AIR AND SPACE POWER
A Content Analysis on the Media Coverage of Hybrid Warfare Concept
Murat Caliskan* - Paul Alexander Cramers** Hybrid warfare is the latest of the terms/concepts that have been used within the defense community in the last three decades to label contemporary warfare. It has been officially adopted in the core strategic documents of...
Prison – Militant Jihadist Recruiting Grounds or Refuge for Rehabilitation?
Anne Speckhard* & Ardian Shajkovci** It is often argued that prisons may accelerate the process of radicalization by virtue of having vulnerable prisoners isolated from mainstream society under circumstances in which they may be potentially exposed to virulent...
Russian A2AD Strategy and Its Implications for NATO
Abstract Humans have witnessed many wars throughout the history. The weapons, equipment, tactics, doctrines and strategies used in these wars have been in a constant evolution. This evolution of warfare has depended on technological level, changes in the societies,...
ISIS Returning Foreign Fighters: Challenges for the Justice System
By Anne Speckhard*, Ardian Shajkovci** During its heyday, ISIS and other militant groups attracted 40,000 foreign fighters in an unprecedented migration of men, women, and children to the battlegrounds of Syria and Iraq. Now, with the near territorial defeat of ISIS...
A major escalation in tensions between Russia-Ukraine in the Kerch Strait: What is next?
What happened? On Sunday, Russian Coast Guard vessels fired at and detained two Ukrainian small armed boats and a tugboat with their crews (leaving a number of Ukrainian crews wounded) off the Crimean coast on their way from Odesa to Mariupol Port. Russia...
Does US Really Want to Withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty?
We have been witnessing baffling developments in the last month, which corroborate our earlier observations on deteriorating liberal world order. On 20 October 2018, President Donald Trump stated his intention to pull U.S. out of INF Treaty and build up its arsenal...
ISIS Women: Victims, Criminals, or Both?
By Anne Speckhard*, Ardian Shajkovci** The Syrian civil uprising, abuses by Syrian President Bashar Assad, and calls from terrorist groups such as the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra, an offshoot of al Qaeda, resulted in an estimated 40,000 or more foreign fighters...
Breaking the ISIS Brand in Iraq using Counter Narrative Campaigns on Facebook
By Anne Speckhard*, Ardian Shajkovci** & Neima Izadi In 2017, ISIS suffered major territorial and military defeat in Iraq. Despite the achieved success, the group remains active and in control of small pockets of territory in Iraq. It also continues to lure...
EU in FOCUS – Brexit Agreement?
The negotiators have finally reached an agreement on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU on 14 November after months of hectic bargaining. The development hit the headlines and spread over the social media. Yet, is it really over? Do we know what has happened and what...
Reinforcing EU-NATO Cooperation: Walking the Talk?
Abstract While the new security environment has driven the EU to take a bigger role in security and defence, it has also forced the EU-NATO relations to evolve from a desirable strategic partnership to a more ‘essential’ one, since both their security is...
Whither Yemen?
The events following the murder of Khashoggi shook the US, the EU and the rest of the world. Although not directly related with war in Yemen, the scandal worked as a catalyst for a series of events culminating with the latest statements by US Secretary of Defence Jim...
YEMEN ON FIRE
Hasan Aslan*, Onur Sultan** Abstract Yemen, as a unitary state, has long ceased to exist. Since unification in 1990, the state has been the playfield for those willing to have power and control over resources. The Houthis, an initially egalitarian...
NATO in Focus: October 2018 NATO Defence Ministerial
Last week NATO Defence Ministers met in Brussels in order to discuss; NATO – Georgia relations, NATO’s deterrence and defence posture, Defence spending and burden-sharing, Adapting NATO command structure, and NATO-EU cooperation. At the Bucherest Summit in...
The Delicate Balance in Idlib: Actors and Near Future
The civil war in Syria is about to enter a new phase by the possible operations to Idlib. While the Syrian regime is willing to close the chapter on one of the bloodiest civil wars on its soil by gaining the control over this last stronghold of opposition forces,...
