Blog Post
The Belfer Center welcomes the new century with enthusiasm and high expectations. The research of our faculty and fellows continues to be of the highest quality and our interactions with policy makers and opinion shapers continue to grow.
This issue highlights several of the ways in which the Center addresses breaking developments and engages the policy community.
Watching Russia has never been without its surprises, but the past few months have brought more unexpected and significant turns than usual. The devastating war in Chechnya, the unpredictable race for the Duma, Yeltsin''s surprise resignation, and Putin''s astonishing rise in the polls have kept our team of Russia analysts on their toes and have caused us to consider Russia''s future with some trepidation.
We continue to produce our widely-circulated Russian Election Watch, which offers expert assessments of the Russian political situation, and our team has been pumping out analysis and articles to help those concerned about Russia keep track of the changing situation there.
In Russia''s changing political circumstances, we have kept our eye on the threat of loose nukes in the former Soviet Union. A new report from a task force chaired by former Senator Sam Nunn, and including myself and STPP Assistant Director Matt Bunn, lays out a specific agenda of initiatives to manage the risk of unprotected nuclear materials.
On the home front, we have stepped up efforts to strengthen American defenses against terrorism by working to improve response efforts and communication through the Executive Session on Domestic Preparedness directed by Richard Falkenrath.
Finally, we are proud to introduce a new initiative into the Center. As the oil-rich and strategically located Caspian Sea region comes under increasing scrutiny from energy corporations and interested governments, it is fitting that the Center step up its work on this important region. Our new Caspian Studies Program, under the auspices of the SDI project, will help improve understanding and awareness of this area.
-Graham T. Allison