In The News

Tunisia Remains Arab Spring’s Lone Success Story

Chris Miller February 5, 2015
The wave of protests that swept through the Middle East in 2011, known as the Arab Spring, rocked governments and ended a handful of dictatorships. Citizens of those countries anticipated a new era in the region’s politics amid the power of activism. “All of the revolts of 2011, except for Tunisia’s, have ended in tragedy,” notes Chris Miller, PhD candidate at Yale University and research...

US Standing in the Middle East

Immanuel Wallerstein December 22, 2014
Ongoing use of force in the Middle East is weakening the United States. Sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein argues the country’s problems are structural and briefly outlines the history of US conflicts throughout the latter part of the 20th century. The unnecessary US invasion of Iraq in 2003 accelerated the country’s decline: “This was seen by the interventionists as a mode of restoring waning U.S...

The Lost Children: France Takes Stock of Growing Jihadist Problem

Julia Amalia Heyer November 19, 2014
In regulating immigration, policy planners anticipate newcomers to assimilate, especially over generations. Most do, but children of immigrant families long settled in France are often intrigued by jihad. Julia Amalia Heyer profiles a French family – the mother atheist and the father Muslim – whose 17-year-old daughter traveled to Antakya on the Turkish-Syrian border and then called home to...

WWII Celebration Plans by Putin and Xi to Score Points

Stein Tønnesson November 13, 2014
The end of World War II was met with relief and massive infrastructure investment, and some one-time enemies even became close allies. Celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the war’s end may revive old animosities. Presidents of Russia and China are organizing a joint commemoration, and the early planning includes harsh rhetoric. Both countries have agendas. At a time when the West and Japanese...

Dueling Elections in Ukraine Test EU-Russian Ties

Chris Miller November 4, 2014
Two sets of elections expose a deep divide among Ukrainian citizens over support for closer ties with the European Union versus traditional reliance on Russia: With a reported 60 percent turnout, the October 26 parliamentary elections gave the president and prime minister a majority that will allow them to pursue economic and political reforms and forge closer ties with Europe. Elections in...

Specter of Islamic State Looms Over Pakistan

Farhan Bokhari October 30, 2014
After conquering towns in Iraq and Syria, and now under air attack in those same places, the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, is no doubt searching for additional recruits and countries in chaos. Sunnis represent about 90 percent of Muslims, and the Islamic State promotes an extreme version. The terrorist group could turn to Sunni extremists in Pakistan next – perhaps part of an effort to...

Jihadists Leverage Social Media to Condemn US-Led Airstrikes

Matthew Hillburn October 3, 2014
Islamic State extremists rely on social media, specifically Twitter, to critique US airstrikes in Syria and Iraq. Tweets show graphic images of civilian deaths, exaggerate IS military success and issue threats to civilians of specific nations. Verification of the report or a reason for such deaths is impossible in the war zone. The jihadists also criticize Arab nations participating in the air...