Looking Forward to Seeing You in New Horizons Symposium 2018
Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group (ISSG) and Wilfred Martens Centre brings to you the symposium of the year. New Horizons Symposium 2018 is going to be held on the 22nd of October, in Brussels, Belgium. The topics of discussion for this...
EU in Focus: Informal Salzburg Summit
EU in Focus: Informal Salzburg Summit Informal meeting of heads of state or government took place in Salzburg on 19-20 September 2018 to discuss internal security, migration and Brexit. The heads of state or government met for an informal working dinner on migration...
Welcome to New Horizons Symposium 2018
New Horizons Symposiums, as an annual landmark event, aspires to be a unique platform for political, academic, business leaders and organizations across the globe to discuss and provide solutions for the most pressing issues of our time. A hugely important showcase, a...
Hedging May Not Help Turkey: Lessons from Pakistan
States with small and medium levels of power have a limited range of strategic responses available when confronted with an aggressive superpower. They can prepare to confront the superpower (balance) by shoring up their capabilities or seeking alliances. They can...
The UAE’s vested interests are prolonging the conflict in Yemen
March 2018 will mark the three-year anniversary since the start of the disastrous conflict in Yemen. With at least 10,000 people killed, and over 22 million requiring some form of food assistance, the last three years have been among the worst in modern Yemeni...
EU in Focus: Informal Defence/Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting
Gynmich took place in Vienna on 29-31 August 2018, as usual first day with Informal meeting of defense ministers and second-day with Informal meeting of foreign affairs ministers. The Informal meeting of defense ministers focused on the EU’s security and defense...
Outcomes of the 2018 Inter-Korean and North Korea-United States Summits
In 2018, inter-Korean relations have become far more dynamic as became manifest by North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which was put forth in a separate piece[1] on March 15 by the author of this article. Since then, third inter-Korean...
How Democracies Die
Democracy doesn’t always die with military coups, starts Levitsky and Ziblat, it also dies in the hands of the elected leaders. The subject is not new; after a staggering expansion of democracy after cold war, there were already signs of...
Yemen Crisis Watch Archive
DATES (30 Apr-06 May 18) | (07-13 May 18) | (13-20 May 18) | (21-27 May 18) | (28 May- 03 JUNE 18) | (04-10 June 18) | (11-17 June 18) | (18-24 June 18) | (25 June-01 July 18) | (02-08 July 18)...
War Beyond the Rules: States’ Use of Violence Revisited
Abstract Since the 1990s, Eastern European and African nations have experienced many intra-state conflicts, which are introduced as a concern for regional and international security by the international community. However, as the international organisations...
How Will Europe Survive from Iran Crisis?
Iran and US relations, with historical ups and downs, have taken a new turn with the advent of Trump to power. With a clear departure from slight softening after the nuclear deal, Trump has increased the tempo of US actions targeting Iran. This article will elaborate...
How to Implement Trans-Caspian Pipeline in spite of Russo-Iranian Opposition
Abstract: On 12 August 2018, a presidential summit of the Caspian littoral countries will be held in Astana, Kazakhstan. The convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is highly likely to be signed by all the five littorals at the summit. However, there are...
F-35 Training Starts as U.S. considers removing Turkey from the Program
The deepening rift between Turkey and the U.S. has spiraled into a full-blown crisis over the trial of pastor Andrew Brunson, who was held under pre-trial detention for 21 months in a Turkish prison until he was transferred to house arrest on 25 July 2018. Brunson was...
Turkey’s Shift in Its Strategic Orientation: Challenges for the Alliance
We have been observing a massive transformation in the Middle East since the events in 2010, also dubbed as Arab Spring. However, this transformation has gained more momentum in the last 4 years. More specifically, the rise of ISIL, the Saudi-led Coalition...
