Geopolitics

Bilveer Singh Chinese Uighurs are adding a new dimension to the threat of terrorism in Southeast Asia. Battle-hardened, ideologically fortified and networking with Islamic State, the Uighur militants pose a new challenge to the region that can also complicate ties with China. A few days prior to Christmas …

Saeed Alikhani Italy and France were destinations for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s first official trips following the removal of sanctions that had been imposed on Iran over its peaceful nuclear program. During these trips, Rouhani was accompanied with a 200-member delegation, which consisted of officials at the highest …

Oil rates have recently witnessed fluctuations after reported intentions of Saudi Arabia and Russia cutting back their production to support oil prices. Rates increased after OPEC announced collaboration supporting oil prices side by side with extra-OPEC producers. London and New York based oil markets had closed weekly trade …

Victor Mikhin The lifting of sanctions against Iran is, according to many political scientists, a significant compromise that postpones the risk of a global armed conflict in the region. It also means that in the nearest future the Iranian market, desperate for foreign investment and advanced technologies, will …

Jason Ditz ISIS has carried out several attacks on oil installations this month, sparking the White House to seriously considering yet another war in the Middle East. With several Pentagon officials, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joe Dunford and Press Secretary Peter Cook …

Prof. Muhammad Sahimi Ever since Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy for president, she has tried to present herself as a progressive whose “inevitable” election will be a historic moment for the United States, and perhaps even the world. After Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders entered the race and began …

Mel Gurtov The growing rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran is reportedly causing great consternation in US policy making circles.  Once again, US officials are called upon to decide whether to support an ally that isn’t behaving in accord with US interests, significantly modify the relationship, or abandon …

Rajeshwari Krishnamurthy The concept of using ‘counter-narratives’ to counter extremist propaganda is a strategy aimed to provide alternate narratives, to counter the narratives employed by extremist groups – the Islamic State (IS) especially – to attract, condition, and to recruit potentially vulnerable individuals, especially youth. Given the high …