Book Review: “The Rule is for None but Allah: Islamist Approaches to Governance”, by Joana Cook and Shiraz Maher, eds.
ISIS represented only an extreme manifestation of the use and abuse of Islam as a justification for governance.
Hedge and Wedge: Saudi Arabia Approaching China and Russia
China and Russia’s challenge remains how to effectively engage Saudi Arabia, either through BRICS or individual efforts, by hedging or wedging.
COP28 is Middle East’s Last Chance to Avoid Climate Catastrophe
The COP28 summit has ambitious goals with particular relevance to the Middle East, ensuring the region plays a key role in fighting climate change.
The Hamas-Israel War and parallels with the Tet offensive in Vietnam
The Hamas-Israel war and its historical precedent have generated a lot of ink. A more apt comparison lies far outside of Israel—in Vietnam in 1968.
Is Abdul Hamid Dbeiba’s Government Reaching its Expiration Date in Libya?
While Dbeiba appears to have survived this crisis as protests have died down in Libya, he seems increasingly entrenched in Tripoli, encircled both politically and, potentially, militarily by his opponents. The fate of his government and the potential resurgence of armed conflict hinges on how the next few weeks unfold as Dbeiba tries to balance delicate alliances.
How the United Arab Emirates Has Promoted Tolerance, Co-Existence and Multiculturalism to Confront Religious Violence
The UAE has long anchored its religious model on the paradigm that the moral antidote to Islamist radical ideologies is based on a politically quietist conceptualisation of Islam.
Power Play in Syria: How Wagner Mercenaries, Economic Stakes and Shifting Alliances Influence the Balance Between Russia, Iran and the Assad Regime
The Wagner group, with military and economic stakes in Syria, could potentially influence Russian and Iranian interests in the conflict-ridden nation.
On the War In Sudan: A Regional Crisis Looms
The conflict in Sudan is the latest example of how the country at the crossroads of the Horn of Africa remains highly relevant to international affairs.
Turkey’s Risky Monetary Policy Experiment
Turkey’s economy has been struggling in recent years, experiencing a rapid depreciation of the lira, and a surge in inflation.
Assad Out of the Cold…Again
It seems to be a bit of a dance right now regarding normalising with Assad. The agreements between Damascus and its Arab brothers cannot be expected to pass muster for long.
