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Open Think Tank Articles
John Taylor: Although over 20 years have passed since the end of the Cold War, tensions between Russia and the West continue to exist. The West needs a new approach that takes into account Russia’s own foreign policy perspective and shows an understanding of its domestic challenges.
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Sarah Schill: Diplomacy is the first line of defense in an interconnected world. NATO should substantially increase its diplomatic presence in Mediterranean Dialogue partner countries. The situation calls for a diplomatic presence that goes beyond what is normally required.
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Aaron Ellis: In the perennial debate over what to do about Iran, those who think they have a solution to the problem rarely put it in the context of a broader strategy or explain their trade-offs and indirect consequences. Overall strategy and the ensuing consequences are precisely what we should be considering when debating Iran.
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Kara Kingma: The recent NATO attack reiterates the need to assess the alliance between the United States and Pakistan. Pakistan’s cooperation does not guarantee success in Afghanistan; rather, the US partnership with the Pakistani military alienates Pakistan’s citizens and prevents needed domestic reforms.
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Judy Dempsey: Europe’s efforts to exert influence on the world through soft power has proven ineffective. To restore Europe’s credibility in the world, Europe must open itself up to trade and immigration, provide more aid to civil society groups in the greater European neighborhood and be more vocal against dictatorial regimes.
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James Cussen: This question is loaded with the baggage of a transatlantic divide on countering terrorism that pre-dates September 11th and at least extends back to the last days of the Clinton presidency. The inadequacies of the American portion of this discussion are challenged for lacking a pragmatic focus.
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Alexandra Jonas: Policymakers should take a closer look at the drafting process of developing NATO’s strategic concept. Introducing transparency, communication and consensus building into drafting strategy will only serve to create more credible and effective policy.
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Karsten M. Jung: The goals Canada pursued at Suez in 1956 were not all too different from those it seeks to achieve in Afghanistan. Due to variations along the four dimensions of context, crisis, capabilities, and commitment, however, Canada was significantly more successful in their pursuit then than it is now.
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Editorial Team: US President Barack Obama discussed some of the most important issues governing transatlantic affairs in his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress and the American public.
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Patrick Douglass: This paper will analyze how China’s bureaucratic institutions have evolved during the reform era to integrate more points of view, the actors who wield the greatest influence in this new system, and the ways in which public opinion will likely influence Chinese foreign policy in the future.
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Matthew Yglesias: US relationships with EU countries have been marred not only by our disastrous military engagements but also by a lack of actual diplomacy from the Bush administration. A return to the hallmarks of a liberal society coupled with the simple measure of common courtesy would go a long way.
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Marek Swierczynski: Regional cooperation in Central and Eastern Europe has changed direction. Recent years have witnessed the Visegrad Group practically disintegrate due to a lack of common positions on important issues in European and global politics. The result is that countries like Poland have shifted alliances, trying to link new EU and NATO members with EU and NATO hopefuls.
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Francisco J. Ruiz: It is time to examine relations between Russia, the US, and the EU. With emerging global threats, there are areas in which these three can cooperate in defense and security. All three actors must change their policies enabling more collaboration on these issues.
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Rudolf Adam: I warn that US influence on Israel is not enough to make peace. Forty years after the Six-Day War, domestic Israeli politics are the key to normalizing relations between settlers and Palestinians. The United States and EU should recognize that their powers here are limited.
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Alexander Rahr: The EU and Russia need more direct and frequent communication to avoid future conflict. Putin’s speech has set off a vicious circle: as Russia increasingly positions itself as an aggressor, the United States and Europe find further reason to ostracize Moscow. The worst the West could do would be to write off Russia in a return to containment policy.
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Maximilian Terhalle: I recommend that the United States offer Iran a fair deal in order to secure American interests in the Gulf region. The US needs to consider Iran’s political ambitions if it hopes to make headway with Tehran, and the international community should get involved in negotiating a mutually beneficial agreement.
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Alexander Graf Lambsdorff: I find that Russia must be encouraged to participate in European democracy. The EU and US must realize that interdependence with Russia can offer benefits beyond status quo diplomacy.
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Global Must Read Articles
Dr. Patryk Pawlak is a Research Fellow at the EU Institute for Security Studies in Paris where he deals with EU-US relations and US domestic and foreign policies. He also deals with EU Justice and Home Affairs, with particular regard to its external dimension, border management and data protection. He holds a PhD in Political Science from the European University Institute in Florence.
