Iran 1978-1979: Reflections on Intelligence Failure
The failure of the US intelligence community to predict the Islamic Revolution in Iran offers lessons that remain relevant today in the aftermath of the ‘Arab Spring’.
A Tale of Two Partitions: The First Indo-Pakistani War and the Palestine War
The potentiality of statehood provided by partition filled the nation building fervor of Hindus, Muslims, Arabs, and Jews.
The 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli Wars: Causes of Triumphs and Failures
The different outcomes of the two wars was due to a combination of preparedness, initiative, superpower involvement, military capabilities, and intelligence failures.
The Effectiveness of Soft & Hard Power in Contemporary International Relations
‘Hard’ & ‘soft’ power are competing approaches to power in IR. Soft power is increasingly effective & hard power less so; ‘smart power’ offers a promising third strategy.
Negotiating the Convention on Cluster Munitions: Lessons Learnt
The Convention on Cluster Munitions is a model for future disarmament negotiations due to its patience and focus on humanitarianism and broad engagement.
What is the Principal Object of the International Legal System?
Individuals & organizations are increasingly gaining traction in a state-dominant international legal order, a piecemeal process that may result in a global constitution.
Three Phases of Resistance: How Hezbollah Pushed Israel Out of Lebanon
Hezbollah’s strategy was successful due to its ability to secure a strategic relationship with a patron, arouse popular local support, and use novel methods of fighting.
Western Human Rights in a Diverse World: Cultural Suppression or Relativism?
Cultural relativism should not be an excuse to avoid the difficulties of enforcing an individualistic human rights system in communities believing in collective rights.
The Syrian Uprising and Social Movements Theory
Syria’s strong patrimonial military has no incentives to break with the regime. Until such incentives exist, the uprisings will probably fail.
Contemporary Boundaries in the Middle East
To ignore the internal dynamics that determined the political boundaries of the Middle East is to overlook the region’s power to shape policy.
