Can Afghanistan Be Part of An Integrated Central Asia?
A more integrated and cohesive Central Asia that includes Afghanistan will do more than anything else in sight to render it stable and predictable.
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Publications
China Reform Monitor No. 1468
College merger suspended after student protests;
China leads the charge against Israel;
China's apps to face subpoenas and/or bans;
FCC advances proposed ban on Chinese telecom equipment;
NATO declares China a security risk
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2471
OSCE concerned about human rights in Crimea;
Russia's GAZPROM behind massive methane leak;
Putin seeks to bolster United Russia;
Germany arrests Russian researcher accused of spying;
Major cities hammered by COVID
China’s Huawei Is Down, but Not Out
Washington needs a long-term strategy to sideline the tech giant.
Information Warfare Watch No. 3
Russia's web of disinformation;
Tehran's anti-semitic tropes;
Chinese disinformation targets Taiwan's tech sector;
Beijing's fake cheering section;
Washington takes aim at Iranian propaganda
A Coronation In Tehran
Last week, Iranians went to the polls to select a replacement for outgoing president Hassan Rouhani, who has served out his two terms in office.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2470
A helping hand from Grozny;
A media noose gets tighter;
A mediocre summit in Switzerland;
China, Russian space officials lay plans for lunar station;
Moscow's vaccine push;
Russia encroaches on Baltic airspace
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 218
* * * SPECIAL EDITION: Iran's 2021 election * * *
A coronation in Tehran...;
...amid clerical manipulation...;
...and widespread disaffection;
The presidency as a stepping stone?
State of Islamism 2021 | Issue 2 | Egypt
The Sisi government has been forced to deal not only with the perceived internal threat posed by the Brotherhood, but with an external one as well.
America’s Critical Strategic Vulnerability: Rare Earth Elements
The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) dominance over global critical mineral supply chains presents one of the largest strategic vulnerabilities to the United States and her allies since the Arab oil embargo-triggered energy security crisis of the 1970s.
What Biden And Putin Didn’t Discuss
At his summit with Vladimir Putin in Geneva, Switzerland last week, President Biden pressed his Russian counterpart on a number of critical issues.
U.S., Allies Too Eager to Resume Nuclear Deal with Iran
With Tehran making significant progress on the nuclear front, Washington and its European allies seem engaged in an increasingly desperate effort to revive the 2015 global nuclear agreement with Iran, mirroring the earlier eagerness that helped produce the problematic agreement in the first place.
Global Islamism Monitor No. 91
The Brotherhood breaks ranks;
Hezbollah's growing European presence;
The coming fight over Afghanistan;
The problem with Palestinian aid
China Reform Monitor No. 1467
White House: Engagement with China "has come to an end";
China allows three children amid fall in birth;
Fake COVID-19 vaccines pose new threat in Africa;
Arab countries are deporting Uyghurs to China;
Bush China Foundation takes $5 million from the CPC
Clarifying the Planetary Defense Mission
Since 2005, Congress has recognized that an asteroid impact represents a serious threat to national security. Though Congress tasked NASA to survey hazardous asteroids larger than 140m by 2020, sixteen years later it remains incomplete.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2469
Navalny not the first FSB target;
No refuge for victimized women in Russia's regions;
Moscow's soft lockdown;
Russia sells Iran advanced spy satellite;
Russia carries out massive naval drills in the Pacific;
Another former European official tacks toward Russia
A New Era For Iran’s Ambitions In The Western Hemisphere
Despite Chavez’s death in 2013, Venezuela remains a key Iranian ally—and a top partner in Tehran’s efforts to project power in the Western Hemisphere.
Wars of Ideas: Theology, Interpretation and Power in the Muslim World
This work explores the current state of the “wars of ideas” against radical Islam and identifies America’s potential partners in this fight.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2468
Putin signs extremism law, court bans Navalny group;
Space chief threatens early ISIS withdrawal;
New Ukrainian soccer jerseys showcase occupied Crimea;
Another opposition politician flees the country;
Russia withdraws from Open Skies;
Coronavirus surges in Moscow and nationwide
Four Priorities For The Biden-Putin Summit
Next week, President Joe Biden will meet with Vladimir Putin in Geneva for his first head-of-state summit with the Russian leader.
Defense Tech Monitor No. 65
Brain-computer interfaces make monkey pong possible;
Thought-controlled exoskeletons;
Wanted: A space junk removal service;
Directed energy weapons of terror;
Countering the Chinese naval fleet
China Reform Monitor 1466
China could have ordered Huawei to shut down Australia's 5G;
China woos Wall Street bankers...;
...while U.S. scrutiny over Chinese influence over finance grows;
Biden announces new probe into source of COVID-19;
Philippines protests China's "illegal" presence in its EEZ
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2467
Hunting down the opposition;
A step backward for Russia in Africa;
A helping hand from Moscow;
The true impact of the "foreign agent" designation;
Russia looks beyond the dollar
Global Islamism Monitor No. 90
More quiet normalization with Israel;
Islamist strife in Indonesia;
The Taliban gains ground...;
...as Amerca mulls making Pakistan a power broker
It’s a mistake to assume Colombia protests same as protests in US
Fifty-five House Democrats recently signed a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken arguing that the U.S. response to the protests, riots and national strikes that have taken place in Colombia in recent weeks must focus on the “unleashed” and “brutal response” of the Colombian National Police against protesters.
