The White Helmets walk through debris in a rebel-held neighborhood of Aleppo. Photo Credit: AFP. By: Krystel Von Kumberg, Columnist Information is a contested resource in today’s world. Perception has become the center of gravity, as humanity’s increasing interconnectedness means that controlling communications is critical to the pursuit of strategic objectives. The cyber domain presents the … Continue reading Spinning the Syrian Conflict: The Battle to Brand the White Helmets and the Future of Information Warfare
Category: Europe & Central Asia
Russia’s Race for Next-Gen Weapons Has Turned Into a Crawl
Russian T-14 tanks drive during rehearsal for the Victory Day parade in Moscow. Photo Credit: Reuters. By: Madison Creery, Columnist While the U.S. is concerned about competing against Russia’s next-generation weapons, Russia is struggling to get them off the production line. The legacy of economic turmoil following the collapse of the Soviet Union continues to impact the … Continue reading Russia’s Race for Next-Gen Weapons Has Turned Into a Crawl
Developments in the Visegrad Group Threaten European Union’s Future
The German and Visegrad Group leaders in Bratislava, February 7, 2019. From left to right: Viktor Orbán (HU), Angela Merkel (DE), Peter Pellegrini (SK), Andrej Babis (CZ), Mateusz Morawiecki (PL). Photo Credit: Andrej Babis’s official Facebook account. By: Simon Machalek, Columnist … Continue reading Developments in the Visegrad Group Threaten European Union’s Future
REPORT: Ukraine between Russia, the West, and Itself
Georgetown’s Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (CERES) Director Angela Stent and Senior Fellow at the Estonian Foreign Policy Institute and Associate Fellow of the Russia and Eurasia program at Chatham House, James Sherr. Photo Credit: Olivia Letts By Olivia Letts, Reporter “It’s never a dull moment to talk about Ukraine,” said foreign … Continue reading REPORT: Ukraine between Russia, the West, and Itself
Estonia’s Cybersphere as an Asset and a Vulnerability
Photo Credit: https://e-estonia.com/ By: Nikolai F. Rice Estonia’s e-governance regularly pushes the boundaries of cyber-administration. Roughly three-quarters the territory of West Virginia and a population just smaller than Maine, Estonia’s size plays to its cyber-administrative advantage.[i] The nation manages it taxes, elections, and healthcare administration almost entirely online.[ii] The unfortunate byproduct of Estonia’s rapid cyber development … Continue reading Estonia’s Cybersphere as an Asset and a Vulnerability
The Crumbling of Arms Control and the Premise of “Equal Security”
U.S. President, Ronald Reagan and Soviet General Secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev signed the treaty on 8 December 1987. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Bob Daugherty By: Krystel Von Kumberg The Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty signed in 1987 by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, eliminating intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles, is being erased. [i] Leaving the … Continue reading The Crumbling of Arms Control and the Premise of “Equal Security”
Demonstrations in Serbia: The Change That Likely Won’t Come
Thousands of protesters converge upon Belgrade. Photo Credit: Tanja Bažalac By: Kristina Drye, Columnist On November 23, 2018, opposition leader Borko Stefanović was attacked at a rally in Kruševac, Serbia.[i] The assault led to a wave of demonstrations that are entering their fifteenth week, with thousands of protesters organizing in cities in Serbia and Northern … Continue reading Demonstrations in Serbia: The Change That Likely Won’t Come
Could Pakistan Provoke a Nuclear War?
The U.S. should prioritize Pakistan as a nuclear threat as the country's' nuclear arsenal continues to rapidly grow as a deterrent from India aggression while Pakistani affiliated terrorist organizations raise the chances of a conflict. Photo Credit: Reuters. By: Adrienne Thompson, Columnist Pakistan's nuclear arsenal remains exposed to terrorist organizations holding anti-western sentiments as Pakistan's … Continue reading Could Pakistan Provoke a Nuclear War?
Hacker Militias or Cyber Command? The U.S. and Russian Institutionalization of Cyber Warfare
Russia’s reliance on proxy “hackers-for-hire” to accomplish strategic objectives have led some to question why Russia has yet to institutionalize its cyber workforce into its military. However, instead of creating its own "Cyber Command," Russia’s reliance on the hacker network for talent maximizes the country’s deniability in cyber operations (plausible or not), while remaining low-cost. … Continue reading Hacker Militias or Cyber Command? The U.S. and Russian Institutionalization of Cyber Warfare
Deconstructing Deradicalization: Why the UK Needs a New Approach to Assess CT and PCVE Programs
As ISIS loses territory, and foreign fighters seek to return home, effective deradicalization programs are more important than ever. Photo Credit: Reuters/Kieran Doherty. By: Antonia Ward, Columnist As ISIS faces the loss of the final territory it holds in Syria, there has been considerable focus on the issue of foreign fighters returning to the UK.[i] This … Continue reading Deconstructing Deradicalization: Why the UK Needs a New Approach to Assess CT and PCVE Programs