Section: News & Summaries

      Welcome to Trump’s World

      Even if the Republican donor class can snatch the nomination back from Donald Trump – Trumpism is here to stay. ||| Welcome to Trump’s World. You better get to know it. This is really happening. Trump Think-Tank, Trump Staffers – they’re all on their way. The billionaire looks set to clinch the Republican nomination. There...

      Ukraine’s Booming Tech Sector Gets International Attention Despite War
      Feb27

      Ukraine’s Booming Tech Sector Gets International Attention Despite War

      A plain Soviet-era office block squats on a residential street in the beautiful historic city of Lviv, Ukraine. The lobby is dimly lit and there is no seating, only a stern guard who points to the elevator to access local software engineering firm N-iX.The doors part and the offices are an orange and white oasis, with lofty ceilings and light and...

      Will the guns fall silent in Syria?

      After five years of bloodshed, Syria is less than a day away from a ceasefire that could make or break efforts to end the war. ||| Washington – After five years of bloodshed and hundreds of thousands of deaths, Syria is less than a day away from an unlikely ceasefire that could make or break international efforts to end the war.In...

      What If Parliamentary Elections Were Held Today in Ukraine?
      Feb24

      What If Parliamentary Elections Were Held Today in Ukraine?

      With Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s government surviving a no-confidence vote on February 16 and the parliamentary coalition splintering the next day, early parliamentary elections are now possible this year. New elections could be triggered by three scenarios: first, if the current majority coalition in parliament collapses and a new...

      Remembering the Day Russia Invaded Ukraine
      Feb24

      Remembering the Day Russia Invaded Ukraine

      Two years ago on February 27, Russia invaded Ukraine. On the heels of the Euromaidan Revolution and the vicious sniper attacks that killed 103 Ukrainians, Russian President Vladimir Putin saw an opportunity and ordered the military takeover of Crimea. The operation began when Russian military personnel, disguised as little green men in unmarked...

      In the Absence of American Leadership, Germany Steps in to Engage with Russia—at the EU’s Peril
      Feb24

      In the Absence of American Leadership, Germany Steps in to Engage with Russia—at the EU’s Peril

      One particularly visible trend at the recent Munich Security Conference was America’s disengagement from European security issues. Foreign leaders often spoke without referring to the United States, and there was little sign of US involvement beyond its military participation in NATO. Washington’s priorities clearly revolved around...

      Parliament Votes to Weaken Ukraine’s Key Anti-Corruption Law
      Feb23

      Parliament Votes to Weaken Ukraine’s Key Anti-Corruption Law

      Since the overthrow of former President Viktor Yanukovych, the attitude of Ukraine’s post-Maidan government toward reform could best be described as ambivalent. Last week was a case in point. While Kyiv and its Western partners remained riveted by the fate of Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, parliament greatly weakened a key...

      Russia’s Pernicious Hybrid War Against Ukraine
      Feb22

      Russia’s Pernicious Hybrid War Against Ukraine

      In recent months, the relative calming of the Russian-Ukrainian war in the Donbas has led many observers to describe this confrontation as yet another “frozen conflict” in the post-Soviet space. Yet even if Russian military activities ceased completely, the analogy is misleading. It is not always understood that Ukraine’s neighbor to the...

      How Soft Power Works: Russian Passportization and Compatriot Policies Paved Way for Crimean Annexation and War in Donbas
      Feb22

      How Soft Power Works: Russian Passportization and Compatriot Policies Paved Way for Crimean Annexation and War in Donbas

      The following is an edited excerpt from Agnia Grigas’ new book, Beyond Crimea: The New Russian Empire. The book examines Moscow’s policies toward Russian compatriots in former Soviet republics, including Ukraine where they laid the groundwork for Crimea’s annexation and the conflict in the Donbas. Moscow’s policies towards...

      How Cities You’ve Never Heard of will Shape the Future
      Feb22

      How Cities You’ve Never Heard of will Shape the Future

      The world is urbanizing at breakneck speed. But not all regions are moving at the same speed. Most population growth today and tomorrow will occur in the sprawling cities and slums of Africa and Asia. Just three countries — China, India and Nigeria — will account for 40 percent of global growth over the next decade. Meanwhile, many cities in...