Provocations | Managing the Global Commons
Provocations
Analyzing the state of power in the Middle East, counterinsurgency’s trilemma, strategic engagement and more…
The Shifting Sands of State Power in the Middle East
Alastair
Crooke
Three key events that took place more than 20 years ago are still overturning Middle Eastern conventional state politics, economics, and Islam, requiring analysts and policymakers to reconceptualize what they think they know about Israel–Palestine, Iran, and the rest of the region.
[excerpt]
Counterinsurgency’s Impossible Trilemma
Lorenzo
Zambernardi
Counterinsurgency involves three main goals, but in practice a counterinsurgent needs to choose two out of three. This is the impossible trilemma of counterinsurgency.
[excerpt]
Strategic Engagement’s Track Record
Thomas
Wright
The evidence thus far suggests that strategic engagement has largely succeeded in meeting its ambitious goals in only one category—engaging civilizations—while ambitions in four others have been scaled back given geopolitical realities.
[excerpt]
Diplomacy Derailed: The Consequences of Diplomatic Sanctions
Tara
Maller
Despite being politically popular and normatively satisfying, diplomatic sanctions against problem states today lead to U.S. losses in intelligence and communications. Most politically important and ironically, they undermine coercive strategies, such as economic sanctions.
[excerpt]
China’s Caution on Afghanistan–Pakistan
Andrew
Small
Beijing’s approach to Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has to date pursued a relatively narrow conception of China’s interests, is proving increasingly unsuccessful. But a debate in China has started about whether its policies require a strategic reassessment.
[excerpt]
China vs. the Western Campaign for Iran Sanctions
Willem
van Kemenade
China’s reluctance to impose sanctions on Iran is more complex than simply its energy interests, as opposition to sanctions is genuinely a core principle of Chinese foreign policy and other interests are at stake.
[excerpt]
Managing the Global Commons
The sea, air, space, and cyberspace domains are strategically significant than ever. How can the United States and the international community cope with new actors and challenges in each?
Promoting Security in Common Domains
Shawn
Brimley
The United States is at the beginning of a critical and lasting national security imperative—to prepare U.S. institutions and the American people for a set of cross-domain challenges in sea, air, space, and cyberspace that demand new thinking and innovative approaches.
[excerpt]
Rising India: Partner in Shaping the Global Commons?
C. Raja
Mohan
Does the U.S. strategic community see India as a potential partner in managing the global commons? While the two could be natural partners in this endeavor, some fundamental changes in both countries may be necessary.
[excerpt]
A Verifiable Limited Test Ban for Anti-satellite Weapons
Ross
Liemer
and Christopher
F. Chyba
More countries are poised to assert commercial activity and military prowess in space. Can any verifiable space arms control measures be taken to enhance security? The authors answer yes, focusing on the underestimated risk posed by orbital space debris.
[excerpt]
Managing the Global Commons
Abraham
M. Denmark
The United States has a unique opportunity to shape the world’s approach to the commons. No other country has the ability to project military power into the commons, and none can challenge the U.S. legacy of building global institutions to advance shared goals.
[excerpt]
