http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/rss/15 This feed contains all new content on the Chatham House website related to Russia and Eurasia. http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1239/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1239/ 16:30, 13th July 2009 - More details to follow. Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:31:07 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2400/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2400/ The American decision to deploy missile defence in Poland endangered the central myth of Putin's regime (Russia's rebirth as a Great Power), challenged the status of Putin as Russia's strongman, and introduced an additional uncertainty into the carefully scripted campaign for succession to Putin. It also hit the raw nerve of Russia's reliance on nuclear weapons. The character of Russian policy-making has guaranteed the worst-case scenario evaluation of the American programme. The Russian elite's world view has magnified the problems resulting from the deployment into fears of a window of vulnerability. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:46:25 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2398/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/ia/archive/view/-/id/2398/ Preparations for the next UK defence review are under way; a struggle is imminent and the lines of battle are being drawn. There is a grave danger that in the new 'age of austerity' defence planning-and strategy generally-will be driven by tribal conflicts, either between supporters of one or other of the armed services or between contending viewpoints about the nature of conflict. And there will be others who will argue that the defence review should be driven simply by the need to reduce government expenditure, as quickly as possible. These arguments not only reduce the defence debate to a struggle between various incompatible and uncompromising tribal beliefs-'war among the fetishes', perhaps-they also miss the point. This article gauges the extent of the economic challenges which the UK defence establishment will confront over the coming decade. The authors consider how best to approach the problem of undiminished (and even expanding) commitments at a time of decreasing resources. They argue that defence planning should be driven by the notion of value (the ratio of function to cost), which in turn requires both a clear national political vision and a defence establishment which is output- rather than input-oriented. Finally, the authors assert that defence must transform itself to be able to achieve the outputs required in the most efficient and responsive manner. Read also: Blair's Wars and Brown's Budgets: From Strategic Defence Review to Strategic Decay in Less Than a DecadePaul Cornish and Andrew Dorman, International Affairs, March 2009 Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:31:58 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1235/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1235/ 14:00, 6th July 2009 - Svante Cornell (co-editor) and James Sherr (contributor) will present a new book on the war of August 2008 which seeks to establish a coherent and substantiated record of the events of August 2008 - and their prehistory - as an essential precursor to establishing the causes and consequences of the conflict in the Caucasus. They will argue that the causes of Russia's war with Georgia can only be understood within the context of a long-term view of the countries' relations with each other, and the West. The August war was the culmination of a long preparatory period that began with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, if not earlier. The conflict was never just about the land and people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; Russia's relationship with the West was and remains a crucial determinant. Svante Cornell is Research Director of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute and Silk Road Studies Program. He is a co-founder and Director of the Stockholm-based Institute for Security and Development Policy. He is also the Editor of Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst. Attendance at this event is by invitation only. For more information please contact the Russia and Eurasia programme. Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:04:53 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/643/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/643/ Iran's elections were a monumental miscalculation and now the Islamic Republic faces the most serious crisis of authority in a generation, writes Ali Ansari in this month's The World Today. Hard liners may have overreached in their quest for democratic approval. On climate change, Bernice Lee and Antony Froggatt write that the international community is not doing enough to deviate from 'business as usual' in tackling greenhouse gas emissions. Politics is trumping science as national interests come before a concerted global effort to do something about emissions. Economist Max Watson outlines a programme of action for the Euro area where policy often lags behind events. He argues that the Euro area cannot afford to wait and see what strains emerge over the medium term; it needs stronger policy coordination now. Full contents Iran Elections: Monumental Miscalculation, Ali Ansari Democracy: Dicing With Democracy, Richard Youngs Democracy: The Quiet Democrat, Nicolas Bouchet Engaging Iran - European Lessons for America: Tempting Tehran, Riccardo Alcaro Burma: All Change or No Change?, Richard Horsey Burma: Trust the People, Maung Zarni Climate Change Politics: Dangerous Game of Dare, Bernice Lee and Antony Froggatt Russia: Strategic Loneliness, Vadim Kononenko Central Asia: Power Plays, Graeme P Hern and Katva Palazzolo Mexico - Swine Flu: Victor or Victim?, Rodrigo Delgado Aguilera The Euro and the Global Financial Crisis: Surviving Strain, Max Watson Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:49:40 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/758/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/758/ The REP Programme paper Dealing with Russia: The Reset Button by Andrew Wood was published in May 2009. Three experts have written short comment pieces in response to this paper. Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:37:37 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1209/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1209/ 23:00, 23rd June 2009 - The seminar will assess competing definitions of energy security across Europe and Eurasia, and examine the future of the European Union's energy strategy, considering both traditional and alternative responses to the problems of political risk, future supply shortages, and climate change. Attendance at this event is by invitation only. A copy of the draft agenda is attached. For more information please contact the Russia and Eurasia Programme. Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:31:39 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1206/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1206/ 16:00, 10th July 2009 - A fascinating but complex web of interdependence binds China and Russia. Oil and gas supplies from Russia and growing energy demand in China are at the heart of this and the development of the relationship has important ramifications for other regions depending on Russian resources. At this meeting, Professor Xu will discuss recent developments in the Russia-China relationship and the prospects for energy deals between the two countries. Professor Xiaojie (Steven) Xu is the Head of Institute of World Economics & Politics' International Energy Program, China Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, and an independent petroleum investment advisor to State Energy Bureau, national oil companies and energy service firms. Xu was the first director of Overseas Investment at China National Petroleum Corporation and remains the Chief Professor of the Institute of Geopolitics and Energy Economics at the East China Normal University, Shanghai. Xu has been a leading expert in numerous Chinese and English professional consulting reports, speeches, research papers/chapters and books including 'Petro-Dragon's Rise: What It Means for China and the World' (European Press, 2002). Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. This is the sixth meeting of the Chatham House Fossil Fuels Expert Roundtable. For more information please contact Tim Eaton. Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:20:06 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/752/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/752/ This is a transcript of Arseniy Yatseniuk, Member of Parliament for Ukraine, who spoke at a Chatham House roundtable event on 14 May 2009. Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:55:32 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1197/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1197/ 13:00, 10th June 2009 - Russia, along with the rest of the world, has been hit hard by the global financial crisis. Falling oil and commodity prices have exposed structural weaknesses in the Russian economy, and there have been sharp increases in unemployment, particularly in mono-industrial towns. Professor Gontmakher, one of Russia's leading economic and political commentators, will examine the implications of the crisis for the political establishment and the likely social repercussions of higher unemployment, a sharp fall in budgetary receipts, and a squeeze on public spending. Professor Evgeny Gontmakher is a Management Board Member of the Institute of Contemporary Development, a Moscow think-tank launched in March 2008 that is chaired by President Medvedev. He is also Head of the Social Policy Center, Institute of Economics, at the Russian Academy of Sciences. He has served in various positions including Deputy Minister for Social Protection (1993-1994), Head of the Social Development Department of the Cabinet Apparatus (1998-2003), and Vice President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (2003-2004). Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Thu, 04 Jun 2009 09:47:37 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1189/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1189/ 09:00, 1st June 2009 - The global financial and economic crisis has exposed deep problems in Kazakhstan's development. It has not used the windfall from high energy exports to improve infrastructure, attract investors, or build a diversified and equitable economy. The speaker will examine the impact of the economic downturn on Kazakhstan - which threatens to severely undermine the country's banking system and drive away investors - and the government's strategies for combating the crisis. As speculation grows over the future of the regime, this roundtable will also consider the likely development of Kazakhstan's political system in the coming years, and the regional implications. Alikhan Baimenov has been co-chairman of the AK ZHOL party of Kazakhstan since 2005. Previously, he held a number of positions in government including vice-chairman of the Committee on International and Inter-Parliamentary Relations of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan (1994-1995), first vice-minister of Labour and Social Protection (1995-1996), head of the Presidential Administration (1998-1999) and Minister of Labour and Social Protection (2000-2001). Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Wed, 27 May 2009 10:24:24 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1188/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1188/ 23:00, 10th June 2009 - This event will examine the decision-making processes which shape domestic and foreign policy in Central Asia, including the interaction between formal and informal networks, clan politics, and informal institutions. Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please see the provisional agenda or contact Alex Nice. Wed, 27 May 2009 09:44:02 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1187/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1187/ 15:00, 1st June 2009 - Seven years after discussions to develop the Nabucco pipeline first began, Russia continues to enjoy a virtual monopoly on the westward transit of energy from Eurasia to Europe. Numerous pipeline plans are on the table, but in many cases their commercial and political viability remain uncertain. Meanwhile, January's gas dispute between Russia and Ukraine has underlined the fragility of the current energy governance regime in Eurasia, and the urgent need for stronger political leadership to address energy security concerns. Dr Ariel Cohen will discuss the future of energy security in Eurasia. He will examine the prospects for new transit pipeline projects, and the security and geopolitical implications of their construction - or abandonment. Dr Cohen is Research Fellow in Russian and Eurasian Studies at the Davis International Studies Institute at the Heritage Foundation. He has consulted for the US Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the US Government, and the US Senate. Attendance at this event is by invitation only. For more information please contact the Russia and Eurasia programme. Tue, 26 May 2009 14:58:59 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1181/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1181/ 12:00, 2nd June 2009 - 2008 represented the lowest point for Russia's relations with the US in the post-Cold War period. Whilst is imperative for the US to re-evaluate its policy towards Russia, the West cannot and should not hope for a tabula rasa. 'Resetting' relations might not achieve greater cooperation unless there is understanding of the Kremlin's ideological and psychological hardwiring. Will the West be able to draw a line under recent disputes if the policy thinking which provoked them continues to direct Russian foreign policy? Should the US launch a new relationship with Russia before it has defined what it wishes to achieve, and how? Two leading US experts will present the findings of their report on the future of the US-Russia relationship. The report can be read on the Georgetown University website. Dr Eugene Rumer is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University. Previously, he served at the State Department, on the staff of the National Security Council, and at the Rand Corporation. Dr Angela Stent is Professor of Government and Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies at Georgetown University and a Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution. She previously worked on the region at the National Intelligence Council and US State Department. Attendance at this event is by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Fri, 22 May 2009 15:12:33 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1179/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1179/ 23:00, 3rd June 2009 - The event aims to provide a comparative analysis of health reform and demographic trends in Russia and China, and the impact this has on domestic policy and international relations. The seminar will focus on: Comparative Analysis of Health in Russia and China Lifestyles, Illness, and Potential Threats to Global Health in Russia and China Recent and Future Demographic Changes in Russia and China Implications for Foreign Policy and International Co-operation of Demographic and Health Changes in Russia and China Attendance at this event is by invitation only. For more information please see the agenda or contact Alex Nice. This seminar is jointly organized and sponsored by the Centre on Global Health Security, Chatham House; the Centre for East European Language-Based Area Studies (CEELBAS) and the British Inter-University China Centre (BICC). Fri, 22 May 2009 10:41:22 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/606/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/606/ In this month's issue, Dr David Heymann, Head of Chatham House's new Centre on Global Health Security, and formerly Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization, traces the means of managing the risks of influenza and outlines today's challenges for practitioners to identify emerging infections such as swine flu. Prem Shankar Jha, columnist and former editor, The Hindustan Times, argues that the Obama administration must understand that there will be no peace settlement in Afghanistan if India is left out of the process. And Kerry Brown, Senior Research Fellow, Chatham House, writes on how China is rising again but faces a major task in communicating what it calls its 'benign objectives and intentions' to the rest of the world. Full list of contents: Afghanistan and Pakistan: Obama's Quagmire, Prem Shankar Jha Afghanistan and Pakistan: Taliban Toxin, Wolfgang Danspeckgruber and William Maley Health: Preparing for Pandemics, David L Heymann Health - China and Russia: Life Support, Christopher Davis Group of Eight - Aid in Africa: Party Over, Tom Cargill Group of Eight: Thinking, Not Talking, Alex Vines China: Rising Again, Kerry Brown Coal and Climate Change: Electrifying Issue, Michael Hogan Coal and Climate Change: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Jon Gibbins Europe: Jobs for the Boys, Richard Whitman Thu, 21 May 2009 15:51:04 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/746/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/746/ During the economic boom, Kazakhstan's banks borrowed heavily on international markets to finance massive investments in construction and real estate. The international credit crisis has left the country's banks extremely exposed, in turn putting a large section of the economy under threat. The crisis has been compounded by the machinations of certain political elite factions, which are alleged to have taken advantage of the crisis in order to advance private interests. In particular, the state has moved quickly to nationalize the largest bank, Bank Turan Alem (BTA), after it failed to raise its reserves to levels demanded by the government. This appears to be the latest attempt to strengthen the position of the political grouping centred around Timur Kulibaev, which controls Kazakhstan's second and third largest banks. The government takeover of BTA triggered an early debt repayment clause which may lead to bankruptcy for the bank. This could lower Kazakhstan's sovereign credit rating, bring down the financial sector, and much of the country's economy with it. Analysts believe that the crisis currently gripping Kazakhstan's banking sector is serving as an important test case scenario insofar as BTA's default could portend other corporate and bank defaults in the former Soviet Union over the next year. Wed, 20 May 2009 10:09:40 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/745/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/745/ A new US administration has encouraged Russia experts to advocate a fresh approach to the US-Russia relationship. However, the emerging consensus, focussing on the need to 'reset relations' with Russia, overlooks several key issues: the role of the EU and EU countries; the evolution of former Soviet countries; and the realities of Russia itself. Washington's impatience with the diversity of opinion on Russia within the European Union has led it to adopt an unduly bilateral approach. This is understandable but misguided; the depth of the EU's relationship with Russia means that its members, both collectively and severally, have a central role to play in the evolution of US-Russia relations. A renewed emphasis on the US-Russia bilateral relationship may also provoke concern amongst Russia's neighbours that the interests of the 'lands in-between' may be overlooked. US policy must remain aware of Russia's position vis-à-vis its 'near abroad', in particular Ukraine and Georgia, but avoid anything which might appear to accommodate the anxieties and interests of Russia above those of neighbouring states. Those devising strategies on Russia must avoid projecting unrealistic policy aims which ignore the realities of contemporary Russia. Western policy makers should be cognisant of Russia's interests and motives, but not indulge them when they conflict with their own interests or values. Pressing the reset button should not imply that the ideas and emotions which underpin Moscow's attitudes and aspirations are true and justified. Your Comments Would you like to comment on this paper? Please send us your views using the following link: Send your feedback >> PLEASE NOTE: If you decide to send us your comments you agree to allow us to publish them below. If you do not want your name to be published here please make this clear on the feedback form. We reserve the right to decide which comments to publish. Acceptable Use Policy Information Wed, 20 May 2009 10:05:01 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1170/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1170/ 10:00, 22nd May 2009 - The debate over Ballistic Missile Defence, primarily between Russia and the US but very much a European concern, has not evaporated with the 'resetting' of relations with Russia. Certainly European countries are divided, but there is also a debate in Russia beyond the Kremlin, with experts and even military staff split over the threat perception. This roundtable will explore the various Russian scenarios ensuing from US Missile Defence options. Attendance at this meeting is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Mon, 18 May 2009 12:00:11 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1166/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1166/ 10:30, 14th May 2009 - When commercial, security and geopolitical concerns are intertwined, the obstacles to international consensus on resource management are likely to be substantial. In light of yet another energy crisis this winter, and with Russia refusing to ratify the Energy Charter, is it time to rethink energy governance in Eurasia? How can this be achieved when the actors involved have very different understandings of energy security? Will the economic crisis make countries more amenable to shared norms for energy investment, sale and transit, or less? Ambassador André Mernier, Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat, will examine the future of multilateral energy agreements, including the recent Russian proposals for a new 'conceptual approach' to the legal basis of international energy cooperation. Ambassador André Mernier became Secretary General of the Energy Charter Secretariat in January 2006. Previously, André Mernier was Head of Energy Services in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium and Ambassador in Moscow from 2000-2004, during which period he was also accredited to Belarus, Moldova, Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Thu, 14 May 2009 09:57:27 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1162/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1162/ 07:15, 14th May 2009 - The challenges for Ukraine, both within and without, remain as daunting as ever. The global economic downturn has hit Ukraine hard and the political deadlock has complicated efforts to combat the crisis. Ukraine's foreign policy has also lost momentum and the Euro-Atlantic integration project appears to have stalled. As the country prepares for presidential elections, can the vote provide the mandate to settle Ukraine's constitutional disputes, renew a domestic reform agenda, and rescue the country's foreign policy from the doldrums? Arseniy Yatseniuk, one of Ukraine's leading politicians, will discuss the current political situation and set out his vision for Ukraine's future. Dr Arseniy Yatseniuk is a Member of Parliament and the founder of Front for Change. He has served as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs. In June 2007 Dr Yatseniuk established the Open Ukraine Foundation. Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Tue, 12 May 2009 16:58:23 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1155/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1155/ 15:00, 28th May 2009 - The arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the head of the Yukos oil company, in October 2003, proved a turning point for post-communist Russia and for Vladimir Putin's presidency. By that time, Khodorkovsky had become one of the world's richest and most powerful men, while Yukos had been transformed into a vertically-integrated oil company that was set to go global. On all counts, this looked like a success story for Russia, but it was precisely at this moment that the authorities struck. Khodorkovsky was later sentenced to eight years in jail. Professor Sakwa will present his new book on the Yukos affair, examining the rise and fall of the company, and its significance for the relationship between state and business in Russia. Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Wed, 06 May 2009 10:09:01 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1152/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1152/ 16:30, 14th May 2009 - Beyond the geopolitical power play, what are the prospects for Georgia's political and economic development? The speaker will discuss the challenges facing Georgia as the country seeks to rebuild and move forward following last August's war with Russia. Key issues to be discussed will include internal reform, regional relations, energy security and Georgia's role as a transit country, and the prospects for deepening cooperation and integration with the European Union in light of the launch of the Eastern Partnership. Tue, 05 May 2009 16:18:42 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/587/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/587/ Ten years after the Kosovo War, this special issue of International Affairs looks at the significance of the war. The featured articles suggest that the Kosovo war had implications that went beyond the circumstances of its launch and conclusion. Over Kosovo, NATO's credibility was put on the line and its viability as a worthwhile security provider was questioned - just as it was in Bosnia and now in Afghanistan. In 'NATO: From Kosovo to Kabul', James Sperling and Mark Webber argue, while the crises (both internal and external) which NATO has faced are real, the assumption need not follow that the alliance is facing inexorable decline. Whatever the merits of the actions it has undertaken, NATO has proved robust and responsive. The alliance remains a framework of choice for its members - after initially rejecting the prospect of NATO oversight in Afghanistan, the Bush administration recognized that in doing so the high costs of operational incoherence and inefficiency far exceeded any potential gain of operational freedom. The Obama administration has staked its foreign policy reputation on addressing the Afghan imbroglio. Here, NATO is seen as central. Sperling and Webber write that despite fundamental disagreements besetting the alliance, the Afghan experience can be read as yet another instance of crisis as normality. Claims of a transatlantic gap of burden-sharing in Afghanistan are exaggerated. Based on three tables that look in detail at NATO members' contributions, the article shows that NATO European and NATO US contributions to allied operations are roughly proportionate, but the same cannot be said of intra-European burden-sharing, risk-sharing, and financial support. Like Bosnia and Kosovo before it, Afghanistan is but the latest episode in which NATO is seen to be facing its darkest hour. But NATO's fortunes rest on more than simply the outcome of a single (if vital) mission. The challenges NATO faces, especially now in Afghanistan, should be seen contextually, as part of the seemingly endless, but often exaggerated, narrative of NATO failure and decline. Read 'NATO: From Kosovo to Kabul' >> International Affairs 85/3 - Contents The Kosovo War: A Recapitulation, Mark Webber Operation Allied Force: Handmaiden of Independent Kosovo, Julie A Mertus The Influence of Operation Allied Force on the Development of Jus ad Bellum, Steven Haines NATO: From Kosovo to Kabul, James Sperling And Mark Webber 'A Milestone in the History of the EU': Kosovo and the EU's International Role, Alistair J K Shepherd Innovation and Precedent in the Kosovo War: The Impact of Operation Allied Force on US Foreign Policy, David Hastings Dunn 'Tony's War'? Blair, Kosovo and the Interventionist Impulse in British Foreign Policy, Oliver Daddow Falling into Line? Kosovo and the Course of German Foreign Policy, Alister Miskimmon From Pristina to Tskhinvali: The Legacy of Operation Allied Force in Russia's Relations with the West, Derek Averre The Kosovo War in Perspective, Andrew Cottey Book Reviews Fri, 01 May 2009 09:48:18 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1143/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1143/ 12:30, 5th May 2009 - On the 60th anniversary of the signing of the treaty establishing the Council of Europe, the speaker will explore the role of the Council, in monitoring the democratic standards, respect for the rule of law and observance of human rights legislation of its 47 member states. He will also consider the challenges the Council currently faces, which include the ongoing issue of rendition flights and the fall-out of the Russia-Georgia conflict. For further information, please contact Members Events. Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:09:28 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1142/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/events/view/-/id/1142/ 13:00, 13th May 2009 - The seminar will examine both Russia's external relations with the countries of the Middle East, and the evolving role of Islam within the Russian Federation itself, with a particular focus on the North Caucasus. Alexander Pikayev is a leading specialist on the Iranian nuclear question but will also address other aspects of Russian policy towards the Middle East. Ruslan Kurbanov is a specialist on the dynamics of radicalisation in the North Caucasus and will also discuss more general challenges facing Muslims in Russia. Attendance at this event is strictly by invitation only. For more information please contact Alex Nice. Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:36:22 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/580/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/news/view/-/id/580/ Climate of Change? Ahead of the Copenhagen summit in December, this month's The World Today looks at how China, Russia and Brazil are preparing for a post-Kyoto climate change agreement. Linda Jakobson, Senior Researcher, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, writes on the delicate balancing act the Chinese government are pursuing: while some Chinese leaders are adamant that combating climate change must not deter economic development, they are also keen to show they are willing to shoulder international responsibilities in line with the status of a rising power. However, the view that China is a victim of climate change, rather than a country to be held responsible for it, is shared across the party. Looking ahead to Iran's presidential elections, Ali Ansari, Associate Fellow, writes that the faltering economy will be a key issue, but with political comebacks beckoning and harsh criticisms of Ahmadinejad by potential candidates rife, one thing stands out: everyone is arguing about the need for change. And, Tony Elumelu, Chief Executive, United Bank for Africa, writes on how in a world of largely negative economic growth, African stocks and shares are showing strong results. But Africa needs to get the message across that it is a continent of growing economies, with institutions and entrepreneurs willing to play important roles in providing solutions to the economic crisis. Full list of contents: Climate Change: China's Changing Climate, Linda Jakobson Russia and Climate Change: Costs or Benefits?, Anna Korppoo Brazil and Climate Change: Global Positioning, Paulo Wrobel Moldova: Question of Power, James Sherr Global Economc Crisis: Crunching Eastern Europe, Sean Hanley European Elections: Big Yawn, or Wake-Up Call?, Julie Smith Europe's Eastern Partnership: Between Europe and Russia, Georgy Bovt Council of Europe: Conscience of a Continent, Martyn Bond The Global Economic Crisis and Africa, Tony Elumelu Iranian Presidential Elections: Ghost at the Election Banquet, Ali Ansari Lebanon Elections: Into the Shadows, Hussain Abdul-Hussain Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:23:36 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1904/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1904/ Lebanon is about to elect its fourteenth parliament since independence sixty-six years ago. But practice is notmaking perfect as the country's only militia, Hezbollah, has succeeded in undermining the political system and turning the state into an irrelevant and hollow institution. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:12:40 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1899/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/twt/archive/view/-/id/1899/ Europeans have been able to vote for their own parliament for thirty years. The June election is the seventh, yet at the end of last year,more than two thirds of potential voters could not name the date for their next trip to the ballot box. In Britain the don't knows were even higher, reflecting a view that such elections matter little and change less. Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:05:00 +0100 http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/731/ http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/publications/papers/view/-/id/731/ Despite the dominance of governing clans, which have corroded Moldova's political and economic life since the election of the Communist president Vladimir Voronin in 2001, Europe has until now looked positively on the country's pluralistic and democratic credentials. The violent disturbances in Chisinau on 7 April have shattered this complacency, raising fears that the government will use the protests as a pretext to impose an authoritarian regime. President Voronin devoted his entire first term to enhancing Moldova's European prospects, strengthening the relationship with Romania, and moving towards a resolution of the Transnistria conflict. Faced with internal challenges, however, Voronin may allow this progress to unravel if he perceives that the 'question of power' can only be resolved by titling the country towards Moscow. The emerging situation in Moldova is attractive to Russia as it strengthens the hand of Transnistria, deepens Voronin's dependency on Moscow, undermines the EU's Eastern Partnership, and provides oblique support to Russia's 'privileged' claims in the former USSR. Fri, 17 Apr 2009 15:23:31 +0100