After Nine Years, Syria’s Conflict Has Only Become More Complicated

Image courtesy of Jodi Eastham/DVIDS.

This article was originally published by the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on 12 March 2020.

The engagement of external actors has protracted the conflict and Syrians civilians continue to bear the brunt.

In March 2011, as the Arab world was roiled by demonstrations, protests broke out in Syria to demand political reform after four decades of Assad rule. Nine years later, the Assad regime is on the offensive against the last rebel stronghold of Idlib, with Russia, Turkey and Iran all heavily invested in the conflict. The humanitarian consequences for Syrians cannot be overstated and a political solution to the conflict seems as distant as ever. USIP’s Mona Yacoubian discusses the dreadful toll on the Syrian population and what the battle for Idlib means for the trajectory of the conflict.

Continue reading “After Nine Years, Syria’s Conflict Has Only Become More Complicated”
Categories
CSS Blog

Air Passengers, Switzerland 2009-2018

This week’s featured graphic provides an overview of the number of air passengers flying to Switzerland, 2009-2018.

Last week, the Schengen Agreement’s 25th anniversary was marked by closing rather than open borders due to the coronavirus crisis. But when the crisis finally subsides, increasing mobility will again pose challenges for Swiss and European border agencies. For an analysis of what new technologies mean for border controls in Europe, read Julian Kamasa’s CSS Analyses in Security Policy here.

Categories
Coronavirus CSS Blog

Distancing, But Not Socially

Image courtesy of Siouxsie Wiles/Toby Morris/The Spinoff. CC BY-SA

This blog belongs to the CSS’ coronavirus blog series, which forms a part of the center’s analysis of the security policy implications of the coronavirus crisis. See the CSS special theme page on the coronavirus for more.

How resilience can help cope with the corona pandemic

Research shows that close social ties, personal networks and helping each other are crucial in dealing with severe crises. This includes the current corona crisis. Thus, fighting the virus is about physical and not “social distancing”.

Continue reading “Distancing, But Not Socially”
Categories
Coronavirus CSS Blog

The Impact and Implications of the Coronavirus Crisis: Global Perspectives

Image courtesy of the CDC/Unsplash

This blog belongs to the CSS’ coronavirus blog series, which forms a part of the center’s analysis of the security policy implications of the coronavirus crisis. See the CSS special theme page on the coronavirus for more.

What impact is the coronavirus crisis having on international relations and security? How are different global actors responding to the pandemic? What are the implications of the crisis for the future? To help further discussion on these questions and more, we have here collected together analyses produced by the CSS Resources’ network of think tanks and other organizations on the coronavirus. We have also listed relevant sources to help keep you up to date on the situation in Switzerland.

Continue reading “The Impact and Implications of the Coronavirus Crisis: Global Perspectives”

Are We Radically Underestimating the Effects of Climate on Armed Conflict?

Image courtesy of Wesley Tingey/Unsplash.

This article was orginally published by New Security Beat on 3 March 2020.

Climate change is widely recognized as a “threat multiplier.” From the United Nations to the G7 to the US Department of Defense, there is emerging consensus that climate change poses risks to both human and natural security through a variety of complex and interrelated channels. The extent of those risks, and how they connect to armed conflict, however, remain widely debated.

Continue reading “Are We Radically Underestimating the Effects of Climate on Armed Conflict?”