Politics
Russia Returns to the Council of Europe
On the 25th of June, the Council of Europe voted to reinstate Russia’s membership of the Parliamentary Assembly, the first case of sanctions against Russia being lifted since the annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Italy: New coalition government takes charge
The far-left Five Star Movement and the centre-left Democratic Party formed a new coalition government to stave off the threat of a rapidly rising far-right. The new government is likely to boost market confidence and improve ties with the EU in the short run. However, the long-term viability of this partnership remains unclear.
Kyrgyzstan: Risk of a third revolution?
Notwithstanding the recent violent unrest in Kyrgyzstan, Atambayev’s saga is unlikely to lead to a violent overthrow of the government, which occurred in the country in 2005 and 2010.
What does the future hold for Netanyahu?
This article will outline the problems faced by Netanyahu and assess his chances of surviving as Prime Minister in the next elections.
Kosovo PM resigns after Specialist Chambers summons
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj resigned on 19 July, after the Specialist Chambers called him for questioning. The Chambers deal with cases of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other crimes committed during and after the 1990s conflict in Kosovo.
Prospects of Nuclearization of the Crimean Peninsula
Since 2014, assumptions about the deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on the Crimean Peninsula have riddled the Western press. However, it has not been materially confirmed whether or not this is the case, and the implications of such a move remain limited in scope – for the time being.
Liberia: Mounting Political Tensions in a Fragile Context
Economic slowdown is sparking protests against the Liberian president, George Weah, one year after the departure of the UN peacekeeping mission. Despite its nominal success, the international community has failed to address the root causes of conflict, and mounting political tensions could reinstigate violence in the country.
How far will Israel go in annexing the West Bank?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent pledge to annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank, has raised fears that annexation is imminent.
Sanctions and social media: Civil unrest and Iran-US relations
Recent domestic and international developments have negatively affected the stability of the Iranian regime.
US power vacuum in the Middle East: What next?
Under President Trump, the United States is looking to play a minor role in the Middle East and this reduced American presence will cause distortions in the region.
