| Lebanon: Background and U.S. Policy |
06 Nov 2012 |
21 pages |
| Authors:
Christopher M Blanchard; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
 | Lebanon's small geographic size and population belie the important role it has long played in the security, stability, and economy of the Levant and the broader Middle East. Congress and the executive branch have recognized Lebanon's status as a venue for regional strategic competition and have engaged diplomatically, financially, and at times, militarily to influence events there. For most of its independent existence, Lebanon has been torn by periodic civil ... |
|
| Nigeria: Government Corruption and Electoral Reform |
02 Nov 2012 |
26 pages |
| Authors:
James Stewart; NAVAL WAR COLLEGE NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT
|
| The 2011 general election in Nigeria was internationally recognized as the most open and transparent to date. Greater voter turn out and increased voter confidence in fair election results were reported by both the European Union Election Observation Mission to Nigeria and the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES). However, since 2008, Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index has steadily declined, indicating an increase in perceived government corruption. As perception of ... |
|
| Corruption of Democratic Principles as a Source of Internal Conflict in Nigeria |
02 Nov 2012 |
26 pages |
| Authors:
Leon A Higgins; NAVAL WAR COLLEGE NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT
|
| Since gaining its independence in 1960, Nigeria has struggled to establish stable governance to effectively manage and administer the tremendous resources of the nation for the common good. Since gaining independence, Nigerian officials have squandered over $400 billion through corrupt practices, while poverty among the population has grown and the income disparity between the elite and abject poor has increased significantly. Given the growing inequity among the people and officials ... |
|
| The Prospects for Security Sector Reform in Tunisia: A Year After the Revolution |
Sep 2012 |
66 pages |
| Authors:
Querine Hanlon; ARMY WAR COLL STRATEGIC STUDIES INST CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| In the year since the revolution, Tunisia has achieved what no other Arab Spring country has managed: peaceful transition to democratic rule through national elections widely viewed to be free and fair. The legacy of the previous regime, however, remains: a complete lack of transparency, no real parliamentary or government oversight, and largely unchanged rules of engagement and training. Tunisia's internal security services are feared by the population and are ... |
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| Assessment of the Federal Voting Assistance Program Office Implementation of the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act |
31 Aug 2012 |
51 pages |
| Authors:
OFFICE OF THE INSPECTOR GENERAL (DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE) ALEXANDRIA VA
|
| The Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA [P.L. 99-410], August 28, 1986), as amended and subsequently modified by the Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment (MOVE) Act (P.L. 111-84, Title V, Subtitle H) on October 28, 2009, specified that the right to vote was fundamental. The law explained that many logistical, geographical, operational, and environmental barriers restricted the ability to vote for military and other eligible overseas citizens. Accordingly, ... |
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| Joint Strategic Oversight Plan for Afghanistan Reconstruction FY13 |
Jul 2012 |
54 pages |
| Authors:
SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION ARLINGTON VA
|
| The plan identifies 13 strategic issues and describes focus areas within each of these issues to guide the development of audits, inspections, and evaluations that will provide oversight for the major reconstruction programs in the coming fiscal year. Through this plan, we will be able to conduct comprehensive oversight of the reconstruction effort. This plan enables us to better leverage our resources to cover issues most critical to Afghanistan s ... |
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| Iranian Influence in Iraqi Shi'a Groups |
Jun 2012 |
87 pages |
| Authors:
James N Watts; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
|
| The removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003 enabled Iraqi Shi'a groups, once banned from political participation, to once again have a voice. Iran also has taken advantage of the post-Saddam political climate by attempting to influence religiously similar groups within Iraq, namely the Shi'a community. Constituting approximately 60 percent of the Iraqi population, the Iraqi Shi'a community has enormous voting power during democratic elections that could sway Iraq into Iranian ... |
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| Battle of Narratives |
Jun 2012 |
73 pages |
| Authors:
Lars Ruth; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEFENSE ANALYSIS DEPT
|
| In this thesis, I analyze narratives from a network point of view using Social Network Analysis (SNA) software and methods. A narrative is a network of semantic meanings that can be coded and analyzed as such. In a competitive environment, such as politics, narratives are a means by which to influence people to act. To analyze a narrative's effectiveness, I use the 2008 Presidential Election campaigns of Senators John McCain ... |
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| The Political Dynamics of Insurgency: The Importance of Government Legitimacy |
