SAIS faculty offers advice to incoming president on Russia, Asia and North Korea
Posted on 17. Jan, 2009 by Tracey Reeves in Uncategorized
The latest issue of SAISPHERE is out and in it, faculty members from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, sound off on the top priorities for the new president as related to their fields of study. We continue with part five of their advice:
Bruce Parrott Director of the Russian and Eurasian Studies Program
Thread the Needle on Russian Relations
After an extended period of contraction and decline, Russia is reasserting itself on the international scene. The new White House team will have to decide whether to put the accent on resisting Moscow’s new assertiveness in regions such as the Caucasus or cooperating with Moscow in areas such as Iran and Afghanistan.
Bruce Parrott background and contact information
Karl D. Jackson Director of the Asian Studies Program and the Southeast Asia Studies Program
Focus on Northeast and South Asia
Regardless of the election outcome, the next president of the United States will have spent significant time in Southeast Asia. Both are more likely than other recent presidents to travel to the area. That said, policy toward Southeast Asia will have less importance in the next administration than policy toward Northeast or South Asia. This is the way it has been for 20 years, and it is unlikely to change because Southeast Asia is relatively peaceful and prosperous and therefore does not merit the intense policy concentration it did during the Cold War.
Karl D. Jackson background and contact information
Jae-Jung Suh Director of the Korea Studies Program
Move North Korea to the Front Burner
North Korea’s nuclear program remains a serious challenge to our national security and to the international nonproliferation regime, demanding immediate attention from the new U.S. president. Past experiences amply demonstrate that only when the president commands a clearheaded and coherent strategy can he prevent the challenge from escalating into a crisis, and only then can it be turned into an opportunity to build stability and peace in the region.
Leading up to the Inauguration, Perspectives features a series of reflections on the new U.S. presidency from members of The Johns Hopkins University community. Updated daily.