 IA FORUM ARTICLES |
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| Are we asking for too much from Mali? |
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| Should Mali be given assistance? An analysis of Mali and look into its future. By Dr. Christos Kyrou. (04/26/2013) |
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| Analysis of recent conference, Afghanistan and the International Community. Can commitments and agreements with Afghanistan deliver as promised? By M. Ashraf Haidari (05/24/2012) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with American University's Kristin Smith Diwan about democratization and the prospects for peace in the Middle East. By Valentine Pasquesoone (02/10/2009) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Mohammed Abu Nimer and Saji Prelis of American University's Peacebuilding and Development Institute about the Middle East and prospects for peace. By Valentine Pasquesoone (02/08/2009) |
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| The Editor of the World Policy Journal David A. Andelman talks about Globalization, the lessons of Versailles, and what makes and breaks a nation-state. By George Pieler and Jens Laurson. (11/11/2008) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Dr. Rana Mitter, lecturer in modern Chinese history and politics at Oxford University, about the relationship between war and nationalism in China. By Jason Miks (08/11/2008) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Amb. David Shinn, former U.S. ambassador to Burkina Faso and Ethiopia, about the current situation in Zimbabwe. By Kathryn Kersavage (07/10/2008) |
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| IA-Forum also posed the same set of questions to Prof. Cynthia McClintock, Director of the Latin American and Hemispheric Studies Program at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. By Adam Kott (06/23/2008) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Kenneth Ballen, president of Terror Free Tomorrow: The Center for Public Opinion, about his organization's latest polling research. IA-Forum (05/18/2008) |
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| Transcript of keynote address delivered by Madhav Nalapat at the Bangalore University Conference on Taiwan in the 21st Century on April 25th, 2008. (04/27/2008) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Prof. David Chandler about Western interventions in the name of promoting democracy. By Katharine Slocombe (IA-Forum, 03/17/2008) |
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| Afghanistan's Ambassador to Japan, HE Haron Amin, responds to our recent roundtable and shares his thoughts on his country's future. (03/13/2008) |
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| International Affairs Forum speaks with Jack Snyder about international relations theory and democracy. By Neal Wells (IA-Forum, 02/29/2008) |
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| International Affairs Forum discusses the upcoming presidential election in Zimbabwe, and the current economic crisis, with Assistant Professor Elke Zuern. By Vanessa Kortekaas (IA-Forum, 03/06/2008) |
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| International Affairs Forum speaks with Victoria Graham of the University of Johannesburg about the recent Zimbabwean elections and the country's suspension from the Commonwealth of African Nations. By Tarun George (IA-Forum, 03/04/2008) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Prof. Saria Mithul of Wilson College about the recent violence in Chad, its origins, and possible solutions to the conflict.
By Tarun George
(IA-Forum, 03/03/2008) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with Columbia University's Jacqueline Klopp about the current political crisis in Kenya, the causes of violence, and future prospects for democracy. By Vanessa Kortekaas (IA-Forum, 03/03/2008) |
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| 'Shia Democracy’: Myth or Reality? |
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| Paper that discusses the notion of Shias as democratisers. By Sreeram Chaulia. (01/05/2007) |
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| Throw the Rascals Out! Elections, Accountability, and Government Performance in East Africa |
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| Author's reflections on a presentation by Dr. Gina Lambright on democratization in Uganda and Kenya. By Grace Kim. (IA-Forum, 3/28/2006) |
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| IA-Forum Interview: Ambassador Haron Amin |
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| IA-Forum talks with the Afghan Ambassador to
Japan, HE Haron Amin. By Jason Miks. (1/25/2006) |
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| IA-Forum speaks with MG Abul Faisel, Minister of Inspector General and MG Habibi, Inspector General of the General Staff of Afghanistan about current issues there. Interpreter: Mr. Badi Badiozamani. By Anita Joshi (International Affairs Forum, 3/13/2005) |
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| IA Forum discusses the latest events in Pakistan with Pakistani political commentator Ahmed Quraishi. By Jason Miks. (11/04/07) |
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| EDITORIALS |
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| How does Iran play into the Syrian conflict? By Landon Shroder. (09/19/2012) |
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| How do Russia, China and their allies in the Middle East (most notably Iran) play into the Syria and Arab uprising equation? By Yasir Kuoti. (08/21/2012) |
