Middle East

Ameera Sami Economic sanctions have long been touted as a peaceful alternative to military intervention, a tool that allows nations to apply pressure on rogue states without firing a single shot. From curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions to addressing human rights violations in Myanmar, sanctions are often viewed as …

Dr. Shehab Al-Makahleh In recent years, the discourse surrounding the expansionist dream of “Greater Israel” has reemerged with unsettling prominence within Israeli politics. Figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a key representative of Religious Zionism, are now vocal proponents of a vision that stretches well beyond the borders …

Israel Mulls Its Iran Options: With considerable trepidation, the Middle East, and indeed the wider world, is awaiting Israel’s response to Iran’s massive October 1st missile barrage on the Jewish state. The White House, fearful of a wider regional war, is exerting massive (albeit mostly quiet) pressure for Jerusalem to …

Eng. Saleem Al Batayneh In psychology, there’s a phenomenon called Stockholm Syndrome, a condition where the victim begins to sympathize with and even feel loyalty toward their oppressor. This is an apt metaphor for what has been happening to the educational systems in many Arab countries. As we …

Social media has radically transformed the way people engage with politics and geopolitical issues. Platforms such as TikTok, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram have emerged as crucial arenas where political debates unfold, ideologies are shaped, and global issues are framed. The brevity of content, ease of …

The impending Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Islamabad on October 15-16, 2024, is a momentous event for Pakistan and the whole Eurasian region. Since becoming a full member in 2017, Pakistan has gradually increased its involvement in this significant regional group, which strives to improve political, economic, …

The Israel-Iran rivalry continues since establishment of Israel and the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and mistrust are deep and complex, predating the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948. The blatant, horrific, cross border terror attack by Hamas on October 07, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and …

Since the period of the Cold War, proxy warfare has been a common phenomenon involving major powers coming into indirect military confrontations in a third state through surrogate forces to reflect dissent or rivalry. The absence of direct engagement makes it a convenient and diplomatically arguable form of …

Crude oil has long been regarded as the lifeblood of the global economy, with its price fluctuations having profound effects on industries, nations, and consumers worldwide. Given its centrality to economic activity, any geopolitical instability, particularly in the Middle East, can lead to significant volatility in crude oil …