Recent Articles

The State Council building in downtown Beirut on Oct. 29, 2019 as seen from a distance at the height of protests against Lebanon's ruling class. Banners unfurled from its windows contain pro-revolutionary slogans.

“Red Lines” in Beirut Blast Investigation: How Exactly Lebanese Politicians Escape Accountability

The effort to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for last summer's deadly explosion in Beirut reveals the convoluted system of impunity constructed by the Lebanese…

Mar. 9, 2021 Tess Graham and Elena Hodges

Relatives and mourners perform funeral prayers over the coffin of one of the three female media workers shot to death in two separate attacks, in Jalalabad on March 3, 2021.

International Consensus Needed for the Taliban’s “Non-Return Through Force”

With a May 1 deadline looming for the withdrawal of the remaining U.S. troops in Afghanistan, stalled intra-Afghan “peace talks” in Doha, and a dramatic rise in violence across…

Mar. 9, 2021 Farkhondeh Akbari

A phone show the Garmin Connect software with an error message that reads, “Server Maintenance: Sorry, we are down for maintenance. Check back shortly.” and “We are currently experiencing an outage that affects Garmin.com and Garmin Connect. This outage also affects our call centers, and we are currently unable to receive any calls, emails, or online chats. We are working to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and apologize for this inconvenience.” A watch that is clearly not working and has a dark screen is shown next to the phone with these messages.

Germany’s Positions on International Law in Cyberspace Part I

Germany issues major statement on cyberspace and international law, analyzed here by leading expert Professor Michael Schmitt.

Mar. 9, 2021 Michael Schmitt

A wide view of the Security Council meeting on peace and security in Africa, with a focus on countering terrorism and extremism in Africa.

How Can Member States Improve the UN’s Global Counterterrorism Strategy?

The United Nations secretary-general made public last week his report on the Activities of the United Nations system in implementing the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism…

Mar. 9, 2021 Jordan Street and Nicholas Miller

Early Edition: March 9, 2021

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated guide to major national security news and developments over the past 24 hours. Here’s today’s news. U.S.…

Mar. 9, 2021 Siven Watt

A person carrying a bag walks past a severely damaged building complex in Gaza City, which is missing walls and sections of ceiling. In one area where the walls remain, a person looking at the sky is painted on the wall. The ground appears wet as if it had just rained or is raining. The picture was taken on March 4, 2021, but the damage was caused in 2014 by airstrikes.

Decolonizing the ICC: The Situation in Palestine and Beyond

On Feb. 5, the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber ruled that the ICC has jurisdiction over the Palestine situation. Here's why the apparently narrow and formalistic ruling offers hope for decolonizing…

Mar. 8, 2021 Aeyal Gross

People walk in a courtyard near a tall building. The colors of the image are separated and blurred in a psychedelic camera effect to give the appearance of seeing double.

Intelligence Reimagined: Don’t Forget the Human Dimension in the Pursuit of Technological Solutions

The lopsided emphasis on technology in recent assessments risks an under-appreciation of the human dimension of intelligence gathering.

Mar. 8, 2021 Gregory Sims

Norma Rodriguez, mother of Keyla Martinez, a nursing student who died in police custody early on February 7, cries during a press conference at the headquarters of the Committee of Relatives of the Disappeared in Honduras (COFADEH), in Tegucigalpa, on March 4, 2021. She wears a facemask with her daughter’s face and is comforted by two people wearing identical shirts and the same face masks of her daughter.

Taking Gender Into Account to Better Confront New Security Threats

The US needs to move to the next stage in the Women, Peace and Security agenda, and rethink security policy to be more inclusive and equitable.

Mar. 8, 2021 Anca Agachi and Priya Swyden

Early Edition: March 8, 2021

Signup to receive the Early Edition in your inbox here. A curated guide to major national security news and developments over the weekend. Here’s today’s news. U.S. RELATIONS…

Mar. 8, 2021 Siven Watt

A collage of images from articles of the past week.

Recap of Recent Articles on Just Security (Feb 27-March 5)

Violent extremism/terrorism • Syria strike • transparency: US troop levels • Authorization for Use of Military Force • Guantanamo • cyberwarfare & disinformation •…

Mar. 6, 2021 Just Security

Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby stands behind a podium as he briefs the press at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 8, 2021.

Knowns and Unknowns of US Syria Strike: Looming Int’l and Domestic Law Issues

Key legal questions that remain unanswered about the legality of the Syria strike under domestic and international law.

Mar. 5, 2021 Oona A. Hathaway

The Senate floor during the start of the impeachment hearing on January 11, 2021.

Lessons from the Impeachment Trials of President Donald J. Trump

For the second time, the Senate failed to convict Donald Trump at the end of an impeachment trial, but was the trial a failure? For many, Trump’s second acquittal was further…

Mar. 5, 2021 Michael J. Gerhardt