Human Security

The Western Balkan Countries in the Face of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Policy Recommendations

Study Group Regional Stability in South East Europe. "The Western Balkan Countries in the Face of the Covid-19 Pandemic: Policy Recommendations." Connections: The Quarterly Journal 19, no. 2 (2020): 125-131.

Executive Summary of Recommendations [1]:

  • Western Balkan (WB) governments and EU: Health systems should be supported with funds from the EU’s announced € 3.3 billion support package and other Western sources.
  • WB gov.: Public funds dedicated to the crisis to be used transparently and any opportunities for corruption to be curtailed.
  • WB gov., EU and
19.2.10_covid-western_balkans.pdf — Downloaded 1358 times

COVID-19 in the Central Asian Region: National Responses and Regional Implications

Gleason, Gregory, and Kuralay Baizakova. "COVID-19 in the Central Asian Region: National Responses and Regional Implications." Connections: The Quarterly Journal 19, no. 2 (2020): 101-114.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus which is responsible for the COVID-19 disease, emerged in China in late 2019 and in early 2020 began appearing in countries around the world. The Central Asian countries—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—lie midway between China and many of its trading partners in Europe and the Middle East.

19.2.08_gleason_baizakova_covid-central_asia.pdf — Downloaded 3053 times

The Pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa: Reflections on Current and Future Impacts

Weyland, Petra. "The Pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa: Reflections on Current and Future Impacts." Connections: The Quarterly Journal 19, no. 2 (2020): 89-99.

Introduction [1]

There is hardly any country in the world which has not been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The situation in the US or South Korea shows that even the most affluent and stable countries in the Global North have not been spared, and are fighting to keep their populations safe and their economies functioning. If it is extremely challenging for the Global North to control the pandemic, countries in the Global South face an excruciating uphill struggle.

19.2.07_weyland_pandemic-mena.pdf — Downloaded 2708 times

Pandemics and Armed Forces: Which Roles Are Appropriate?

Clarke, John L.. "Pandemics and Armed Forces: Which Roles Are Appropriate?" Connections: The Quarterly Journal 19, no. 2 (2020): 77-88.

The Military’s Response to Pandemic Disease

The Covid-19 crisis has caused leaders in all affected countries to turn to their armed forces for support in an ever-expanding range of roles. Armed forces are being tasked to provide capabilities that, in many instances, go beyond what they have provided in past crises. It must be expected that these demands will continue to mount even as the current crisis abates, as the pandemic is expected to remain a top national concern for months to come.

19.2.06_clarke_pandemics-armed_forces_roles.pdf — Downloaded 3262 times

Coronavirus Pandemic and Reactions in the EU Accession Classes of 2004-2007

Dunay, Pàl. "Coronavirus Pandemic and Reactions in the EU Accession Classes of 2004-2007." Connections: The Quarterly Journal 19, no. 2 (2020): 37-47.

Introduction

Since the Coronavirus pandemic has hijacked the security agenda and gained priority in international politics, for the time being, speculation has been rife about how long this world change will last. Views vary: Some start out from the view that the pandemic is no more than a hiccup and, after a limited period of a few months or a maximum of two years, the world will return to “normality,” particularly if a vaccination becomes available worldwide.

19.2.03_dunay_covid-east_central_europe.pdf — Downloaded 2551 times

COVID 19 and No One’s World: What Impact for the European Union?

Roloff, Ralf. "COVID 19 and No One’s World: What Impact for the European Union?" Connections: The Quarterly Journal 19, no. 2 (2020): 25-36.

Introduction

A lot is at stake for the European Union. Germany takes over the EU Presidency from Croatia on July 1st, 2020. How Germany manages the EU Presidency will be of utmost importance for the future of the European Union.[1] The challenge for the German EU Presidency is versatile as COVID-19 puts the European Union under pressure from an internal and external perspective.

19.2.02_roloff_covid-eu.pdf — Downloaded 2910 times

The Impact of COVID-19 on Salafi-Jihadi Terrorism

Norlen, Tova C.. "The Impact of COVID-19 on Salafi-Jihadi Terrorism." Connections: The Quarterly Journal 19, no. 2 (2020): 11-23.

Across the world, the staunchest holdouts in the face of COVID-19 [1] have been religious radicals, fundamentalists, and militants of just about every faith. While some have latched on to conspiracy theories, miracle cures, or end-of-times theologies, others are using the crisis as an opportunity to spread religious ideology and hate, urging followers to engage in militant or terrorist activity. Salafi-Jihadi groups are no different.

19.2.01_norlen_covid-jihadi_terrorism.pdf — Downloaded 3056 times