Current Affairs & Policy Analysis
The listings below include recent and archived commentary on current affairs and analysis of security policy by experts affiliated with the Program in Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS) at the University of Illinois. In some cases, analysis has been provided by short-term visitors who have participated in speaking engagements organized by ACDIS.
The contents of the commentaries are in the form of text (op-eds, policy briefs, online interviews) published by the ACDIS program or other parties; video streams; and audio streams. Contents can be browsed or searched by date. The search box at the top right of this web site may be used for finding contents by keyword. Expanding the "Policy Analysis" tab in the menu at left also offers the option to view certain analyses by category: Policy Briefs, Illini Security Briefings (online interviews), op-eds, and video commentaries.
April 16th, 2012
Is India Vital in America’s Asia-Pacific Design?
With India’s growing influence in Asia-Pacific region, the USA sees India as an alternative to Chinese hegemony in Asia-Pacific and a beneficial economy for greater Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), reckons Jagannath P. Panda...
April 02nd, 2012
BRICS Summit: The Charming Effect on Global Politics
Has the New Delhi BRICS summit signaled a new wave of power politics in a multipolar world order? The continuity in BRICS summits and the current economic primacy of the BRICS grouping suggests that the global politics is entering a new phase of power politics...
February 10th, 2012
Security in Outer Space: National and International Challenges
While space is very large, the part that humans use is actually rather small. It is a territory that a growing number of nations have laid claim upon, making it increasingly difficult to balance the interests of those already in space with those looking to move into the high frontier. We’ll talk about space security.
February 08th, 2012
Pakistan: A Continuing Crisis, An Uncertain Future
Dr. Stephen P. Cohen Co-sponsors: Center for Global Studies (CGS), Program in Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS), and Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (CSAMES)
July 07th, 2011
As U.S. troops withdraw, what's next for Afghanistan?
On June 22, President Obama announced his decision to withdraw 30,000 “surge” troops from Afghanistan by next summer, with reductions to continue until a planned handover of security to Afghan authorities in 2014. How ready is Afghanistan for such a transition, whether fast or slow? Are the pieces in place for long-term stability? ACDIS faculty member Paul Diehl explains.
August 15th, 2010
Evaluating Iraq and Afghanistan
Iraq is a success, Afghanistan a failure. At least that’s one developing storyline as the last combat units exit Iraq this month—even as combat deaths reach record levels, with seemingly little progress, in Afghanistan. But how we define success or failure in such operations is rarely clear, according to Paul Diehl.
June 14th, 2010
Video Commentary: Nuclear Power and Energy Policy
Clifford Singer discussed nuclear power production and energy policy in a briefing on Capitol Hill televised by C-Span.
May 03rd, 2010
Current Events in Pakistan
Professor Charles Kennedy (Political Science, Wake Forest University), who visited ACDIS to deliver a guest lecture, appeared on local NPR interview program "Focus 580" to discuss US-Pakistan relations.
April 13th, 2010
The New START Treaty and US Nuclear Posture Review
Jeremiah Sullivan, expert on the science of arms control, comments on recent developments in nuclear weapons policy.
March 10th, 2010
Taiwan-China-US Relations
Professor T.Y. Wang (Politics and Government, Illinois State University), who visited ACDIS to deliver a guest lecture in March 2010, appeared on local NPR interview program "Focus 580" (WILL-AM 580 radio, Champaign-Urbana) to discuss relations between Taiwan and mainland China.