Taiwan’s Fate May Be Decided In Ukraine
The United States, and its allies and partners, have an opportunity in Ukraine to demonstrate their commitment to the existing international order, and thereby to deter potential aggressors long before military force is required.
Indo-Pacific Monitor No. 17
ASEAN struggles with response to Burma coup;
Indonesia's new "tank boat";
Tokyo plans to shatter defense spending ceiling;
China's infrastructure outreach to the Pacific Islands;
Manila rejects Beijing's unilateral fishing moratorium
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2466
Khodorkovsky group leaves Russia;
Putin meets with an embattled Lukashenko;
Russia spies on U.S. missile defense test;
Russian espionage a casualty of Czech spat;
Bolstering strength on western borders
How Joe Biden Can Save the U.S.-Turkey Relationship
Whatever the future holds for one of America’s most complicated bilateral relationships, better that Biden try and shape Erdogan’s foreign policy forays to America’s advantage, rather than refight old battles.
Information Warfare Watch No. 2
Chinese fake news targets Taiwan;
Moscow takes aim at U.S. broadcasting...;
...and foreign vaccines;
Rethinking "wolf warrior diplomacy"?
What Tiananmen Square Can Teach Us About COVID-19
For most of the world, the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre recalls familiar yet macabre vignettes of hopeful students and the iron tanks that crushed them, along with their cries for freedom. In China, however, there is nothing to recall on June 4th because, as far as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is concerned, nothing happened.
To Compete with China in Space, America Must Ramp up Funding
Space should not be seen as a bill to pay, but rather as an investment that generates tangible returns.
Foreign Actors Are Hacking America’s Democracy
A growing number of authoritarian regimes are turning to technology in their efforts to demolish trust in democratic principles and institutions.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2465
Sakharov centenary exhibition pulled;
Biden-Putin meeting set for June 16th;
Russian censors threaten, fine Google;
Shielding State media from "foreign agent" scrutiny;
Guerilla marketing, Russian style;
MH17 case poised to enter next phase
China Reform Monitor No. 1465
Beijing rebuffs Pentagon requests for Austin-Xu talks;
$3 billion more for global COVID-19 response: Xi;
China's hot market;
Banks raise mortgage rates to rein in housing prices;
Lack of academic freedom weakens America studies in China
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2464
Parallel military drills in the Balkans;
Sakharov freedom prize awarded to jailed gulag historian;
The fight over Tsargrad goes to court;
Making Russian mercenaries into movie stars;
Lavrov warns Ankara about cooperation with Kyiv;
Russian government supports Belarus' blunder
Global Islamism Monitor No. 89
Great power competition and the War on Terror;
France frets over and ISIS resurgence;
Abu Sayyaf seeks sanctuary;
Vienna takes a stand on Hezbollah;
The challenge of Central Asia reintegration
How Hamas Seized The Political Moment
Predictably, the latest violence in the Middle East has spawned a slew of theories about the reasons for renewed hostilities between Israel and Gaza.
Move the 2022 Beijing Olympics or Shun Beijing
These games offer an opportunity for America’s public and private sectors to make a powerful statement on human rights.
Iran Democracy Monitor No. 217
Iran's WMD quest continues...;
...as Congressional republicans take a stand...;
...and the Biden administration offers a sweetener;
A Saudi-Iranian entente
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2463
Support for "United Russia" continues to plummet;
Russians still uncomfortable with Sputnik-V;
Another spill in the far north;
Duma looks to ban Navalny groups, allies;
RFE/RL appeals "foreign agent" designation in European court;
U.S. lifts sanctions on Nord Stream II construction
Iranians aren’t listening to America
Just how influential is America's outreach to the Iranian people?
China Reform Monitor No. 1464
Exploring China's "irregular war" tactics;
China's authorities face a credibility crisis;
China builds on Bhutan's territory;
Pentagon: PLA eyeing locations for Gulf of Guinea base;
EU suspends ratification of China investment deal
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2462
Two years of "parole-like" restrictions;
Lavrov, Blinken to meet in Reykjavik;
Green Party head targeted for opposing Nord Stream II;
The Moscow metro cleans house;
Another independent outlet declared foreign agent;
Putin: Ukraine becoming "anti-Russia"
Washington is Misreading Iranian Politics
A third of a year into its tenure, the new White House appears to be pulling out all the stops in its efforts to reengage with Tehran, and to demolish the "maximum pressure" policy of its predecessor in the process.
Hamas rocket attacks can’t undermine move to peace between Arabs and Israelis
Hamas and Iranian rockets threaten Arab goals as much as the Jewish state.
The Future of “Great Power Competition”
A Vision for 5G Competition
Protecting the U.S. Supply Chain from China
Countering China in Africa
The Challenge of China’s Rights Abuses
The Chinese Threat to Privacy
Information Warfare Watch No. 1
Souring Scotland;
The G7 rallies against Russian disinfo;
Foreign influence and the Qanon conspiracy;
Next up: fake satellite photos
Time for jaw-to-jaw with Moscow
If President Biden truly believes he and the United States deserve to lead the democracies of the world, then he must lead in engaging Russia.
Russia Reform Monitor No. 2461
Russia opposes U.S. democracy summit;
A shot in the arm for Russia's sub fleet;
U.S. prosecutors seek 17-year sentence for Russian spy;
U.S. pipeline hit by Russian hacking group;
School shooting rocks Kazan