RESEARCH AREAS

Turkey, Iran, and the Balancing of Threats in the Era of Realist Constructivism

By Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Ivanov
(University of St Kliment Ohridski Bitola, Faculty of Security, Skopje, North Macedonia)

Copyright: @ 2026 Research Institute for European and American Studies (www.rieas.gr) Publication date: 24 May 2026

Note: The article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the views of the Research Institute for European and American Studies

To understand the architecture of the emerging global order, one must first look at the map of world wealth — and then at the map of the world’s seas. 
After more than a century in which the geographic center of global gross domestic product was firmly anchored somewhere between Europe and North America, the economic center of gravity is shifting inexorably back toward Asia. This eastward movement is not a historical accident. It is, rather, a return to a historical norm in which China, for centuries, accounted for roughly 20 to 25 percent of global wealth creation. ... Read more

Nico Prucha
(Affiliated Researcher at the Austrian Institute for International Affairs (OIIP), Ph.D. Candidate, University of Vienna).

Copyright: www.rieas.gr

Published in form of a video and a transcript by the “nukhbat al-i’lam al-jihadi” media group on the mainstream jihad forums in September 2008. Read more

Mr. Salman Taseer, governor of Pakistan's Punjab province and a senior politician of Pakistan People's Party, was assassinated by a guard of the elite Punjab Police Unit responsible for his protection. It is most unfortunate and sad that Taseer had to pay the ultimate price for announcing that he was going to request the President of Pakistan to use his prerogative and save Asia Bibi, an impoverished Christian woman, sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy against the Prophet of Islam. After having sieved Taseer with 26 bullets, the cold-blooded killer Malik Mumtaz Husain Qadri said that he has killed Taseer because the latter wanted to bring about reformation in the Blasphemy Law, which he deemed a dark law.

Anita Rai
(Author, Jihad and Terrorism)

Copyright: www.rieas.gr

Osama bin Laden is dead. Islamist terrorism, is nonetheless alive and kicking.

US Navy Seals sealed his fate and buried him at sea. The fight against terrorism is however, far from over. This century is going to be shaped by how we fare in this war and how heavy the cost will be in terms of invaluable lives, both military service members and civilians. Muslim supremacists have thrust this war upon the free world and in order to survive we have to fight back. Human hearts should welcome the news of Osama’s elimination. Somehow the concept and clear identification, of good and evil and a clear difference between the two are lost upon many people.

Ioannis Chapsos
(Commander, Hellenic Navy (PhD Cand), Hellenic Supreme Joint War College Instructor, Global Security specialist)

Copyright: www.rieas.gr 
                                                   
While the UN resolution 1973 called on member states and regional organizations to “… take all necessary measures... to protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya …”, the civilians in the East coast, the Horn of Africa, are experiencing the absolute “human insecurity”. The citizens of the failed state of Somalia, amidst the decade long civil war, have to cope with terrorist groups, organised crime networks, piracy, poverty and complete absence of human rights. More recently a famine stemming from a prolonged draught, cause the death of hundreds of people in a daily basis. Yet, the international community remains in apathy and the famous “Responsibility to Protect” doctrine can not be implemented, since it refers only to the protection of “… populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity…” .....  Read more

Jean Labrique and Dr. Bruce D. Tefft,
(Secretary General and Vice-President to Western Defense Studies Institute (WDSI)

Copyright: www.rieas.gr

From the very beginning of his presidency, Barack Hussein Obama, has constantly proved his preferences for the Islamic World.  Every decision with an Islamic element to it has always been in favor of Muslims at the expense of traditional America policies and allies.

Bowing in front of the King of Saudi’s House, his speech in Cairo, and many other occasions are proofs of this observation.

Obama’s early withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq will leave the 2 countries to the machinations of radical rogue state Iran and a resurgent Taliban/al-Qaeda.  Obama has already abandoned Lebanon to the Iranian terrorist front organization Hizballah and is in the process of forcing Israeli submission to the Muslim Brotherhood’s Palestinian Liberation Organization and HAMAS.