The controversy surrounding Russian Winter Olympics in 2014 has been steadily gaining momentum in light of anti-gay legislation and encroachments on civil liberties in Russia. Western newspaper columnists, policymakers, and gay rights activists alike have been calling for a boycott of the Olympic Games in Sochi, arguing that this move could open the…

The changing strategic realities after the gradual international pullout from Afghanistan will require an entirely new set of approach for the sustainability of non-extremist governance and stability of social fabric. Amid, such an unpredictable future of war-game stage of Central and South Asia, Russia is one of potential players that can come forward…

Pakistan and Russia has witnessed various ups and downs in their diplomatic and political relations over since the emergence of Pakistan. If we can say that these relations are as old as the presence of British Empire in the subcontinent then we are being historic are viewing the terms in the lens of the old Great game. The relations are old but…

Long accustomed to a seat on the sidelines of East Asian affairs, Russia now finds itself sought after as an energy and military partner, particularly by Vietnam, but increasingly by a wider range of states in Southeast Asia. Russia’s growing relations with Southeast Asian states, especially in energy and defense, and the development of an…

While on the one side of the planet, people are ardently buying new helmets along with bright yellow ribbons for their dusty bicycles, on the other side, people are busily exchanging their iconic means of transportation for new cars. As this shift is occurring, under the breeze of economic prosperity across Asia, South America and even Africa…

Can A Charismatic Figure Reform The United Nations?   Probably not.   When one speaks of reform one is really speaking about a subset of change. Whether it’s structure, culture or mission, change means turning the conversation into action.   A decade ago there was talk dans les couloirs that Sergio Viera de Mello, the charismatic…

Out of five Central Asian countries two still have the same leaders for more than 20 years, one faced its president’s death and transition from one “cult of personality” to another. As remaining eternal leaders age, more and more rumors about their successors rise from the media.
 
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan face a situation…

The Copenhagen Dilemma, as the EU’s lack of power to give meaning to its basic values after accession is called, is big. Not a big dilemma, but a big issue. In Brussels, talk follows conference as politicians and academics brainstorm together. With a report passed at the European Parliament’s last session this season, a viable path is…

 
In early 2011, the world witnessed a hitherto unseen and largely unexpected course of events in the Middle East. Following the eruption of protests ignited by Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in Tunis, the entrenched dictatorships of Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen collapsed in domino fashion. Whereas Tunisia and Libya have made…

One year after the utter failure of the U.S.-Russia “Reset,” the relationship between the two countries is gradually nearing its nadir. Beginning with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s message of encouragement to Russia’s opposition movement and democracy scholar Michael McFaul’s nomination as U.S. Ambassador to Moscow…

Cyprus: A Geostrategic Conudrum Vassilios Damiras, Ph.D. (ABD) GEOSTRATEGIC FORECASTING CORPORATION - GSFC CEOby   The history of the island of Cyprus is marked by ethnic disputes and missed political opportunities. Cyprus achieved its independence from Britain in 1960. The Kingdom of Greece, the Turkish Republic, and Great Britain negotiated the…

In the minds of many the sports diplomacy and sports marketing that support competitive athletic tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games deserve a Nobel peace prize. But recent events in Brazil indicate that the model could use a “reset” to remain relevant to future generations. RT, Pravda, and Facebook (which is…