Global Political Insight

The looming crisis of the Islamic State (IS) has propelled numerous countries into panic. Others, meanwhile, calmly stand their ground, even if their interests appear somewhat threatened by the advent of this transnational Islamist organisation. China is one such nation. 10 % of its oil is drawn from Iraq, where IS is most prominent. China […]

Since the global debate on how to combat the threat of terrorism began, the common phrase ‘One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter’ has dominated the dialogue, as unfortunately, it is relevant. Moreover, since the fall of 2000, multilateral organizations have continued efforts to develop a comprehensive convention on international terrorism with little or […]

Since September 11th 2012, the realm of international politics has revolved around the combat and suppression of international terrorism. It is difficult to understand why the threat of global terrorism has become such a struggle, as states are exposed to much greater security threats than that of an international terrorist attack. However, the alarmist nature […]

ALTHOUGH they revile democracy, thousands of European Muslims have, in Lenin’s line, ‘voted with their feet’ and left free societies to join the most reactionary terror group in the world: the Islamic State (Isis). Over 3000 have left their families, relative material comfort and wealth, and in many cases university places, to go to the […]

While the disagreement over Ukraine remains a long-term irritant in Russian relations with Europe, it is still too early to speak about the beginning of the new Cold War. In other regions of the world, both sides face challenges that may demand joint cooperation. Currently, there are three main issues that require collaboration in the […]

Tripoli, the capital of the Lebanese Sunnis and Lebanon’s second largest city after Beirut, became a battleground for sectarian strife between different groups (Alewites and Sunnis); a conflict exacerbated by the spillover of the Syrian civil war in Lebanon. The “Capital of the North” (Tripoli) has not fully recovered from the on-going battle between its […]

The ‘jihadist turn’ of the Syrian Civil War has brought into focus a familiar set of Western neuroses.  Terror, security, militant Islam, the unparalleled (or so we are told) horrors of ISIS; all are invoked as justifications for a renewed campaign of military intervention in the Middle East.  These claims are of course closely related […]

The votes have been counted; Britain is off to join another war in Iraq. Declared in 2001, the fact the ‘War on Terror’ is still raging is a telling sign that the tactics are not working. When two innocent British hostages are beheaded, and videos of their execution are distributed over the internet, it is […]

Kurdish protestors rallied across the world, from Britain to Iran, demanding more support for the militias fighting against the Islamic State (ISIS). Particularly in the besieged city of Kobane, on the Turkey-Syria border, where ISIS has attacked for over three weeks. At least 500 people have died in the conflict, which has brought Jihadism right […]

The United States should take this opportunity to reset relations with the Middle East’s main political player. Politics is a fickle game, especially when the United States is involved. Twelve years on from President Bush’s famous Axis of Evil speech, which condemned Iran as a supporter of terrorism, and the chief architect of their crippling […]

In wake of the recent announcement by Al-Qaeda chief, Ayman al Zawahiri, calling for an Islamist resurgence, India has become the organization’s newest target, but despite the fiery rhetoric, the futile attempt to influence and tap into India’s 175 million Muslim population for recruitment hasn’t in the slightest had the effect Ayman al Zawahiri was […]

Terrorism in itself is an invasive and feared act in the modern world. Throughout the evolution of terrorism, tactical innovations have been made by terrorist organizations to complete their goals more effectively. In recent years, terrorist organizations have shown interest in using weapons of mass destruction to incite fear in their adversaries, but the viability […]

The morning of 14th September 2014 brought the anticipated yet chilling news that ISIS had executed their third Western prisoner since sweeping so abruptly from the splintered rebel-held territories of Syria into Northern Iraq and onto the global political stage. The death of David Haines – following that of James Foley and Steven Sotloff – […]

As the stand-off between Russia and the West continues, one organisation seems to be completely off the radar, and yet has managed to make great strides in its development and growth. This organisation is the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), an intergovernmental group of Central Asian countries aiming to promote cooperation between its six member states:Russia, China, […]

Kurdistan is a roughly defined geo-cultural region, encompassing areas of Northern Iraq, South Turkey, West Iran, and East Syria. The Kurdish people are an ethnic group in the Middle East who inhabit the area Kurdistan. Kurdish settlements have been present in the area documenting back to the medieval period existing during the 16th to 19th […]