CIA director William Joseph Burns

Black Operations: A Primer on Covert Action throughout U.S. History

Brief Analysis By Alan Cunningham on February 15, 2022 | Reading time 7 min

Covert Action (CA) has been a point of contention within political and foreign policy discourse, with constant discussions about the legalities of targeted killings and enhanced interrogation techniques. There are vast historical examples of U.S. intervention abroad which complicated matters in their respective regions, in some cases having an opposite effect than what was intended, in other cases resulting in scandals that eroded the public’s faith in governmental institutions, and in other cases simply resulting in a less stable country or government. In spite of all the discussion about covert action, it is undeniable that it can be extremely beneficial when dealing with foreign powers and with new issues like non-state actors and international terrorism.

President Putin at the plenary session of the 10th BRICS Leaders Summit

Why no foreign boots will be on Ukraine’s ground

In-Depth Analysis By Bruno Pedrosa on February 9, 2022 | Reading time 11 min

During the last weeks, the world has been closely watching what is happening at the Ukrainian-Russian border. Despite the fact that the Ukrainian border has been the focus of attention for some years, the current crisis is taking another level. This is due to the deployment of a great number of Russian troops to the border, raising concerns about the region’s future and making experts speculate about a Russian invasion. However, even though specialists and pundits are warning decision-makers of the risk of a major war involving great powers, there are some reasons to doubt that there will be a Russian invasion or a deployment of NATO’s forces in Ukrainian territory, let alone a major conflict.

US Navy Seal and Monument

A Professional Fighting Force: The U.S. Navy SEALs and the Road to Reform

In-Depth Analysis By Alan Cunningham on January 28, 2022 | Reading time 11 min

The U.S. Navy SEALs have long been regarded as one of the most preeminent and effective special operations forces in the United States. However, in recent years, SEALs have displayed a serious problem in maintaining their level of professionalism. Various SEAL teams have been investigated for alcohol abuse, sexual assaults, and heavy narcotics usage, posing such a serious risk to national security that the units had to be called home or certain soldiers had to be placed on leave. These are serious problems within the SEAL community and pose a significant national security/defense risk.

President Putin

Why does Vladimir Putin’s regime perceive liberalism as a threat?

Opinion By Anoynmous Contributor on January 25, 2022 | Reading time 4 min

The power of Putin’s regime lies in one person. Redistribution of power in Russia has disappeared since 1993 when Yeltsin destroyed the Russian Parliament. Putin has completed this process: he has eliminated all independent centres of power. He managed to take power into his own hands. From today’s point of view, Putin’s regime is very interesting. Putin’s rule shares no similarities with other authoritarian regimes, it has its own tactics.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán debated the situation in Hungary

A pivotal year for Hungary – Can Orbán be defeated in the 2022 elections? 

Opinion By Gabriela Greilinger on January 22, 2022 | Reading time 5 min

Amidst the current pressing crises occupying the EU, another potentially pivotal moment may encounter the block this year. In April 2022, the EU’s problem child, Hungary, will hold parliamentary elections, deciding on their next government and prime minister. Several questions remain: Can the united opposition finally defeat Orbán and his Fidesz party, despite evidence for irregularities in previous elections? And if so, could that actually lead to meaningful reforms?

Anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine

The value of thinking about ‘just war’ in a world where war is just war

Opinion By Albin Touma on January 18, 2022 | Reading time 3 min

Talking about the ethics of war over Ukraine seems abstract and naïve in light of Donbas and its abandoned villages. It seems pointless to think about just war in a world of suffering where war is just war. Yet, it is because the suffering of war is real that we should think and talk about the ethics of war. Only when we talk can we take a stance, constrain violence, and hold military leaders accountable.

Soviet Union, early 1980s

Transformation in Russian Civil Society

In-Depth Analysis By Muhammad Ali Sohail on January 10, 2022 | Reading time 16 min

This analysis studies the transformations in Russian civil society from the eighteenth through the twenty-first century. It argues that powerful political structures, formed during the Imperial, Soviet and post-Soviet periods, have influenced civil society arrangements in the modern-day Russian Federation. Similar to Russian forms of democracy and the market economy, which diverge substantially from Western European models, civil society as it exists in the RussianFederation has not followed the West’s trajectory of development. This Russian iteration of civil society, which emerged after the collapse of the Soviet Union, is the result of successive transformations across social sectors over several centuries and is justified through various factors unique to the Russian socio-political context.

Pennsylvania National Guard -Presentation and demonstration in the polygraph training area

The Lasso of Truth: The American National Security Workforce and the Polygraph

In-Depth Analysis By Alan Cunningham on December 28, 2021 | Reading time 27 min

Polygraphs are an incredibly popular tool. They are used in criminal and civil cases, by the prosecution and defense alike, to determine the credibility of sources, defendants, and suspects. However, polygraphs are incredibly problematic. As has been shown by various scientific reports and assessments, they have zero scientific basis, are far too open to individual bias and partial interpretation, and incredibly unreliable. Yet they are in use by nearly every federal law enforcement agency for employment and investigative purposes and are utilized by the courts in certain circumstances. My own view on polygraphs is rather negative, having personally researched the issue and been the subject of such an exam for employment purposes.

Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper with former Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds

How can the Five Eyes bolster its security resilience?

In-Depth Analysis By Kareem Salem on December 17, 2021 | Reading time 9 min

Forged under the pressure of the Second World War, the Five Eyes has linked together the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK), Australia, Canada and New Zealand in unprecedented cooperation on intelligence sharing. The current international security backdrop, however, remains particularly salient in terms of great-power competition from authoritarian powers seeking to challenge the US-led liberal international order. For the Five Eyes to strengthen its security resilience, enhanced intelligence cooperation and alliance expansion will be vital to effectively thwart the malign behaviour of rogue powers on the international stage.

Prime Minister of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki in the European Parliament

Politics of Confusion – The sixth fragment: Apathy

Opinion By Zuzanna Zajac on December 6, 2021 | Reading time 5 min

On November 23, 2021, the European Parliament denied Mateusz Morawiecki the opportunity to speak during a debate regarding the current situation on the Belarusian border. Even though for an average polish citizen it is disheartening to see that Poland is no longer considered a reliable and significant debating partner, it is an understandable decision, which can be justified by tracing the chronology of events from this year that have contributed to the deteriorating relations with Belarus and the EU and which Poland could have, on multiple occasions, taken control of.