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This Week at ISN

27 31 May 2013

Our Weekly Editorial Roundup

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Editorial Plan | Security Watch | Blog | Video

// North America: Issues in Focus

Following last week's discussion on North America's changing context and dynamics, this week we explore how the United States' and Mexico's grand strategies may develop over the next few years. We also examine the potential security implications of organized criminal violence, the US-Canadian divide over the Arctic, and North America's burgeoning natural gas 'revolution'.

North America's 'Contrasting' Grand Strategies

27 May 2013

Does the United States need a grand strategy that embraces a world of diverse and often precarious liberal democracies? In this podcast, Daniel Deudney and John Ikenberry suggest that if Washington wants to continue promoting liberal ideals and the rule of law throughout North America and beyond, it needs to make this adjustment.More

Countering Criminal Violence in Central America

28 May 2013

Despite Mexico's recent successes, criminal violence throughout Central America continues to pose problems for the US and its immediate neighbors. The CFR's Michael Shifter explains the causes behind the violence and what Washington can do to curb its effects more effectivelyMore

The Arctic Policies of Canada and the United States: Domestic Motives and International Context
29 May 2013

Despite close economic and political ties, the United States and Canada hold diverging views toward the Arctic region. SIPRI's Kristofer Bergh outlines how domestic factors on both sides of the border are influencing Washington's and Ottawa's Arctic policies.More

Natural Gas in the US Economy: Opportunities for Growth

30 May 2013

Because of new shale extraction techniques, the United States' domestic gas production continues to grow. The CRS' Robert Pirog and Michael Ratner wonder how the political and economic power produced by this industry might shape future policies in Washington.More

The Future of US-Mexico Relations

31 May 2013

In this video, Robert Pastor et al consider how drugs, migration, trade policies and other cross-border issues will continue to dominate the political and security dynamics of US-Mexican relations.More

// Security Watch
Political Islam From North Africa to Southeast Asia
27 May 2013

The Arab Spring has indeed opened up new opportunities for political Islam in the Middle East and North Africa, but that has not translated into Islamic parties such as the Muslim Brotherhood significantly changing the structure of the state. The CSS' Lorenzo Vidino explains why.More

Lifting the Shroud on China's Defense Spending: Trends, Drivers, and Implications
28 May 2013

China recently announced another multibillion dollar increase to its defense budget. Andrew Erickson and Adam Liff try to place Beijing's increased defense spending within the wider context of its strategic aims, priorities, and military ambitions.More

Brazil's Petroleum Sector Resumes Licensing Activities

29 May 2013

Brazil has developed a new regulatory framework for its energy sector, which happens to include 50-100 billion barrels of oil off its coastline. Fair enough, but what kind of impact might this framework have on regional oil production, energy security, etc.? Our partners at Stratfor explore the possibilities.More

Niger: New Drone Base Highlights a Shift in US-West African Relations

30 May 2013

Is Washington's decision to station a drone base in Niger just about collecting more intelligence data in Mali? Jody Ray Bennett has his doubts. To him, the base represents an attempt to secure a military foothold across Africa, but at a fraction of the costs incurred in Afghanistan and Iraq.More

The U.S. Must Re-evaluate its Foreign Policy in Latin America

31 May 2013

Relations between the US and Latin America have always experienced their ups and downs, writes Liza Torres Alvarado. She also believes that a number of shared security concerns such as transnational crime and drug trafficking may yet form the basis for an equitable and enduring regional partnership.More

// Blog
The New Iron Silk Route
27 May 2013

Aleksandra Jarosiewicz believes that the first direct railway connection between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan may eventually be incorporated into the NATO-friendly Northern Distribution Network. That will then curtail Moscow's influence over the region and open the door for other external actors.More

US Congressman Engel Says Serbia, Kosovo Can Now 'Look Forward To Future'
28 May 2013

Eliot Engel is confident that the recent normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo improves the odds of reconciling the two countries. In this interview, he traces the boundaries of the agreement and highlights some of the problems that may yet derail the reconciliation process.More

Landmine Casualties Rising in Kachin, Myanmar

29 May 2013

Myanmar has yet to approve the Mine Ban Treaty, it has not ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and it has not dedicated itself to rehabilitating its landmine victims. The net result, claims IRIN, is a growing number of unaided civilian landmine casualties, specifically in Kachin province.More

Balancing Shia and Sunni Radicalisms

30 May 2013

Assuming such categorization is actually appropriate, is it in the US' long-term interests to side with 'Sunni' Arab states against 'Shia' ones? Not according to Robert Kaplan and Kamran Bokhari the latter could help counterbalance the spreading political influence of Salafists.More

What's Next, Malaysia?

31 May 2013

Recent elections in Malaysia were marred by allegations of electoral fraud, writes HuiHui Ooi. She also warns that growing ethnic tensions and the economic divide between urban and rural Malaysians may further tarnish the country's reputation as a model Islamic democracy.More

// Video
Mexico's Drug War
In this video, Shannon O'Neil and Alejandro Hope discuss Mexico's ongoing struggles with its drug cartels. They remind us that approximately 50,000 Mexicans have been killed over the past five years as a result of drug and organized crimerelated violence, which then raises significant questions about the policies the Mexican government has pursued.More

Taiwan's Pragmatic Strategy in Maritime Disputes

In this video, Stratfor's East Asia Analyst, John Minnich, discusses the potential regional impact of a fisheries pact between Taiwan and the Philippines. (Note: The pact may occur as a result of the May 9 killing of a Taiwanese fisherman.) More

Canada among Nations, 2011-2012

In this video, a cross-section of academics, policymakers and journalists consider how Canada and Mexico might establish a fully functioning strategic relationship. More

Coming Up
Next week, our editorial focus considers some of the factors shaping South America's growing geopolitical significance.

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