From Ice to Fire Nagorno-Karabakh, a de facto, but unrecognized state fought over by Armenia and Azerbaijan, may not appear on any map, but recent events warrant increased attention on this part of the globe. Several developments in Azerbaijan, including increased military spending, an arms deal with Israel, and the talks with Russia over the Gabala Radar Read More…
5. Authors of the NCC
A list of authors, past and present
Interview with Professor Alan Dowty
The NATO Council of Canada had the opportunity to sit down with Professor Alan Dowty from the University of Notre Dame. Professor Dowty is a foremost expert on Middle East International Relations and Israeli politics, and recently served his second time as a Visiting Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Oxford Read More…
NATO, The African Union and the Fight Against Piracy
By: James Marcus Bridger One would be hard pressed to find an article analyzing Somali piracy—be it journalistic, academic, or militarily focused—that does not make the claim that this maritime problem can only be solved on land. In the four years that the international community has attempted to address this crisis, however, a coherent and Read More…
Xi’s Ticket to Ride
By: Ben Hartley While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) constitutes the basis for single party rule in China, the internal political dynamics that govern succession politics create a balance between diverging opinions within the party that have allowed for China’s long-term stability in governance and economic growth. Set to undergo the first major leadership succession Read More…
Will the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border be Reopened to NATO?
Following months in which the United States has been prevented from moving Afghanistan-bound supplies through Pakistan, a change in the political climate may once again open the southern transport route to this key NATO member. Even though the route is of diminishing strategic importance to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, it represents the first step Read More…
Russian Foreign Policy is Taking a Disturbing Shape
By: Amina Abdullayeva Russia has seen its fair share of domestic turmoil this week as crowds took to the streets to protest falsified parliamentary elections. Such activity on the part of thousands of ordinary citizens had not been seen since the break-up of the Soviet Union. Mass agitations are often emblematic of notable socio-political changes, Read More…
The Syrian Uprising: Signs of a Protracted Military Conflict
By: Alexander Corbeil The Syrian crisis has entered into its eleventh and bloodiest month, with roughly 8,000 dead and no end in sight. The Free Syrian Army (FSA), though under heavy barrage in Homs, continues to provide stiff resistance against President Bashir al-Assad. Damascus’s security forces and elements of the military have proven their loyalty Read More…
A “Militiaous” Turn of Events in Libya
By: Alexander Corbeil Clashes in Tripoli last week between rival militias from Zintan and Misrata highlight a disturbing trend in post-Gaddafi Libya. With the powerful tyrant now dead and his forces thwarted by a combined Libyan-NATO effort, a power vacuum has emerged. The National Transition Council’s leader Mustafa Abdel-Jalil warned that Libya faced “bitter options” Read More…
Harper Maps a New Canadian Trade Regime
By: Ben Hartley In China this week, Prime Minister Harper is balancing Canada’s two most important trade relationships as he seeks to diversify the Canadian export market. Once understood as an idealistic and Euro-centric state, Canada has turned to the highest bidder for Alberta crude in the Asia-Pacific region after US President Obama’s recent decision Read More…
The “Cold Peace” Between Russia and NATO
By: Amina Abdullayeva Russia has two main problems with NATO at present: missile defence in Europe and NATO’s presence in the Arctic zone. While the missile question is at the forefront of the media these days, the Arctic issue is less acute, simmering in the background with the potential to cause problems in the near Read More…