The Fall 2014 issue of Connections presents ideas on the strengthening of the rapid reaction capability of the European Union and ways and means by which regional alliances may effectively confront hostile regional powers. It provides insight into the challenges and perspectives of the economic development of the Western Balkans and the peacefull, democratic transition of power in Georgia.

 The Fall 2016 issue of Connections is dedicated to the NATO Summit that took place in Warsaw, Poland in July 2016. During the Summit, heads of state and government of allied and partner countries discussed key security challenges.

The Summer 2016 issue of Connections is dedicated to the study of organized crime (OC). The lead article presents a study of the activities of organized crime groups in a megacity--Karachi--elaborating on their involvement in the implementation of important governance functions and the local political process. The second article takes a view on the global dimension of organized crime and thr role played by international organizations. In the third contribution, a member of the Latvian Parliament describes the OC challenges faced by this Eastern European country.

Advances in sensors, communications, computing, nano- and bio-technologies, along with new strategies and operational concepts, challenge our policy-making capacity. The Spring 2016 issue of Connections presents the Emerging Security Challenges Working Group of the PfP Consortium and reflections of some of its members on the secuity and policy implications of technological developments. The second group of papers complements these reflections, focusing on what is now called "hybrid warfare," non-state actors and cyber operations, in particular in the context of the ongoing Russian

The Winter 2016 issue of Connections presents original articles on Russia's hybrid warfare toolset an

The Fall 2015 issue of Connections: The Quarterly Journal addresses two main themes: (1) how the Ukraine crisis is perceived in Central Asia, and (2) can the NATO campaing against Milosevic in 1999 and the independence of Kosovo, declared several years later, serve as precedent, and justification, for Russia's annexation of Crimea. Other articles look into the related issues of how Russia sees its role in the European security architecture and Russia's response to the rising terrorist threat.

The theory of deterrence emerged with the advent of nuclear weapons to address the challenges of preparing for and preventing a full-scale nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union. This special issue on "Deterrence in International Security: Theory and Current Practice" features seven articles set in a post-Cold war context, with a resurgent and aggressive Russia perceived as the main threat for the countries on NATO and European Union’s Eastern flank.

Transparent and accountable, efficient and effective Defense Institution Build­ing (DIB) is one of the shared values that binds together NATO and Partners, an essential part of defense management and reform.