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Human Security Centre Analysis of Issues in Europe

The Prospect of Heavy-Lift Helicopters for Switzerland

It may be possible that in the not-too distant future Switzerland will operate a helicopter fleet with a trio of models, one light, one medium and one heavy. Such a trio could theoretically cover any scenario the Swiss Armed Forces would be called upon to overcome. While the acquisition process will prove to be a challenge, acquiring heavy-lift helicopters would guarantee retaining the spectrum of capacities which will become more relevant and called upon in the future.

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Sanctions and expulsions: how the West is taking a firmer line with Russia in 2021

The spate of diplomatic expulsions and sanctions seen over the past few months may be indicative of a failing Russian foreign policy in Europe. Russian foreign policy has always been motivated by three primary drivers – the need for security and a strong buffer; the necessity to be recognised as a great power; and the need to maintain a pragmatic relationship with the West. On all counts, one could argue that recent events have hindered these objectives.

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Analyzing the proposed solutions to the Cyprus Dispute

As the years pass and younger generations grow up in a de-facto partitioned Cyprus, it will increasingly become less-likely that Cyprus will be unified in the future. While parties to the Cyprus issue prepare for their meeting with UNSG Guterres this April, they should also prepare for the likely reality that the “frozen conflict”-zone of Cyprus will remain in a state of political limbo, akin to Western Sahara and the Palestinian Territories.

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“Love is stronger than fear”: Russia’s protest movement beyond Navalny

Alexey Navalny’s arrest and sentencing brought the people of Russia to the streets, but it was anger at their current situation that kept them there. The ill-treatment you are likely to experience if you disagree with the government, the widening gap between the rich and the poor, and years of declining living standards all combined to generate Russia’s largest-scale demonstrations in nearly a decade.

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The return of US involvement in the Western Balkans

In the Western Balkans, the Biden administration has all the tools necessary to achieve successful political and economic transformation. The newly-elected POTUS has a deep understanding of the region, and is all too aware that the carrot and the stick are more effective when there is agreement and mutual support between the European Union and the United States.

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Unmanned Aerial Systems in Nagorno-Karabakh: A Paradigm Shift in Warfare?

There has been a tendency among researchers and policy-makers studying the evolution and deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles, referred to colloquially as drones, to discount their contemporary effectiveness in inter-state conflict. However, the recent conflict in and around the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh has in some ways challenged that assumption

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