South Africa: The Challenges of Liberation
he story of South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle is glorious, even romantic, that of its post-apartheid era, beginning with the country’s first democratic elections in April 1994, is less so.
All-Out-War between Ethiopia and Sudan on the Doorstep?
utual suspicion and unresolved border disputes have been major issues in the Ethiopia-Sudan relations for the past several decades.
Why Did the United States Add Israel to CENTCOM?
major reorganisation of US military operation in the Middle East was announced last month in a momentous decision reflecting the seismic geo-political shifts underway in the region.
Mutawasiloun: Palestinians Resist Israeli Attempts to Encage Them
n the summer of 2017, I attended an exceptional Palestinian wedding in Istanbul, where the groom was from the Gaza Strip, the bride was from the West Bank, and those in attendance were from every corner of historic Palestine, including Palestinians who hold Israeli citizenships.
Conspiracy Theories: Why Do They Appeal to Some People?
These threats, which tend to invoke feelings of anxiety or threaten people’s livelihood, appear to be readily accompanied by conspiracy theories that offer alternative explanations for official narratives.
Bitcoin: The New Global Reserve Currency?
hen bitcoin first emerged in 2009 in the aftermath of the greatest financial crisis in human history in 2008, its utility was questioned and scrutinised.
Gulf Regional Rift Mended but Will It Extend to Turkey?
n the wake of the Arab Awakening in 2011, ties between Turkey and the Gulf duo, namely Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), began to deteriorate.
Genocide as a Label of Choice: Why Some Genocides Are More Equal Than Others
ndeniably some genocides are accorded more importance than others, explaining the wealth of material on the Second World War compared to other genocides.
False Hopes: How the Palestinian Elections Will Only Reinforce Division
n what seemed a surprising move, the Palestinian Authority (PA) president Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree on January 15, announcing that general elections will take place in Palestine this year.
Designating Houthis as Terrorists Changes Very Little
n 10 January, then-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the U.
The Arrest of Alexey Navalny: Who in Russia Is Afraid of the Kremlin Critic?
hile the United States focused on its domestic problems – primarily the sociopolitical consequences of the storming of Capitol Hill and Joe Biden’s immediate signing of executive orders and actions – Russian authorities detained the Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny upon his return to Moscow from Germany.
Will Latin America Turn into Another Domain of Right-Wing Politics?
orberto Bobbio (1909-2004), the erudite Italian philosopher, noted that the distinction between ideological right and left lies “in the different attitudes that both sides automatically assume towards the idea of inequality.
Gantz, Netanyahu, Bennett and Israeli Politics in a Stalemate
he upcoming Israeli elections - the fourth in two years - bring little promise of change.
Kuwait’s Parliament Abstains from Foreign Policy Yet Shapes Public Opinion
ver a month ago, Kuwait concluded its parliamentary elections for the 16th legislative term.
Hatem Ali’s Contribution to a Collective Memory Spirited by Drama, History, and Politics
he sudden passing of Hatem Ali, 58, a highly-respected Syrian film director and actor caused a storm in social media in the Arab world with people recalling his legacy and his priceless contribution to cinema.
French “Enlightenment Islam” and State Authoritarianism
rench president Emmanuel Macron gives a positive definition of laicism: "Laicism is the freedom to believe or not believe.
How Turkey and Saudi Arabia Compete in the Balkans
thno-religious diversity and the strategic location of the Balkans have always attracted global and regional actors.
Malaysia and Turkey: Old Friends, New Allies?
hilst modern-day official diplomatic relations between Malaysia and Turkey were established in 1964, the ties between the two countries predate the modern era.
The Insurrection and Its Discontents: American Exceptionalism Revisited
istory is rewritten in the United States today.
Capitol Hill Attack Is the Logical Endgame of Trumpism
ast week, Donald Trump’s unhinged term as president came to a terrifying crescendo as he incited an insurrectionary mob of thousands of cult-like devotees to storm the Capitol in a last-ditch bid to overturn the will of the people and prevent Congress from ceremonially counting the Electoral College votes which officially make Joe Biden the next president.