Deteriorating Humanitarian Situation in Libya and Inefficiency of the Measures Taken by the EU
On 29 June 2018, just one day after the announcement of new EU measures to keep migrants out of European borders, lifeless bodies of three babies appeared in the news. The image of their innocent bodies as if they were sleeping in the stretched arms of the men who...
NATO in Focus: Brussels Summit
In the midst of Cold War 2.0, Brussels will host NATO Heads of State and/or Government who will convene this week on 11-12 July 2018 for the 28th NATO Summit normally held biennially. Leaders from Finland, Sweden, Ukraine, Georgia and RSM partner nations will also be...
Burden Sharing at NATO and the Battle of 2 Percent
ABSTRACT Burden sharing has been one of the most hotly contested issues in NATO especially since the end of Cold War. Trump’s bitter statements about utility of the Alliance in the wake of his election and following urge by U.S. policy-makers to make Europe pay...
Does Terrorism End Itself? ETA’s Announcement of Dissolution
The underlying source of a terrorist organization’s sustainability seems altruistic; it claims to be a champion of a larger cause. This claim to legitimacy underscores its raison d'etre and shapes its reputation. Terrorism is a theater where the battle for legitimacy...
Fighting Terrorism Through an Effective Bureaucracy
Introduction Why do some countries experience more terrorism than others? The role of bureaucratic capacity is intensely investigated by existing research to address this puzzle, and the previous studies show that having a strong bureaucracy is useful for states to be...
HORIZON INSIGHTS EDITION-2
NATO in Focus: Defense Ministerial June 2018
As the last high profile gathering before the Summit, NATO Defence Ministerial (DEFMIN) took place between 7-8 June 2018 at Brussels, Belgium. Although overshadowed by the G7 summit, decisions taken at DEFMIN were quite important, and the atmosphere in Brussels was...
New threats – different response: EU and NATO and Somali piracy
To cite this article: Marianne Riddervold (2014) New threats – different response: EU and NATO and Somali piracy, European Security, 23:4, 546-564, DOI: 10.1080/09662839.2014.937337 When the (EU) launched its first military naval mission, EU NAVFOR Somalia, Atalanta,...
NATO in Focus: Two Allies at Crossroads
Geography is destiny. Among other things, it shapes a country’s history, economy, its military buildup and even its ideology. Its geographic location alone may play a crucial role in determining which bloc it will find itself in or it should strive to be a part of. No...
“FASCISM – A WARNING” BY MADELEINE ALBRIGHT
Watching Madeleine Albright introducing her latest book “Fascism – A Warning” in Georgetown University, her passion on the subject was unmistakable. As a victim of fascism, she spoke about her experiences as a small child in her native land Czechoslovakia, first...
179th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence Session – May 2018
The 179th Military Committee in Chiefs of Defence (CHODs) Session (MC/CS) convened on 16 May 2018 for the first time at the new NATO Headquarters in Brussels. General Petr Pavel, who has been serving as the Chairman of the Military Committee (CMC) since 2015...
Why Upcoming Convention Will Not Solve Trans-Caspian Pipeline Problem
Abstract: A presidential summit of the Caspian littoral countries is expected to be held soon this year. The convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea is highly likely to be signed by all the five littorals at the summit. However, there are significant...
After Parliamentary Election in Iraq
Updated on 21 May 2018 Parliamentary elections were held in peace on 12 May 2018 in Iraq. The turnover was mere 44.52 percent of registered voters,15 percent lower than that of previous election in 2014. In fact, the participation was the lowest among those held after...
Challenges of Radicalization to Violent Extremism for Europe and Beyond
A Beyond the Horizon Conference 18 June 2018 Brussels Press Club, Belgium "Breaking the ISIS Brand Counter Narrative Project – Addressing the Challenges of Radicalization to Violent Extremism for Europe and Beyond" by Anne Speckhard, Ph.D.* EVENT REPLAY GALLERY...
NATO in Focus: Enabling Afghan Air Forces (AAF) and Afghan Special Security Forces (ASSF)*
Following the conclusion of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) operation, Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) assumed full security responsibility of their country. Despite enormous efforts including spending more than $ 70 bn...