22 Mar 2012 |
42 pages |
| Authors:
Robert D Sagraves; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| This paper examines the sociopolitical connection between the government and the population, and how the relative strength of this link, derived from the public's perception of the government's legitimacy, may determine the success or failure of an insurgency. To analyze the government-population link, three aspects of legitimate and effective governance are examined: the government's ability to provide adequate security, to support and enforce the rule of law, and to provide ... |
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| Impact of the 20th Century War on Democratic Serbia Today |
21 Mar 2012 |
90 pages |
| Authors:
Zoran Nenadovic; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| Serbia's 21st century security environment is based on the unsolved problems that arose before and after two Balkan wars, World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the civil war in the former Yugoslavia. These problems are a result of the disagreement between communism and capitalism, totalitarianism and democracy, and conventional and nuclear war. If we add in terrorism, the proliferation of weapons for mass destruction, organized crime, ... |
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| An Integrated Approach to Counter Insurgency: A Burundi Case Study |
20 Mar 2012 |
44 pages |
| Authors:
Salvator Siyabo; PEACEKEEPING AND STABILITY OPERATIONS INST FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
|
| Since the 1960s, insurgency has occupied the center stage of violent conflicts in the Great Lakes Region of Africa (GLRA). While the main reason has oftentimes been bad governance, the Eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has favored insurgency. As governmental forces lack control of this area, insurgents from Rwanda, Uganda, and Burundi enjoy it as a safe haven. From 1994 to 2006, Burundi was attacked from ... |
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| Why Has Peace Not Been Achieved in Colombia? |
15 Mar 2012 |
44 pages |
| Authors:
Pablo B Vasquez; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| Colombia has not been at peace during the last century. It has been fighting against different forms of violence, including communism, guerrilla warfare, drug trafficking, self-defense groups, criminal bands, and others. During the last decade, there have been many changes in the security environment of the country. However, despite significant efforts by the Government and Armed Forces, Colombia has not achieved the desired peace. This project will examine some of ... |
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| Afghan Sub-National Governance: Enabling Success by 2014 |
15 Mar 2012 |
40 pages |
| Authors:
Kyle J Marsh; PEACEKEEPING AND STABILITY OPERATIONS INST FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
|
| The situation in Afghanistan is incredibly complex, with challenging time constraints to produce strategic success. Only through a revised approach that enables Afghan sub-national governance to develop legitimacy and capacity can the international community achieve its strategic end-state of a stable and politically viable Afghan state. This paper will argue that Afghanistan's current legitimacy vacuum was created by a lack of appreciation of the historical and cultural aspects of Afghan ... |
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| Addressing Cote d'Ivoire's Deeper Crisis (Africa Security Brief, Number 19, March 2012) |
Mar 2012 |
9 pages |
| Authors:
Thierno M Bah; NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV WASHINGTON DC AFRICA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
|
| The May 2011 inauguration of Alassane Ouattara as President of Cote d'Ivoire culminated a tumultuous 5-month transition of power. The unwillingness of the incumbent candidate, Laurent Gbagbo, to cede power following his electoral defeat eventually led to armed conflict between military forces who supported Ouattara and those loyal to Gbagbo. This resulted in an estimated 3,000 deaths and the involvement of forces from the United Nations Operation in Cote d'Ivoire ... |
|
| Pakistan's First Military Coup: Why Did the First Pakistani Coup Occur and Why Does it Matter? |
Mar 2012 |
133 pages |
| Authors:
Naghman Chaudhry; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA DEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS
|
| The first military coup in Pakistan in 1958, led by General Ayub Khan, started a precedent that continues four decades later, and also created an institutional path for three subsequent military coups. Today in Pakistan most policies, domestic and foreign, are crafted with the tacit approval of the Pakistani military. The Pakistani military continues to dominate the government both directly and indirectly through other institutions. This core imbalance in civilian-military ... |
|
| Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance |
27 Feb 2012 |
67 pages |
| Authors:
Kenneth Katzman; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Building capacity and limiting corruption at all levels of Afghan governance are crucial to the success of a planned transition from U.S.-led NATO forces to Afghan security leadership by the end of 2014. The capacity of the formal Afghan governing structure has increased significantly since the Taliban regime fell in late 2001, but many positions at the local level are unfilled. Nepotism and political considerations in hiring are entrenched in ... |
|
