EURASIAN STUDIES

Professor Anis H. Bajrektarevic
(Geopolitics of Energy Editorial Member, Chairperson for Intl. Law & Global Pol. Studies
& University of Applied Sciences in Krems, Austria)

Copyright: Anis H. Bajrektarevic on line

Note: This article is an excerpt from the key-note address: ‘Future of the EURO-MED and OSCE’ to be presented at the Crans Montana Forum, in March 2013 in Paris, France

Let’s get Sy(i)ria-ous: Where is the counter-narrative?

The MENA theatre is situated in one of the most fascinating locations of the world. It actually represents (along with the Balkans-Caucasus) the only existing land corridor that connects three continents. It also holds over a half of the world’s proven oil-gas reserves (56% – oil, 48% – gas). Further on, the Gulf OPEC states and Libya have –by far– the lowest costs of oil extraction thanks to the high crude ‘purity’ (measured by overall properties such as a state of aggregation, excavation gravity, viscosity, weight, degree of sulfuric and other contaminants) which is simplifying and cheapening the refinement process.

Prof. Sohail Mahmood
(Head, Department of Politics and International Studies, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan)

Copyright: www.rieas.gr

Pakistan is facing acute instability because of bad governance and political turmoil. It is faced with complex multiple challenges not easily surmounted. Pakistan has suffered from long spells of military rule and there were many hopes pinned on the Zardari Government which came into power in early 2008. But the historic transformation from military to civilian rule isn’t looking promising. 

Pakistan’s fragile democracy is simply not delivering, at least as per public expectations. The parliament’s performance is poor and it has been reduced to a rubber stamp only. Meanwhile, the military advances its nuclear capabilities with great zeal. Undoubtedly, Pakistan has an awesome nuclear capability which is growing at an ever fast rate. Given Pakistan’s other failures, this is indeed ironic.

Zhyldyz Oskonbaeva
(RIEAS Senior Advisor & Eurasian Liaison)

Copyright: www.rieas.gr

The perfect example of fusion between religion and politics can be found in the Islamic Republic of Iran.  As opposed to a democracy, the theocracy ruling Iran offers serious scholars a clearer understanding of how ideology drives national strategy.  As with any motivated country seeking to exert influence beyond its borders, intelligence continues to play a prominent role in bringing these aims to fruition.....  Read more

Daniel Little
(RIEAS Senior Advisor)

Copyright: www.rieas.gr

As we approach mid-2012, Azerbaijan’s purchase of $1.6 billion in military hardware from Israel appears more rooted in speculation about thwarting Iran’s nuclear aspirations than the decision process that went into buying them.  Anytime a government spends a quarter of its annual revenue on weapons, there is more at stake than a singular, emerging security issue in an otherwise tough neighborhood. 1 Despite the best efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group and the Madrid Principles, little has changed for Nagorno-Karabakh since the 1994 ceasefire.2 With accusations of ceasefire violations going back and forth between the Armenian and Azeri parties3 more can be done by the international community given this recent escalation of tensions.  By more, I mean the right kind of assistance.  To the parties involved Nagorno-Karabakh is many things but what it is not is ‘frozen.’4  Rather than accept the status quo of stalemate, this requires a re-examination of the traditional barriers to resolution as well as examining the normative structure of Conflict Resolution as it relates to Nagorno-Karabakh..... Read more