In The News

The Guardian: Qatar Given 10 Days to Meet 13 Sweeping Demands by Saudi Arabia

Patrick Wintour June 24, 2017
Saudi Arabia is demonstrating insecurity and intolerance for other points of view by leading a trade and diplomatic embargo against tiny neighbor Qatar and then issuing a 13-part ultimatum. Saudi Arabia’s population is 15 times larger than Qatar’s 2.2 million. Qatar denies that it funds or harbors terrorists, and certainly not more than Saudi citizenss have been reported to do. The demands...

Middle East Review: Iraq and a “Road to the Sea”?

Seth J. Frantzman June 22, 2017
Iraq is a Shia-majority nation and its neighbor Iran is more than 90 percent Shia. Dozens of Shia militias known as popular mobilization units are securing Iraq by controlling territory taken from the Islamic State. The units have established a strategic corridor linking Tehran and Syria. This extends Iranian influence in the region, explains Seth J. Frantzman for the Middle East Review of...

Reuters: Saudi King Empowers Young Reformer Son

Stephen Kalin and William Maclean June 22, 2017
The king of Saudi Arabia changed the line of succession, replacing his nephew with a 31-year-old son. “Mohammed bin Salman's appointment may make Saudi policy more hawkish against long-time enemy Iran and other Gulf rivals such as Qatar, increasing volatility in an already unstable region,” reports Reuters. “Outside Saudi Arabia, that rapid advance and the sudden changes to longstanding...

EurasiaNet.org: Moscow’s Perennial Quest for Recognition

Igor Torbakov June 13, 2017
US intelligence agencies point the finger at Russia for attempting to intervene in US and other democratic elections, but the shenanigans won’t increase Russian influence. “The rise of Donald Trump’s administration in the United States was supposed to be a boon for Russia,” explains Igor Torbakov of Uppsala University. “Instead, it has become a source of profound disappointment for the Kremlin.”...

Reconstruction of Chinese History for a Peaceful Rise

Suisheng Zhao June 13, 2017
China is rising and its leaders vow this rise will be peaceful. A shared history can be a motivating force, binding citizens together. “Some leaders, though, selectively use historical memories to serve political and strategic objectives,” explains Suisheng Zhao, professor and director of the Center for China-US Cooperation at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver...

Project Syndicate: Brexit Strategy for a Weak UK Government

Ngaire Woods June 12, 2017
By calling for a snap election, Prime Minister Theresa May weakened rather than strengthened her hand in approaching negotiations with the European Union over Brexit. Negotiators have less than two years to reach a deal or request an extension. So far, Britain is making three elementary negotiating mistakes, explains Ngaire Woods for Project Syndicate. The country’s leaders have framed the...

The Guardian: UK General Election Result to Impact Brexit Talks

Jon Henley June 9, 2017
Political leaders in democracies need solid support before embarking on sweeping policy changes. In Britain, Theresa May miscalculated in calling for a general election to strengthen her hand before Brexit negotiations. Instead, the snap election, with a greater turnout by young voters, resulted in a hung parliament. The country remains divided over how to proceed on Brexit - in the 2016...