PMFs as Ineffective, Unethical Counterinsurgents: The Case of Blackwater in Iraq
Introduction Private Military Firms (PMFs) are an emerging branch of actors in postmodern military conflict. While the use of ‘mercenaries’ goes back cent...
Category: Middle East
Our Middle East North Africa desk (MENA) covers the region of the Mediterranean from Morocco up to and including Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The Palestine Authority at a Political Crossroads
On January 21st, 2025, Israel Defense Forces launched a major military raid on Jenin in the occupied West Bank entitled “Operation Iron Wall”. The Israeli milit...
A New Order? The Changing Balance of Power in the Middle East Pt. III
Part 3: Saudi Arabia’s Ascendancy: Balancing Power, Partnerships, and Global Influence Saudi Arabia is emerging as one of the most consequential actors in the M...
A New Order? The Changing Balance of Power in the Middle East Pt. II
Part 2 : Russia’s Geopolitical Reckoning in the Middle East Russia’s historical engagement in the Middle East is entrenched in religious, cultural, and geopolit...
A New Order? The Changing Balance of Power in the Middle East Pt. I
Part 1: The Decline of Iran’s Regional Hegemony General Introduction Recent events in the Middle East are reshaping the region’s geopolitical landscape, s...
Fractured Alliances: The Ripple Effects of Assad’s Fall in the Caucasus
The fall of Assad’s regime came as a surprise, but Russia’s swift abandonment of one of its closest allies was even more unexpected. While Russia had previously...
Religion, Culture, and Legal Reform in Saudi Arabia
Originally published in May 2021 The guardianship system in Saudi Arabia consisted of a set of legal norms that, until recently, restricted women’s liberties. P...
A New Regime: The Middle East after Masoud Pezeshkian’s Election in Iran
On May 19, 2024, former Iranian president Ibraheem Raisi, among other comrades, died in an aircraft accident in Iran. Either he was killed in a natural accident...
Portraits of Erasure: The Ethnic Cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh
Two Artsakhtsis displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh in Goris, Armenia with the few possessions they managed to bring with them. | Credit: Anoush Baghdassarian. One ...
Israel, Palestine, and the Role of the Bystander: The View from London
Since Hamas’ attacks against Israel on October 7, and Israel’s subsequent invasion of Gaza, London has been deeply affected. Grief, anger, and pain permeat...