In previous article we pointed out that players of a “New Great Game” are usually divided into two groups - US, UK and NATO, and Russia, China and SCO. As we described principles that form US strategy, it’s necessary to do the same thing with those who play on the “other side”of the game. Russia’s and China’s…

Israel’s parliamentary elections in late January delivered a result that will see Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remain in power. RIAC Member Pyotr V. Stegny, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation, talks about the future of Israel's foreign policy and prospects for a resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict…

 
 
Dr. Rico Isaacs is an expert in Central Asian politics and a senior lecturer in International Studies at the Oxford Brookes University. His research concerns the political sociology of Central Asia in particular the interaction between formal and informal politics, institutions and practices and the discursive construction and…

During the process of preparing and researching for my dissertation «The Role of Eastern Energy Strategy in the Russian Foreign Policy: Opportunities and Threats» at the HSE, I was introduced to this insightful publication «Energy Outlook Until 2035». Today I wish to share its findings and conclusions with anyone who is…

Ukraine’s foreign policy towards its Eastern and Western neighbours could ultimately lead to broader international consequences that one would expect. Its decision to sign the Association agreement with the European Union or joining the Customs Union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, might take the story of one of the sides much deeper than to…

 
As the world continues to scuffle against the most severe economic crisis, optimism remains thin in the air, conceivably as uncertainty is easier to sell. The IMEMO RAN forum was no different, as industry specialists pleaded for more assistance whilst the government officials naturally attempted to ignite market confidence. At the end, one…

 
A couple of decades ago North Korea was a country barely noticeable to anyone in the world. Today it is on everyone’s radar screen. And its leader Kim Jong-un, “the sun of the 21st century”, brightly shined in headlines of all morning papers after North Korea conducted its third most powerful nuclear test on February 12. The…

Gay marriages legalization, implementation of 75% tax are not the only reasons why the name of new French president Francois Hollande lately appears so often in the top lines of the magazines. Mr Hollande has proved himself to be not only an ardent fighter for the rights of homosexuals but seems like he is also trying to rehabilitate himself in terms…

The concept of Central Asia being a geographical pivot of history was first introduced to public in 1904 by sir Halford John Mackinder. Nowadays geopolitical schemes are still based on the “geographical” part of that idea.
 
We can argue a lot about the “pivotal” part of Mackinder’s concept, but the…

 
The 3rd International Conference coincided with a fairly damp economic climate and unstable political atmosphere across many energy exporting states, thus in all building up naturally not overly optimistic mood. However, in respect to the Russia situation it was far from bleak as instability was actually playing into its favour. Iran’s…

 
On January 8th 2013 the World Economic Forum released its eighth annual Global Risks Report.  The Report is designed to analyze the perceived likelihood, impact and interconnections of 50 risks that have global consequences. These risks are divided into five major categories, and each of these categories has its center of…

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