Home / OPINION / Op-ed (page 5)

Op-ed

What the Mar Elias Church Bombing Means for Syria’s Future

Seth J. Frantzman The June 22 attack on the Mar Elias Church in Damascus underscores the threat of extremism in Syria even after the fall of Assad. The new government must demonstrate control and protect minorities. An attack on a church on Sunday, June 22, killed 25 people …

Read More »

Is Israel Going Back to War Against Iran?

Brandon J. Weichert For Jerusalem, the existing ceasefire would leave Iran’s nuclear program in place, and could never be allowed to hold. “I suggest the toothless snake-head in Tehran understand and beware: Operation Rising Lion was just the trailer for new Israeli policy—after October 7th, immunity is over.” …

Read More »

From Plato to Populism: The Crisis of Democracy as a Moral Idea

Nourinne Akhtar The idea of democracy has been more than a political system over centuries; from Plato’s Republic to the rise of twenty-first-century populism, it has been a moral aspiration, a promise of collective self-rule based on justice, equality, and human dignity. And today, that moral core seems …

Read More »

Strategic Trust and the Limits of Personal Politics in Southeast Asian International Relations

Pham Quang In the international relations structures in Southeast Asia, “strategic trust” acts as a glue between countries that are diverse in terms of institutions, histories, and national interests. Strategic trust can be understood as the extent to which one country believes that another country will not harm …

Read More »

Israel and the Unattainable Dream of Regional Dominance

Brian Hudson Despite Israel’s considerable military power in the Middle East, it can never achieve regional hegemony—a position that requires unquestionable dominance over all competitors and acceptance of its authority by neighboring countries. Since its establishment in 1948, Israel, relying on its military superiority and broad Western support, …

Read More »

Britain Between Two Worlds: Imperial Legacy and Post-Brexit Possibilities

Throughout modern history, Great Britain has consistently stood as the most influential political and economic power in the world. The country led the Industrial Revolution, established global trade routes, and was the ruler of a vast colonial empire; thus, Britain not only significantly changed the nature of the …

Read More »

How Will China Leverage the Iran Crisis?

Yen Mo U.S. President Donald Trump’s direct military intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict has complicated the Middle East situation, posing significant risks to both U.S. interests and his personal political future. Meanwhile, Tehran has little room for concessions, as excessive compromise could lead to loss of control over …

Read More »

Russia Signs Agreements Aim at Bolstering Economic Partnership with Republic of Mali

On June 23, President Vladimir Putin held a diplomatic meeting with Interim President of the Republic of Mali, Assimi Goïta, during an official visit to Russia, according to the Kremlin reports. Last time Assimi Goïta participated in the Russia-Africa Summit in St Petersburg in 2023, and his delegation’s …

Read More »

Only in Jordan: Three Years in Prison for Harnessing the Sun

Eng. Saleem Al Batayneh “In our neighborhood, there’s a savage rooster plucking feathers off the hens every morning,” wrote Nizar Qabbani in one of his biting poems. Today, the Seven Wonders of the World no longer astonish us. In Jordan, we’ve outdone them—with a new absurdity: a proposed …

Read More »