Volume XV, No. 1: Spring/Summer 2006
Preventing Weak States From Failing: Regional Integration as a Solution For Central Africa
Angela Meyer
State failure, or the breakdown of political order in nation-states, poses a
significant problem in contemporary international affairs. This is particularly
the case in Central Africa, where many states are increasingly incapable of
guaranteeing adequate levels of security, stability, and internal cohesion.
Indeed, the risk of social fragmentation and civil disorder in this troubled
region is rising. This article argues that in the case of Central Africa,regional
institutions could help counterbalance this ongoing destabilization by
providing a tool with the potential to prevent weak states from failing.
Toward Greater Oil Security: The International Energy Agency As a Model for Global Cooperation?
Matthew Mehler
When in August 2005 Hurricane Katrina slammed into the U.S. Gulf Coast
causing one of the worst natural disasters in American history, the United
States turned to the International Energy Agency (IEA) for help. The IEA
stepped in to offset supply disruptions by releasing millions of barrels of oil
to the U.S. market, thereby reigning in skyrocketing oil prices and helping to
restore order. Initially tasked with maximizing energy security among a select
group of member states, the IEA today has developed into an institution with
broader potential for mediating market and political tensions between oilproducing
and oil-consuming states. This article considers whether the IEA
could serve as a model for the future of global oil security cooperation.
Peace and Development in Haiti: “This Time We Must Get It Right”
Brett Ashley Edwards
Today, Haiti is still critically underdeveloped economically with little political
and social infrastructure. In response to Haiti’s request for international
support, the United Nations (UN) has repeatedly taken action through
both the Security Council (UNSC), and the Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC). A decade later after the UN began its work in Haiti, the world is
again being asked to assist Haiti’s political stability, security and economic
development. Development and security can no longer be considered solely
in military and political terms. To “get it right” in Haiti, planning by
the international community should bear in mind the interrelated nature
of political, social, and economic underdevelopment. Beyond sustained
international assistance, Haiti must ensure the implementation of healthy
national development strategies.
Security and Fundamentalism in Uzbekistan: Challenges for U.S. Engagement
Marvin B. Fried
This article analyzes security and fundamentalism in Uzbekistan, identifying
key areas for U.S. engagement in light of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
The article begins by examining the historical significance of Uzbekistan’s
colonization by Russia, the suppression of Islam by the Soviets, and the
forging of an artificial Uzbek identity by Moscow and later by Tashkent.
It then moves to an analysis of present-day Uzbekistan, looking at active
Islamic fundamentalist groups, their effect on the security of the country, and
government efforts to deal with them. Finally, the article draws lessons for
U.S. engagement in Uzbekistan – a leading power in Central Asia – in light
of the ongoing GWOT. This article concludes that a deeper understanding
and closer monitoring of Uzbekistan is vital to U.S. efforts to defuse current
terrorist threats and avert those that could emerge in the future.
Lights Out in China? China’s Energy Crisis and Opportunities for U.S. Engagement
Chad Kreikemeier
Over the next several years, the People’s Republic of China expects a substantial
shortfall as it attempts to satisfy the increasing oil and electricity demands of
its explosive economy. To maintain its economic and political stability, China
has been forced to engage multiple nations in bilateral energy agreements.
This article argues that the United States should take advantage of this
recent openness by engaging China in bilateral energy deals. In particular,
Washington should collaborate with Beijing to guarantee access to new
and developing markets, to help secure stable oil prices, and to research and
develop alternative fuels and nuclear energy technology. This cooperation
would provide energy security benefits to both countries by helping to reduce
their vulnerability to the whims of the oil market. U.S.-Sino energy deals
could furthermore offer significant opportunities for Washington to influence
Beijing’s economic and political reforms.
Justice for War Crimes in Sudan: Is the International Criminal Court the Answer?
Sharon Alavi
Since 2003, the Darfur region of western Sudan has been the site of
extensive human rights violations including mass murder, rape, torture,
and displacement. A United Nations report found these abuses amounted to
war crimes and crimes against humanity, and attributed these crimes to the
Sudanese military, state-supported militias known as the Janjaweed, and, to
a lesser extent, rebel forces. To address the question of justice for war crimes
in Sudan, in April 2005 the UN Security Council referred the Darfur matter
to the International Criminal Court (ICC) – the world’s first permanent
court with jurisdiction to try individuals accused of violating international
humanitarian and human rights law. This article first explores whether the
ICC is the most appropriate justice mechanism by reviewing ICC jurisdiction
and state sovereignty concerns. It then considers the social and political
factors related to alternative justice proposals. This analysis reveals that
the ICC is indeed the most appropriate and effective forum available, and
further identifies policy areas deserving special attention in the next steps of
this accountability effort.
Interview with Luis Moreno-Ocampo
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), sat down with IAR in September 2005 to discuss challenges facing the world’s first permanent and independent court capable of trying human rights abusers. His comments focus on the ICC’s investigations into the Darfur conflict in Sudan, the Ugandan civil war infamous for its conscription of child soldiers, and the bloody hostilities in the mineral-rich Democratic Republic of the Congo. [Full Text]
Interview with Tayeb Jawad, Afghan ambassador to the United States
In February 2006, H.E. Ambassador Said Tayeb Jawad, Afghanistan’s top diplomatic envoy to the United States, sat down with IAR Editor-in-Chief Adele Waugaman to discuss the process of nation-building in one of the world’s youngest democracies. His comments focused on the next phase of Afghanistan’s reconstruction following succesful implementation of the institution-building objectives outlined in the 2001 Bonn Agreement. [Full Text]
