Tag "Ukraine conflict"
The United States’ War Against Russian Disinformation: Is the GEC Fit for Purpose?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February has brought renewed focus to America’s ability to defend against the Kremlin’s separatist narratives that seek to stoke ethnolinguistic tensions amongst Russian-Speaking Ukrainians in the Donbas and Crimea. The State Department’s Global Engagement Center (GEC), charged with leading the U.S.’ response to disinformation, is a fledgling six-year-old department with a shifting mission, unstable staffing and a limited budget. Despite significant headwinds, the Center’s modest efforts to counter disinformation through strategic partnerships with foreign governments and media outlets, as well as its sponsorship of emerging counter-disinformation (CPD) technologies continue to hold promise for the ongoing effort to counter Russian propaganda.
Sanctioning Russia’s science community: at what cost?
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Western states, such as the US, UK and Germany have engaged in intense discussions about how to sanction Putin’s Russia most effectively. In the name of the West’s isolation strategy, numerous sanctions have been imposed, including on Russia’s science sector. A closer look at Western sanctions against the Russian scientific community suggests that the West’s isolation strategy might entail unintended effects, such as undercutting any long-term hopes for a more liberal Russian society, rolling back years of scientific collaboration on climate change and eventually, pushing Russia further into a codependent relationship with China.
Ukraine: Presidential Elections 2019
Ukrainians will cast their vote in a historic Presidential election on Sunday. Poroshenko and Zelensky are the main contenders.
The challenge of far-right Ukrainian militias
Ukraine’s far-right has proven active in recent months and this has led to unease. Several groups have openly expressed admiration for National Socialism and used Neo-Nazi symbols in demonstrations. Ukrainians have warily greeted the influence of these elements. This article analyses the impact of these actions.
US antitank missiles risk escalating the Ukrainian conflict
The recent delivery of US antitank missiles to Ukraine risks escalating the ongoing conflict with Russian-backed forces in the east of the country. If not accompanied by a concrete strategy, US support also risks driving a wedge between Ukraine and the EU, generating weaknesses which Moscow can then exploit.
Eurovision 2016: A window into current EU tensions
The issues surrounding this year’s Eurovision song contest, won by Ukraine, highlight a growing European tendency of politicising the public sphere.
Weekly Risk Outlook
Greece begins sending back migrants to Turkey. Peruvians head to the polls. Reserve Bank of Australia reacts to changes in AUD. Netherlands votes on EU-Ukraine agreement. All in the Weekly Risk Outlook.
Looking back at major challenges to the EU in 2015
In 2015, the EU was faced with a set of unprecedented crises that shook it to its core. This situation offers an opportunity for public and private actors to implement
Crisis in Moldova presents opportunity for Russia
Moldova, a small country bordering Ukraine and Romania, has seen its government dismissed after weeks of protests in what has been called ‘Moldova’s Maidan’. Although the EU is preoccupied with
Lithuania reintroduces compulsory military service
The president of Lithuania, Dalia Grybauskaitė, announced on February 24th that the country plans to reinstate military conscription due to the current geopolitical situation. Although the president did not say
