Category: CSS Blog

The CSS Blog features the analyses of CSS experts, entries in the CSS Mediation Perspectives series and graphics produced by the CSS, which cover a range of international relations and security-related issues.

CSS Blog

Local Peace Processes and the Protection of Civilians

Post author By Allard Duursma
Post date 06/11/2019
No Comments on Local Peace Processes and the Protection of Civilians

*Image courtesy of UNAMID/Flickr.* *(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)*

This article was originally published by the IPI Global Ovservatory on 27 September 2019.

Resolving local conflicts between non-state armed groups, or between communities, is key to reducing violence against civilians. The United Nations is often involved in supporting local peace processes and seems to enhance the prospects for local conflict resolution. One major obstacle to a successful local peace process, however, is that local conflicts are often integrated into higher-level, national or transnational conflicts. A holistic approach to peacemaking is therefore necessary, which could allow peace to trickle down from the transnational or national level to the local, ultimately reducing violence against civilians.

Tags Mediation and Negotiation, Peace, Civilian Protection, Armed non-state actors, UN Peacekeeping, Peace Processes

Terrorism CSS Blog

Terrorist Attacks in Russia

Post author By the Center for Security Studies
Post date 04/11/2019
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These graphics provide an overview of the trend in terrorist attacks in Russia since 2008. For an examination of the impact of the 2014 economic crisis on counterterrorism in Russia and more, see ‘Russian Analytical Digest No. 237: Security Issues’.

Tags Terrorism, Russia, Counterterrorism, Terrorist Attacks

CSS Blog

Russian Defense Spending

Post author By the Center for Security Studies
Post date 30/10/2019
No Comments on Russian Defense Spending

These graphics provide an overview of the trend in Russia’s defense spending, outlining spending between 2010 and 2018 as well as forecasts for the defense budget up to 2021. For an insight into the prospects for Russia’s defense spending and more, see ‘Russian Analytical Digest No. 237: Security Issues’.

Tags Russia, Defense, Budget, Defense spending

Terrorism CSS Blog

Terrorism Boosts Military Involvement in Politics (And Why It Matters for Democracy)

Post author By Vincenzo Bove, Mauricio Rivera and Chiara Ruffa
Post date 25/10/2019
No Comments on Terrorism Boosts Military Involvement in Politics (And Why It Matters for Democracy)

*Image courtesy of Dmitriy Nushtaev/Unsplash*

This article was originally published by Political Violence @ a Glance on 14 October 2019.

Terrorism does more than kill people and spread fear. We already knew that terrorism damages economies and weakens human rights; now we also know that it boosts military involvement in politics. This occurs because, in protracted struggles against terrorism, military actors may exploit their informational advantage over civilian authorities to “push” their way into politics and policymaking; or the military may be “pulled” into politics by decision makers.

Tags France, Terrorism, Algeria, Armed Forces, Democracy

CSS Blog

Russian-Chinese Trade Relations

Post author By the Center for Security Studies
Post date 24/10/2019
No Comments on Russian-Chinese Trade Relations

This graphic shows Russia and China’s trade relations with one another and the rest of the world. For an insight into the potential of Moscow and Beijing’s partnership, read Jeronim Perović and Benno Zogg’s recent #CSSAnalyses in Security Policy here.

Tags China, International trade, Russia, Trade