A Brief Look into The 2016 Global Terrorism Index Report
The aim of this paper is to give a general look into the “2016 Global Terrorism Index (GTI) Report” by The Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). The report is available online[1]. IEP, founded in 2007, is an independent, non-partisan, non-profit think tank...
A humanitarian mission in line with human rights? Assessing Sophia, the EU’s naval response to the migration crisis
To cite this article: Marianne Riddervold (2018): A humanitarian mission in line with human rights? Assessing Sophia, the EU’s naval response to the migration crisis, European Security, DOI: 10.1080/09662839.2018.1451842 ABSTRACT This article adds to our understanding...
NATO in Focus: New NATO Atlantic Joint Force Command
As part of the adaptation measures taken by NATO Allies after Russian aggression,NATO Defence Ministers agreed upon an outline for future work to adapt the Command Structure[1]including a new Joint Force Command for the Atlantic to ensure that sea lines of...
Who Will Rescue American Babies From ISIS?
A recent PBS series highlighted the case of an American mother, Samantha Elhassani, who took her two American children into the so-called Islamic State and had two more babies there with her Moroccan husband, who became a member of ISIS. Her two eldest children, now...
NATO in Focus: NATO Foreign Ministerial (FORMIN) April 2018
NATO’s foreign ministers met on 27 April 2018 for the last time at the old NATO Headquaters as part of the preparations for the biennial NATO Summit to be held in July this year in Brussels. Russia, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Western Balkans were...
A General Overview of Iran’s Nuclear Program
Iran is a middle-eastern regional power that has a turbulent history of international relations. Its nuclear program is one of the highly-debated issues of contemporary international politics. Iran started its nuclear agenda during 1950s while Shah Reza Pahlavi was...
Despite Trump’s theatrics, the Iran deal can be saved
In the theatrical style of a capricious reality-TV host, US President Donald Trump has been building up suspense over an American withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. He has consistently called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) -- which was negotiated...
The challenges for the EU as the Brexit deadline looms on the horizon
United Kingdom (UK) voters have chosen to leave the European Union (EU) with the historic referendum on June 2016. As the countdown continues for the set date of 29 March 2019, there has been no deal in the negotiations yet, and it seems like a win-win deal is far...
Structural Synergies of Power and Australia’s Policy of Offshore Processing of Asylum Seekers
By Angelo Jong, Ibrahim Genc, Joshua Saunders, Liseth Medina Vizcaino Abstract The Structural Synergies of Power (SSP) Method will be used in this global response strategy to explore the interlocking systems of power which have led to the creation of the...
Quarterly Horizon Tour in the Mediterranean Sea (Winter Sail-Q1/18)
1. Introduction: Since the beginning of history, the Mediterranean has a unique place in world order,with its locationin the middle of three continents, with its assets such as sea routes, channels, passages and straits combining different political regimes, religions...
What is Next After US-led Military Strike in Syria?
On 7 April 2018, the rebel-held Damascus suburb of Douma was subjected to a chemical weapons attack, killed more than 42 residents and affected more than 500. Although activists inside Douma, the U.S.-based Syrian American Medical Society, and Syria Civil Defence have...
Ways to Counter Russian Aggression in the light of Recent Developments at the Black Sea
On 29 March 2018, there was a news headline about a ‘hijacking’ on the Moscow Times’ online edition. The headline reads: “Russia Accuses Ukraine of Hijacking Crimean Fishing Vessel in Violation of International Law.” It continues as Ukrainian border guards detained a...
Child Returnees: A Proposal for Managing Their Return from Conflict Zones
“While estimating the number of children who have travelled from Europe to DAESH territory is difficult, another unknown is the actual number of children born (or yet to be born) in Syria or Iraq to European parents.”[1] Some of children were teenagers and went to the...
