Iran is the first country against which the EU has developed a sanctions’ policy out of weapons of mass de-struction (WMD) concerns, starting in 2006. In 2010, departing from previous policies, Europe has adopted “com-prehensive” sanctions, in addition to targeted ones, taking a toll on the country as a whole and attempting to diplomatically and financially isolate it. Earlier this year, this coercive ap-proach has been further reinforced with an oil embargo, to be fully im-plemented next July.
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Pubblicazione
The unprecedented protests following Russia’s 2011 parliamentary elections signalled a declining popular endorsement of Putin’s regime. In response to citizens, incumbent Premier and likely winner of 4 March presidential race published a number of articles outlining his electoral platform.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
After the economic boom in the period 1998-2008, when GDP growth averaged 6.8%, now Russia is recovering from the global crisis faster than most Western economies. Neverthe-less, its recent growth rate of 4% is below-par for an emerg-ing-market economy, and it is not expected to improve.
Russia might have fallen into the so-called “middle-income trap”. The economy of the country is confronted with challenges such as: a declining working-age population, lack of technology, oscillating oil price, reduction of international credit, Europe’s stagnation.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
The upcoming elections are a test on Ahmadinejad’s economic poli-cies. The paper analyses the measures taken by the president in the last few years and the over-all economic situation of the coun-try. Although sanction are taking a toll, magnified by structural prob-lems and corruption, macroeco-nomic indicators indicate that the economy is not about to collapse. Iran is not isolated either: while Tehran has had to scale down business with Europe, economic links are increasingly being forged with China, Russia and Latin America.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
Though widely discussed, Islamic insurgency, labor strikes and Arab Spring-type popular mobilization are not immediate threats to President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s grip on power. The more immediate and serious threat comes from elites who are engaged in a power struggle over who will succeed Nazarbayev, including feuding members of the presidential family.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
The Russian opposition is increasingly in the spotlight after the December mass protests. The scale of the demonstrations was such that they received high resonance in the media. Even State-controlled news outlets, which usually omit coverage of political dissent, thoroughly reported on the opposition’s rallies and slogans. This movement has significant implications for the next presidential elections, strengthening the idea in society of unfair elections as well as casting doubts on the Duma’s legitimacy.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
Iranian authorities seem determined to turn their country in (at least) a “virtual” nuclear power; what is not known is whether Tehran has already decided to go ahead and build a nu-clear arsenal or, once capable of do-ing that, will abstain from crossing the threshold.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
Though widely discussed, Islamic insurgency, labor strikes and Arab Spring-type popular mobilization are not immediate threats to President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s grip on power. The more immediate and serious threat comes from elites who are engaged in a power struggle over who will succeed Nazarbayev, including feuding members of the presidential family.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
The next parliamentary elections will be an important test for the survival of the Iranian regime.
With the option of reform removed from the picture, the fight for power is now within the Osoolgarayan front, which is divided into three main groups. Conscious of the vic-tory of the faction close to the Su-preme Leader, Ahmadinejad aims to achieve a more pliable parliament that would allow him to bring Mashaei to the presidency in 2013. But the real challenge is the decline in voting of the Iranian population.
15 marzo 2012
Pubblicazione
By creating the apex of power, Putin sought to make Russia a hierarchical state at home and a unitary actor abroad. Medvedev’s initiatives focused on managing and strengthening Putin’s policies rather than changing them. This paper aims to outline the continuity of the apex of power under Medvedev. He introduced some changes in the governors’ appointment system, created a new Federal District and expanded the scope of the apex of power from the level of regions and governors to that of cities and mayors.
15 marzo 2012