The Prague Security Studies Institute continues its PSSI Perspectives, regular short memos on select security-related topics. 

Dr. Jana Robinson’s article “Arctic Space Challenge for NATO Emerging from China’s Economic and Financial Assertiveness” was published in the 30th edition of the Journal of the Joint Air Power Competence Centre. 

The paper assesses the impact of COVID-19 on different external influences, which have already been steadily increasing in recent years, in the six Western Balkan countries. It offers insights into different forms and levels of engagement by Russia, China, Turkey as well as the US and the EU, establishing a better understanding of their agendas and strategies, and also providing data for future research on and analyses of this topic.

The paper identifies and analyses opportunities and challenges, which the EU is facing in the region as it tries to regain its leverage there. It starts from the oft-repeated premise that of all foreign actors, only the EU has the capacity to gradually stabilize and normalize the Balkans, examines the roots of the acute misunderstanding and miscommunication between EU and Balkan officials and outlines possible recommendations that could help the EU in tackling Balkan challenges.

The Prague Security Studies Institute introduces PSSI Perspectives. These will be regular short memos on select security-related topics, including breaking developments affecting Czech and regional security, Chinese and Russian business transactions or projects of strategic and/or security concern, and the attraction of U.S. and European capital and investments by corporate “bad actors” of adversary states.

In an August 10 report, PSSI critiques the five recommendations of the U.S. Presidential Working Group on Financial Markets addressing risk-related concerns regarding China. 

Societies in crises tend to be more suspicious, confused and susceptible to false stories. In this regard, the current Coronavirus pandemic represents a tremendous challenge. The governments are confronted with tackling not only COVID-19 impact on the public health, but also on the information space where disinformation and misinformation has already caused a lot of confusion in an already critical situation.

Pokud chceme být zemí budoucnosti založenou na využití moderních technologií, musíme si uvědomovat komplexní rizika spojená s jejich užíváním. Naše aktuální studie se v tomto kontextu zaměřuje především na čínské technologické firmy, které české či spojenecké instituce vyhodnotily jako potenciálně rizikové s ohledem na národní bezpečnost. 

PSSI’s Space Security Program Director, Dr. Jana Robinson, contributed as an editor to the second edition of the Handbook of Space Security by Springer Publishing International. Her chapter introduction, entitled “Space Security Policies and Strategies of States”, was released in June 2020. (link available here)