Prior to
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The Afghanistan conflict is moving into a complex period and the US must make greater diplomatic efforts. ++ Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has described US strategy as “fight, talk, and build.” ++ A bipartisan statement from US leaders must include all elements of society, including opposition groups, non-Taliban Pashtuns and ethnic minorities. ++ As part of a full diplomatic effort the
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China’s position over a possible Iran war is difficult as China has huge oil interests at stake. ++ China should not expect Russia to act on the issue and needs to act in accordance with its own interests. ++ If the US sanctions Chinese companies for trading with Iran then the Chinese government should take countermeasures. ++ Opposing an Iranian war need not lead to conflict between the US and
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The US is no longer the world’s sole superpower, but it can prevent its relative decline from becoming absolute. ++ Rather than insisting on American preeminence by “vainly” pouring billions into foreign wars, the US should negotiate boundaries on its use of force, establish norms in the global competition for resources, curb the international arms trade, and “focus increased
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US-Pakistani relations are increasingly threatened by the dispute over Ryan Davis, the diplomat working for the CIA accused of killing two men in Lahore. ++ This partnership, vital for the war against the Taliban and Al Qaeda, is weakening as Pakistanis have take to the streets to protest the US. ++ This event also calls into question the archaic and problematic system of diplomatic immunity. ++
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By making the West the focus of recent diplomatic disclosures, Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, betrays an agenda every bit as sinister as the one of which he accuses his enemies. ++ Where are the “Chinese embassy Cables”, or the “Iran files”? ++ If recent disclosures were really about encouraging whistle blowing about issues that genuinely impact human lives, instead of just weakening
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Despite the fact that Obama pledged to engage with rouge states diplomatically, the White House has failed to begin a dialogue with North Korea. ++ “Sustained diplomatic engagement is the only way to encourage the North to moderate its threatening behavior.” ++ The U.S. should begin talks with Kim Jong-il and “… mount a gradual pragmatic effort to engage in new discussions, not as a reward
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Modern China in many respects finds itself in a similar position to Bismarck’s Germany. ++ After German unification, Bismarck, fearing the development of “hostile coalitions,” sought to preserve the new European balance of power through prudent diplomacy. ++ To avoid a similar fate as the Second Reich, China needs to “maintain tolerably amicable relations with the US and
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Indonesia is trying to determine whether to increase diplomatic engagement with the US in the run up to Pres. Obama’s visit on March 20. ++ The Asian country could be a good partner for the US as it has proved its commitment to both democracy and counter-terrorism measures in recent years. ++ US and China are both competing for access to Indonesia’s waterways. ++ The US and
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Hillary Clinton’s visit to Pakistan demonstrated the difficulty of conducting diplomacy in a country where 64 % consider the US an enemy. ++ Although US diplomacy has been relatively successful in combating extremism, it has failed to alter the Pakistani army’s strategic calculus or to generate support among Pakistanis who harbour deep grievances. ++ The US must focus on the Pakistani people
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The passing of a recent election law in Iraq is proof enough that democracy has taken root against all odds. ++ The law, which allows for greater transparency and voter responsibility, was hotly contested and in the end Parliament barely managed to “thrash out a deal.” ++ Most importantly, it represents a turning point in Iraq’s political development as the US finally stepped up to taka more
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Nuclear talks with Iran have progressed slowly but show that engagement is the best strategy. ++ Although Iran’s acquisition of advanced nuclear technology is inevitable, talks can assure that Iran’s program is brought under IAEA supervision. ++ Although “engagement may seem to play to the hand of Islamist foes in the short term, in the long run it guarantees the de-radicalisation of Islamist
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In the latest round of shuttle diplomacy in the Middle East, Mahmoud Abbas and Khaled Meshaal exchanged insults in televised speeches, leaving the US peace envoy looking like “a travelling salesman trying in vain to sell hair-restorer to two bald men fighting over a comb.” ++ The continued subjugation of the Palestinian people is the direct result of a failure of leadership on behalf of
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Despite UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon speaking of the “tens of thousands” of lives at risk in Sri Lanka, the “international community has barely stirred”. ++ The situation in Sri Lanka is complicated, morally and legally, where both parties are acting in ways that endanger innocent civilians. ++ The US has engaged in quiet behind the scenes diplomacy, but the time for that has passed. ++ “The
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Challenges facing the world offer President Obama a “moment of unique opportunity”. ++ Negotiations are being held with a number of countries on various strategic and political issues. ++ Action is required following this “concert diplomacy and this will only result out of shared convictions”. ++ Diplomatic processes with North Korea and Iran are ongoing, and their successful outcome will be
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Albeit at a slow pace, Iran is proceeding with its uranium enrichment program. ++ Unless the West completely reconsiders its diplomacy tactic vis à vis Iran, it is difficult to imagine a changed scenario: “years have been lost to ineffective approaches.” ++ Obama’s initiative to have direct negotiations with Tehran should have been opted for earlier. ++ An alluring option could be
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Granted: times are difficult for Obama to take the lead and in his hands lies a combination of high expectations and hope. ++ The US and Europe ought to continue working together and some key ingredients ought to accompany their responses to global challenges: multilateralism, ruled based diplomacy, legitimacy, and centrality of leadership when moments of crisis arise. ++ This last point is
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Samurai-philosopher Fukuzawa’s longstanding notion that Japan should “leave Asia and enter the West” is likely to fade in 2009. ++ “Tokyo needs to diversify diplomatic and economic relations.” ++ Ruling party LDP may soon be replaced by opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), who advocate multilateral cooperation. ++ “Japan’s efforts to establish the East Asian Community - a proposed economic
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The UK wasted a diplomatic opportunity as it opened a classy museum exhibition in Damascus. ++ UK Foreign Secretary Miliband begged Syrian President al-Assad for help with the Middle East peace process, but could have reached out to his influential wife, Asma, who represented Syria at the opening. ++ Sending even a junior minister would have helped. ++ The British are not trusted in the region.
