In theory, Turkey is a NATO ally. In theory, also, Turkey is in negotiations with the European Union for full membership. In reality, both are illusions. In April, the European Council on Foreign Relations surveyed more than 17,000 people in 12 European countries. The survey found that: “Turkey is the …
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Digital Authoritarianism and Nonviolent Action: Challenging the Digital Counterrevolution
Nonviolent action campaigns are one of the most common ways citizens seek to peacefully change nonresponsive political systems. Yet recently developed and emergent technologies are transforming the nature of interactions between activists and authoritarian governments. This report examines the increasingly sophisticated set of tools—such as facial recognition and surveillance of …
Read More »How to Pull Lebanon out of its Torturous Fall
Ahead of next year’s legislative elections, international accountability and public engagement will be key to countering endemic corruption. A year after the horrific Beirut port explosion on August 4, 2020, the legal pursuit of justice and accountability is proving pointless. Little to no progress has been made, due to how …
Read More »Four Years After ISIS, Iraq’s Tal Afar Remains Riven by Communal Divisions
What can help allay perceptions of marginalization and tension in the district? Iraq is a country beset by a host of political, security, economic and social challenges, including addressing the human legacy of the Islamic State’s (ISIS) rampage through the country just a few years ago. Almost four years after …
Read More »As China Poses Challenges, Europe Makes its Presence Known in the Indo-Pacific
Germany, the U.K. and France deploy warships as Europe increasingly recognizes the security challenges posed by China’s rise. A German frigate that left the country yesterday for the Indo-Pacific region will be Berlin’s first warship to cross the South China Sea in almost 20 years. This follows the United Kingdom’s …
Read More »India, Pakistan Watch Warily as Taliban Move to Takeover
Afghanistan’s neighbors all prefer a negotiated political settlement — but are preparing for a worst-case scenario. The Taliban’s rapid advances have caught the region and the United States off guard. The deterioration in security has forced India, along with many other countries, to retrench its diplomatic presence in the country, …
Read More »Lebanese Druze confront, detain Hezbollah rocket crew after it fires at Israel
Angry villagers in Chouya accuse terror group of endangering lives by firing from near civilian areas; Lebanon army arrives, confiscates launcher, arrests 4 suspects Druze residents in a southern Lebanese village halted the Hezbollah crew with its rocket launchers that had fired into Israel on Friday, and detained its members …
Read More »Israel warns of ‘overt and covert’ response if Hezbollah rocket fire continues
IDF carries out artillery strikes in response to 19-rocket barrage by terror group, heaviest since 2006 war; Hezbollah releases video of rocket fire Israel is preparing a wide range of military and covert responses to a barrage of 19 rockets fired at Israel on Friday by the Hezbollah terror group, …
Read More »Hezbollah fires 19 rockets at Israel, in heaviest barrage since 2006 war
Military says 10 projectiles were intercepted by air defenses, 6 struck open areas and 3 landed in Lebanon; terror group says attack was in response to recent Israeli airstrikes Nineteen rockets were fired at northern Israel from Lebanon on Friday morning, sending residents in a number of towns in the …
Read More »Can Yemen Maintain Its Territorial Integrity? – Analysis
Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansur Hadi, backed by the Saudi alliance, seems unable to enforce territorial unity throughout his shrunken sphere of influence. Not even against allied powers. Incidents on two islands offshore from Yemen suggest as much. Among the greatest attractions of the Arabian Peninsula are Yemen’s mud skyscrapers, …
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