In The News

Middle East Protests: A Salafist Trap

Fawaz A. Gerges September 19, 2012
Modern Salafi beliefs emerged from a reform-oriented movement of the late 19th century. The movement eventually became more conservative, evolving into multiple forms. Evidence suggests that a small group of ultraconservative Salafis may have hijacked protests over an obscure, anti-Islamic film and orchestrated attacks on US embassies in the Middle East. “The Salafis are spearheading a drive to...

Non-Aligned Summit Belies Isolation of Iran

Dilip Hiro September 4, 2012
The Non-Aligned Movement was born out of the Cold War, as emerging economies looked to become partners in international relations, enhancing self-reliance and development without subservience to one superpower or another. NAM’s 16th summit was hosted by Iran, contradicting a notion that US-led sanctions are isolating the state. Instead, NAM endorsed Iran’s right to develop nuclear energy for...

Can India Revive Nonalignment?

Ashley J. Tellis August 28, 2012
India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is leading a large delegation to the summit meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran this week. A foreign policy of nonalignment – friends to all – is tempting for any state, but particularly for a populous democracy like India. Under Jawaharlal Nehru, India navigated the Cold War with such a policy of nonalignment, balancing ties and trade with both the...

Pakistan’s Taliban Nightmare

Zahid Hussain August 23, 2012
More than a decade of war in Afghanistan has devastated Pakistan economically and politically. Yet Pakistan is key to Afghan security, capable of acting as a regional enforcer or spoiler as the US and NATO plan to withdraw forces from Afghanistan before the end 2014. Contrary to what’s widely believed in the West, Pakistan isn’t pushing for Taliban rule in Afghanistan, but prefers that a...

Is Partition a Solution for Syria?

Dilip Hiro July 31, 2012
The roots of Syria’s intractable civil war rest in sectarian differences and a legacy of colonialism that divided a region’s people, favoring a few elites and suppressing dissenters. Today, the violence continues unabated. The bitter feud that divides Syria’s minority Alawites and Christians and the majority Sunni has similarities to the Hindu-Muslim division in British India. Author and South...

Syria: No End in Sight

Fawaz A. Gerges July 17, 2012
With Damascus in flames and massacres in the countryside, a diplomatic solution to the Syrian crisis seems impossible. International and regional powers are fiercely divided: The US and other Western powers won’t try a military intervention without approval from the UN Security Council. Russia and China, permanent members of the UN Security Council, threaten to veto military intervention, and US...

Mali: Refugee Flows and Increased Hunger Point to Need for Mali Federation

Rene Wadlow July 1, 2012
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees drew attention to the increased number of refugees and internally-displaced people in Mali – a crisis deteriorating a society and economy already in disarray. Analysts point to political conflict as a root cause. The UNHCR is experienced in assisting refugees, but has not addressed the underlying political issues. Two rival Tuareg groups, the Mouvement...