Afghanistan’s problems are well known: rampant insecurity, endemic corruption, deep-seated poverty and weak governance. Unfortunately most of the strategies advanced to address these issues have lacked clear, effective and culturally-adapted implementation frameworks, making them more like wish lists than concrete roadmaps. Based on wide experience and engagement in Afghanistan’s state-building project since 2001 – in the United Nations, Afghan government, and civil society – the author provides a broad outline for a new strategy to stabilize Afghanistan. This new approach will not require massive new infusions of resources, but rather robust political will and resolve among both Afghans and international actors, something that is increasingly in short supply.

Chris Alexander, former Canadian ambassador to Afghanistan, is cautiously optimistic about the country's future. Afghan institutions, like the Ministry of Agriculture, are starting to show promise and the country's economy is showing progress in some areas. Mr. Alexander spoke at CIGI on Feb. 10 as part of a two-part public lecture.

Iraq’s security situation has improved since the peak of sectarian violence in 2006 and 2007. Some level of insecurity persists in parts of the country, and preventing militant attacks and outbreaks of violence continues to be a challenge for Iraqi security forces. This report, co-authored by CIGI and the Stimson Center in Washington, DC, focuses on the issues of Iraq ensuring its security and creating a national security agenda.

In this report Aaron Shull explores the international legal regimes, both binding and non-binding, that relate to the safety and security of civilian nuclear applications. The areas he considers are the safety of nuclear power plants, radioactive waste management, research reactors, radioactive sources, emergency preparedness and response, and nuclear security. From here the author examines how four different states - Australia, Brazil, Canada and Jordan - have dealt domestically with their international legal obligations relating to such matters. The author concludes by recommending ways to strengthen and integrate the regimes to better cope with the expected global revival in peaceful applications of nuclear energy.