Publications Review 20.01.2014

In this digest you will find: Moscow defense brief, a new publication on situation in Egypt by ECFR, a call for new security framework in the Euro-Atlantic region, a research on the women empowerment in the agricultural sector in Nepal, a feature on BRICS’ soft power projection and an article on how the Iran agreements will alter the economic situation the Latin America.

A new Moscow Defense Brief has been issued. In this Brief you will find analytical insight into the matter of withdrawal of the foreign troops from Afghanistan and what it will signify for Russia. Also the brief contains quite detailed information on the Russian defense industry headed by Dmitry Rogozin alongside with a section on the Russian Federal drug control service.

The European Council on Foreign Relations has issued yet another publication on the situation in Egypt. Egypt’s unsustainable crackdown is an illustrative attempt to argue that authorities’ aspiration to restore public order by repression will inevitably face failure. The central standpoint is the role of Muslim brotherhood in the future of the country and what will any upcoming changes bring for the European foreign policy in the long run.

The European Leadership Network in its latest publication of security calls for a new comprehensive approach to the matter. The central issue of the paper is the everlasting process of nuclear nonproliferation and that is should be the core of the Euro-Atlantic cooperation. One of the main challenges is the need to overcome the Cold war era rhetoric and develop a solid and innovative approach to the matter. The publication contains a detailed section on how it should be done and the main principles as guidelines.

International Food Policy research institute has put special focus on the problem of Women’s empowerment in agriculture, production diversity, and nutrition based on the case study of Nepal. The authors of this research advocate a strong correlation between income matters linked with agriculture and gender roles. Using household survey data from Nepal, the research dwells upon the impact of women’s empowerment in agriculture and production diversity on dietary diversity and anthropometric outcomes of mothers and children.

South African institute for International relations issued a feature on BRICS’ public diplomacy and soft power. The highlight of this article is the changes among countries of this grouping, which is followed by a section on projection of soft power via BRICS.
 

UNASUR Outlook focuses on the Iran agreements and how they will alter the situation in the Latin America. The most obvious area of impact to UNASUR is how such prospective deal affects oil markets, and thus oil export revenues that are a vital pillar for economies such as Argentina, Brazil, but especially Venezuela. If Iran is allowed to export crude oil, it is very likely to turn to China. What will such a change of hearts mean for the countries in the region?