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FEATURED COMMENTARY

Fierce Blame Game in Georgia
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 12/08/08

[Published, Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2008] President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia is right, and so are the many Georgians, Ossetians, Russian and others calling for impartial investigation of the causes of the war over South Ossetia. Ironically, the need for an internationally accepted accounting of the war is clearly illustrated by Mr. Saakashvili's replay of the blame game in "Georgia Acted in Self-Defense" (op-ed, Dec. 2). READ MORE

RECENT COMMENTARY

A Resolution to the Caucasus War?
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor, George Khutsishvili, and Lira Kozaeva
Posted: 08/20/08

[Published, Georgian Times, November 25, 2008] The Caucasus war this summer pitted predominantly Christian Orthodox Georgia against predominantly Christian Orthodox Russia and the Abkhaz and South Ossetians, whose Christianity, Islam and traditional spirituality weave a complex tapestry of religions cutting across ethnic and political divides. South Ossetia witnessed ethnic and political tensions over the past two decades, which came to a head in August. Each side has offered competing explanations for their military engagement. READ MORE

CTV News Interview: Russia to Move Missiles Near Poland
Analysis by Dennis Sandole, ICAR Professor
Posted: 11/05/08

[Television Interview, CTV News, November 5, 2008] Dennis Sandole, Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, discusses Russian plans to deploy missiles near the Polish border. Sandole examines this cold war style move as a reaction to US intentions to deploy a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Sandole sees this not just as a warning to President-Elect Obama but an opportunity as well for Obama to demonstrate his skills at conflict resolution and to deescalate the situation. Interview conducted by Dan Matheson on CTV, November 5th, 2008. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST

US Should Send Aid to Both South Ossetia and Georgia
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 10/09/08

[Published, Christian Science Monitor, October 9, 2008] R egarding the Oct. 8 Opinion piece, "I survived the Georgian war. Here's what I saw": South Ossetian voices have been far too absent from international discussion of a war dubbed the "Russian-Georgian" war in US media. Lira Tskhovrebova's reflections on the war she lived through illustrate the folly of the US reaction to that war. She is right to ask how the US can justify "sending another billion dollars to Georgia and nothing for those Georgians attacked." READ MORE

Slogan Diplomacy
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 10/05/08

[Published, Washington Times, October 5, 2008] Simplifying the nuance of foreign relations is dangerous, as Edward Goldberg points out ("McCain's 'sloganeering' on Georgia irresponsible," National, Oct.1). Not only has Sen. John McCain said, "We are all Georgians," but Mr. McCain has also repeated that he looks into Vladimir Putin's eyes and sees "KGB." READ MORE

To End a War
By Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 09/29/08

[Published, Economist Online, September 29, 2008] SIR - Your analysis on the Russia-Georgia conflict (“To end a war”, September 13th) overlooks one important issue still to be worked out in Nicolas Sarkozy’s “step by step” mediation. President Saakashvili has yet to formally renounce the use of force in any future efforts to take back Abkhazia or South Ossetia. READ MORE

The Lessons of the Russian-Georgian Conflict
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/22/08

[Published, New York Times, August 22, 2008] “Cold Friends, Wrapped in Mink and Medals,” by Bill Keller (Week in Review, Aug. 17), says that Moscow and Beijing have forgotten to close the history books. Based on the American response to the fighting in Georgia, Washington should be added to that list. Washington has asserted unconditional friendship with President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, and snubbed Russia with the Poland missile treaty while labeling Russia an international pariah. Recent history shows that cold war thinking will secure neither people nor pipelines. READ MORE

Future for Ossetia
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/20/08

[Published, The Guardian, August 20, 2008] Bravo for Max Hastings' acknowledgement of the Russians' need for respect and the pragmatism of taking their needs into account (Comment, August 18). What would such an approach mean for South Ossetia? Rather than being stuck to the positions of old lines on territorial integrity that the US drew in the sand long ago, we could engage freely in creative thinking to develop new relationships that meet each country's need for security - and also for access to oil pipelines. READ MORE

Can We Envisage and Build a Peaceful Caucasus?
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/19/08

[Published, Financial Times, August 19, 2008] From Dr Susan Allen Nan. Sir, An elderly woman in Gori, quoted in your report "Medvedev sets deadline for troop withdrawal" (FT.com August 17), asks: "What will happen here?" That question offers a wiser focus than the reactive conflict escalation demonstrated by Georgian, South Ossetian and Russian forces, and by the inflammatory US rhetoric of the past nine days. The Georgian-Russian war and history of Georgian-South Ossetian clashes demonstrate that military means will not resolve this conflict. Over the long term, nobody will win the current battles; no one group can sustain power over the others. READ MORE

