Italioti

International Statistics on Crime and Justice – HEUNI/UNODC

HEUNI Report series contains a number of studies, seminar reports, and other material on developments in crime and criminal justice in Europe and North… »

Caucasian Review of International Affairs (CRIA) VOL. 4 (2) – SPRING 2010

in this issue:
Russian Energy Politics and the EU: How to Change the Paradigm

*Authoritarianism and Foreign Policy: The Twin Pillars of Resurgent Russia

*The Georgia Crisis: A New Cold War on the Horizon?

*Enforceability of a Common Energy Supply Security Policy in the EU: Intergovernmentalist Assesement

*“Assembling” a Civic Nation in Kazakhstan: The Nation-Building Role of… »

Push for Serbia EU accession speed-up in wake of Kosovo court ruling – EU Observer

A number of EU states are in favour of speeding up Serbia’s EU accession process in the wake of Belgrade’s loss at the International Court of Justice over Kosovo’s declaration of independence. The foreign ministers of Italy, Slovakia and Austria pushed for such a move heading into Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, the… »

L’Italia e gli Stati fragili in Africa: prospettive e linee d’azione – ISPI

(PDF) – La fragilità dello stato in Africa è sempre più ragione di preoccupazione e inquietudine
nell’ambito della politica internazionale: i fenomeni di instabilità locale, regionale e globale possono infatti prendere l’avvio da situazioni di fragilità, assumendo proporzioni incontrollabili anche al di là del singolo caso. Alcuni organismi internazionali hanno sviluppato una classificazione che permette
di verificare… »

After UN court ruling, fears of global separatism – Ap

Serbia and Kosovo are dispatching competing armies of lobbyists to governments that so far have wavered on recognizing the breakaway province. Serbia, which considers Kosovo the cradle of its statehood and religion, fears Thursday’s ruling by the top U.N. court backing the legality of the 2008 declaration of independence could lead to a wave of… »

Le infrastrutture energetiche e di trasporto nel Mediterraneo – ISPI

(PDF) – Le riserve di idrocarburi del Maghreb ammontano a circa 8 miliardi di tonnellate (Mt) di petrolio e a 8.500 miliardi di metri cubi (bcm) di gas naturale. Queste risorse sono concentrate prevalentemente in Algeria e in Libia, che possiedono l’88% delle riserve di petrolio (Libia 5,6 miliardi di tonnellate, Algeria 1,4 miliardi) e… »

Recalibrating Germany’s and EU’s Policy in the South Caucasus – DGAP

The European Union’s policy towards the South Caucasus is a typical example of the inability of its member states to develop a common policy towards the post-Soviet space. Furthermore, the EU has been slow to adapt to changes in the region, such as, most notably, the rise in power and relevance of Azerbaijan in the… »

15 nations agree to start working together to reduce cyberwarfare threat – Washington Post

A group of nations — including the United States, China and Russia — have for the first time signaled a willingness to engage in reducing the threat of attacks on each others’ computer networks. Among other steps, the group recommended that the U.N. create norms of accepted behavior in cyberspace, exchange information on national legislation… »

Aiming for New Vigour: The UK in the Global Economy – Chatham House

The UK’s role in the world is inextricably linked to its economic strength and prosperity. Maintaining a vibrant economy and financial stability is vital to enable the UK to benefit from global growth and pursue its ambitions at home and abroad. Britain’s international influence, in turn, complements and supports its comparative advantages in global services… »

Natural Disasters Economic Losses Index 2010 – Maplecroft

New research identifying Haiti and Mozambique as the countries most vulnerable to economic losses from natural disasters also classifies a number of industrialised economies, including Italy, Japan, China, USA, Spain and France, as “high risk” environments for investors, insurers and business. The Natural Disasters Economic Losses Index (NDELI), released by risk intelligence and ratings company,… »

Turning East, Turkey Asserts Economic Power – the New York Times

For decades, Turkey has been told it was not ready to join the European Union — that it was too backward economically to qualify for membership in the now 27-nation club. That argument may no longer hold. Today, Turkey is a fast-rising economic power, with a core of internationally competitive companies turning the youthful nation… »