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Speculation is rife as to who will be the next Secretary of State. ++ Many have forgotten the more important question: What does America need from that post? ++ First, the “complete confidence of the president” is a prerequisite; second, they must be a dealmaker - diplomacy is a “political art;” third, they need to tackle all the issues of the Middle East as if they’re interrelated; last,
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President Bush will take a first step toward restoring diplomatic relations with Iran by establishing a diplomatic office. ++ The US understands that going to war with Iran would be fatal. ++ Unlike the US, “Iran never tried to overthrow a US government. Iran never invaded America’s neighbors. Iran never stationed aircraft carriers off the US coast.” ++ Dialogue will change the
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Moscow’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia does not correlate with universal approval, and an international dialogue concerning the status of Georgia is set to begin. ++ Europe has proven itself too dissolute to confront Russia openly: Sarkozy has advocated global mediation, emphasizing Georgia’s weakness, and Merkel speaks of “Georgia’s core territory,” nearly cow-towing to the Russian
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By launching diplomatic initiatives with Hamas, Syria, and Lebanon, Ehud Olmert has demonstrated his readiness to take risks and his unwillingness to be constrained by “Washington’s indeological blinders.” ++ Yet because of the weakness and the mutual distrust of leaders in the Middle East, US support and involvement would be a real asset. ++ Israel has shown it can pursue negotiations “despite
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Attacking Iran would be disastrous, many civilians would die, the nuclear program would subsist, and Israel’s involvement would create a serious backlash in the region. ++ Iran’s threats toward Israel give reason for concern but sanctions and diplomatic incentives - both endorsed by Obama and McCain - should be favored over military action. ++ If the UN does not authorize applying punitive
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The “League of Democracies” has existed as a concept discussed by American political experts for years now. This spring, the idea transferred from the domain of relevant professional journals to that of the US presidential election campaign. In so far as the Republican candidate John McCain proceeded to turn the creation of a league of democracies into the main pillar of his future foreign
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In foreign policy, both Republicans and Democrats favor negotiation. ++ Yet McCain realizes “where diplomacy is appropriate, and where more fortitude is required” and this creates a distinction. ++ There are real downsides to the unconditional upholding of soft diplomacy. ++ Besides the cost of negotiation in terms of time and resources, it provides terrorists or leaders of state sponsors of
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The US has failed to understand that China’s objectives do not complement America’s. ++ China does not want the US to play a role in Central and East Asia, and its actions routinely illustrate this. ++ By adopting a tolerant stance, and failing to illustrate its strength, the US demonstrates its continued misunderstanding of Chinese intentions and ensures that existing problems will only worsen
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With broad-based support within Russia for the direction Putin is taking the country and high oil prices, the US can no longer expect Russia to merely acquiesce to its policy preferences. ++ America will have to choose between adamantly pursuing its interests regarding NATO expansion eastwards and the status of Kosovo, or a good relationship with Russia. ++ This is a decision that cannot be
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In the wake of the US National Intelligence Estimate on Iran, the EU should continue with their diplomatic approach, despite US calls for more unilateral sanctions, says Volker Perthes of the SWP. Such an approach should be based on a broad international consensus, clearly communicating that the issue is proliferation and not the nature of the Iranian regime, and come with an earnest offer of
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