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This Week at the ISN

Our Weekly Content Roundup

2 6 March 2015

JUMP TO Editorial Plan | Security Watch | Blog | Video

// Security Watch

This week, our hard power-centered Security Watch (SW) series focuses on the US Navy's outdated concept of sea
power; whether the EU's Nordic Battlegroup will ever be sent into action; the 7 problems with John Kerry's idea of an
'Iranian nuclear clock'; the surprising results of the PLA's 'Stride 2014' exercises; and the current state of Russia's defense
industry. Then, in our second, more wide-ranging SW series, we look at how Europe can contain Islamic extremism and
prevent further Charlie Hebdo-style attacks; the DR Congo's economic development options; Turkey's relations with the
United States; the private sector's potential involvement in combating human trafficking; and what the history of
cartography reveals about the problem of 'delimitation'.

Sea Power Matters: A Personal Theory of Power

2 March 2015

The United States Navy should use the centenary of Alfred Thayer Mahan's death to reexamine its concept of sea power,
writes B J Armstrong. That's because American interests in the 21st century require a more nuanced approach than in the
past. More

Europe and Islam - The Way Forward

2 March 2015

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre, how should Europe go about containing Islamic extremism and prevent
similar attacks in the future? Gawdat Bahgat argues that it must continue to promote transparency as well as social,
economic and political reforms around the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. More

If Not Now, When? The Nordic EU Battlegroup

3 March 2015

Pickaxes into Plowshares? Two Visions for Development in the DR Congo

3 March 2015

Peter Drrie thinks that the DR Congo shouldn't pour development money into its corruption-prone mining sector. Instead,
Kinshasa should follow neighboring Tanzania's example and focus on making its agricultural sector the mainstay of
economic development. More

Seven Problems with John Kerry's Iranian Nuclear Clock

4 March 2015

The US Secretary of State is convinced that the nuclear agreement being hammered out by the P5+1 nations and Iran will
extend the latter's 'breakout time' to at least a year. Gary Gambill isn't so sure. He thinks there are multiple what-ifs that
may render Secretary Kerry's prediction meaningless. More

Understanding Turkey's Tilt

4 March 2015

According to Svante Cornell, Turkey has become a less stable and reliable ally of the United States than it was during the
Cold War. In fact, Ankara's recent foreign policy tilts may well cause irreparable damage to the US-Turkish alliance.
More

The Wolves of Zhurihe: China's OPFOR Comes of Age

5 March 2015

In last summer's Stride 2014 exercises, China's opposing forces brigade (OPFOR) repeatedly outperformed its regular
People's Liberation Army (PLA) counterparts. That wasn't a fluke, says Gary Li. The unprecedentedly realistic exercises
were designed to shake up a complacent PLA and refocus its attention on winning wars. More

An Inhumane Trade: Partnering against Human Trafficking

5 March 2015

Should the private sector play a larger role in fighting human trafficking? Shannon Dick believes so. Not only will its
involvement help avoid 'siloed' policy responses, it will also encourage a more entrepreneurial approach to identifying and
mitigating the worldwide threats posed by traffickers. More

Russia's Defense Industry: Breakthrough or Breakdown?

6 March 2015

Russia's defense industry is slowly but surely pulling itself out of its post-Soviet doldrums. Today, Richard Weitz outlines
1) the domestic and foreign policy factors that have contributed to its resurgence, and 2) how the Ukraine crisis and
Western sanctions might yet derail the progress that has been made. More

Not the Map You're Looking For: Nations and Borders are Always Messy
6 March 2015

Do the Middle East's problems have their roots in the artificial states created by European imperialists? Maybe not, says
Nick Danforth, especially when you look at the history and cartography of the Balkans and Central Asia, two regions that
exemplify different approaches to the problem of 'national delimitation'. More

// Blog
Ten Reasons Why China Will Have Trouble Fighting a Modern War
2 March 2015

Dennis Blasko thinks that there are at least 10 reasons why the People's Liberation Army (PLA) may not be able to fight a
modern war against an advanced foe. They include limited unity of command, inexperienced commanders, understaffed
battalion headquarters and more. More

The Push and Pull of the World's Most Dangerous Migration Route
3 March 2015

What helps explain the latest wave of irregular migration across the Mediterranean Sea to Europe? Sarah Elliott's answer
points to 'push' factors such as faltering economic and political conditions and under-reported 'pull' factors such as the
growing impact of Western media and social networks. More

A Vulnerable Peace: What's at Stake in the Upcoming Burundian Elections

4 March 2015

Devon Curtis and Willy Nindorera believe there's more to Burundi's upcoming elections than ensuring the country's longterm future. Indeed, the election results may send a clear, peace-related message to the other states in the Great Lakes
region that plan to hold their own political contests over the next 2 years. More

Debacle at Debaltsevo Calls for a New Approach to Ukraine

5 March 2015

What explains the Ukrainian Army's recent capitulation in Debaltsevo? The answer isn't too few weapons or poor military
training, says Paul Robinson. Instead, the defeat is attributable to the dismal leadership being provided by the country's
senior military officers and politicians. More

Mediation Perspectives: the Need for a New Syrian Narrative

6 March 2015

Syria remains a security nightmare and a humanitarian tragedy. As Rima Barsoum sees it, there will be no peace and
reconciliation within the country unless a new conflict narrative is put in place i.e., one that refuses to exaggerate the
importance of sectarian divisions and emphasizes the resilience of Syrian national identity. More

// Video

Violent Extremism: What's Driving It?

In this video, Khalid Malik explores the violent extremism of al Qaeda, the so-called Islamic State (IS) and other likeminded groups. As he sees it, resource scarcity, limited jobs and education, and general underdevelopment are just some
of the reasons behind this specific type of violence.
More

Protecting Journalists and Freedom of Expression in the Face of Conflict

In this video, a mix of practitioners and experts stress the critical importance of a free press, the protection of journalists,
and the safeguarding of the free flow of information in a hostile world. While doing so, they also look at the growing
number of attacks against journalists and what can be done to protect them.
More

Thinking Ahead: Biotechnology Trends and their Implications for Biodefense

In this video, Sandia National Laboratories' Malin Young highlights recent developments in the biosciences, including the
growing ability to synthesize pathogens and the security threats such an ability represents. She also discusses what her
organization is doing to try and counter these threats.
More

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

Publications More
// Considering the Relevance of Peacebuilding within External Interventions in Africa More
// Breaking the Nordic Defense Deadlock More
// Patient, Prudent, strategic? The 2015 United States National Security Strategy
More

Videos More
// Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters
More
//Election Observation: How Authoritarian Regimes Muddy the Waters More
Containing ISIS Fails: Preventing Escalation More
/When
/

Audio / Podcasts More

// Net Neutrality and Privacy Key Principles for Global Internet Governance
More
// Ebola and Other Viral Outbreaks: Providing Health Care to the Global Poor in Times of Crisis
More
// Reporting from the Frontline: Weapons Identification for Journalists More

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