PRESS RELEASE

27 January 2003

International crises and global security -        comment and analysis

Instability and crisis are the watchwords for the state of global security today. Expectations of progress in international relations at the end of the Cold War remain largely unfulfilled. The threat from new forms of terrorism, the growing crisis in Iraq and other ‘states of concern’, and the stagnation or abrogation of longstanding treaty agreements have marked the emergence of a new, dynamic and increasingly complicated global security environment.

Escalating cycles of violence and threats of armed intervention have become the norm while technological means of waging war are proliferating – vertically and horizontally. The destructive aims and objectives of non-state actors appear to be undermining inter-state relations and international diplomacy. The British American Security Information Council (BASIC) uses the UK-US ‘Special Relationship’ to assist in the development of transatlantic security policies, policy-making and the assessment of priorities that are rooted in international law and multilateral cooperative approaches. We aim to promote public awareness and understanding of those policies and of policy making in Europe and North America in order to foster informed debate and creative and sustainable solutions, both within the transatlantic security community and in the community’s external relations with other parts of the world. 

For more information, please visit our Website www.basicint.org or contact one of our staff members in London or Washington. BASIC staff work closely together and can offer transatlantic insight and analysis on a range of contemporary international security issues as follows:

Dr. Ian Davis - Director of BASIC - has expertise in British defense and foreign policy, European security, the international arms trade, arms control, arms export controls, small arms and light weapons, defense diversification, international relations and transnational terrorism.  His time is split between London (+44 207 407 2977) and Washington (+1) 202 347 8340, Ext.101; e-mail: idavis@basicint.org

Paul Ingram - Senior Analyst in London - has expertise in British defence and foreign policy, arms export subsidies and control, European security structures, U.S. foreign policy and licensed production of conventional weapons overseas. Tel: (+44) 207 407 2977; e-mail: ingram@basicint.org

David Isenberg - Senior Analyst in Washington - has expertise in U.S. military and foreign policy, biological weapons, U.S. military force structure, defense budgeting, terrorism, homeland security, counterdrug, peace operations, intelligence policy, international arms trade, small arms proliferation, operations other than war, information warfare, private military companies and general arms control issues. Tel: (+1) 202 347 8340, Ext. 103; e-mail: disenberg@basicint.org

Chris Lindborg - Analyst in Washington - Chris addresses European security and the weapons trade issues in her work.  She focuses on conflict management and the OSCE, NATO and the EU.  She also monitors conventional weapons trade issues.  Tel: (+1) 202 347 8340, Ext. 102; e-mail: clindborg@basicint.org

Nigel Chamberlain  - Analyst in London - works primarily on nuclear weapons and missile defence issues while sharing media-based information with colleagues in BASIC and the arms control community. Also contributes to work on European security and monitors NATO developments. Tel: (+44) 207 407 2977;
e-mail: nchamberlain@basicint.org

Kathryn Crandall, JD - Analyst in Washington - is focused on nuclear weapons, strategic arms control and U.S. missile defense with expertise especially on the U.S. nuclear weapons complex including nuclear testing. She tracks Congressional developments related to these issues, and is currently also following related U.S. policy developments on Iraq and North Korea; (+1) 202 347 8340, Ext. 104;  email: kcrandall@basicint.org

Back to Press Releases