Foreword

Dr Emma De Angelis

Editor Dr Emma De Angelis introduces the April/May 2013 edition of the RUSI Journal.

Transnational Organised Crime and Security

A dedicated introduction to the RUSI Journal series 'Transnational Organised Crime and Security', with Guest Editor Frank G Madsen of the University of Cambridge.

Transnational Organised Crime and International Security: A Primer

James Bergeron

Transnational organised crime is a security threat, and hence a concern for both defence and law-enforcement actors.

Chasing Shadows: Strategic Responses to Organised Crime in Conflict-Affected Situations

James Cockayne

Countries affected by conflict can provide fertile ground for criminal organisations: there are multiple factors at play, and countering them demands co-ordinated and informed response strategies.

Corruption: A Global Common Evil

Frank G Madsen

Slippery to define, corruption can permeate all levels of society and encompasses a variety of phenomena: it is a ‘social bad’ that lies at the heart of organised crime.

Proxy Warfare and the Future of Conflict

Andrew Mumford

Proxy warfare is a phenomenon usually associated with the Cold War, yet a redefinition of the concept is needed to reflect the nature of conflict in the twenty-first century.

Are Cyber-Weapons Effective? Assessing Stuxnet's Impact on the Iranian Enrichment Programme

Ivanka Barzashka

When news of Stuxnet first emerged, commentators highlighted its apparent effectiveness in stalling Iran’s nuclear programme. However, evidence suggests that this claim is easily refuted.

Tokyo Trade-Offs: Shinzo Abe's Hedging Strategy Against China

John Hemmings and Maiko Kuroki

Shinzo Abe’s second go as Japan’s prime minister comes at a time of economic crisis and tension with China. The previous record of this conservative hard-liner suggests pragmatism will be his key approach to relations with Japan’s challenging neighbour.

France and the Arab Upheavals: Beyond Sarkozy

Rachel Utley

France’s foreign-policy record on the Arab upheavals has been mixed, yet Francois Hollande’s presidency shows a stepchange in the French approach to unrest in the region

The Implications of North African Terrorism for the UK Counter-Terrorism Effort

Margaret Gilmore

While the recent terrorist attack in Algeria shone the spotlight on threats from North Africa, this is not a new phenomenon. Terrorist threats to UK citizens at home and abroad will continue to arise from multiple sources of insecurity.

Strategic Options: Defence Business at a Pivotal Moment

Henrik Heidenkamp, John Louth and Trevor Taylor

Shrinking national defence budgets are forcing defence companies to consider their options if they are to remain viable businesses in a difficult environment.

Trench Gascoigne Essay Prize Winner, 2012 - The Balance to be Found Between Civil Liberties and National Security

Megan Warshawsky

Last year’s prize winning essay tackles the continuing difficulties of balancing civil liberties and national security.

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