The Maritime Turn in EU Foreign and Security Policies (Riddervold, Marianne)
Marianne Riddervold, an eminent scholar of “EU Maritime Security Policies,” is currently an Associate Professor at the Norway University of the Applied Sciences and a Researcher at The Norwegian Institute of Foreign Affairs in Norway. In 2013, she was awarded...
2017 Piracy Assessment and Avoidance Methods from Piracy Attacks
1. Introduction: Maritime transport is crucial to the world’s economy as over 90% of the world’s trade is carried by sea, and it is the most cost-effective way to move goods and raw materials around the world at this time. The massive commercial maritime traffic makes...
Brussels Summit 2018 “A Future for Europe”
Beyond the Horizon ISSG is one of the participants alongside the Brussels Summit 2018 in Think Tank Central. That dedicated exhibition space will serve as a platform for the exchange of ideas, a forum for discussion between participants, supporters and friends,...
What is the Significance of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics?
This year bore witness to unexpected signs of improvements in Inter-Korean relations, as became clearer during PyeongChang Winter Olympics between February 9-25. This change of tone in relations between the two states prompts three interrelated questions: How did it...
(Combined) FONOPs Warm the Waters in South China Sea
After US declared that they changed their pivot to Asia-Pacific region in 2012, both Obama and Trump administrations kept increased numbers of Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) in the South China Sea under the authority of US Pacific Command. The Obama...
Guidelines for Horizon Insights Contributors
Beyond the Horizon welcomes your unsolicited manuscripts. Upon receipt, we inform you about acknowledgement within six weeks. Beyond the Horizon International Strategic Studies Group is a non-partisan, independent, and non-profit think tank. The mission of Beyond the...
The Future of Political Warfare: Russia, The West, And The Coming Age of Global Digital Competition*
By Alina Polyakova** and Spencer Phipps Boyer** The Kremlin’s political warfare against democratic countries has evolved from overt to covert influence activities. But while Russia has pioneered the toolkit of asymmetric measures for the 21st century, including...
Will UNSC Resolution 2401(2018) Be Really Effective?
On 24 February 2018, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) released a resolution to cease hostilities without delay for at least 30 consecutive days, ensuring a “durable humanitarian pause” to enable humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations of the...
The Road to Collapse of the Liberal International Order: The End of History?
There is a widespread acceptance that recent developments have raised concerns with regard to the constancy of the liberal international order, established in the aftermath of World War II. In light of the Munich Security Report 2018, we could hold that main threats...
HORIZON INSIGHTS EDITION-1
An Assessment of International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq
Amidst great political turbulence in the run-up to the legislative elections, International Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq was held in Kuwait between 12-14 February 2018. The venue is ironic because Kuwait had become subject to Iraqi aggression in 1990 and had...
Another Face of Abu Qatada: Speaking on the Principle of Terrorism
Abu Qatada, who many have called the spiritual father of al Qaeda in Europe, is a scholar of Islam and what many might deem a terrorist instigator, or an ideologue who puts out arguments in support of militant jihad, but never himself fights jihad or spills blood....
Efficiency and Relevance of EU-NATO Operations in the Mediterranean as a Cure for Irregular Immigration
1. Introduction Tragedy of the people searching for safe havens is nowadays drawing more attention than ever and being felt deeply in our hearts, despite the fact that many of us have already closed our ears to the depressive news with the expectation of new...
Operation Olive Branch and Potential Outcomes for NATO
As the Turkish military Operation Olive Branch continues in northeast Syria, political and strategic NATO bodies continue to refrain from making any strong comments, either supportive or critical, on the operation. So far there have been only two statements...
Europe’s Defence Train Has Left the Station – Speed and Destination Unknown
The theatricals surrounding the decision to move to phase II of the Brexit negotiations obscure another momentous European development: the launch of ‘permanent structured cooperation’ in the defence field. In this CEPS Commentary, Steven Blockmans explains...
Fighting a non-Muslim and a Muslim enemy: What changed for Lebanese Hezbollah?
Hezbollah has long championed the armed confrontation against Israel in the Middle East. (ICG Report 2017, 2). Its image in the Arab street made a peak after the July war in 2006, and the group depicted this as its second victory after ending the Israeli...
