Heightened Sense of Crisis: China & Taiwan in Japan’s New National Security Strategy
…to respond to a conflict in the Taiwan Strait. According to various Japanese media reports, how exactly the Chinese threat should be described was one of the points of contention…
Kurdish Elections: A Critical Juncture Amid Regional Instability
…focusing on discontent with the KDP’s dominance of the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG). “For 17 of the past 19 years, the prime minister and key ministries have been controlled by…
How Türkiye Navigates Between the United States and Europe
…That is only one of several points of contention, however; Türkiye’s ongoing disputes with Greece and Cyprus, and its hostility toward the Kurds, were also mentioned. Interlocutors complained to us…
Moroccan Electoral Reform: New Formula for Good Governance?
…Led by the Ministry of Interior, and under the direct mandate of King Mohammed VI, this effort comes after a royal call to accelerate the pace of electoral reforms to…
Tough Days Ahead for Pakistan and the US
…Because this assumption is so flawed, and because the election period and its aftermath are likely to be so contentious and violent, the destabilization of Pakistan will likely grow. Three…
It’s What Happens After Jordan’s Elections That Really Matters
…discontent, with unemployment estimated at 30%–among the highest in the region. Lackluster economic growth, diminishing external aid, particularly from the Gulf, and rising energy prices (the flow of cheap Egyptian…
A Snapshot of North Korea’s Supply Chain Coal Activity
…authoritative open source content is created for two purposes: 1) it is cited for internal production and 2) it grows public trust by increasing transparency around shared public-private interest in…
Security Sector Reform Best Practices and Lessons Learned
…of human rights by all.” Achieving these normative goals is a long-term, complex, and political process. To be durable and effective, security sector reform must address sensitive and often contentious…