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| If constitutions are supposed to make the boundaries of the government’s legitimate authority over its citizens and state or regional administrations clear, Somalia’s new constitution oddly falls short. By Abukar Arman. (08/19/2012) |
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| The new Somali constitution: a death sentence for the nation state once known as the Republic of Somalia? Dr. Sadia Ali Aden. (08/17/2012) |
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| Can democracy work in war-torn Republic of the Congo? By Anuradha Kataria. (05/18/2012) |
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| Will India awaken to pursue the intended “democratic ideals” of an equal, progressive, unified and peaceful society? Author analyzes India's state of democracy. By Anuradha Kataria. (03/12/2012) |
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| Author provides comparision between the 1979 Iranian revolution and the recent Egyptian revolution. By Nathaniel Markowitz. (05/04/2011) |
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| Talk(s) may be cheap, but it’s all Zimbabwe has going for it. One problem along the way: South Africa is hardly an honest broker. By Jens F. Laurson & George A. Pieler (08/06/2008) |
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| A well-orchestrated election is a key instrument of a modern, 21st century dictatorship. It’s an important tool in the arsenal of state control, and the rhetorical platform essential to accusing critical Westerners of hypocrisy. Welcome to Russia. By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler (IA-Forum, 01/11/2008) |
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| Selling arms simultaneously to Saudi-Arabia and Israel is hardly new in America's foreign policy. But critics of this White House wonder how this new plan can be squared with the "Bush Doctrine". By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler (12/28/2007) |
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| Aberdeen doesn’t’ need London to collect its trash, Milwaukee doesn’t need Washington to run its schools. If that government is best which governs least, then surely that unit of government which has less to govern is likely to be ‘best’, at least in terms of doing little harm. By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler. (IA-Forum, 07/31/2007) |
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| Iraqization - Not Democratization |
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| Analysis of the Iraq conflict and call to reinspect democratization policy efforts. By Alan Hootnick. (2/5/2007) |
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| Even the most idealistic of Iraq’s partisans can’t weigh the mountain of dead against the nation’s “messy freedom” and find solace. The President concedes that regional terror is up, Iran and Syria emboldened, and US leverage seems radically diminished. In light of this, "Plans for Victory" are hard to come by. By George A. Pieler and Jens F. Laurson. (IA-Forum, 01/14/2007) |
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| Zimbabwe’s tourist authority wants “to ensure benefits from the hosting of the World Cup by South Africa”. Fifa already pledges assistance for upgrading sports stadiums to that end. Maybe they should not. By George A. Pieler and Jens F. Laurson. (first published on Business Day (SA), 09/01/2006) |
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| Just in time for the release of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, the Authors discuss Russia as the new Tortuga of International Affairs. By Jens F. Laurson and George A. Pieler. (first published on Tech Central Station, 06/27/2006) |
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| Mugabe's last stand? Why Zimbabwe might finally get a leader it deserves |
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| Author blames Zimbabwe’s neighbors, particularly South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki, for insufficient support of Zimbabwe’s opposition politicians and speculates that the 26th anniversary of independence from Britain may not turn to be the celebration Robert Mugabe had in mind. By Jason Miks (IA-Forum, 04/20/2006) |
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| Columbia University's Jacqueline Klopp explores the motivations behind the violence in Kenya and rejects assertions of 'tribal clashes'. |
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| FEATURED ELSEWHERE
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| Susanne Koelbl argues that insisting step down of Bashar Assad is fatal and only prolongs the bloodletting, allowing Syria to slip into anarchy while radical Islamists slowly hijack the revolution. (Spiegel Online, 03/19/2013) |
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| Background and analysis of factors leading to Mubarak's loss of power. By Paul Arnar. (Jadaliyya, 02/01/2011) |
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| Article on Ivory Coast's election uncertainties.
By Adam Nossiter
(The NewYork Times,12/2/2010) |
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| Article offering an alternative view for analysing the 'Blood Diamond's Myth).
By Ronnie from Botswana
(Africa Through the Looking Glass,04/11/2010) |
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| Article analyzing aspects of Tanzania's political culture.
(THE CITIZEN, 07/23/2010) |
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| Article on human rights violations prevailing in Rwanda prior to it's presidential elections.
