a Hungarian refinery. (By: Jeremy Druker, ISN 4/3/2009) |
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| Since 1992, Russia’s human numbers have been progressively dwindling. This slow motion process now taking place in the country carries with it grim and potentially disastrous implications, writes Nicholas Eberstadt. (World Affairs Journal, April 2009) |
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| Corruption has become Russia's most profitable business. According to experts, the corruption market is worth $300 billion annually. By Kirill Kabanov. (The Moscow Times, 04/26/2009) |
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| Although Turkey and Russia face many of the same challenges, their national interests are sources of competition rather than common ground. By Reva Bhalla, Lauren Goodrich and Peter Zeihan. (Stratfor Geopolitical Intelligence Report, 03/17/2009) |
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| As the economic crisis deepens, Russian oligarchs are being stripped of the wealth and power they accumulated in post-Soviet years. By Andrew E. Kramer. (International Herald Tribune, 3/7/2009) |
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| Rather than counting on a strong financial sector to ensure domestic strength and stability, Russia relies on six traditional pillars of power-- its geography, politics, social system, natural resources, military, and intelligence. By Lauren Goodrich and Peter Zeihan. (Stratfor, 3/3/2009) |
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| The Russian Analytical Digest discusses security models in the context of Russia and its relations with Europe and the United States. By Margarete Klein, et al. (Russian and Eurasian Security Network, 2/18/2009) |
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| Energy concerns primarily drive the European Union's advance into Asia, and not without offering a crushing blow to Russia's 'satellite-style' influence in Eurasia. By Rick Rozoff. (The Centre for Research on Globalization, 02/13/2009) |
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| In an interview with the Council on Foreign Relations, S. Frederick Starr of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins University discusses the causes and consequences of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's decision to close the U.S. air base in Manas. By Bernard Gwertzman. (CFR, 2/12/2009) |
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| Russia's economic and political weaknesses are causing domestic problems as well as destabilizing neighboring states. According to Anders Aslund and other experts on Russia, the European Union must update its Russia policy to address these issues. By Ahto Lobjakas. (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 2/12/2009) |
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| Economists Sergei Guriev and Aleh Tsyvinski argue that, with the exception of a few mistakes, the Kremlin has thus far pursued reasonable and effective policies to prevent economic and political collapse in Russia. (The Moscow Times, 2/10/2009) |
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| In the last decade, Russian political elites have tightened their control over the national media. Maria Lipman examines the social, economic, and political reasons for this crackdown. (The Carnegie Moscow Center, 2/3/2009) |
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| Even though Moscow claims to welcome the Obama administration's initiative to engage in direct talks with Iran, it is unlikely to alter its public stance that Iran is neither building a nuclear weapon nor presenting a missile threat. By Stephen Blank (World Politics Review, 02/09 2009). |
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| Kyrgyzstan's announcement that it plans to close the U.S. air base in Manas changes the security playing field in Central Asia. By Alexander Lukin. (The Moscow Times, 02/06/2009) |
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| Jörg Himmelreich argues that free-market policies and improved transparency in the energy sector are critical for Ukraine's security and economy - and by extension, Europe's access to natural gas. |
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| After Russia’s Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine, Anders Aslund argues that the European Union needs to be more proactive in its energy policy and less passive in its response to the gas conflict. (Peterson Institute for International Economics, 01/08/2009) |
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| Nuclear weapons continue to play a vital role in Russia’s defense, security, foreign and even domestic policies, but Moscow should nevertheless at least embark on the Global Zero path, says Simon Saradzhyan (ISN, 10/07/2009) |
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| Wonder why Russia has Europe over a barrel? Ask German environmentalists. By William Yeatman (CEI, 10/08/2008) |
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| With Georgia in pieces, Ukraine could be the next to fall to Russia's territorial ambition, separatist sentiment and economic realities, writes Andrey Kurkov (New Statesman, 09/04/2008). |
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| Author looks at the formation of the SCO and its relationship with Russia. By Mark Katz (Slavic Research Center, 09/01/2008) |
