A Peace Deal in the Absence of Conflict
Following the announcement that Bahrain, too, had decided to enter into the so-called peace deal with Israel, I approached political analyst for the MENA region and facilitator for the UNITAR Masters in Peacekeeping and Post-Conflict Resolution, Dr. Nicolai Due-Gundersen, for
#DontExecute — a Surge of Unity and Frustration
Whilst the #DontExecute social media campaign has primarily been a show of Iranians’ strong solidarity as they unify in protest against the recent death penalty sentences of three demonstrators from the November protests, it has also been an opportunity to
Edging Towards a US-Iran War
On Jan. 2, 2020, General Qassem Soleimani was killed by American missiles which targeted his convoy near Baghdad International Airport — prompting the possibility of a U.S.-Iran war. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1213593975732527112 In order to fully grasp the significance of Soleimani’s killing, one cannot ignore that
Protests in Iran and the Reasons Behind Them
Iran protests’ death toll rises Since Nov. 15, Iran has been facing severe protests that erupted following the 300% increase in fuel prices, and later on becoming a bigger scale outcry against the current regime under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The
Why Is Hezbollah Likely to Endure?
Since its emergence, Hezbollah has been on the rise. Enduring Lebanon’s chaos, it gradually adapted to the country’s consociational democracy and became more embedded in the system. Bolstered by Iran, and Syria to some extent, Hezbollah is now a regional
US and India: Sustaining the Flow in a Choppy Indo Pacific
Against fast-changing geopolitics, with the global centre of gravity shifting away from the Trans-Atlantic, the term ‘Indo Pacific’ has entered the policy dictionary as the term capturing the amalgamation of the Indian and Pacific Oceans into a larger interconnected space
Iraq Protests: A Playground for Power
109 killed in Iraq Almost a week after the start last Tuesday, the anti-government protests in Iraq have taken a violent turn with 109 people killed and over 6,000 wounded so far. The demonstrations, mostly by young men in the Shia
Iranian Cinema: an evolution
If you had traveled to the Middle East as a professional journalist or an independent filmmaker, we would have probably been investigating the mysterious story of your disappearance. Otherwise, you should count yourself lucky if you are reading this article
TRUMP WATCH: The United States and France Together Forever!
Trump’s numerous tweets welcoming France’s President Macron on the first state visit of his administration, have been pompously presidential, replete with references to the long History linking the United States and France. He's updated his Twitter image to show off the
Women Worldwide Assert Their Power through Necessity
I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves. ― Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman Recently, the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights addressed students at the American University of Cairo: Women ruled over many
Drowning in Oil: Four Countries Suffering from Low Oil Prices
In the wake of this new shift in oil prices, countries that rely heavily on exporting crude oil are beginning to feel their budgets tighten. To stave off unemployment and possible social unrest, some states are taking drastic measures to increase
Diary of a UN Official #2: The Gentleman From Iran
My (Adventurous) Life at the United Nations: An Unexpected End to a Drafting Committee Session. 14 November 1991, 26th FAO Conference in Rome. I glance at my watch, midnight already. The delegates, thirteen in all, are sitting around the table, looking