A global China policy – ECFR

China now affects every global issue from trade and the economy to climate change and nuclear proliferation, as well as every region from Africa to the Middle East. Europe therefore needs to reframe its China policy in global terms. Instead of thinking of their relationship with China in bilateral terms,
EU member states need to take… »

The Evolution of News and the Internet – OECD

# After very profitable years, newspaper publishers in most OECD countries face declining advertising revenues, titles and circulation. The economic crisis has amplified this downward development.
# About 20 out of 30 OECD countries face declining newspaper readership, with significant decreases in some OECD countries. Newspaper readership is usually lower among younger people who tend to… »

G8, G20: A View of Canada’s Summits – CFR

On June 25, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomes the Group of Eight (G8) to Muskoka, Ontario. Two days later, the action shifts to Toronto, where he convenes the Group of Twenty (G20). Together, the two events symbolize an epochal shift–from an era of Western dominance to a new, multipolar age. What can leaders accomplish… »

Russia’s ‘new’ stance remains anti-West – Washington Post

Ahead of Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Washington this week, a “leaked” Russian foreign policy document is causing some Russia watchers to wonder whether the Russian president is shifting his country toward a more positive, pro-Western stance. A careful read of the 18,000-word document does not support such wishful thinking – by David J…. »

Energy Company strategies in the Dynamic EU energy market (1995-2007) – Clingendael Institute

Changes in the external environment, like market saturation and security of supply concerns, were insufficiently taken into account when the new market rules were designed. Furthermore, the new market rules were designed as ‘one-size-fits-all’ solutions and as such neglected different starting points between member states. This resulted in a number of inconsistencies between what the… »

Seeking Power: Europe’s Extreme Right – ISN

For the past 30 years, the rise of the extreme right has alarmed citizens and many political parties in Europe, who worry about what it means and may be unsure of how to deal with the extreme right in their own strategies. But how has the European extreme right progressed since the 1980s, and is… »

Algeria Energy Data – EIA

Algeria’s hydrocarbons sector accounted for 60 percent of its budget revenues, nearly 30 percent of its GDP, and over 97 percent of its export earnings in 2008, according to the U.S. State Department. In 2009, Algeria produced a total of 2.13 million barrels per day (bbl/d) of oil liquids, of which 1.33 million bbl/d was… »

China’s engagement with the South Caucasus – CACI

Today, there is hardly any place in the world that does not trade with China. The South Caucasus is no exception. China’s economic and political presence in the region, while less substantial and inconspicuous compared to that of other actors, is no less visionary in its quest for expanded trade, energy resources and transportation corridors…. »

Think Tanks and Public Policies in Latin America – Fundación Siena/CIPPEC

(PDF) – It is not true that democracy and technocracy are necessarily opposite principles. An
active and growing civic participation is not incompatible with the incorporation of expert knowledge
in public policies. Actually, it is not difficult to grasp that democracy fragility grows when
elected Governments fail to solve, efficiently and effectively, the complex problems of economic
and social… »

European Neighbourhood Policy – European Commission

The European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) was developed in 2004, with the objective of avoiding the emergence of new dividing lines between the enlarged EU and our neighbours and instead strengthening the prosperity, stability and security of all. This ENP framework is proposed to the 16 of EU’s closest neighbours – Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt,… »

Les drones MALE : Quelles options pour l’Europe ? – IFRI

(PDF) – Les pays européens, France en tête, doivent prendre sans tarder une décision en matière de développement et d’acquisition de drones MALE. Leurs choix seront cruciaux non seulement pour préserver la souveraineté opérationnelle des Européens au plan militaire, mais aussi pour garantir l’avenir de l’industrie aéronautique européenne. Un engagement en faveur d’une politique industrielle… »

El control de las rutas de exportación de petróleo y gas de Kazajistán y Turkmenistán – Real Elcano

Las exportaciones de petróleo y gas de Kazajistán y Turkmenistán con destino el mercado europeo, que son las mayoritarias, siguen dependiendo de la intermediación rusa, dado que tanto los oleoductos como los gasoductos que se dirigen al continente europeo atraviesan el territorio ruso y son total o parcialmente propiedad de sus empresas. Esa dependencia de… »