By Georgianne Nienaber
(OEN,07/21/2010) |
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| The recent ban of more than 500 candidates from Iraq's upcoming elections is designed to cement the power of the country's Shiite Islamists aligned with Iran. Will this latest sectarian rupture sink any hopes for a stable Iraq? By Reidar Visser. (Foreign Affairs - 01/27/2010) |
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| Exploring the role of bilateral donors and conditional aid in Mozambique’s successful post-war peace process. By Carrie Manning and Monica Malbrough. (Journal of Modern African Studies - 2010) |
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| President Obama has chosen to downplay the lack of freedom in China. By doing so, he gives up on a vital prerequisite for an effective, credible emission-control regime. By Lee Lane. (The American Enterprise Institute, 12/09/2009) |
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| Rather than assassinate Iranian citizens abroad, which proved a constant irritant between Iran and host countries, the Islamic Republic has developed much more sophisticated mechanisms to control its exiled population. By Ali Alfoneh. (The American Enterprise Institute, 12/08/2009) |
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| The instability in Yemen poses a serious security threat to Saudi Arabia. By Philip McCrum (ISN,10/06/2009) |
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| An analysis of Afghanistan's presidential election by Georgette Gagnon, who volunteered in Afghan election monitor groups. By Georgette Gagnon
(The Daily Beast, 09/12/09) |
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| America is driven by innovation. China, running like a madman, still lags far behind on this issue and relies more heavily on industry and agriculture. China needs to change, in order to let its people change, and in turn make its economy change. By Jurnan Goos. (WorldPress.org, 11/10/2009) |
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| The struggle for the future of the Arab and Muslim worlds that is being fought now will be won or lost not on the battlefield, but in the classroom. By Paul Salem (Project Syndicate, 10/26/2009) |
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| In an age of climate change and deepening inequality, the spreading Naxalite insurgency in India - not al-Qaida - may show the world its future. (Open Democracy, 11/05/2009) |
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| Visits by US officials suggest formal dialogue with Burma is possible. By David I. Steinberg (Yale Global, 11/04/2009) |
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| A Brookings Institution analyst argues that taking the time to set Afghanistan on the best possible track for the establishment of a stable government is of utmost importance. By Michael O'Hanlon. (The Washington Examiner, 10/27/2009) |
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| This article discusses the cautiousness of Pakistani's regarding America's proposed aid package. It provides exceptional insight into development's role in the Afghanistan War and how critical it is to have the support and approval of neighboring ally, Pakistan. (October 07, 2009 From New York Times by Salman Masood) |
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| This article examines certain metrics that should be used to measure progress in the Afghan war, while stressing that patience from the American public must be exercised above all. By Michael E. O'Hanlon and Bruce Riedel (Brookings Institute, 09/01/2009 |
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| The military government in Burma has been increasing the number of political prisoners since 2007. (Human Rights Watch, 09/15/09) |
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| Authors discuss ways for the U.S to instill Democracy in Egypt, the necessary policy for a healthy U.S-Egyptian partnership. By Tamara Cofman Wittes and Michele Dunne. (Brookings Institute, 08/17/09) |
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| Fatah's recently concluded General Congress appears to have overcome party divisions and renewed its leadership. By Mohammad Yaghi (Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 08/13/2009). |
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| Somalia is often in the news, especially stories about Somali pirates, but it must be conceded that the U.S. does not have a deep understanding of Somalia. By Matt Scanlon (Diplomatic Courier, 08/11/2009). |
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| This article deciphers the formative and differing impacts that British colonialism left on Pakistan and India, especially in terms of the role of military. By Zoltan Barany. (Policy Review, August 2009). |
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| While the initial raw furor over Zelaya's removal may have subsided, the months ahead most likely will prove to be extremely difficult ones for the Honduran people to endure. By Brian Thompson (COHA, 08/07/2009) |
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| The months of political chaos in Nepal that have followed the decision by Maoist leader Prachanda to step down in May as premier appear to be growing worse, writes Hamish McKenzie (Asia Sentinal, 08/04/2009) |
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| The debate about Turkey's foreign policy in Washington centers around whether Turkey is anchored to the West as it strengthens its regional ties or whether Turkey is intent on creating a second bloc, a "Muslim pole," for a new and just world order. By Nigar Göksel. (German Marshall Fund, 07/30/09) |
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| In this comprehensive report, Kenneth Katzman discusses the challenges facing US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. By providing a thorough overview of the primary actors and relevant history, the report contextualizes the current war effectively. (CRS, 6/17/2009) |
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| Afghan national elections quickly approaching, representing a moment of opportunity and risk. As the authors of the report argue, the Afghan government's focus must be on strengthening security provision and the impartiality, integrity and professionalism of electoral staff. (International Crisis Group, June 24, 2009) |
