Kurdistan as a Geopolitical Playground
The region often referred to as Kurdistan, split between four areas in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria, has long played a role as a conflicted […] More
Security/Stability
An Ancient Strategic Riddle
The systemic and historical structure of Turkish-Iranian competition over Kurdish geography is one of the oldest geostrategic riddles of the Middle East. Through its long […] More
The Forgotten Dimension of the Syrian Conflict
The complex proxy war in Syria has demonstrated both the reach and limitations of Iran’s strategic influence. By mobilizing a wide range of strategic, tactical, […] More
The Status Quo Will Not Work in South Sudan
Around 60,000 people have fled South Sudan in just a few weeks – since renewed violence broke out in the capital Juba on July 7 […] More
A Peace Agreement in Tatters
The devastating clashes that took place in South Sudan’s capital Juba between July 7 and 11 left hundreds dead and forced thousands to flee their […] More
Threat of Terror Attack During Rio Games Low, But Rising
The threat level of an organized Islamic State (also known as ISIS or ISIL) attack during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – […] More
Kenya: Private Sector and Government Coordinate on National Security
Terrorist groups like al-Shabaab, ethnic violence, petty criminals, and corruption threaten Kenya’s security. The East African country has relied heavily on an unregulated and partially […] More
Securing a Nation
On May 18, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta approved the Private Security Regulation Bill, an act which is heralding in a new dawn for the private […] More
Grave Situation: Migration, Integration, and Attacks in Germany
Germany has been hit by four attacks in the past week, three involving refugees. Last Monday, a 17-year-old refugee thought to be from Afghanistan injured […] More
Water Security in South Asia: Running Dry and Running Out of Options
In the latest dispute between India and Pakistan, Islamabad has taken New Delhi to the International Court of Arbitration in The Hague over a longstanding […] More
Stoking Tensions in an Already Volatile Region
South Asia’s critical transboundary waterways are facing unprecedented pressures as a result of rapidly increasing populations, high demand for natural resources, and the consequences of […] More
Sorting Through Water Wars Rhetoric
The eye catching headlines are familiar. “Water Wars” are imminent or already underway in the latest drought or dam-building hotspot. Such “wars” often extend to […] More
Crossing the Line: A Failed Coup in Turkey
Now that the dust has settled over last Friday’s failed military coup attempt in Turkey, we are beginning to witness the full extent of that […] More
Troubling Forces Unleashed
In a conversation with The Cipher Brief, Soner Cagaptay, the Director of the Turkish Research Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, says […] More
Why Rising Unrest in the Kashmir Valley Matters for the United States
A week ago, Indian armed forces killed Burhan Wani, the infamous 21 year-old commander of the Kashmiri militant separatist group Hizbul Mujahideen (HM). Burhan had […] More
Failure is Almost as Bad as Success: the Coup Attempt in Turkey
The attempted military coup in Turkey over the weekend may have been unsuccessful, but it raises questions about the stability of democracy in Turkey and […] More
Philippines Must “Set the Tone” for Peaceful Resolution of China Dispute
Now that the Permanent Court of Arbitration has ruled in favor of the Philippines in its case against China over sovereignty in the South China […] More
What Independence Means in Sarajevo
Marking the birthday of American independence away from home is always a unique experience. I have celebrated the fourth of July in war zones and […] More