The War in Georgia
Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/19/08

[Published, Washington Post, August 19, 2008] Having visited Tskhinvali several times in the past decade as a scholar and practitioner of conflict resolution, I sorrowfully view the outbreak of war between Georgia and Russia as the classic and all-too-familiar escalation of conflict. While my Georgian, South Ossetian and Russian friends suffer the terrors of war, I hope that we who are far removed from the fighting and its humanitarian consequences can recognize this catastrophe as a wake-up call. Nobody wins when we follow the traditional trajectory of conflict escalation, trying to impose a political settlement by force. The old way of seeking power over others simply does not work in today's interdependent world. READ MORE

FOX News Interview: Russia-Georgia Ceasefire and Pullout of Troops
Analysis by Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/18/08

[Television Interview, Fox News, August 18, 2008] Susan Allen Nan, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on Fox News 5 DC, speaking about the ceasefire between Russia and Georgia and the agreed pullout of Russian troops. Nan laments the revived cold war mentality that power and military means can solve these problems. She envisions a future where the needs of all of the parties and considered and addressed multilaterally and peaceably. Interview conducted on August 18th, 2008. WATCH BROADCAST

Al Jazeera Interview: Russia-Georgia Crisis
Analysis by Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/17/08

[Television Interview, Al Jazeera, August 17, 2008] Susan Allen Nan, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on Al Jazeera English commenting on the Russia-Georgia and the limits of the American approach of unconditional support for Georgian President Saakashvili. Nan observes that a more constructive and influential approach would have to consider then needs and interests of all the people on the ground. Interview conducted on August 17th, 2008. Video courtesy of Al Jazeera English. WATCH BROADCAST

CTV News Interview: Russia-Georgia Crisis
Analysis by Dennis Sandole, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/17/08

[Television Interview, CTV News, August 17, 2008] Dennis Sandole, Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on CTV commenting on the Russia-Georgia crisis and the responses from French President Sarkozy, Germany's Angela Merkel, the United States, Poland, and NATO. Sandole offers alternate security frames which are inclusive, rather than exclusive. Interview conducted by Jacqueline Milczarek on August 17th, 2008. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST

KLAA 830 AM Radio Interview: Georgia-Russia Conflict
Analysis by Dennis Sandole, ICAR Professor
Posted: 08/14/08

[Radio Interview, KLAA 830 AM Radio, August 13, 2008] Dennis Sandole, professor of conflict resolution and international relations at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, is interviewed on KLAA's Insight radio program regarding conflict between Georgia and Russia. Sandole talks about the conflict's current dynamics, its impacts on US-Russia relations, cold war residue, the role of natural resources (oil) in fueling this conflict, and potential ways in which the conflict can be managed. LISTEN TO INTERVIEW

New Language Needed in U.S.-Russia Relations
Ekaterina Romanova, ICAR PhD Student
Posted: 10/25/07

The ongoing negotiations between Russia and the United States on the missile defense system in Eastern Europe continue to fail. Statements with mutually exclusive goals only push each other further away. The gap steadily grows larger, adding only more disagreement and irritation. Political analysts admit that the relationship has reached its lowest point since the Cold War. Yet, the end is not nigh, improvement is possible. READ MORE

Reading Putin's Mind: What the New Appointment Means
Ekaterina Romanova, ICAR PhD Student
Posted: 09/21/07

Nomination of Viktor Zubkov, a little-known to the public head of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service as Russian new prime minister came as a bigger surprise than resignation of Michael Fradkov last week. Putin’s decisions, particularly on appointments, have rarely been predicted correctly. Putin’s move caused surprise and heated discussions everywhere, but in Russia itself. The U.S. analysts on Russia should not jump to a conclusion or predict the fate of Russia’ political development based on any isolated incident of resignation or political speech. Without understanding of Russian political history, public attitude to politics and the context of the current political environment all these prognoses are doomed to fail. READ MORE

Russia's Power Game: Small Strategic Moves, Big Surprises
Ekaterina Romanova, ICAR PhD Student
Posted: 09/14/07

The name of Putin’s likely successor keeps Russians guessing over who will receive Putin’s “blessing” as heir apparent for the office. It came as a big surprise on Wednesday, when Michael Fradkov resigned from his position. It came as a bigger surprise when instead of naming one of the two highly fancied candidates to succeed Fradkov, Sergei Ivanov and Dmitriy Medvedev, both the first deputy prime ministers, Putin nominated Viktor Zubkov, a little-known to the public head of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service as a new prime minister. READ MORE

