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European Union

Government & PoliticsCatalonia, European Union, Spain

Spain-Catalonia Secession Crisis Won’t End After December Elections

Joshua Ball

Catalonia's independence referendum set in motion a series of events, with implications that will be felt across Spain–and Europe—for several years. Summary Madrid takes immediate control of its institutions and…

Defense & SecurityChina, Energy, European Union, Foreign Policy, France, International Security, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Middle East, Northern Africa, Oil, OPEC, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, United States

Converging Economic and Demographic Trends Threaten Security in the Middle East and North Africa

Joshua Ball

With oil prices unlikely to recover to levels of the petroleum boom governments may have to limit cash payments and subsidies. In the meantime, social networks have provided new tools…

Government & PoliticsCatalonia, European Union, Spain

Catalonian Secession: Madrid Stuck Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Joshua Ball

The Spanish government's bungling of the Catalan referendum only made the situation worse. There is a saying in Catalonia: "once they send in the tanks, they may have missed the…

Government & PoliticsCatalonia, European Union, Spain

Catalonia Moves Toward Independence—Will Madrid Seize Control?

Joshua Ball

If Catalonia's regional government proceeds with a unilateral declaration of independence Madrid could suspend the region's autonomy and take direct control. On Oct. 4, the region's pro-independence parties, Junts pel…

Defense & SecurityBelarus, European Union, Poland, Russia, Ukraine

In Central Europe, Militarized Societies are on the March

Weronika Grzebalska

Russia recently held one of the largest “war games” since the Cold War, on its Western borders. The drill exercised combat scenarios recently used in Ukraine and tested the compatibility…