Category: Blogs

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SyriaSource

Feb 8, 2019

Bashar al-Assad and the Greater Arab World

By Dr. Ali Hussein Bakeer and Giorgio Cafiero

The outcome of the fourth Arab Economic and Social Development (AESD) summit held in Lebanon last month spoke volumes about the Middle East’s deep divisions. Iran’s role in the Levant and the question of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy are unquestionably polarizing issues in the region. Both have potential to slow down the process by […]

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

SyriaSource

Feb 8, 2019

Bashar al-Assad and the greater Arab world

By Dr. Ali Hussein Bakeer and Giorgio Cafiero

Iran’s role in the Levant and the question of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s legitimacy are unquestionably polarizing issues in the region. Both have potential to slow down the process by which Syria’s government, citizens, and fellow Arab states could reach agreement on a lasting settlement to the country’s eight-year civil war that could potentially pave the path for peace and stability returning to Syria.

International Organizations Politics & Diplomacy

New Atlanticist

Feb 8, 2019

Revisiting the Narrative About Hungary’s Relationship with Russia

By László Szabó

As a surgeon by profession, I believe in the saying: “Proper diagnosis is half the cure.” Recycling or pushing a narrative, or simply labelling the other, has never helped come to terms on anything, much less resolve a problem.

Hungary Politics & Diplomacy

IranSource

Feb 8, 2019

Iran’s Revolution, 40 Years On: Israel’s Reverse Periphery Doctrine

By Natan Sachs

Iranian-Israeli hostility is actually quite odd. Tehran is well over a thousand miles from Jerusalem. The two countries do not border each other. They have no major bilateral claims toward one another. Whereas large Arab neighbors of Iran, like Iraq or Saudi Arabia, might be considered its natural competitors, Israel cannot. Even fans of the […]

Iran Israel

IranSource

Feb 8, 2019

The Islamic Republic’s foreign policy at forty

By Ariane M. Tabatabai

Forty years have passed since disparate groups of revolutionaries—many of them united only in their opposition to the Imperial State of Iran’s alignment with the United States—toppled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Since then, hundreds of American scholars and practitioners have attempted to understand the Islamic Republic’s foreign policy and how to best respond to the […]

UkraineAlert

Feb 8, 2019

Legal Threats to Minister Imperil Ukraine’s Health Care

By Melinda Haring

Ulana Suprun just wants to get back to work turning around Ukraine’s feeble healthcare system. But she can’t focus on reforms now: the fifty-six-year-old radiologist turned health minister of Ukraine is under attack. Worst of all, she’s not sure who is behind it. On February 5, Kyiv’s Regional Administrative Court ruled to suspend Suprun’s authority […]

Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2019

Quiz: What in the world?

By Atlantic Council

In his second State of the Union address on February 5, US President Donald J. Trump laid out his vision for the year ahead. But do you remember what he said about the rest of the world? Take our quiz to see if you were paying attention. powered by Typeform

New Atlanticist

Feb 7, 2019

#StrongerWithAllies: This Icelander helps improve lives of Afghan women

By Hal Foster

“It’s very important to put the issue of gender-based violence and women’s rights front and center every day in how we train soldiers, in how we operate in the field, and how soldiers interact with civilians when they find themselves in combat zones," said Alfred Perla Baldursdottir.

Afghanistan NATO

UkraineAlert

Feb 7, 2019

Is the Kremlin Really Afraid of a Farmer?

By Vitalii Rybak

Birthdays are typically lavish affairs in Ukraine. But not for Volodymyr Balukh, who will spend his third birthday in prison for the simple act of displaying a Ukrainian flag in Crimea. On February 8, the Ukrainian farmer turns 48. His case shows how Moscow harshly punishes Ukrainians in Crimea who have the temerity to protest […]

Russia Ukraine

New Atlanticist

Feb 6, 2019

Trump-Kim summit: The Vietnam edition

By Ashish Kumar Sen

"The United States should facilitate denuclearization by maintaining a simultaneous and paralleled approach to seek diplomatic engagement and pressure," said Miyeon Oh, director of the Asia Security Initiative in the Scowcroft Center for Security and Strategy.

Korea Nuclear Nonproliferation