All Articles
The Future of Europe: Break up or federalism?
Either the eurozone moves to a federation or it eventually breaks up, bringing the world economy to its knees in the process. The choice is clear and the consequences of that choice could define our generation.
The A-Word
Is society wrong for interpreting the word “apartheid” as inflammatory, or are Israeli Apartheid Week organizers just turning away more heads from their cause?
Capitalizing on Coal
Coal seam gas, a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds, has the ability to make Australia one of the world’s largest energy exporters. At the same time, it has the potential to create a social and environmental catastrophe.
The More, the Merrier?
What Singapore is dealing with now is really happening everywhere, in myriad shapes and forms. It is a zero-sum game of demographic musical chairs; in the crudest of terms spoken by the most reactionary among us, it is Mexicans going to America, Eastern Europeans going to Western Europe, and Chinese and Indian people going everywhere.
Oscars and Nukes
As the dance between Iran and the international powers-that-be rushes onward, we need to consider the viability of pursuing political agreements when social understanding is not only absent, but obstructive.
A Mecca of Science
Is KAUST truly a symbol of modernity and progress in Saudi Arabia, or is it a superficial guise that uses the immense wealth of the elite to attract talent from abroad, create talent out of a largely unskilled population, and most importantly generate a return on the investment?
Qatar: Football as Soft Power
Tiny Qatar, tapping its vast resources into this cash-strapped but immensely popular global sport, is tactfully increasing its global standing. Football is essentially another form of diplomacy.
The Many-Faced Jihad
For one, groups within this evolving network must be understood for what they represent, and henceforth analyzed for the magnitude of threat they pose. After that, solutions must be pursued on a region level, and direct and combative action on the part of international players and the United States must be avoided.
Cairo Voted No
It’s becoming apparent that Morsi needs to strike a balance between upholding the principles of democracy he claims to champion, and keep his popularity high in a nation where the people of Tahrir are still truly empowered.
Lessons From Mali
Only when the European Union adopts a truly collective and consensual foreign policy will it matter internationally.
Is Jordan Next?
The democratically inadequate electoral law and its disproportionate representation still remain as fundamental issues, and the prospects for immediate and sweeping reform are dubious at best.
Blurry Lines
There is no sense in persisting with laws that punch far above their weight. But the solution to that is not, as sometimes I think humanitarian organizations imply, to rip out the core of (for all its faults) a functional and effective legal system in exchange for “globally mandated” ideas.
My Humble Reply
Before we go on to perpetuate present failures, it is imperative we consider all options. And the only way to fairly do so is to question long held approaches, reexamine present circumstances, and formulate prudent, yet innovative ideas.
A Response to “A Modest Proposal”
Israel’s existence should not be put at risk because the Palestinian people, understandably, are frustrated and have come to find jingoistic pride in their militant landlord.
A Modest Proposal
The peace process needs a reset. Hamas is here to stay, and so it's time for Israel to include it as a piece of the puzzle, or at least try to.
Both Right and Wrong
" The other notion suggests not shying away from the inconsistency, but embracing it. One can see Morsi as both a responsible pragmatic arbiter, and a dictatorial Islamist leader, for he is both, and one can see Israel as responsible in its attempts to limit the casualties of a complicated war but also strategically shortsighted in building in E1, for both are true."
Bribe and Punishment
Cover Story: Fall 2012“The problem is that in Brazil you don’t convict. I’ve been in court for seven years, yet this is the second time we attempt to reach conviction. This course of action is still very novel to me and to other judges.”
Egypt’s Party Scene
At present, the Egyptian political scene sees the negotiations over its constitution as its primary struggle for the future. The political climate, nonetheless, that will emerge is not bound by new laws: It is an ethos that will characterize how the country expresses its pluralistic interests for years to come.
Sanctioning Progress
The short-term goal of halting Iran’s nuclear program can and should be coupled with the long term goal of fostering a more democratic, open Iran, if only because the sanctions that target those worth targeting and a diplomacy that offers Iran a path to legitimacy are ultimately the solutions to both these issues.