Understanding the Chinese Approach to Gulf Affairs

[Muhammad Zulifikar Rakhmat] China’s expanding role in the Gulf during recent years has prompted much analysis, from both inside and outside the PRC. While these studies have enriched our understanding to a certain extent, they often fail to provide a sufficiently nuanced interpretation. A more comprehensive approach is necessary. The existing literature on China-GCC relations frequently … Continue reading Understanding the Chinese Approach to Gulf Affairs

Are We Really on a Road to Nowhere?

[Robin Limb] Food production is a unique industry - without it, nothing else happens. Unfortunately, it has also become a highly politicized industry, with stakeholders of all colors and creeds rushing to join the party. It is no longer just about putting food on your plate: it involves multinational giants, NGO's, governmental organizations, and many others besides, all with their own agenda to peddle.

Climate Change is Happening, But Not Global Warming

[Robin Limb] One by one, there are more and more reputable scientists and commentators coming off the fence and admitting that there is no real, peer-reviewed, evidence that man-made global warming is to blame for the natural weather events that we observe on a daily basis.

Civil Wars, Use of Force and International Peace

[Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra] Western security perspective’s preoccupation with the enforcement of rights of individuals may call for international intervention taking an intense form bent on a regime change even at the expense of human security.

Quds Force a Threat for Peace in the Middle East

[Manish Rai] Qud force, which is the Iranian regime’s primary foreign action arm for executing its policy of supporting terrorist organizations and extremist groups across the region and around the world, is clearly an obstacle for the process of peacemaking and stabilization in the Middle East.

“Smart” Protectionism is Here to Stay

[Daniel Wagner] The tension between populism and globalization can only grow with time, particularly during the disruptive period we are in. As a result, there is clearly a role for smart protectionism to play, which will undoubtedly grow in the future.

The Iran Nuclear Agreement is not Worth Saving

[Daniel Wagner] The US made its position on Iran deal perfectly clear and soon Europe’s position will be as well. It is now up to the Iranians whether the Iran deal continues to exist, or a new, improved agreement is ultimately crafted.

Turkey’s President: Short Term Victory, Long Term Trouble

When Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for a presidential and parliamentary election June 24—jumping the gun by more than a year—the outcome seemed foreordained: the country is under a state of emergency, Erdogan has imprisoned more than 50,000 of his opponents, dismissed 140,000 from their jobs, jailed a presidential candidate, and launched an … Continue reading Turkey’s President: Short Term Victory, Long Term Trouble

The Rise of the Middle in the Era of “Hybrid” Politics

[Daniel Wagner] Not so long ago, voting age Americans were either Democrat or Republican, Liberal or Conservative, and a climate change denier or a bunny hugger. It was deemed safe to stake out a position at one end of the political spectrum or the other, under the assumption that most people were not “lost” somewhere … Continue reading The Rise of the Middle in the Era of “Hybrid” Politics

New Alliance Could Re-shape Middle East

An unusual triple alliance is emerging from the Syrian war, one that could alter the balance of power in the Middle East, unhinge the NATO alliance, and complicate the Trump administration’s designs on Iran. It might also lead to yet another double cross of one of the region’s largest ethnic groups, the Kurds. However, the … Continue reading New Alliance Could Re-shape Middle East

‘Why, This Isn’t Cuba’

[David Swanson] Back in the 1890s those who believed conquering a continent was killing enough (without taking over Hawaii, the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, etc.) included Speaker of the House Thomas Reed. He clipped an article out of a newspaper about a lynching in South Carolina. He clipped a headline about “Another Outrage in Cuba.” … Continue reading ‘Why, This Isn’t Cuba’

Indonesia’s Inadequate Protections for Migrant Workers

[Muhammad Zulifikar Rakhmat] A month ago, on March 18, Saudi Arabian authorities beheaded Muhammad Zaini Misrin, a 53-year-old Indonesian driver despite pleas for clemency by President Joko Widodo. Zaini, who allegedly killed his employer in 2004, went to his death insisting he was not guilty. Migrant Care, an Indonesian organization focusing on the welfare of … Continue reading Indonesia’s Inadequate Protections for Migrant Workers