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| Ambassador-at-large for Global Women's Issues, Melanne Verveer and Afghanistan's Minister for Public Health, Sayed Mohammed Amin Fatimie testified on Capital Hill about the importance of women's health issues towards Afghan development. By Gabe Joselow. (VOA News July 14, 2009) |
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| The global economic recession has translated into a development crisis for Africa, writes Kofi A. Annan. (Project Syndicate, 07/13/2009) |
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| The uprising in Iran against the stolen election exposes the true character and intentions of a regime that seeks to rule without and against its people, says Mahmood Delkhasteh. (Open Democracy, 07/03/2009) |
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| Despite a natural distaste for any military coup, it is possible that the army might have actually done Honduran democracy a service. By (The Independent UK, 06/30/2009) |
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| The enormous international resources and attention now focused on Afghanistan’s elections must be channelled into strategically strengthening the country’s political institutions. (International Crisis Group, 06/24/2009) |
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| The article focuses on the role of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as well as other major leaders since the revolution and reflects how their power struggle is influencing the current crisis. (Newsweek, 06/20/2009) |
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| America should avoid overt calls for the overthrow of the Tehran government, writes HDS Greenway. (Global Post, 06/21/2009) |
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| Joshua Muravchik takes on the "junk survey" by Ken Ballen of Terror Free Tomorrow and Patrick Doherty of the New America Foundation in which they claim that Ahmadinejad had been leading by a more than 2 to 1 margin. "More likely naifs than knaves", Muravchik concludes. (New York Post, 06/19/2009) |
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| Predictions about Iran are a dime a dozen these days. And that's exactly what they're worth. By Charles Kurzman (Foreign Policy, June 2009) |
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| Whether the hardliners can consolidate their coup and purge their rivals or the reformist, push back to reassert their rights; from now on Iranian politics is going to operate within different parameters. By Afshin Shahi (e-IR, 06/16/2009) |
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| Why Tiananmen is not the massacre the Chinese care most about, by Michelle Tsai. (Foreign Policy, June 2009). |
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| Despite many counter-measures and filters, digital democracy continues to trouble authoritarian regimes. By Guobin Yang (Yale Global, 06/22/2009) |
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| A peaceful election dissolves myths and rearranges the country’s political jigsaw. But the issue of Hizbollah’s weapons remains, says Hazem Saghieh.
(Open Democracy, 06/12/2009) |
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| Documentation and analysis of Iran's extended history of suppressing free expression through strict regulations over internet users as well as arrest, detention and torture of bloggers. (Iran HRDC, 08/01/2009) |
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| Unfortunately, it seems that many still believe they can solve the problems of the poor with sentimentality and promises of massive infusions of aid, which often do not materialise, writes Rwandan President Paul Kagame. (Financial Times, 05/07/2009) |
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| The deepening credit crunch is changing the context of the EU's ongoing enlargement strategy, says Ollie Rehn, the EU Commissioner responsible for implementing it. (Europe's World, Spring 2009) |
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| A recent development has provided a rare ray of hope: the extraordinary mobilization of Congolese civil society in defense of the DRC’s nascent democratic institutions. By Aryeh Neier (Project Syndicate, 05/20/2009) |
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| Burma-watchers across the entire spectrum of opinion increasingly now agree that in seeking to change that awful situation, there is little point in continuing a policy of economic containment, writes Roger Mitton. (Asia Sentinal, 05/08/2009) |
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| Allison Drew analyses the state of South Africa's democracy, as elections approach. (e-International Relations, (04/21/2009) |
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| Chairman of the Institute for State Effectiveness and former Afghan Minister of Finance Dr. Ashraf Ghani outlines a medium-term framework for state-building in Afghanistan. (Atlantic Council, April 2009) |
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| The Taliban and al Qaeda may not pose enough of a threat to the United States to make a long war in Afghanistan worth the costs, writes John Mueller. (Foreign Affairs, 04/15/2009) |
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| ROUND TABLE FORUM |
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| International Affairs Forum asked seven Pakistan experts: "Domestic criticism of Pakistani leader Gen. Pervez Musharraf is growing, and almost six years after military action in Afghanistan began, key Al-Qaeda leaders are believed to be hiding along the border with Pakistan. But does the U.S. have any real choice but to back Musharraf?" |
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| IA-Forum hears from five commentators who were asked the question: "How will the Maoist general election victory in Nepal impact upon the country's foreign policy and its relationship with other countries in the region?" |
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