Analysis by region

RUSI Analysis

Posts analysing the latest defence and security stories

Analysis: The Woolwich Murder: Initial Assessments of Another Lone Actor(s) Attack 23 May 2013 by Raffaello Pantucci
From film and eye-witness footage, it is quite clear that the perpetrators of the Woolwich attack were motivated for terrorist ends. The trend is now quite apparent, as is their intended objective of sowing societal discord. Terrorism Tackling Extremism UK Europe

Analysis: Iran: Conservatives Given Free Rein by the Guardian Council 22 May 2013
Iran's Guardian Council has just published its list of approved candidates for presidential elections -notable for its absence of challengers to the Supreme Leader. The eventual winner needs to repair external alliances and re-energise faith in the Islamic Republic amongst Iranians. Iran Middle East and North Africa

Analysis: Sierra Leone: A Post-Conflict Success Story? 22 May 2013 by Lauren Twort
In June, a RUSI team will visit Sierra Leone to study the country as a model of successful peacebuilding. This will take place in light of recent elections and the conclusion of many military missions. The following outlines what they hope to achieve. Africa

Analysis: The UN Intervention Brigade: A Force for Change in DR Congo? 17 May 2013 by Cathy Haenlein
With troops assigned to the UN's new offensive unit in the DR Congo arriving in Goma, hopes for a tougher response to the region's non-state armed groups have been raised. Yet while novel, the deployment of the unit poses its own challenges. Africa Congo

Analysis: The Crime Terror nexus in West Africa 15 May 2013 by Charlie Edwards
The attack on the Al-Amenas facility in Algeria earlier in the year reveals the nexus between organised crime and terrorism in West Africa. This has major implications for the international community and requires greater support to national governments in the region. Terrorism Africa

Analysis: We Hate the EDL More Than We Love Life? 9 May 2013 by Raffaello Pantucci
Last week, Islamist extremists were found guilty of plotting a terrorist attack on a rally of the English Defence League. The case shows how extremists from both sides are turning to violent means. It also shows how Jihadists in the United Kingdom are focusing on domestic targets. Terrorism Tackling Extremism UK Europe

Analysis: Al-Qa'ida and Iran: How Do We Deal With the Allegations? 2 May 2013 by Professor Ali Ansari
Recent allegations by the Canadian authorities about Al-Qa'ida in Iran has ignited a flurry of commentary. Experience suggests however that the release of limited intelligence of this nature is fraught with dangers for the public trust and risks being counter-productive. Terrorism Iran Middle East and North Africa North America Americas

Analysis: The Long Arm of the Law in Xinjiang: Fresh Violence Erupts in China's Muslim Far West 1 May 2013 by Edward Schwarck
Two outbreaks of deadly violence in Xinjiang this week highlight China's failure to bring stability to its troubled far west Muslim frontier. A closer examination of the attacks reveals that Xinjiang's model of 'stability maintenance' continues to spark Uyghur unrest. China Pacific

Videos: A Return to the East of Suez? UK Military Deployment to the Gulf 29 Apr 2013
http://www.rusi.org/eastofsuez Professor Michael Clarke, Director General of RUSI, introduces RUSI's latest paper authored by Professor Gareth Stansfield and Saul Kelly. The paper examines the UK's possible strategic re-assessment, focusing for the first time since the 1970's, a global role east of the Suez Canal. UK Europe Middle East and North Africa The Gulf Region

Analysis: Red Lines and Syrian Chemical Weapons 26 Apr 2013 by Shashank Joshi
Evidence of chemical weapons use by the Syrian regime remains incomplete. But the Obama Administration’s confused signaling and ambiguous standards of evidence risk emboldening the Assad regime. Syria Middle East and North Africa United States Americas

Analysis from RUSI publications

Articles from RUSI periodicals: RUSI Journal, RUSI Newsbrief and RUSI Defence Systems

RUSI Newsbrief: Margaret Thatcher 1925-2013: An Irreverent Look at her Foreign-Policy Record 3 May 2013 by Dr Jonathan Eyal
Margaret Thatcher’s death, more than twenty years after leaving office, provides an opportunity to reassess her foreign-policy record UK Europe Global Strategy and Commitments UK Defence European Union International Institutions

RUSI Newsbrief: Structuring the State: Federal Choices in Somalia 3 May 2013 by Anna Rader
As the London Conference on Somalia reconvenes, the focus remains on concerns surrounding the durability of the federal governmental structure Africa Horn of Africa UK Europe Turkey International Institutions International Responses Terrorism

RUSI Newsbrief: Atoms for Turkey: Ankara's Struggle for Nuclear Energy 3 May 2013
Turkey's pursuit of nuclear energy is likely not about hedging against Iran's own growing capabilities Turkey Europe Japan Pacific Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Strategy Global Security Issues

RUSI Newsbrief: Naval Iran in 2013: An Emerging Threat? 3 May 2013 by Frederic Ischebeck-Baum
While Iranian threats to close the Strait of Hormuz may prove a bluff, Iran’s developing naval capability should be a matter of concern Maritime Forces Iran Middle East and North Africa The Gulf Region

RUSI Newsbrief: Closing the 'Reciprocal Confidence' Gap with Iran 3 May 2013
The lack of progress at the Almaty talks points to a deep-seated problem: the continuing decline in reciprocal confidence Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Strategy Global Security Issues European Union International Institutions Iran Middle East and North Africa United States Americas

RUSI Newsbrief: Propaganda and Precedent: North Korean Tensions 3 May 2013 by Andrea Berger, Hugh Chalmers
As the first such salvo under Kim Jong-un, the intentions behind the latest round of hostile rhetoric emanating from North Korea have been difficult to interpret (Free access) United States Americas North Korea Pacific Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Strategy Global Security Issues

RUSI Newsbrief: Manning the Unmanned 3 May 2013 by Elizabeth Quintana
As the UK steps up its drone capability, it is changing the RAF’s training programmes for pilots and operators UK Defence Armed Forces UK Europe Aerospace Equipment and Acquisitions Military Personnel

RUSI Newsbrief: Mr Emmerson Takes on Washington 3 May 2013 by Adrian Johnson
With a UN panel now investigating US drone strikes, the mounting backlash against targeted killing highlights the political costs of drone warfare (Free access) United States Americas United Nations International Institutions Aerospace Pakistan Central and South Asia The War on Terror Terrorism

RUSI Newsbrief: After the Vote: The Future of the Falklands 3 May 2013
The result of the Falkland Islands referendum underscores the growing agency of the local government in the territorial dispute Latin America Americas UK Europe UK Defence

RUSI Newsbrief: Meeting the Challenge: Notes from the (Air-)Field 3 May 2013 by Peter Quentin
Despite the challenges, the early stages of the British redeployment from Afghanistan appear to be progressing well Equipment and Acquisitions UK Defence Armed Forces Afghanistan Central and South Asia UK Europe NATO International Institutions