America’s longest war is finally coming to an end. This is the sentiment of many in the mainstream press who support decreasing America’s military footprint abroad to refocus energy on domestic issues like infrastructure and healthcare. But will American troop withdrawal bring Afghanistan stability? By September 11, 2021 the 20-year war may be officially over …
Continue reading U.S Withdrawal From Afghanistan Will Bring Regional Instability
The Middle East is currently in the beginning of a grand regional realignment, one so vast it is sending shock waves slowly altering the post-Cold War alliance system. As the Syrian Civil War winds down, a new phase in the conflict will give rise to great power competition. Syria will be the focal point where …
Why does this question matter? It matters because the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict is typically understood through dramatic headlines and snippets of information that obfuscates its arduous history. Attempting to answer this question is only part of a multilayered story, as the sovereignty claims of both Palestinians and Israelis do not exist in a …
Continue reading How Did Israel Get The West Bank And Is It Really An Illegal Occupation?
President Trump’s first foreign trip is turning out to be a strategic grand show of his worldview. His administration will attempt to shape Middle East policy in accordance with the Trumpian branding of winners and losers. Trump reaffirmed a strong commitment to building on the traditional alliance America has with both Saudi Arabia and Israel, …
Continue reading Retrograde Reset on Middle East Policy: Here’s Looking at You, Iran!
What is the potential for democracy in the Arab-Muslim World? This is the preeminent question that will dominate the Middle East for decades to come. The current civil wars raging in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Yemen will shape new political borders of the Middle East. These countries mark the frontiers for the development of new …
Continue reading Part 2: Islam, Democracy and Pluralism: Modernity in an Age of Arab Power Politics
Religion and Politics in a Changing International Order The balance between the role of religion in the construction of political authority has plagued not only contemporary society, but through the dawn of development in ancient society. The ideological doctrines of international relations and religion are irrevocably intertwined as competing entities and have historically been in …
Yesterday was an important day in the strategic realignment of Turkey’s new age power alliance system. Erdogan is attempting to stabilize Turkey’s regional standing after the failed July 15, 2016 coup by traveling to St. Petersburg as his first foreign trip. Erdogan is sending a loud message to the United States that he is willing …
Continue reading Quick Look: A New Power Triad of Russia, Turkey, and Iran?
The Middle East is currently in the beginning of a grand regional realignment, one that is sending shock waves that have permeated the post-Cold War alliance system. In order for the Middle East to stabilize, conditions must be conducive for a balance of power treaty that can bridge the divide between the Islamist driven politics …
Labeling a country, in this case Syria, a failed state is beset with political overtures and overarching consequences. The international community has given itself the power of principle but has been unable to administer a truly just cause when dictating the label “failed state.” The provisional notations used to outline the statistics of healthy states …
BACKGROUND Revolutionary fervor has swept the Middle East into a heavy pull of political discord and reactionary violence. What began as civilian protests in Syria has turned into a full-scale civil (and now regional) war with no end in sight. It is estimated that over 220,000 civilians have died in the conflict. There is documented …
Continue reading Strategies to Mitigate the Human Rights Violations by Assad Regime Forces
Report On The Nation 