Home / Publications / External Publications / Weekly Security Readings / 18 FEB 2021
18 February 2021
"This document contains links to articles and/or press agency release from multiple open sources, agencies and academia. The contents, ideas or opinions in the document do not reflect NSD-S HUB or NATO views neither conform to the organization naming convention”
READING OF THE WEEK
Investments as Foreign Policy Instruments: The Cases of Saudi Arabia, The UAE and Qatar
Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM)
The Gulf countries differ from other Middle Eastern countries with their high economic incomes and relatively low population. Despite their high economic incomes, there is no rich diversity ahead of the Gulf countries in terms of economic resource diversity. For this reason, the issue of diversifying the economic resources of the Gulf countries is of critical importance. In this context, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar are leading economies in the Gulf region in terms of regional and international competitiveness.
NORTH AFRICA / SAHEL / SUB – SAHARA
Transitional Justice in South Sudan: A Case for Sustainable Peace, Accountability, Reconciliation and Healing
The Sudd Institute
Cognizant of the fact that South Sudan is a deeply divided and polarized country, this piece suggests that the most appropriate vehicle for pursuing transitional justice in South Sudan is in the form of truth, reconciliation and healing (TRH) and, perhaps, compensation but not through criminal prosecutions of the actions of key players in the recently concluded conflict. Failure to observe the delicacy of balancing peace and justice only operates to fester the conflict.
The Dam That Broke Open an Ethiopia-Egypt Dispute
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The construction the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is progressing apace despite the lack of an Ethiopian-Egyptian agreement regarding the extent of its operations and the rules by which Ethiopia must abide. Barring technical mishaps, the GERD could commence operations before the end of 2022. With this in mind, Egypt, which fears for its water security and accuses Ethiopia of intransigence in refusing to submit to impact studies and international monitoring, has hardened its stance.
READ HERE
Sortir de l’impasse politico-sécuritaire en République centrafricaine
Institut d’Études de Sécurité (ISS)
La présente note esquisse des options de sortie de crise pour le gouvernement et l’ensemble de la communauté internationale en proposant des actions prioritaires de nature à recentrer les interventions sur les enjeux majeurs de la crise centrafricaine au cours des cinq prochaines années. Les opérations de maintien de la paix des Nations unies n’ayant pas vocation à s’éterniser, il s’agit de s’assurer que les ressources financières injectées en RCA soient utilisées pour sortir durablement le pays de la crise.
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Who Can We Count On? Authority, Empowerment and Accountability in Mozambique
Institute of Development Studies (IDS)
In this paper, we explore the use of a governance diaries methodology to investigate poor households’ interactions with authority in fragile, conflict and violence-affected settings in Mozambique. The research questioned the meanings of empowerment and accountability from the point of view of poor and marginalised people, with the aim of understanding what both mean for them, and how that changes over time, based on their experiences with governance.
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MIDDLE-EAST
Oman, Ten Years After the Arab Spring: The Evolution of State-Society Relations
Arab Reform Initiative
The Sultanate of Oman is often portrayed as an “oasis of peace” where the regime is immune to dissidence, does not face direct criticism, or successfully contains opposition because it is supposedly more legitimate than in other countries. These claims, in addition to being oversimplifications, present a distorted, top-down view of state-society relations in the sultanate that is skewed towards the state.
The Global Risk Map and Implications for Israel
Institute for National Security Studies (INSS)
When assessing the risks it faces, Israel generally emphasizes the security threat. The coronavirus crisis underscores that global threats are no less significant than local threats, and demand careful advance evaluation and preparation. Consequently, Israel is advised to give higher priority to natural hazards (pandemics, climate change, earthquakes) and their social, economic, and health implications.
TRANSNATIONAL
The Paris Agreement five years on: are congratulations in order?
Real Instituto Elcano
Five years after the adoption of the Paris Agreement, this quasi-universal treaty is still seen by many as a landmark accord that, despite its non-binding commitments, could help deliver a stable climate. However, current climate actions are shockingly insufficient to deliver on the Paris Agreement’s goals given what is at stake. A new and more ambitious second round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), a robust set of rules for article 6 and Paris-aligned recovery packages could help reduce the widening gap between the collectively agreed climate goals and current actions.
READ HERE
Research and Development Priorities for COVID-19 in Africa
Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)
The long term impacts of the pandemic on health and development are likely to be major not just to African countries but to the world. Research and development investments, therefore need to be focused, timely, and unique to various geographies. Improving our response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in Africa requires regularly updated information, constant innovation, and considerable support towards research and development (R&D) for priorities that respond to the African realities.
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Ensuring Energy Security in a Renewables World
Atlantic Council
The march toward a decarbonized generator fleet, anchored by renewables, has begun. Despite the destabilizing effects that renewables have on electricity supply and demand balance, as well as electricity prices, their emissions-free profile and low cost are increasingly winning them market share. Low-carbon technologies seeking to compete with renewables face similar challenges from a levelized cost of energy perspective.
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