| Libya's Post-Qaddafi Transition: The Nation-Building Challenge |
Jan 2012 |
23 pages |
| Authors:
Christopher S Chivvis; Keith Crane; Peter Mandaville; Jeffrey Martini; RAND NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INST SANTA MONICA CA
|
| In October of 2011, Libya s civil war came to an end. Dictator Colonel Muammar Qaddafi was captured and killed while trying to escape from his hideout in the Libyan town of Sirte, and a few days later, Libya s transitional government declared the country liberated. The NATO military operation that had helped topple Qaddafi, Operation Unified Protector, came to an end, and after eight months of war, Libyans were ... |
|
| The Rhodesian African Rifles: The Growth and Adaptation of a Multicultural Regiment through the Rhodesian Bush War, 1965-1980 |
16 Dec 2011 |
166 pages |
| Authors:
Michael P Stewart; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
|
| The Rhodesian African Rifles (RAR) overcame profoundly divisive racial and tribal differences among its members because a transcendent regimental culture superseded the disparate cultures of its individual soldiers and officers. The RAR's culture grew around the traditions of the British regimental system, after which the RAR was patterned. The soldiers of the RAR, regardless of racial or tribal background, identified themselves first as soldiers and members of the regiment before ... |
|
| Iran's Internal Dynamics (Foreign Policy Research Institute Footnotes, Volume 16, Number 10, December 2011) |
Dec 2011 |
3 pages |
| Authors:
Amin Tarzi; MARINE CORPS UNIV QUANTICO VA
|
| Since its establishment in 1979, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never been free of political intrigue. However, since the disputed June 2009 presidential election, the level of intrigue has increased. And the recent pubic rift between the two highest office holders -- the unelected supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the elected president, Mahmud Ahmadinejad -- may very well be pushing Iran and the Islamic Republic regime close to ... |
|
| PRI and the Beyond Merida Initiative |
28 Oct 2011 |
26 pages |
| Authors:
Thomas H Isom; NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT
|
| The rapidly evolving and highly volatile situation along the U.S.-Mexico border continuously requires both countries to devote precious resources to this region. If not controlled, the damage from unrestrained immigration, drug trafficking, and violence could be devastating to both countries. The Merida Initiative, which has framed bilateral border security cooperation between the United States and Mexico since 2007, is evolving in response to this threat. Its successor, framed as Beyond ... |
|
| Statistical Methods for Detecting Anomalous Voting Patterns: A Case Study |
23 Sep 2011 |
25 pages |
| Authors:
Roger Hillson; NAVAL RESEARCH LAB WASHINGTON DC
|
| Both observational and laboratory studies suggest that human beings find it difficult to fabricate truly random numbers. Any sufficiently large set of nominally random number sequences, irrespective of its source, may be analyzed to determine if the criterion of randomness is satisfied. Statistical methods have, therefore, been applied forensically to detect anomalies in accounting data, scientific data sets, and voting data. As a case study, we apply methods developed by ... |
|
| Nigeria's Pernicious Drivers of Ethno-Religious Conflict (Africa Security Brief, Number 14, July 2011) |
Jul 2011 |
9 pages |
| Authors:
Chris Kwaja; NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV WASHINGTON DC AFRICA CENTER FOR STRATEGIC STUDIES
|
| Nigeria's statutory framework grants local officials the authority to extend or deny basic rights to citizens in their jurisdictions, thereby creating incentives for the politicization of ethnicity and escalating intercommunal violence. Ineffective state responses to repeated ethnic clashes have highlighted a lack of political will to address this violence. While currently concentrated in central Nigeria, the systemic drivers to identity conflict have the potential to spread elsewhere in the country ... |
|
| Risk-limiting Audits for Nonplurality Elections |
JUN 2011 |
18 pages |
| Authors:
Anand Sarwate; Stephen Checkoway; Hovav Shacham; CALIFORNIA UNIV SAN DIEGO LA JOLLA
|
| Many organizations have turned to alternative voting systems such as instant-runoff voting for determining the outcome of single-winner elections. It is our position in this paper that the increasing deployment of such alternative systems necessitate the study and development of risk-limiting audits for these systems. We initiate this study. We examine several commonly used single-winner voting systems and provide risk-limiting auditing procedures for them. In many cases the methods from ... |
|
| 2010 Evaluation of the DoD Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) |
22 MAR 2011 |
83 pages |
| Authors:
INSPECTOR GENERAL DEPT OF DEFENSE ARLINGTON VA
|
| Section 1566, Title 10, United States Code, "Voting assistance; compliance assessments; assistance," as amended, requires that the Inspectors General of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of their voting assistance programs; and an annual review of the compliance with voting assistance programs of that Service. Upon the completion of their annual reviews, each Service Inspector General is required ... |
|
| Balkanization and the Positive Sovereignty Deficit in Africa |
15 Mar 2011 |
34 pages |
| Authors:
Ryan McMullen; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| The causes of Africa's security challenges have internal and external roots but the security challenges persist because many African states are weak and they lack the resources to confront their own problems. Accordingly, this paper posits that the Positive Sovereignty deficit in Africa creates social conditions in which African states may fail to provide commodities, goods, and services or an equitable distribution thereof. Said constraints serve to ignite ethnic mobilization ... |
|
| Kenya Promulgates a New Constitution |
10 MAR 2011 |
36 pages |
| Authors:
Jossiah L. Mrashui; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| On August 4, 2010, Kenyans overwhelmingly voted for a new constitution, 47 years after the country's independence from the United Kingdom. The new constitution has been praised as being among the most progressive constitutions in the world. This research paper will analyze the reasons for changing the constitution; the differences between the new and the old constitutions; the impact of the new constitution on the country, and especially on the ... |
|
| Israel: Background and U.S. Relations |
14 Feb 2011 |
45 pages |
| Authors:
Casey L Addis; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| On May 14, 1948, the State of Israel declared its independence and was immediately engaged in a war with all of its neighbors. Armed conflict has marked every decade of Israel's existence. Despite its unstable regional environment, Israel has developed a vibrant parliamentary democracy, albeit with relatively fragile governments. The most recent national elections were held on February 10, 2009, ahead of schedule. Although the Kadima Party placed first, parties ... |
|
| U.S. - Mexico Security Cooperation: The Time to Act Is Now |
06 Jan 2011 |
31 pages |
| Authors:
III Stewart Vance F; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| The Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) power and control have paralyzed the populace and local governments within the northern Mexican and southern U.S. states, disrupting everyday life. The emboldened increase and severity of DTO violence has created the impetus for the U.S. and Mexican governments to set aside traditional views and mistrust to work in partnership making both countries safer and improving the quality of life for their citizens. While inroads ... |
|
| Sudan: The Crisis in Darfur and Status of the North-South Peace Agreement |
08 OCT 2010 |
37 pages |
| Authors:
Ted Dagne; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Sudan, geographically the largest country in Africa, has been ravaged by civil war intermittently for four decades. More than 2 million people have died in Southern Sudan over the past two decades due to war-related causes and famine, and millions have been displaced from their homes. There were many failed attempts to end the civil war in Southern Sudan. In July 2002, the Sudan government and the Sudan People's Liberation ... |
|
| Japan-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress |
06 OCT 2010 |
27 pages |
| Authors:
Emma Chanlett-Avery; William H. Cooper; Mark E. Manyin; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| The post-World War II U.S.-Japan alliance has long been an anchor of the U.S. security role in East Asia. The alliance facilitates the forward deployment of about 36,000 U.S. troops and other U.S. military assets in the Asia-Pacific, thereby undergirding U.S. national security strategy in the region. For Japan, the alliance and the U.S. nuclear umbrella provide maneuvering room in dealing with its neighbors, particularly China and North Korea. U.S.-Japan ... |
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| Uganda: Current Conditions and the Crisis in North Uganda |
06 OCT 2010 |
39 pages |
| Authors:
Ted Dagne; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| In February 2006, Ugandans voted in the first multi-party elections in almost 26 years. President Yoweri Museveni and his ruling National Revolutionary Movement (NRM) parliamentary candidates won a decisive victory over opposition candidate Kizza Besigye and the Forum for Democracy Coalition. Nevertheless, poll results showed a notable decline in support for President Museveni from previous elections. International election observers did not condemn the election results, nor did they fully endorse ... |
|
| Kenya: Current Conditions and the Challenges Ahead |
06 OCT 2010 |
17 pages |
| Authors:
Ted Dagne; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Kenya, a nation of about 36.9 million people, has been an important ally of the United States for decades. Kenya moved from a one-party state to a multi-party democracy in 1992. Kenyans voted in record numbers in the country's first multi-party election in almost 26 years. President Daniel arap Moi defeated opposition candidates by a small margin. In 1997, Kenya held its second multiparty elections, at the height of tensions ... |
|
| Iraq: Politics, Elections, and Benchmarks |
04 OCT 2010 |
29 pages |
| Authors:
Kenneth Katzman; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Iraq's political system, the result of a U.S.-supported election process, has been increasingly characterized by peaceful competition, as well as by attempts to form cross-sectarian alliances. However, ethnic and factional infighting continues, sometimes involving the questionable use of key levers of power and legal institutions. This infighting--and the belief that holding political may mean the difference between life and death for the various political communities--has prevented agreement to date on ... |
|
| 2009 Evaluation of DoD Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP) |
27 SEP 2010 |
91 pages |
| Authors:
INSPECTOR GENERAL DEPT OF DEFENSE ARLINGTON VA
|
| What We Did: Section 1566, Title 10, United States Code, "Voting assistance: compliance assessments; assistance," as amended, requires that the Inspectors General of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, and the Marine Corps conduct an annual review of the effectiveness of their voting assistance programs; and an annual review of the compliance with voting assistance programs of that Service. Upon the completion of their annual reviews, each Service Inspector ... |
|
| Nuclear Politics in Iran |
MAY 2010 |
69 pages |
| Authors:
Judith S. Yaphe; NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIV WASHINGTON DC INST FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES
|
| This collection of analyses on the unintended consequences of Iran's nuclear policy for its domestic and international relations is the first in a series of papers that will examine the impact of critical issues and developments on key countries in the Greater Middle East and on U.S. security interests. Succeeding papers will identify similar emerging issues in Turkey, Iraq, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf region. For the most part, the ... |
|
| Barriers to Greater Participation by Women in Afghan Elections |
28 OCT 2009 |
22 pages |
| Authors:
SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION ARLINGTON VA
|
| This report discusses the level of women's participation in the elections held on August 20, 2009 and the extent to which the Afghan government created an environment conducive for women to vote openly and freely. Women's participation is significant to the electoral process because they comprise approximately half of Afghanistan's population. This report includes recommendations for the U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan to encourage the Afghan government and international community to ... |
|
| Strategy and Resources Needed to Sustain Afghan Electoral Capacity |
22 SEP 2009 |
21 pages |
| Authors:
SPECIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION ARLINGTON VA
|
| Building institutional electoral capacity is critical for sustaining a legitimate and fairly elected government. Afghanistan will hold four major elections from 2009 through 2010. On August 20, 2009, the first two of these elections-the presidential and provincial council elections were held and managed, for the first time, by the Afghanistan government. In 2010, the Afghanistan government will hold parliament and district council elections. This report (1) identifies U.S. and donor ... |
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| Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations |
24-Jul-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Jeremy M Sharp; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
 | This report provides an overview of Jordanian politics and current issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations. It provides a brief discussion of Jordan's government and economy and of its cooperation in promoting Arab-Israeli peace and other U.S. policy objectives in the Middle East. Several issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations are likely to figure in decisions by Congress and the Administration on future aid to and cooperation with Jordan. These include the stability of ... |
|
| The Changing U.S.-Japan Alliance: Implications for U.S. Interests |
23-Jul-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Emma Chanlett-Avery; Weston S Konishi; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Since the late 1990s, and particularly since 2000, the U.S.-Japan alliance has undergone significant changes. During the first term of the Bush Administration, converging U.S. and Japanese objectives in confronting North Korea's nuclear and missile programs and Japan's participation in U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan reinforced the notion of the U.S.-Japan alliance as one of the central partnerships of U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Asia. By 2007, political developments ... |
|
| Costa Rica: Background and U.S. Relations |
21-Jul-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Peter J Meyer; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Costa Rica is a relatively politically stable and economically developed nation with a long tradition of civilian democracy. Former president (1986-1990) and Nobel-laureate Oscar Arias of the National Liberation Party was elected President in 2006. Throughout his term, Arias has focused on expanding the country's social safety net and increasing free trade. He faced strong opposition to the country's inclusion in the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), ... |
|
| Ghana: Background and U.S. Relations |
08-Jul-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Nicolas Cook; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| This report provides information on current developments in Ghana and Ghana's relations with the United States, which are close. It describes the purpose of President Barack Obama's forthcoming trip to Ghana, which will focus on issues of good governance and socio-economic and political development, and characterizes the current state of play in bilateral relations. It also summarizes the policy agenda of Ghana's president, John Atta Mills, who won office by ... |
|
| Chile: Political and Economic Conditions and U.S. Relations |