Third OIC Observatory Report on Islamophobia

(PDF) – The third Annual Report covers the period from May 2009 to April 2010. It was a most turbulent period during which steady rise of Islamophobia, threatening global as well as regional peace and security, continued to be a source of concern particularly in the Western Europe and North America. Fundamental rights of Muslims… »

Paradigm Lost: The Euro in Crisis – CEIP

(PDF) – While ballooning public debt may be the clearest manifestation of the Euro crisis, its roots go much deeper—to the secular loss of competitiveness that has been associated with euro adoption in countries including Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, and Spain (GIIPS) – by Uri… »

Experts fear spread of social unrest as financial crisis continues – Die-Welle

Experts are concerned that the continuing financial crisis and associated austerity measures could lead to global social unrest should conditions worsen and populations lose faith and patience in their… »

The disconnect behind Europe’s financial free fall – Washington Post

A month ago, many Americans were undoubtedly wondering why they should care about the debt burdens of faraway European nations such as Greece, Spain and Portugal. Now, with U.S. financial markets joining the rest of the world in getting pounded, we have our answer. Once again, investors seem to be experiencing a financial version of… »

L’economia in Israele e nei territori dell’Autorità nazionale palestinese

Finanza innovativa, sviluppo economico e prospettive di pace. Convegno promosso dall’Istituto Bruno Leoni, Roma 20 maggio… »

EU ’southern gas corridor’ getting crowded – EurActiv

A new gas pipeline project – the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) linking Greece to Italy – came to light yesterday (20 May), fuelling competition in a key section of the EU’s so-called ’southern gas corridor’, where two more planned pipelines are bidding for the same markets. The TAP pipeline, 520km in length, will begin in the… »

New Colonialism: Pentagon Carves Africa Into Military Zones – Global Research

As the first overseas regional military command set up by Washington in this century, the first since the end of the Cold War, and the first in 25 years, the activation of AFRICOM, initially under the wing of U.S. European Command on October 1, 2007, then as an independent entity a year later, emphasizes the… »

Globalisation helps spread ‘exotic’ diseases – the Irish Times

Infectious diseases now more common in Europe – by Muiris… »

Firms Reported to Have Commercial Activity in the Iranian Energy Sector and U.S. Government Contracts – GAO

Based on open sources, we identified 41 foreign firms as having commercial activity in these vital sectors of Iran’s economy from 2005 to 2009. As you requested, this report identifies which of the 41 firms in our March 2010 report had contracts with the United States government from fiscal years 2005 to 2009. Our March… »

Kuwait Energy Data – EIA

Kuwait is one of the world’s top exporters of oil, with about 2.4 million barrels per day exported in 2008. Kuwait’s economy is heavily dependent on oil export revenues which account for roughly 90 percent of total export earnings. Kuwait channels around 10 percent of its oil revenues into the “Future Generations Fund” for the… »

Tap that water. Controversy surrounds the argument for dam-building in Africa – the Economist

Africa is the “underdammed” continent. It is the least irrigated and electrified, yet it uses only 3% of its renewable water, against 52% in South Asia. So there is plenty of scope for an African dam-building boom. Ghana long ago dammed the River Volta, Egypt the Nile, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique the Zambezi. But there… »

Thirst for African Oil – LSE

(PDF) – Africa currently supplies about 12 percent of the world’s oil, boasts significant untapped reserves and has surpassed the Middle East as the largest regional supplier of crude oil to the United States. Individually, Nigeria is America’s fourth largest oil supplier, Angola is the sixth
and Algeria is the seventh. Recently the National Intelligence Council… »

South Stream: A Finalized Picture or an Unfolding Story? – Strategic Culture Foundation

Russia and Austria signed an agreement on the functioning of the South Stream pipeline in the latter, and Russia’s energy giant Gazprom penned a deal with Austria’s OMV to establish on a parity basis a company whose mission would be to attract investments to the Austrian part of the project as well as to design,… »

The Geography of Chinese Power – Foreign Affairs

China today is consolidating its land borders and beginning to turn outward. China’s foreign policy ambitions are as aggressive as those of the United States a century ago, but for completely different reasons. China does not take a missionary approach to world affairs, seeking to spread an ideology or a system of government. Moral progress… »