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ICAR News Network Russia FEATURED COMMENTARY Fierce Blame Game in Georgia Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 12/08/08 [Published, Wall Street Journal, December 8, 2008] President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia is right, and so are the many Georgians, Ossetians, Russian and others calling for impartial investigation of the causes of the war over South Ossetia. Ironically, the need for an internationally accepted accounting of the war is clearly illustrated by Mr. Saakashvili's replay of the blame game in "Georgia Acted in Self-Defense" (op-ed, Dec. 2). READ MORE RECENT COMMENTARY A Resolution to the Caucasus War? Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor, George Khutsishvili, and Lira Kozaeva Posted: 08/20/08 [Published, Georgian Times, November 25, 2008] The Caucasus war this summer pitted predominantly Christian Orthodox Georgia against predominantly Christian Orthodox Russia and the Abkhaz and South Ossetians, whose Christianity, Islam and traditional spirituality weave a complex tapestry of religions cutting across ethnic and political divides. South Ossetia witnessed ethnic and political tensions over the past two decades, which came to a head in August. Each side has offered competing explanations for their military engagement. READ MORE CTV News Interview: Russia to Move Missiles Near Poland Analysis by Dennis Sandole, ICAR Professor Posted: 11/05/08 [Television Interview, CTV News, November 5, 2008] Dennis Sandole, Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, discusses Russian plans to deploy missiles near the Polish border. Sandole examines this cold war style move as a reaction to US intentions to deploy a missile shield in Poland and the Czech Republic. Sandole sees this not just as a warning to President-Elect Obama but an opportunity as well for Obama to demonstrate his skills at conflict resolution and to deescalate the situation. Interview conducted by Dan Matheson on CTV, November 5th, 2008. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST US Should Send Aid to Both South Ossetia and Georgia Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 10/09/08 [Published, Christian Science Monitor, October 9, 2008] R egarding the Oct. 8 Opinion piece, "I survived the Georgian war. Here's what I saw": South Ossetian voices have been far too absent from international discussion of a war dubbed the "Russian-Georgian" war in US media. Lira Tskhovrebova's reflections on the war she lived through illustrate the folly of the US reaction to that war. She is right to ask how the US can justify "sending another billion dollars to Georgia and nothing for those Georgians attacked." READ MORE Slogan Diplomacy Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 10/05/08 [Published, Washington Times, October 5, 2008] Simplifying the nuance of foreign relations is dangerous, as Edward Goldberg points out ("McCain's 'sloganeering' on Georgia irresponsible," National, Oct.1). Not only has Sen. John McCain said, "We are all Georgians," but Mr. McCain has also repeated that he looks into Vladimir Putin's eyes and sees "KGB." READ MORE To End a War By Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 09/29/08 [Published, Economist Online, September 29, 2008] SIR - Your analysis on the Russia-Georgia conflict (“To end a war”, September 13th) overlooks one important issue still to be worked out in Nicolas Sarkozy’s “step by step” mediation. President Saakashvili has yet to formally renounce the use of force in any future efforts to take back Abkhazia or South Ossetia. READ MORE The Lessons of the Russian-Georgian Conflict Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/22/08 [Published, New York Times, August 22, 2008] “Cold Friends, Wrapped in Mink and Medals,” by Bill Keller (Week in Review, Aug. 17), says that Moscow and Beijing have forgotten to close the history books. Based on the American response to the fighting in Georgia, Washington should be added to that list. Washington has asserted unconditional friendship with President Mikheil Saakashvili of Georgia, and snubbed Russia with the Poland missile treaty while labeling Russia an international pariah. Recent history shows that cold war thinking will secure neither people nor pipelines. READ MORE Future for Ossetia Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/20/08 [Published, The Guardian, August 20, 2008] Bravo for Max Hastings' acknowledgement of the Russians' need for respect and the pragmatism of taking their needs into account (Comment, August 18). What would such an approach mean for South Ossetia? Rather than being stuck to the positions of old lines on territorial integrity that the US drew in the sand long ago, we could engage freely in creative thinking to develop new relationships that meet each country's need for security - and also for access to oil pipelines. READ MORE Can We Envisage and Build a Peaceful Caucasus? Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/19/08 [Published, Financial Times, August 19, 2008] From Dr Susan Allen Nan. Sir, An elderly woman in Gori, quoted in your report "Medvedev sets deadline for troop withdrawal" (FT.com August 17), asks: "What will happen here?" That question offers a wiser focus than the reactive conflict escalation demonstrated by Georgian, South Ossetian and Russian forces, and by the inflammatory US rhetoric of the past nine days. The Georgian-Russian war and history of Georgian-South Ossetian clashes demonstrate that military means will not resolve this conflict. Over the long term, nobody will win the current battles; no one group can sustain power over the others. READ MORE The War in Georgia Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/19/08 [Published, Washington Post, August 19, 2008] Having visited Tskhinvali several times in the past decade as a scholar and practitioner of conflict resolution, I sorrowfully view the outbreak of war between Georgia and Russia as the classic and all-too-familiar escalation of conflict. While my Georgian, South Ossetian and Russian friends suffer the terrors of war, I hope that we who are far removed from the fighting and its humanitarian consequences can recognize this catastrophe as a wake-up call. Nobody wins when we follow the traditional trajectory of conflict escalation, trying to impose a political settlement by force. The old way of seeking power over others simply does not work in today's interdependent world. READ MORE FOX News Interview: Russia-Georgia Ceasefire and Pullout of Troops Analysis by Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/18/08 [Television Interview, Fox News, August 18, 2008] Susan Allen Nan, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on Fox News 5 DC, speaking about the ceasefire between Russia and Georgia and the agreed pullout of Russian troops. Nan laments the revived cold war mentality that power and military means can solve these problems. She envisions a future where the needs of all of the parties and considered and addressed multilaterally and peaceably. Interview conducted on August 18th, 2008. WATCH BROADCAST Al Jazeera Interview: Russia-Georgia Crisis Analysis by Susan Allen Nan, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/17/08 [Television Interview, Al Jazeera, August 17, 2008] Susan Allen Nan, Assistant Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on Al Jazeera English commenting on the Russia-Georgia and the limits of the American approach of unconditional support for Georgian President Saakashvili. Nan observes that a more constructive and influential approach would have to consider then needs and interests of all the people on the ground. Interview conducted on August 17th, 2008. Video courtesy of Al Jazeera English. WATCH BROADCAST CTV News Interview: Russia-Georgia Crisis Analysis by Dennis Sandole, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/17/08 [Television Interview, CTV News, August 17, 2008] Dennis Sandole, Professor at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University on CTV commenting on the Russia-Georgia crisis and the responses from French President Sarkozy, Germany's Angela Merkel, the United States, Poland, and NATO. Sandole offers alternate security frames which are inclusive, rather than exclusive. Interview conducted by Jacqueline Milczarek on August 17th, 2008. Video courtesy of CTV. WATCH BROADCAST KLAA 830 AM Radio Interview: Georgia-Russia Conflict Analysis by Dennis Sandole, ICAR Professor Posted: 08/14/08 [Radio Interview, KLAA 830 AM Radio, August 13, 2008] Dennis Sandole, professor of conflict resolution and international relations at the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University, is interviewed on KLAA's Insight radio program regarding conflict between Georgia and Russia. Sandole talks about the conflict's current dynamics, its impacts on US-Russia relations, cold war residue, the role of natural resources (oil) in fueling this conflict, and potential ways in which the conflict can be managed. LISTEN TO INTERVIEW New Language Needed in U.S.-Russia Relations Ekaterina Romanova, ICAR PhD Student Posted: 10/25/07 The ongoing negotiations between Russia and the United States on the missile defense system in Eastern Europe continue to fail. Statements with mutually exclusive goals only push each other further away. The gap steadily grows larger, adding only more disagreement and irritation. Political analysts admit that the relationship has reached its lowest point since the Cold War. Yet, the end is not nigh, improvement is possible. READ MORE Reading Putin's Mind: What the New Appointment Means Ekaterina Romanova, ICAR PhD Student Posted: 09/21/07 Nomination of Viktor Zubkov, a little-known to the public head of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service as Russian new prime minister came as a bigger surprise than resignation of Michael Fradkov last week. Putin’s decisions, particularly on appointments, have rarely been predicted correctly. Putin’s move caused surprise and heated discussions everywhere, but in Russia itself. The U.S. analysts on Russia should not jump to a conclusion or predict the fate of Russia’ political development based on any isolated incident of resignation or political speech. Without understanding of Russian political history, public attitude to politics and the context of the current political environment all these prognoses are doomed to fail. READ MORE Russia's Power Game: Small Strategic Moves, Big Surprises Ekaterina Romanova, ICAR PhD Student Posted: 09/14/07 The name of Putin’s likely successor keeps Russians guessing over who will receive Putin’s “blessing” as heir apparent for the office. It came as a big surprise on Wednesday, when Michael Fradkov resigned from his position. It came as a bigger surprise when instead of naming one of the two highly fancied candidates to succeed Fradkov, Sergei Ivanov and Dmitriy Medvedev, both the first deputy prime ministers, Putin nominated Viktor Zubkov, a little-known to the public head of the Federal Financial Monitoring Service as a new prime minister. READ MORE News Network Homepage / Armenia / 2008 Elections / Afghanistan / Diplomacy/ Egypt / Environment / Global Peace Index / Health / Immigration / Iraq / Iran / Islam / Kosovo / Nuclear Proliferation / Pakistan / Palestine-Israel / Russia / Somalia / South America / Sri Lanka / Turkey /		About ICAR Student Information Prospective Students Faculty and Staff Alumni Career Services Academic Programs Library ICAR In The News Events Technology Resources ICAR Publications Point Of View Center Center for World Religions, Diplomacy & Conflict Resolution