Since the public dissention after the presidential “swap” announcement and rigged elections of last year, Putin and those who rule with him are resisting change and are even less willing than before to engage in reforms and economic “modernization.” Marie Mendras, Professor at the School of International Affairs, Sciences Po University, Paris examines Putinism as a system of rule in crisis—struggling against the tide, but still with considerable resources and instruments at hand.

A discussion of the evolving political situation in Venezuela in light of President Hugo Chávez's prolonged absence from the country.

Climate change and conflict can create a self-reinforcing feedback loop: Climate change exacerbates existing conflicts, while conflict makes adapting to climate change more difficult, said Janani Vivekananda of International Alert at the Wilson Center on February 7. She presented the results of nine case studies conducted in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal to find how communities are affected by and adapting to climate change in conflict-prone settings.

With both Japan and Korea electing new leaderships last month, how Prime Minister Abe and President-Elect Park will be able to improve bilateral relations is under close scrutiny. While continued threats from North Korea and China’s ever-growing military clout should bring the two countries closer together, ongoing territorial disputes and other issues still prove to be stumbling blocks in improving diplomatic ties. What are the challenges to relations between Japan and Korea in the longer-term? How will the U.S. pivot to Asia impact Tokyo and Seoul’s respective roles in ensuring stability in the Asia-Pacific region?