03-Jun-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Peter J Meyer; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Following a violent coup against democratically elected Marxist President Salvador Allende in 1973, Chile experienced 17 years of military rule under General Augusto Pinochet before reestablishing its elected civilian democracy in 1990. A center-left coalition of parties known as the Concertacion has governed Chile for the nearly two decades since the end of the dictatorship. The coalition has enacted a number of constitutional changes to strengthen civilian control of the ... |
|
| Political Integration of Hezbollah into Lebanese Politics |
Jun-2009 |
79 pages |
| Authors:
Thomas G Esposito; NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA
|
| Hezbollah has proven itself to be a resilient, relevant military and political force within Lebanon as well as across the Middle East. This thesis focuses on the approach through which Hezbollah -- as a military, political, and social organization -- integrates itself into Lebanese society and polity. The thesis examines how this Islamic organization, which was perceived as a terrorist-group in the mid-1980s, continues to transform itself. Hezbollah is now ... |
|
| Challenges and Prospects of Liberal Democracy in West Africa: A Comparative Assessment of Benin, Ghana and Nigeria |
Jun-2009 |
115 pages |
| Authors:
Kwesi Ayima; ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS
|
| The bitter lessons of history have taught West Africa that there are no longer respectable alternatives to democracy after the collapse of communism. Nonetheless, governance in West Africa in the 21st century remains the greatest problem there because illiberal democracies seem to be gaining legitimacy because they are reasonably democratic. Such illiberal democratic governments, if not exposed, will continue to plunge the subregion into a vicious cycle of semi-authoritarian rule ... |
|
| South Africa: Current Issues and U.S. Relations |
20-May-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Lauren Ploch; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Over a decade after the South African majority gained its independence from white minority rule under apartheid, the Republic of South Africa is firmly established as a regional power. With Africa's largest GDP, a diverse economy, and a government that has played an active role in the promotion of regional peace and stability, South Africa is poised to have a substantial impact on the economic and political future of Africa. ... |
|
| Brazil's National Defense Strategy -- A Deepening of Civilian Control |
15-May-2009 |
34 pages |
| Authors:
Ham; Linwood Jr; ARMY WAR COLL CARLISLE BARRACKS PA
|
| The Brazilian military dictatorships of 1964-1985 established a national security strategy to modernize the country and populate the vast central and western areas of Brazil. Today's strategy similarly seeks to use the military as a means to advance grand national objectives. Under the leadership of President Luiz Inacio da Silva and Defense Minister Nelson Jobim, elected Brazilian officials will seize the mantle of civilian control of the military and provide ... |
|
| Canada-U.S. Relations |
12-May-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Carl Ek; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Relations between the United States and Canada, though generally close, have undergone changes in tenor over the past three decades. During the 1980s, the two countries generally enjoyed very good relations. The early 1990s brought new governments to Ottawa and Washington, and although Canada's Liberal Party emphasized its determination to act independently of the United States when necessary, relations continued to be cordial. In early 2006, a minority Conservative government ... |
|
| Afghanistan: Government Formation and Performance |
21-Apr-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Kenneth Katzman; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| The central government's limited writ and widespread official corruption are helping sustain a Taliban insurgency, and have fed pessimism about the Afghanistan stabilization effort. However, ethnic disputes remain confined largely to political debate and competition, enabling President Hamid Karzai to focus on working with U.S. and international donors on how to improve governance and delivery of public services, and on winning re-election in presidential elections slated for August 20, 2009. ... |
|
| Algeria: Current Issues |
16-Apr-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Carol Migdalovitz; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| The situation in Algeria is fluid. Parliament passed a constitutional amendment abolishing term limits, allowing President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to be reelected for a third term in April 2009. The voice of the military, the most significant political force since independence, has been muted. Low voter turnout in the May 2007 parliamentary election may have indicated lack of public faith in the political system, and so the authorities specifically boasted a ... |
|
| South Africa: Current Issues and U.S. Relations |
15-Apr-2009 |
|
| Authors:
Lauren Ploch; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
|
| Over a decade after the South African majority gained its independence from white minority rule under apartheid, a system of racial segregation, the Republic of South Africa is firmly established as a regional power. With Africa's largest GDP, a diverse economy, and a government that has played an active role in the promotion of regional peace and stability, South Africa is poised to have a substantial impact on the economic ... |
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Reports by Keyword(s)
ELECTIONS
