Category: Blogs

Understanding How the Syrian Conflict Politicized Religious Identity

By Basma Alloush

The Syrian conflict has transformed Syrians’ identity by politicizing religion, forcing Syrians to either associate with or disassociate from their religion. To better understand this identity transformation in the Syrian diaspora, I interviewed twenty-seven Syrians that have fled the country. The sample size, although small, included Sunni Muslims, Christians, Alawites, Ismaelis, atheists, and agnostics. The […]

Economic Incentives Seen as Catalyst for Atlantic-Pacific Partnership

By Jack Gloss

 Economic incentives, specifically the expansion of trade and increased investment in the Asia-Pacific region, could provide the best opportunity for strengthening the Atlantic-Pacific partnership, according to Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., chairman of the Atlantic Council. These economic incentives could serve as a point of common interest to overcome the geographic and political divisions among the […]

The Islamic World’s Response to Cyber Terrorism

By Wajdi Homaid Al Quliti

The cyber threat has finally come of age. In light of high-profile cyber breaches such as the Russian cyberattacks during the 2016 US presidential election and private information published on WikiLeaks, cyberspace is now unmistakably the new frontier of political conflict. Hacking is also fast becoming a tool in the arsenal of terrorist groups, creating […]

UK Prime Minister: Time for Allies to Step Up and Stop Outsourcing Their Security to the US

By Theresa May, Spectator

For more than two centuries, the very idea of America – drawn from history and given written form in a small hall not far from here – has lit up the world….

Flynn to Recommend Trump Back NATO Membership for Montenegro

By Andrew Hanna, Politico

White House national security adviser Michael Flynn will recommend that President Donald Trump support allowing the small Balkan nation of Montenegro to join NATO

Is Latin America the New Global Leader in Renewable Energy?

By Mae Louise Flato

Latin America is poised to take on a lead role on climate change and renewable energy in the global arena in 2017. The enormous potential and rapid spread of renewable energy in the region has fueled hope of a global transition to a low-carbon economy. The added bonus: an economic opportunity that extends well beyond […]

PYD Governance in Northeastern Syria

By Emily Burchfield

The Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is an influential actor in the Syrian conflict. Yet the PYD was excluded from recent peace talks in Astana at the request of Turkey, who jointly backed the negotiations with Russia and Iran. Turkey designates the PYD as a terrorist organization due to its ties to the Kurdistan […]

An Opportunity for Regional Leadership in South Asia

By Yelena Biberman

US President Donald Trump’s likely hands-off policy toward South Asia may provide an opportunity for Pakistan and India to address longstanding disputes and reap the long-awaited benefits of cooperation. While there is significant uncertainty about the next four years of US diplomacy, it is unlikely that Trump will succeed where so many before him failed. […]

Trump Pressuring NATO to Contribute More to the Fight Against Terrorism

By Julian E. Barnes, Wall Street Journal

[President Donald] Trump has called NATO obsolete and pushed allies to focus more on counterterrorism….

Transatlantic Unity Faces a Stress Test

Challenges emanating from the Mediterranean region, including those posed by failed states, terrorism, and a historic flow of migrants, have contributed to a surge in populism on both sides of the Atlantic that could imperil transatlantic unity and the European project itself, Alexander Vershbow, a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council, said on February 1. […]