Articles

“Great Game” in the South Caucasus

How Internal and External Factors Are Fuelling Tensions in the Region

Scarcely any other region is so directly impacted by the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East as the South Caucasus. It is as if they have plunged Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia into a permanent crisis mode, after years of “stagnant stability” had already been shaken in 2020 with the second Nagorno-Karabakh war. Since then, the South Caucasus has been in a state of unrest. The causes are complex, the landscape of players is confusing, and forecasts would require a crystal ball.

Crisis of International Law?

A Call for Better Expectation Management

International law is unable to end the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine or the conflict in the Middle East. Overall, doubts about its capabilities are growing. International law, they say, is “in crisis”. But is international law really so ineffective? Is it not more a case of adapted expectation management and greater political will?

Editorial of the issue “Under the Radar. The World’s Forgotten Crises”

Hamas’ attack on Israel and its ramifications, as well as Russia’s war against Ukraine, have shaped foreign policy discussions in Germany in the last two years. There are reasons for this: the attack on Israel, in October 2023, hit a state for whose security our country quite rightly feels particularly responsible. In turn, Russia’s attack on Ukraine poses a direct threat to the security of Germany and Europe. Both states, Israel and Ukraine, are confronted with adversaries that threaten their very existence. Nevertheless, it is important not to lose sight of other crises.

Ellinor Zeino on Lessons Learnt from Afghanistan and on the Future of German Crisis Missions Abroad

“Crises Don’t Just Go Away”

Dr Ellinor Zeino worked for the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Afghanistan and is currently a member of a Study Commission established by the German parliament, the Bundestag, to assess the failed mission in the Hindu Kush. In an interview with International Reports, she discusses the failings of the Afghanistan mission, what can be learnt from it for future crisis operations and why Germany often wants a lot in foreign policy but ultimately achieves little.

On the Ongoing Conflict in Eastern Congo

Many Players and No Solution

War-like conditions have prevailed in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for more than 30 years. The ensuing humanitarian disaster has cost several million lives to date and led to a new record number of internally displaced persons in 2024. But what is the background to the conflict? Which players shape it? And why is there still no end in sight?

On the Political Situation in Myanmar

A Country against the Military

Early February 2025 will mark the fourth anniversary of the military coup against the democratically elected government of Myanmar. Armed resistance has formed in large parts of the country and is spearheaded by the People’s Defence Force and several ethnic armed organisations. Resistance and opposition movements have gained momentum in a series of military victories; albeit debates about a “post-military” state are premature.

South Asia’s (Almost) Forgotten Climate Crisis and Europe’s Responsibility

The New Normal

South Asia is particularly vulnerable to climate change and is thus frequently affected by heatwaves and extreme weather events – a situation that will only deteriorate. Local governments are addressing this challenge, but national efforts alone will not suffice. The region affords a great opportunity for green development, but is also characterised by poverty, poor governance and conflict. It is both a moral imperative and realist policy for the great historical polluters, such as Europe, to support South Asia in mitigating and adapting to climate change.

The Forgotten Crisis in Cuba

From Myth to Drama

The Cuban crisis has been going on for decades. One low point follows the next. The mass exodus is bleeding the socialist “paradise” in the Caribbean dry, and every relevant development speaks against the survival of the repressive party dictatorship, which, however, stubbornly clings on to power. New geopolitical alliances could even prop up the regime, but there will not be much left of the population.

The Unnoticed War in Sudan

From Spring to Tragedy

In less than 18 months, the war in Sudan has developed into the greatest humanitarian catastrophe of our era. At the same time, Germany and Europe are completely preoccupied with the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Nevertheless, German policymakers have an objective interest in stabilising the situation in Sudan and counteracting a further increase in migratory pressure on Europe’s borders.

Why the Kosovo Conflict Continues to Smoulder

One History, Two Narratives

The tense situation in the region results from a century-long conflict between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians. For some, the Battle of Kosovo on 28 June 1389 was a painful defeat for Serbian national heroes against the Ottoman invaders; for others, it was just one of many events in their own history. For some, the NATO intervention of 1999 was a blessing and a starting point for achieving independence, while for others it was an act of aggression against a sovereign country in violation of international law. As is so often the case, black-and-white thinking is inadequate in this conflict. Rather, shades of grey best describe the responsibility for the current situation.