Author: Pascal Lottaz

As the prospect of peace at last hoves, however distantly, on to the horizon in Ukraine, there is much talk of ‘security guarantees’. They are assumed to be a necessary element of any peace deal, the key that will ensure that war does not recommence in the future. Zelensky, in particular, has been vociferous in his demands for western powers to guarantee any peace agreement with military force. Much western commentary, perpetually unquestioning of Ukrainian positions, follows and repeats this line.

Few people – whether in Georgia (Sakartvelo) or abroad – are aware of a remarkable book already translated into twelve languages: The Georgian Paradigm of Peace by Professor Zurab Khonelidze, president of the Georgian Academy of Education. This work deserves close attention not only from Georgian society but also from the wider international community, as it touches on one of the most urgent questions of our time: how to pursue peace in a world where conflict dominates the headlines.

The following is an essay by Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Professor at Columbia University, in which he proposes to reconceptualize the traditional colonialist notion of “spheres of interest” into what he regards as a prudential concept of “Spheres of Security”. The second part is an email exchange between Sachs and Professor John J. Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago—one of the world’s leading realist scholars in international relations—on the merits and pitfalls of the approach. The essay appeared first on the Neutrality Studies Substack.

Lasha Kasradze is an international relations analyst with a focus on the states of the former Soviet Union. He concentrates on the South Caucasus and the Black Sea regional affairs. As a keen observer of regional affairs, he has discussed conflicting geopolitical interests between the West and regional powers. Lasha has shared his analyses on the geopolitical podcast of the Stratfor/Rene company- a geopolitical analysis firm as well on YouTube platforms.This article was first published in 2 parts on ACURA.

By Pascal Lottaz What is the Law of Neutrality? The Law of Neutrality (NoL) is an old body of treaty law, common law, judicial decisions, and expert opinions on the Dos and Don’ts of third-party interactions with belligerent states on land and the sea. It has its roots in ancient European norms and state practices,…