The New World Disorder

In order to understand the present and the future of the world order, an analysis should start with the last phase of the bipolar system, late Gorbachev era.

The “Turkish Model” in Historical Perspective

Variables and Constants

This issue differs from the previous ones, as our readers have probably noticed. The more chaotic the international situation is and the more absurd its manifestations are, the more in-depth and stricter approach is needed in order to figure everything out.

US-Russia-Turkey Dynamics in Syria After ‘Olive Branch’: One Door Closes, Another Opens

In recent months, the Kremlin’s priorities in Syria have shifted from fighting a long war to seeking a quick peace.

The Arab World: Between Violence and Consensus

Perhaps the most significant element of the socio-political life of the region during those years, at least to the outside observer, was violence.

UN Security Council Should Stop a Bloodbath and Declare Afrin and Northern Syria a ‘Safe Haven’

The Kurds after their setbacks in the aftermath of their independence referendum of 25th of September in 2017 in Iraq are facing another tragedy, but this time in Afrin in the western part of Kurdistan called Rojava.

Irredentism and the Crisis of National Identity

Irredentism may cause all the risks stemming from the strong identity of a great power and its imperial heritage, which fuels the temptation to regard the modern borders as “casually drawn” and “unfair,” to get mixed with nationalism. This is a very dangerous cocktail.

A Tranquilizer with a Scent of Gunpowder

If the U.S. and NATO continue to step up their activity near Russia’s borders, it would have to take extra measures to ensure the security. As a result, Russia and NATO would wind up as hostages to a security dilemma, and the risk of conflict would rise.

Looking for Someone to Talk to

Dialogue (in its original meaning) can hardly be regarded as an effective instrument for handling urgent political crises “right here and now.” Nevertheless, the “strategic,” communicative potential of dialogue, though in little demand today, remains significant.

Putin's Plan for Syria

Russia realizes that with the war waning and reconstruction looming, others will begin to step forward in Syria, including China, Europe, and Japan. Moscow will seek to partner with them to secure a piece of the lucrative reconstruction effort.

Russia Has Dissolved America’s Uni-Polar Project in the Middle East

The Russian Armed Forces' Chief of Staff announced that “all terrorist units of ISIS on Syrian soil have been destroyed, and the territory is liberated”. Quite an achievement! — brought about by the Syrian Army, by Iran, by Hizbullah, and of course, by Russia’s military forces and its diplomats (the latter playing an important effective part, too). It represents a significant feat of multi-party co-ordination.

Moscow’s leverage in Syria is strong, but limited

Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared “a complete victory” over the Islamic State on both banks of the Euphrates River in Syria.

Armenia’s “Both/And” Policy for Europe and Eurasia

Four years ago, Armenia’s failure to sign the EU Association Agreement was an early indication of the impending Ukraine crisis.

Plural but equal in everyone’s world: Dialogue in Sochi – or Information Warfare by Other Means?

Geopolitical pluralism, in all its continentally and regionally uneven permutations is the global reality in what passes for ‘no one’s world’ (Charles Kupchan) and/or a ‘world in disarray’ (Richard Haas) when in fact, there is an evolving underlying logic to a multipolar landscape in what should be considered ‘everyone’s world.’

Eurasia Archipelago. Prospects for a Continental Security Arrangement

A key continent, Eurasia, could become a continent of cooperation in the 21st century.

What Should the Gulf Crises Teach Us?

One of the most disturbing trends in international politics today is a rapid deterioration of the security situation in the Gulf area, — a region which remains a critically important part of the global economy, finance and transportation.

By the Rivers of Babylon

The time when Russia could contemplate an exit strategy seems to have passed. It would be virtually impossible now to guarantee a negotiated settlement in Syria or at least a lasting truce without Russia’s substantial military presence in that country.

The Turn of the Kurds

There is not and should not be any automatic right of self-determination, not least because a world of frequent secession would be in even greater disarray than the world we already have. To gain international recognition, secessionist entities should meet five key criteria – and Iraq's Kurdistan Region satisfies all of them.

Kurdish referendum a double-edged sword for Russia

The runup to the Kurdish independence referendum that took place Sept. 25 revealed just how politically intertwined different actors are in the modern Middle East. Russia is no stranger to diplomatic games and typically follows a strategy of inserting itself into the most dynamic contexts, hoping to reap benefits and make itself more visible in the region.

Referendum in Iraqi Kurdistan: Unity and Cohesion of the People

On September 25, 2017, a referendum on independence was held in Iraqi Kurdistan, which was condemned by the governments of Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. According to the Iraqi Kurdistan Electoral Commission, more than 90 percent (2.86 million out of 3.31 million) of the referendum participants voted for independence.

Russia–US Relations and the Future of Syria

The greatest analytical challenge in trying to understand the Syrian civil wars overcoming the propensity to see the world as it was and not as it is. It is tempting to look at Syria on a map and imagine that one day soon it could be put back together – if only a resolution could be found during diplomatic meetings in Astana or Istanbul.

Here's a Breakdown of Russia's Foreign Policy Goals

During the 2014 Ukraine crisis, Russia broke from the post–Cold War system and openly challenged U.S. dominance. This effectively ended 25 years of cooperation between great powers and ushered in an era of intense competition. Three years on, Moscow is still in defiance.

The Lessons of Islamic State

The defeat of Islamic State is apparent. What next, then? Islamic extremism will come full circle. Having failed to preserve Islamic State, the extremists will focus on punishing their “offenders” by returning to the methods previously employed by al-Qaeda.

Turkey and the EU: Divergent Forever?

The EU's foreign policy is aimed to promote liberal values, therefore in order to "teach a lesson" to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the Europeans are ready to further exacerbate relations with Ankara, even to the detriment of themselves.

The West’s Decadent Foreign Policy

The West is increasingly reluctant to allow its vision of civil liberties and human rights to shape foreign policy, often owing to the potential commercial costs. Such foreign-policy decadence threatens to undermine the West's claim to be a community of values – and the EU's claim to be more than a glorified customs union.

A Tranquilizer With a Scent of Gunpowder. The Balance between Russian and NATO Forces in Eastern Europe after 2014

The serious decline in Russia’s relations with the West has breathed a new life into NATO, which returned to its traditional role, the containment of Russia.

Breaking the U.S.-Russia Impasse: Keeping the Door Open to Dialogue

The relations between the United States and the Russian Federation have been deteriorating at a rapid pace. Each nation has been accused of interfering in the domestic elections of the other, making it increasingly difficult for the respective administrations of these states to work cohesively to solve critical problems between the two states.

On the “Special” Nature of the Russia–Cyprus Relationship

Most Greek Cypriots bestow gratitude on Moscow, for its prolonged, consistent, and multi-layered protection of their Republic, through diplomatic, political, economic and “psychological” support.

Qatar Сrisis: What’s Next?

Middle East, espicially its Arab part, does not cease to surprise the rest of the world that would hardly be shocked after the turbulent Arab spring and recent political events in the US and Europe.

Towards a New Strategy of Civilizational Concentration

Once it has consolidated its civilizational subjectivity, Russia will be able to go back to playing an active role in world affairs. This rebound will not be a return to the principles of (neo)-Soviet or superpower globalism. Rather, it will proceed from a new understanding of the country’s international role.