October 27, 2009

National Security in the Bio-Era

Global pandemics and war have long shaped human history. But due to our unprecedented ability to intervene in the spread and containment of disease as well as the recovery from injury, national security must increasingly be approached from a cellular and even a molecular level. WPR examines National Security in the Bio-Era.

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October 13, 2009

Reinventing Diplomacy

While the world changes at a rapidly accelerating pace, diplomacy is in many ways rooted in the past. In order to remain both relevant and effective, diplomats must adopt new technologies, new profiles, and new ways of thinking about old methods. WPR examines Reinventing Diplomacy.

September 29, 2009

Globalization's Tripwires

Globalization's rapid advance has highlighted the need for multilateral consensus. But on issues ranging from global trade to climate change to Security Council reform, that seems increasingly hard to come by. WPR examines Globalization's Tripwires.

September 15, 2009

Illicit Flows and Transnational Threats

A byproduct of globalization, the explosion in illicit flows across borders has empowered non-state actors, giving rise to new and daunting transnational threats. But is the state always the victim? WPR examines Illicit Flows and Transnational Threats.

September 01, 2009

Sovereignty in the Information Age

By undermining traditional notions of sovereignty, the revolution in information and communication technologies has radically transformed the nature of relations between states, states and non-state actors, and states and their citizens. WPR examines Sovereignty in the Information Age.

August 04, 2009

The Road to Zero

President Barack Obama has set an ambitious agenda for arms control and nonproliferation, making a START follow-on agreement with Russia and strengthening the NPT top priorities. But critics argue there are more promising ways to limit the spread of nuclear weapons. WPR examines The Road to Zero.

July 22, 2009

Back to the Future

In the rush to find the "big new idea" to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world, U.S. policymakers have perhaps abandoned tried and true doctrines too quickly. Three, in particular, seem to warrant renewed interest: the Powell Doctrine, the Nixon Doctrine and Containment. WPR takes a trip Back to the Future.

July 07, 2009

Risk and Resilience in the Globalized Age

Globalization and network connectivity have changed the nature of the risks we face and dramatically increased the potential consequences of them. But unless policymaking systems adapt to this new environment, we will remain vulnerable to global perturbations. WPR examines Risk and Resilience.

June 23, 2009

Aid Reborn: New Actors, New Assumptions

The landscape of foreign aid and development is changing dramatically, with new actors, both public and private, challenging the international aid architecture, and a new generation of workers challenging its assumptions. WPR examines Aid Reborn.

June 09, 2009

Intractable Conflict

The conflicts in Kashmir, Sri Lanka and Cyprus have now spanned generations. Whether violent or "frozen," locked in impasse or cycling between hope and disappointment, each offers insights into a phenomenon that resists diplomatic and military solutions alike. WPR examines Intractable Conflict.

May 19, 2009

Germany: The Reluctant Power

Increasingly, the U.S. and Europe have turned to Germany for leadership in addressing the financial crisis, global security issues and a resurgent Russia. But will Germany be willing to play a more assertive role in the global arena? WPR examines The Reluctant Power.

May 05, 2009

The Curtain Rises: Obama's Opening Act

At the symbolic 100-day threshhold of the Obama presidency, World Politics Review asked five prominent foreign policy commentators to offer their take on the initial direction of President Obama's foreign policy. Thomas P.M. Barnett, Steve Clemons, Anthony Cordesman, Nikolas Gvosdev and Joshua Muravchik review Obama's Opening Act.

April 14, 2009

From the Rubble: The Post-Crisis Order

The global economic crisis is forcing governments to balance the need for coordinated action with national interests. The resulting tension between cooperation and competition will determine the contours of the global order that emerges in the aftermath. WPR examines The Post-Crisis Order.

March 31, 2009

The Age of Counterinsurgency

America's bitter experience in Iraq and Afghanistan has elevated a generation of counterinsurgents to positions of influence in Washington. But how well will their theories apply to Afghanistan? And what can America's COIN practitioners learn from Colombia's ongoing campaign against the FARC? WPR examines The Age of Counterinsurgency.

March 16, 2009

The Open Hand: Engaging Islam

President Barack Obama took office promising to extend an "open hand" to the Islamic World. But what will the effort entail? From public diplomacy to democracy promotion to efforts to address Islamic radicalism, WPR examines The Open Hand: Engaging Islam.

March 02, 2009

The Blue Planet: Water and Geopolitics

Some forecasters have predicted alarming scenarios of conflict over maritime and freshwater resources. But while visions of "Water Wars" have captured the popular imagination, shared rivers and the world's oceans can also lead to increased cooperation among states. WPR examines The Blue Planet: Water and Geopolitics.

February 16, 2009

The State of the State

The nation-state is increasingly under pressure from above and below. Multilateral organizations, hybrid actors and increasingly empowered populaces have crowded the international arena with options for action and challenges for government policy. WPR examines the State of the State.

February 02, 2009

The Changing Landscape of U.S. Intelligence

From the failure to prevent the attacks of 9/11, to controversial estimates on Iraq's WMDs and Iran's nuclear program, the U.S. intelligence community has been dragged out of the shadows and into the spotlight. President Obama inherits an intelligence community in transition. WPR examines the Changing Landscape of U.S. Intelligence.

January 12, 2009

The Emerging Continent

From the emergence of Brazil and the populist left, to the gathering momentum of regional integration, South America has experienced a decade of growth and change while America's attention has been turned elsewhere. WPR examines the Emerging Continent.

December 22, 2008

The New Great Game

Central Asia's energy reserves make it the prize of a new "Great Game," with rival powers maneuvering for access to pipeline routes and military bases. The region's complicated human rights issues cloud the picture for policymakers. WPR examines Central Asia.

December 01, 2008

The Asian Triangle

Attempts to improve the situation in Afghanistan without in turn destabilizing Pakistan have led to an emerging consensus regarding a "regional approach" that sees the India-Pakistan rivalry as a key to stabilizing the region. But lurking in the shadows of the India-Pakistan rivalry is China. WPR examines The Asian Triangle.

November 11, 2008

The Obama Presidency

With the U.S. presidential election finally decided, attention has now turned to just how President-elect Barack Obama will handle American foreign policy. Two prominent foreign policy analysts examine the challenges and opportunities that await The Obama Presidency.

October 26, 2008

The Al-Qaida We Don't Know

Ten years after al-Qaida declared war against the United States, much of what we know about the group is filtered through the lens of the Global War on Terror, a concept that distorts as much as it reveals. But a sound strategic response requires clear understanding of the enemy. WPR examines The Al-Qaida We Don't Know.

October 14, 2008

The Future Face of Conflict

In the midst of two wars and with an "era of persistent conflict" foreseen ahead, America and its military are confronting battlefield urgencies and operational complexities that challenge the very way in which we conceive of warfare. WPR examines the Future Face of Conflict.