The “Non-Violence” (or “Knotted Gun”) sculpture by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd on display at the UN Visitors’ Plaza. (UN Photo) By: Will Chim, Columnist Nuclear weapons have been responsible for zero deaths since 1945, whereas conventional weapons have been responsible for nearly all conflict deaths of the rest of the 20th century and the … Continue reading Conventional Weapons Are a Serious Threat to International Security
Author: Will Chim
As Ukraine and Poland Quarrel, Russia Benefits
By: Will Chim, Columnist Photo by: http://www.cam.ac.uk The recent deterioration of Poland and Ukraine’s relationship destabilizes not just what should be a strong Polish-Ukrainian alliance against Russian aggression, but broader political cooperation in Europe. While the discord has its roots in World War II, it is mainly aggressive rhetoric on both sides causing a dangerous … Continue reading As Ukraine and Poland Quarrel, Russia Benefits
Post-Karimov Reform in Uzbekistan: Illusion or Reality?
By: Will Chim, Columnist Photo by: Asia Times For two and half decades, the words “Uzbekistan” and “Karimov” were inextricable – one could not discuss the Central Asian country without mentioning its brutal leader. But since Uzbekistani President Islam Karimov’s death in 2017 after 25 years of rule, many are wondering what comes next. For … Continue reading Post-Karimov Reform in Uzbekistan: Illusion or Reality?
Russia’s 2018 Election: A Look Inside the Kremlin’s Political Theater
By: Will Chim, Columnist Photo Credit: The Atlantic The election of Vladimir Putin to a fourth term as president of Russia appears to be a foregone conclusion. After all, the world has already experienced 18 years of Putin’s tenure spread over three presidential terms and a stint as prime minster. However, the upcoming March 2018 … Continue reading Russia’s 2018 Election: A Look Inside the Kremlin’s Political Theater
Preventing Russian Dominance in the Arctic
By: Will Chim, Columnist Photo Credit: CIMSEC The lands and seas of the Arctic Circle remain one of the last great frontiers on Earth and hold up to 13% of total undiscovered oil and 30% of undiscovered natural gas in the world.[1] Out of all the countries with an interest in the Arctic, the Russian … Continue reading Preventing Russian Dominance in the Arctic
To Understand Slovenia’s Post-Soviet Success, Look Beyond Lustration
By: Will Chim, Columnist Photo Credit: DW At the end of the Cold War, the countries that emerged from communist regimes rushed to forge new futures for themselves. Some have struggled to implement meaningful reform. Others have developed burgeoning democracies. Slovenia, which left the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991, is often considered one … Continue reading To Understand Slovenia’s Post-Soviet Success, Look Beyond Lustration
The Wars of Today and Tomorrow: A Conversation with Douglas Lute
By: Will Chim, Reporter Photo Credit: United States Institute of Peace (USIP) This month, the United States Institute of Peace hosted a discussion event with Douglas Lute to discuss “the wars of today and tomorrow”. Lute, former Ambassador to NATO and retired United States Army Lieutenant General, focused on ways that NATO has adapted after … Continue reading The Wars of Today and Tomorrow: A Conversation with Douglas Lute
100 Years Later: Reflections on Revolution
By: Will Chim, Reporter Photo Credit: LiberationNews One century ago this year, revolution rocked the Russian Empire, resulting in its collapse and the rise of Bolshevik rule and the Soviet Union. Throughout this past century, the Russian Revolution has been a topic of analysis and debate by historians and policymakers. In January, the Mortara Center … Continue reading 100 Years Later: Reflections on Revolution