The vertikal: power and authority in Russia

Power and authority in Russia are traditionally seen to reside with the president. Such an understanding was emphasized during the eight years of Vladimir Putin's presidency, from 2000 to 2008, as he sought to centralize power, strengthen the state and establish a strong vertical of power to implement policy. This article examines the nature of this power and authority in the light of the tandem, the ruling arrangement between current President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. While acknowledging the central importance of Vladimir Putin in Russian political life, the article argues that emphasis on his role draws too much attention away from the leadership team that he has shaped with Medvedev. This team takes shape in formal institutional structures such as the Security Council, which has become an increasingly important group as a reservoir of experience and authority. It also takes shape in an informal network that stretches across state and business boundaries. Although there are some tensions in the network, this team ensures broad policy continuity. Furthermore, the article questions Putin's success in establishing a vertical of power, and the authority of both President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin. The analysis explores evidence that suggests that, despite the appointment of loyal personnel in this vertical of power, presidential instructions, orders and personnel commands often remain incompletely and tardily carried out or even unfulfilled. In essence, therefore, although many have suggested a split within the leadership, particularly between Medvedev and Putin, the article suggests that the more important splits are horizontal ones between different layers of authority. Thus, a process of direct control is necessary, whereby the most senior officials are obliged personally to oversee the implementation of their instructions. The article concludes by suggesting a reconsideration of our terms of reference for Russian politics, replacing the tandem with the team, and introducing ‘manual control’.     

NATO's 2012 Chicago summit: a chance to ignore the issues once again?

NATO and its members are beginning to gear themselves up for the summit in Chicago in May 2012. Such summits are always important, especially when they are held in the United States during an election year and in the aftermath of the French presidential elections. This article addresses the issues that are likely to be most prominent at the Chicago summit—NATO's wars; enlargement and Russia; burden‐sharing; and divergent agendas—before drawing some general conclusions. The outstanding question is whether these issues will lead to division within NATO and hence its possible demise—or will they be finessed?     

National defence in the age of austerity

Preparations for the next UK defence review are under way; a struggle is imminent and the lines of battle are being drawn. There is a grave danger that in the new 'age of austerity' defence planning—and strategy generally—will be driven by tribal conflicts, either between supporters of one or other of the armed services or between contending viewpoints about the nature of conflict. And there will be others who will argue that the defence review should be driven simply by the need to reduce government expenditure, as quickly as possible. These arguments not only reduce the defence debate to a struggle between various incompatible and uncompromising tribal beliefs—'war among the fetishes', perhaps—they also miss the point. This article gauges the extent of the economic challenges which the UK defence establishment will confront over the coming decade. The authors consider how best to approach the problem of undiminished (and even expanding) commitments at a time of decreasing resources. They argue that defence planning should be driven by the notion of value (the ratio of function to cost), which in turn requires both a clear national political vision and a defence establishment which is output- rather than input-oriented. Finally, the authors assert that defence must transform itself to be able to achieve the outputs required in the most efficient and responsive manner.     

The Kosovo war in perspective

In historical perspective, the Kosovo war stands as a significant turning point. Within the Balkan region, Operation Allied Force marked the end of the nationalist wars of the 1990s and the beginning of a new phase of partnership and integration with the EU and NATO. In terms of the wider European security order, its repercussions were contradictory. NATO reasserted its role as Europe's leading security institution, yet Operation Allied Force also gave significant momentum to the EU's development as a quasi military body. Further afield, an immediate crisis erupted in Russo-western relations followed by renewed cooperation on the ground; the longer-term impact, however, was a lingering resentment in Moscow at NATO action. At the global level, meanwhile, Operation Allied Force appeared to symbolize the primacy of both American-led western power and of the liberal norms and values that underpinned the intervention. But this was arguably a high point: future global security crises would be managed in the context of the rising power of the non-western world, a more fragmented West and greater contestation over the norms that should underpin international society.     

Scenic Perceptions of the Visual Effects of Wind Farms on South Australian Landscapes

A survey of the visual effects of wind farms was undertaken in South Australia, with the aim of quantifying the impact of wind farms on the perceived scenic quality of landscapes. In the study a total of 311 participants assessed the scenic quality of a photographed landscape in 68 coastal and inland locations where wind farms could be located, both without wind farms and with wind farms digitally added to the scene. A key finding of the study was that wind farms generally had a negative effect on landscapes of higher scenic quality but a positive effect on landscapes of lower scenic quality. The negative visual effects of a wind farm did not reduce appreciably with distance. White, blue or grey coloured turbines were preferred over tan or rainbow hues, but this finding was based on a small number of scenes. Limitations of the study included using static views of wind farms and having an insufficient number of scenes to assess the influence of the number of turbines on scenic quality ratings. The study concluded that wind farms should avoid areas of higher perceived scenic quality, particularly on the coast, and be located in areas of lower scenic quality. The study adds to the growing body of international research on community attitudes to wind farms, and contributes useful knowledge for future planning of wind farms in Australia. These research results should assist communities, government agencies and the wind energy industry and improve the planning and design of wind farms by taking community perceptions into account.     

SPATIAL VARIATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF PHOSPHORUS FORMS IN BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF TWO CANADIAN SHIELD LAKES

Nutrient dynamics in lake systems are influenced by the loading of sediment-associated phosphorus (P) from both internal and external sources. Despite efforts to control lake productivity through reductions in external P loading, water quality problems persist in some lakes due to high internal loading of P from bottom sediment. The present study examines the spatial distribution of chemically defined P forms (NH₄Cl-RP, BD-RP, NaOH-RP, HCI-RP, and NaOH_(S5)-RP) in bottom sediments of two noncalcareous Canadian Shield Lakes. Sediment P data are related to some of the physical and chemical variables that control internal P loading in lakes. The BD-RP and NaOH-RP forms are related to water depth and nonresidual iron and aluminum content of sediment. Approximately 80% of the total extractable P in the Muldrew Lakes sediment was bioavailable P (NH₄Co-RP + BD - RP + NaOH - RP), which is about twice that reported in the literature for calcareous lakes. In order to model P cycling in the Muldrew Lakes, further research is required to determine the internal supply of P from the lakes' sediments and potential anthropogenic inputs ofP from private sewage disposal systems. La dynamique des nutriments dans un lac est influenceé par I'apport en phosphore (P) provenant de sources internes et externes. Malgré les efforts déployés pour contrôler le taux de P par réduction de I'apport externe, la qualityé de I'eau demeure un problème dans certains lacs à cause de la contribution interne provenant de la sédimentation de fond. Cette étude examine la distribution spatiale de formes chimiquement définies de P (NH₄CI-RP, BD-RP, NaOH-RP, HCI-RP, and NaOH₍₈₅₎-RP) présentes dans les sédiments de fonds de deux lacs non-calcaires du Bouclier Canadien. Les contenus en P des sediments sont reliés à certaines variables physiques et chimiques qui contrôlent I'apport interne des lacs. Le Bd-RP et le NaOH-RP sont reliés à la profondeur de I'eau ainsi qu'aux contenus non-résiduels de fer et d'aluminium du sédiment. Environ 80% du P pouvant être extrait du sédiment des lacs Muldrew éait du P (NH₄Cl-RP + BD-RP + NaOH-RP) biodisponible. Ceci représente le double de ce qui est rapporté dans la littéature pour des lacs calcaires. Afin de construire un modèle du cycle du P dans les lacs Muldrew, il est important de déterminer I'apport interne de P provenant de la sédimentation et les sources anthropiques potentielles provenant des systèmes d'égouts privés.