Recovery, Rehabilitation & Reintegration of the “Lost” Children Living and Serving Under the Islamic State
Hundreds of thousands of children around the world have been seduced and forced into being child soldiers and cadres in the service of armed and violent groups. Many have been successfully treated using a combination of individual, family and community...
The Signs of a Regional War in Middle East and Path to WWIII
The Middle East (ME) has never been a peaceful place and throughout history, instability in the ME has always been a concern for the rest of the world. While these anxieties continue, in the past decade the ME has witnessed several extraordinary developments. If these...
Post-Daesh Challenges for Europe
Daesh is about to lose the whole territory it holds in Syria and Iraq once as big as the UK. The Salafi jihadist organization, ruling over 6 million population with an army of 30.000 in 2015, had benefited from sectarian and ethnic tensions and imposed its ideology...
Irregular Immigration Flow from Middle East to Europe: Challenges, Sea-based Efforts and EU-Turkey Readmission Agreement
1. INTRODUCTION: Irregular immigration has become one of the toughest challenges in recent years that the world is facing, along with the terrorism. Since the latter has been exploiting the first heavily, these two challenges have become so intertwined that now it is...
What does Turkey’s Operation Olive Branch mean for the parties in Syria?
Operation Olive Branch, which started on 20 January 2018, has been advancing in multiple axes towards Afrin. On the 9th day of the operation, Turkish Forces together with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) units have not yet confronted by a serious resistance from the...
A Comparative Study of “Russian Political Warfare against the West and the Western (NATO & EU) Counteractions”
1.Introduction Since eruption of the Ukraine crisis, the world has witnessed a well-developed Russian political warfare strategy and the hybrid model, utilised by Kremlin, which have had destabilising consequences and as well as wide-ranging implications for...
Why Nations Do Not Fight Against Problems? “Nothing New Under the Sun”
“There is nothing new under the sun” is a biblical idiom refers to the thinking that the essence of human life remains unchanged. It doesn’t mean that nothing changes. We cannot ignore the inventions in technology or the advances in various lines of social life....
Swarm UAV Attack: Time to Revisit Threat Assessments
On 6 Jan 2018 Russian Hmeimim air base in northwestern Latakia province, the headquarters of Russia’s military operations in Syria, and naval base at Tartus was allegedly targeted by swarm of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The Russian Defense Ministry announced that...
Conference on European Neighbourhood Policy-2018
Organised by the Institute of European Studies at Saint Louis University with the collaboration of Beyond the Horizon ISSG Date and Time: 30 January 2018 For details of the program and keynote speakers’ information please click HERE... GALLERY [gallery size="large"...
Degrading Al Shabaab by Effective Military Tools
By Fatih Celenay, Brandon Rapoza, Ratna Gamage The purpose of this paper is to design a toolkit to decrease the violence and terrorism in Somalia. What are the practical solutions to increase the efficiency of military campaigns against Al Shabaab? We will conduct our...
Turkey’s Air and Missile Defense Adventures
Increased tension over the past couple of years between West and Turkey has reached to another level after Turkey and Russia signed an accord for supplying S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries. The S-400 deal, reportedly worth some $2.5 billion and according...
Undocumented* (Illegal) Migration and the Ramifications for European Security
For a decade now, documented migrants along with undocumented migration has become one of the main concerns that is dominating the headlines of European media and setting the agenda of both the European Union (EU) and the member states. Many images and videos exist of...
Kaufman, Stuart J. Nationalist Passions
“…when we think about people’s behavior, our first question should not be about the person’s “rational” interests, but about his or her biases.” (p.237) Stuart J. Kaufman, a prominent scholar of “Ethnicity and Ethnic Conflicts," is currently a professor at the...
Maritime Disputes in South/East China Sea from Military Aspect
Approximately 3.5 million square km area of the South China Sea has been under dispute as China, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei and lastly Indonesia. All have claimed sovereignty over this maritime area. China claims sovereignty over 90% of the South...
