Articles written by Vincent Gagnon-Lefebvre
All 30 articles written by Vincent Gagnon-Lefebvre
Category: Iran
Several strategies are offered to win the Afghan war, whether by sending more troops or withdrawing them. Either way, Iran's cooperation could to be the key to success. more...
Category: US Foreign Affairs
Newly sworn in as US president, Obama faces the challenge of engaging Iran, whose influence is now continually increasing, after 30 years of broken relations. more...
Category: US Foreign Affairs
As Obama is sworn in as US President, he faces a troubled international environment, especially in the Middle East where US influence is increasingly challenged. more...
Category: Afghanistan
Barack Obama and the US military have been advocating a troop "surge" strategy for Afghanistan as a solution to the war. A solution which poses serious risks. more...
How to Bring Peace to Afghanistan: A Proposal for a Non-Military Solution to the Afghan Conflict
Category: Afghanistan
A new non-military solution needs to be found so that peace can be achieved in Afghanistan. A solution that involves the Taliban and all the countries in the region. more...
Category: US Foreign Affairs
What can be expected from future president Barack Obama's foreign policy toward the Middle East? What will be different from the Bush years and what should stay the same? more...
Gazprom and Russia-Venezuela Relations: Russia's Growing Influence in Latin America
Category: Russia
Through Gazprom, Moscow is deepening its influence and political clout in Latin America at the expense of the United States. more...
Comparing South Ossetia to Kosovo: Russia-Georgia War and Western Double Standards
Category: Russia
The rationale for the independence of Kosovo can also be applied to South Ossetia or Abkhazia. Western condemnation of Russia reveals inconsistency and double standards. more...
Russia-Georgia War & the Caucasus: Conflict in South Ossetia Put Into Context
Category: Russia
How can the question of stability in the Caucasus and Washington's policies toward the region help explain this war in the small breakaway province of South Ossetia? more...
Russia-Georgia War and NATO: Conflict in South Ossetia Put Into Context
Category: Russia
How can Russian apprehension of NATO enlargement help explain this war between Russia and Georgia in the small breakaway province of South Ossetia? more...
The Nam Theun II Dam in Laos: Economic Benefits and Environmental Consequences for the Lao PDR
Category: Laos
The largest hydroelectric project and largest foreign investment ever in Laos, Nam Theun II inspires both great hopes and huge controversy. more...
The International Relations of Laos: The Foreign Relations of the Lao PDR with the World
Category: Laos
After years of isolation and dependency toward Vietnam, the foreign relations of the Lao PDR have evolved and diversified since the end of the Cold War. more...
A Brief History of Laos: A Timeline From the Kingdom of Lan Xang to the Lao PDR
Category: East Asian History
The Lao PDR claims its historical and cultural roots in the ancient Kingdom of Lan Xang. But it is mostly foreign interference that has characterized the history of Laos. more...
Historical Portrait of the Muslim Chinese: Relations Between Hui and Han in Imperial China
Category: Chinese History (general)
The Hui are one of the most important and peculiar of China's minorities because of their unique place inside China's socio-historical space. more...
Russia and Central Asia: Moscow's Relations with the Former Soviet Central Asian States
Category: Russia
Russia is regaining influence in Central Asia despite the growing presence of China and the US. But Central Asia is also a platform for engaging the wider Muslim world. more...
Category: Iran
While there are forthcoming Iranian presidential elections in June, it is important that US President Obama engages Iran now instead of waiting for the results. more...
Category: US Foreign Affairs
As Obama is sworn in as President of the United States, he faces an resurgent Russia with growing global influence as well as strained Washington-Moscow relations. more...
Category: Afghanistan
While the media reports about the Taliban or al-Qaeda fighting US and NATO troops in Afghanistan, there is a general lack of understanding of exactly who are the Taliban more...
Category: US Foreign Affairs
President-elect Barack Obama wants to make Afghanistan his top foreign policy priority. However, there are still lingering questions over his real objectives. more...
Obama's Future Foreign Policy: International Relations Under New US President-Elect Barack Obama
Category: US Foreign Affairs
While US foreign policy is highly focused on the Middle East, what can be expected from president-elect Barack Obama's future foreign policy toward the rest of the world? more...
Boat Racing Festival in Laos: Sainyabouli's Biggest Lao Traditional Festival
Category: Laos Travel
Laos has many wonderful festivals throughout the year but one of the biggest is the Boat Racing festival. In the small town of Sainyabouli, it is particularly impressive. more...
Gazprom, Rabaska and Russian Interests in Canada: Russia Entering North American Natural Gas Market
Category: Russia
Gazprom is entering the North American natural gas market through the Rabaska terminal in Quebec, Canada. A move that worries the United States. more...
Russia-Georgia War and Kosovo: Conflict in South Ossetia Put Into Context
Category: Russia
How can the independence of Kosovo help explain this war in the small breakaway province of South Ossetia? more...
Georgia War and Energy Geopolitics: Conflict in South Ossetia Put Into Context
Category: Russia
How can pipeline geopolitics in the Caspian Sea region and Central Asia help explain this war between Russia and Georgia in the small breakaway province of South Ossetia? more...
Laos Opening Up to the World: The Lao PDR as the Land Bridge of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region
Category: Laos
From a buffer state, Laos is being transformed into a bridge state, taking advantage of its position at the heart of the Greater Mekong sub-region. more...
Sainyabouli, Elephant City of Laos: A Quiet Lao Town Off the Beaten Track
Category: Laos Travel
Looking for a new destination in Laos on roads less traveled? Sainyabouli is a nice, small city with beautiful scenery just waiting to be discovered by foreign visitors. more...
Geopolitical Rivalry in Central Asia: The New Great Game Between Russia, China and the United States
Category: International Politics
Just like in the 19th century, Central Asia is the center of intense geopolitical rivalry between the conflicting interests of major powers. more...
The Government of Laos: The Political System of One of the Last Communist Countries
Category: Laos
Since 1975, the Lao PDR is a single-party socialist republic, largely inspired by Vietnam, replacing the former constitutional monarchy. more...
Russia's Muslim Population: How Russian Muslims are influencing Moscow's foreign policy
Category: Russia
Russia's growing Muslim population is changing the way Russia sees itself and has direct influence on Moscow's foreign policy. more...
Russia's Observer Seat at the OIC: Increasing Moscow's Influence in the Muslim World
Category: Russia
Russia's observer seat at the OIC is a way to increase its influence in the Muslim world and to tip the balance in its favor in its power struggle with the United States. more...
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