CENTRAL ASIA
AP Images
March 21, 2013
"Kandahar and hope"
Op-Ed, Politico
By Michèle Flournoy, Senior Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs and Michael O'Hanlon
Kandahar. Ancient crossroads of Central Asia. Home province of Taliban leader Mullah Omar, and the site from which Osama bin Laden began to prepare the Sept. 11 attacks. Epicenter of the fight pitting Afghan and NATO forces against the Taliban over the past dozen years. Region where patronage networks led by the likes of the late Ahmed Wali Karzai, together with centuries-old tribal rivalries, have greatly complicated our counterinsurgency campaign and efforts to help Afghans establish good, or at least better, governance.
Summer 2012
Newsmakers
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
By Traci Farrell, Former Communications Assistant
"Belfer Center Newsmakers" highlights members of the Belfer Center community who have been featured recently in the news.
AP Photo
April 2012
"The Dynamics of Russia’s Response to the Piracy Threat"
Journal Article, NATO Science for Peace and Security Studies, issue E: Human and Societal Dynamics, volume 95
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Russia’s Maritime Doctrine describes “maritime shipments” as being of “vital importance” to the country. Maritime shipments have accounted for 60 percent of Russia’s foreign trade shipments in the recent years. However, vessels bearing the Russian flag account only for 4 percent of Russia’s foreign trade shipments. And the Russian fishing fleet remains relatively near to Russia’s shores, not venturing into the Indian and South Pacific Oceans.
Arani Kajenthira Photo
March 2012
"The Role of Qualitative Risk Assessment in Environmental Management: A Kazakhstani Case Study"
Journal Article, Science of the Total Environment, volume 420
By Arani Kajenthira, Associate, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program, John Holmes and Rachael McDonnell
Successful environmental management is partly contingent on the effective recognition and communication of environmental health risks to the public. Yet risk perceptions are known to differ between experts and laypeople; laypeople often exhibit higher perceptions of risk in comparison to experts, particularly when these risks are associated with radiation, nuclear power, or nuclear waste. This paper consequently explores stakeholder risk perceptions associated with a mercury-contaminated chloralkali production facility in Kazakhstan.
Winter 2011-2012
"Terrorist Threat Demands Creative Intelligence"
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
Rolf Mowatt-Larssen, a former director of intelligence and counterintelligence at the Department of Energy, argues that despite not falling victim to a major terrorist event in the last 10 years, the United States must not be complacent in its counter-terrorism efforts. Mowatt-Larssen said in a Belfer Center seminar in September that he believes the possibility of a major attack is higher in the next 10 years than in the preceding decade.
December 23, 2010
Russia in Review
Media Feature
An update from U.S.-Russia Initiative to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism for December 17-23, 2010.
AP Photo
June 14, 2010
"From the Outhouse to the Jailhouse"
Op-Ed, International Relations and Security Network
By Simon Saradzhyan, Fellow, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
The capture of the number two figure in North Caucasus terrorism networks represents a major success in Russia's counterterrorism campaign and may signal a tactical shift from 'whack in the outhouse' to 'capture and prosecute,' Simon Saradzhyan comments for ISN Security Watch.
Belfer Center Photo
Summer 2010
"Center Supports Summit Efforts to Prevent Nuclear Terrorism"
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
By Sharon Wilke, Associate Director of Communications
Belfer Center alumni Gary Samore and Laura Holgate played a key role in organizing President Obama's Nuclear Security Summit in April. Additionally, Matthew Bunn's Securing the Bomb 2010 was released the day the Summit began, and Graham Allison provided attending leaders with materials that included a nuclear terrorism threat assessment and fact sheet.
Summer 2010
From the Director
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter
By Graham Allison, Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs; Douglas Dillon Professor of Government, Harvard Kennedy School
Graham Allison notes that the themes developed at President Obama's Nuclear Security Summit and its agenda of action, including countries' specific work plans, reflect the Belfer Center's analytic efforts over more than a decade.
AP Photo
April 2010
"Prestige Matters: Chinese and Russian Status Concerns and U.S. Foreign Policy"
Policy Brief
By Deborah Welch Larson and Alexei Shevchenko
"China and Russia are more likely to engage in constructive status-seeking behavior if the United States finds ways to recognize their international status and distinctive identities. For example, strategic dialogues, formal summits, and strategic partnerships can help to establish issue agendas for future collaboration and symbolize that states are political equals. Engagement through trade and investment does not resolve conflicting political goals."