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| Russia must seek genuine strategic partnership with the US, and the latter must understand that, when excluded and despised, Russia can be a major global spoiler, writes Shlomo Ben-Ami. (Project Syndicate, 09/11/2008) |
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| The Georgian polity and institutions have survived the test of war with Russia. But the country's president will soon face an acute domestic challenge, says Robert Parsons. (Open Democracy, 08/26/2008) |
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| Liakhov provides background into international law regarding secessionist movements in order to demonstrate that international law does not “preclude Abkhazia and South Ossetia from becoming independent states”. By Andrei Liakhov. (Center for Defense Information, 8/27/2008) |
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| The Economist reports that Russia appears ready to use its veto more often on the UN Security Council, prompting fears of a diplomatic logjam. (Economist, 07/17/2008) |
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| The dispute in the South Caucasus is now in a new and dangerously confrontational phase. All sides need to recognise the risks in current policies, cool their rhetoric and take some pragmatic steps towards resolution. (International Crisis Group, 06/05/2008) |
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| Author looks at the implications for Russia's stability of former President Vladimir Putin taking the prime minister's job. (Hoover Institution, 05/11/2008) |
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| Two decades of the world’s most stringent environmental regulations have made Germany increasingly energy dependent on Russia. That’s how Russian President Vladimir Putin persuaded a coalition of West European nations to oppose a proposal that would have expanded NATO. By William Yeatman, Competitive Enterprise Institute (Richmond Times, 20/04/2008) |
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| Discusses apathy of the Russian middle class. By Masha Lipman. (Washington Post, 06/04/2007) |
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| An editorial on why a U.S. planned missle defense shield in Europe is not worth creating political turmoil with Russia By Michael E. O'Hanlon (Brookings Institute, 05/17/2007 |
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| The author explains the reasoning behind Russia’s renewed interest in the Middle East and suggests how the US can work to maintain its status as the regional power. By Ariel Cohen. (Heritage Foundation, 3/5/2007) |
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| The author discusses Russian President Vladimir Putin’s remarks at the recent Munich Conference on Security Policy and explains its intentions on the Russian domestic audience. By Max Boot. (Council on Foreign Relations, 2/14/2007) |
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| The report investigates the importance of Russian support for key U.S. strategic initiatives including combating terrorism and a nuclear Iran. The report includes recommendations on certain key issues. Chaired by John Edwards and Jack Kemp (Council on Foreign Relations, 02/15/2007). |
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| Article looks at how the countries of the Caucasus are using their natural endowments as a strategic bargaining tool and yet how long of a way they have to go to fully form a unified coordinated policy. (The Economist, 02/11/07) |
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| What confounds both Europe and the US are the complexity of post-Soviet societies and the impotence of Western institutions. By Bruce Jackson. (Washington Post, 10/8/2006) |
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| Author defines what the Russian government really means when it describes itself as a "Sovereign Democracy." By Masha Lipman. (Washington Post, 7/15/2006) |
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| Speeding through the ruins of Chechnya this spring, Ramzan Kadyrov, the unpredictable warlord turned Chechen prime minister, was asked about the hunt for Shamil Basayev, the separatist and terrorist leader who had ordered the killing of Kadyrov's father. By C.J. Chivers. ( New York Times, 07/14/2006) |
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| ROUND TABLE FORUM |
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| Commentators share their thoughts on the state of the Russian economy and the influence of the Kremlin and respond to the statement: For in reality, Russian financial confidence is solely the result of cash brought in from strong oil and natural gas prices - something largely beyond the Russians' ability to manipulate - not the result of any restructuring of the Russian system. As such, the re |
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| Given the recent controversies over state intervention and business tactics, what does the future hold for Russian energy and its effect on Russian political relationships in Europe? (08/29/2006)
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| International Affairs Forum asked Russia specialists and commentators: "With talk of a new Cold War, and Russian President Vladimir Putin floating the possibility of aiming nuclear weapons at targets in Europe, how serious do you think the deterioration in relations is between Russia and the West? How should Western governments respond?"
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