Germany wants US nuclear weapons to be removed from its territory – OSW

The subject of withdrawing US tactical nuclear weapons from German territory was probably raised in German-US talks during the multilateral Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington on 13 April. The German government supports the initiative, pushed through by the FDP, in the CDU/CSU–FDP coalition agreement signed in October 2009, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs… »

Saharan states to open joint military headquarters – Bbc

Four Saharan desert states are to open a joint command headquarters in Algeria to co-ordinate efforts to counter the growing regional threat from al-Qaeda. The Joint Military Staff Committee of Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger will be based in… »

Hamas’ Al-Aqsa TV Placed Under Sanctions By U.S. Treasury Department – MEMRI

On March 18, 2010, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions against two Hamas-linked organizations in Gaza – Al-Aqsa TV and the Islamic National Bank (INB). The actions, taken pursuant to Executive Order 13224, freeze any assets that Al-Aqsa TV or INB hold under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in any transactions… »

Geopolitics of the Iranian Nuclear Energy Program – CSIS

(PDF) – Relations between the United States and Iran in recent months have been defined by Iranian intransigence and U.S. stubbornness, all because Iran has continued to insist its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes whereas the United States and allied countries remain convinced the real purpose is to produce a nuclear weapon. This report… »

L’Italia e la trasformazione dello scenario internazionale: fra rischi di marginalizzazione e nuove responsabilità – IAI/ISPI

(PDF) – Il mondo nel 2009 e’ ”cambiato in modo significativo”, ma ”l’Italia non e’ riuscita ad incidere
in modo efficace”. Per questo rischia la marginalizzazione dal nuovo scenario internazionale. Si rende dunque necessario privilegiare la strategia del multilateralismo per far si’ che il nostro Paese giochi un ruolo da ”attore protagonista”. La trasformazione del sistema… »

European Energy: The ‘Solidarity’ Conundrum – CSS

(PDF) – Despite brave attempts from the European Commission to craft a cohesive common energy policy, the Lisbon Treaty was only able to commit to a ‘spirit of solidarity’ across Member States. By way of confirmation, the Treaty even notes that Union measures “shall not affect a member state’s right to determine the […] general… »

Into EurAsia: Monitoring the EU’s Central Asia Strategy – FRIDE

(PDF) – The EU Strategy for Central Asia was introduced in 2007 to upgrade the EU’s cooperation with the five states of the region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Concerns in the EU over energy security and the war in Afghanistan dominated the political context at that time. But the strategy sought to take… »

Afghanistan Troop numbers and contributions – ISAF

The NATO-ISAF Placemat sets out the approximate numbers of forces provided to ISAF by Allied and other contributing nations, the location and lead of Provincial Reconstruction Teams, and the countries responsible for ISAF Regional Commands. Since February 2009, the Placemat shows the approximate size and location of the Afghan National Army. Since June 2009, the… »

Understanding illicit drug markets, supply-reduction efforts, and drug-related crime in the European Union – RAND

Considerable efforts have been made to collect useful information about the demand and
supply of illegal drugs at the international, national and sub-national levels in Europe. However, given the difficulty in developing reliable indicators of supply for an illegal market, most of the successes have been in developing measures of demand and the harms associated with… »

The ‘Marco Polo’ Effect: Chinese FDI in Italy – Chatham House

(PDF) – This paper investigates the motivations driving Chinese outward direct investment in Italy. The empirical analysis shows that the evolution of the Chinese pattern of entry to Italy is in line with the model followed by Chinese firms for direct investment in other European countries: starting with small-scale operations in trade-related activities, and evolving… »

Arsenal’s End? American Power and the Global Defense Industry – CNAS

(PDF) – Increasingly, the United States is weaving a complex web of global interdependence – what might be called a “hub strategy” – when it comes to weapons acquisition. The paradigmatic case of this approach is the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter, which is being financed and built in collaboration with eight partner nations… »

2010 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) – US Department of State

The Department of State’s International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) — due to Congress March 1st annually. The INCSR is the United States Government’s country-by-country two volume report that describes the efforts to attack all aspects of the international drug trade, chemical control, money laundering and financial… »

EU ready ‘to take unilateral sanctions against Iran’ – AFP

The European Union is ready to unilaterally impose new sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner confirmed… »