What Comes After ISIS: A Sociological Analysis of Radicalisation Into Violent Extremism
By Uğur ORAK, Non-resident Fellow at Beyond the Horizon, Ph.D Candidate and Kasim DOGAN, Visiting Fellow at Beyond the Horizon, PhD 1. Introduction If we can determine what drives people to commit such heinous crimes, it is suggested, perhaps we can change their...
How can’t ISIS re-emerge? Weak states and Post-ISIS Challenges
Introduction Considering the retreats of ISIS from Mosul and Rakka, the expectations for the collapse of ISIS is rising but the crucial questions remain that need to be addressed. In this article, we focus on explaining how weak states offer convenient environments...
Integration of EU Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) with NATO
The interaction between EU CSDP and relevant NATO policies integration of NATO and EU on defense policy is the main subject of this article. This is why the aim is to deal with and analyze whether the European integration with NATO should/can be. To do so, the...
A distractor or a catalyst for a chain reaction for more violence in Levant? Kurdish Referendum under Scrutiny
Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) has declared to hold a non-binding referendum on September 25. As the date comes closer, more elements add to the great puzzle unfolding in the Levant. Great powers like US and UK that set the scene for the fragmentation of the...
Taxonomy of Hybrid Warfare: A Perceptional Analysis
Hybrid warfare has become a term for modern warfare or for the next war. However, hybrid warfare as a term itself is a poor descriptor. Thus, the purpose of this article is to contribute to the understanding the hybrid warfare by developing a perceptional map,...
More Than a Defense Acquisition-Turkey’s S-400 Quest
Turkey has been a key ally for the western world for decades. Once a role model democracy in the middle-east and formidable NATO ally with a stand out armed forces in the region, Turkey safeguarded the southeastern flank of the alliance with confidence....
Conflict Escalation on the Korean Peninsula or Space for Dialogue in President Trump Era?
During the year North Korea’s 16 missile tests and their impact on relations with South Korea and the United States have dominated news reports on Korean affairs, in spite of the May 9 election of Moon Jae-in as new South Korean president following the Constitutional...
Russian Inter Continental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Change Analysis (1990-2016)
After the cold war Russia managed to hold on to its ICBMs power with nuclear capabilities despite the economic difficulties and political instability. Even just after cold war during 1990s, it managed to develop SS-27 high tech ICBM without any participation of the...
Saudi Arabia-Iran Rivalry and the ISIS
The structural factors behind Middle East rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia are so deep and it’s very difficult to overcome the problems in the near future.[1] Except the temporary peace like term between 1941-1979 when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi ruled Iran, the...
Foreign Military Involvement in Iraq And Syria
In line with the universal ban on use of force, relations in military field are subject to more limitations than relations in other fields. One of few exceptions of military involvement in another country is the consent of that state. In this analysis having state...
Regions and Powers
Buzan, Barry., & Waever, Ole. (2003). Regions and Powers. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Barry Buzan and Ole Weawer’s work “Regions and Powers” can be cited as an important book attempting to lay the foundations of regional security dynamics in a given...
Turkey is Playing its S-400 Cards Again!
Turkey is willing to buy S-400 missile defence system from Russia and there are some serious recent developments regarding this deal. Recent Developments On July 14, 2017, Bloomberg published a detailed article about that deal. The main points of the deal...
NATO, Trump and Turkey:The Alliance Needs More Coherence*
On 25 May 2017, NATO leaders met in Brussels to celebrate the opening the new headquarters in Boulevard Léopold III. The location of the new headquarters is historically very significant: during construction four unexploded bombs from both the First and Second World...
What is The Problem of Modern Armies with Insurgency and How Can Paramilitary Forces Help Us Defeat Insurgents?
Countering the insurgency problem is increasingly becoming an arduous task for modern armies, and the success rate of those armies in counterinsurgency wars is declining. While states could defeat insurgents during 19th century, they become less capable to eliminate...
