Suchergebnisse

China is the world's most populous country and in the last few decades has had the fastest growing economy. In order to meet China's large population's needs and to sustain its economic growth, Beijing has pursued a multi-dimensional strategy. The goal is to ensure sustainable and affordable energy supplies. The rise of China as a major player on the global energy scene has significant geo-political and geo-economic ramifications. This study examines China's efforts to diversify its energy mix and geographical suppliers. Adapted from the source document.

For several decades energy security has been one of the top challenges to the United States' economic prosperity, national security, and indeed the American way of life. This essay discusses the recent developments in fossil fuels, particularly oil sands, the Gulf of Mexico, shale gas, and clean coal. Rhetoric and skepticism aside, the analysis suggests that Washington is on the right track to enhance its energy security. Adapted from the source document.

Egypt and Iran are two major Middle Eastern powers. Mutual suspicion and occasionally open hostility have largely characterized the relations between the two nations. Diplomatic ties were severed shortly after the 1979 Iranian Revolution and efforts to restore them have yet to succeed. This essay examines the two nations' stance on major issues such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and proliferation of nuclear weapons. The analysis suggests that a thaw is unlikely in the foreseeable future. Adapted from the source document.

Since the demise of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has emerged as a major player in the global energy market. The region holds substantial oil and gas reserves. The development of these resources and the choosing of transit routes have been subject to intense competition among external powers, particularly Europe, Russia and China. This essay examines the conflicting strategies pursued by Brussels, Moscow and Beijing. It argues that these global powers would benefit more by promoting political stability and economic prosperity in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Adapted from the source document.

On 27 December 2008, Israeli forces attacked Gaza to stop missile attacks by Hamas. The military operation lasted twenty-two days and ended with a fragile cease-fire. This study seeks to provide an assessment of all involved parties' stances. The author argues that some parties gained more than others, but the operation dealt a heavy blow to an already fragile peace process. Indeed, the Gaza war has further reinforced the current and growing polarization between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The continuing disagreement between the Palestinian factions and the election of a right-wing Israeli government suggest that the prospects for peace in the foreseeable future are dim.

Hostility between Iran and the United States has intensified since the mid-2000s. America's allegations regarding Iran's nuclear program and its association with terrorist organizations are the main drive for this rising tension. This study focuses on the latter. Specifically, it examines Tehran's ties to militant groups in Iraq, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in the Palestinian Territories. I argue that although American and Iranian interests in the region are very different, they are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

In December 2003, the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya (Libya) issued a statement announcing that it had agreed to dismantle its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs. Some policymakers in Washington and London were quick to establish connection between Libya's decision and the US-led war in Iraq (2003). Since then, Libya has been presented as a model for other potential proliferators to follow. This article rejects these two propositions. Instead, it argues that the dramatic transition in Libya's stand on WMD can be explained by a cluster of factors — leadership and ideology, economic and political domestic developments, relations with Western powers, and security considerations. The combination of these factors is unique. It is unlikely that the Libyan experience will be repeated in other countries.