War in Syria: The Proxy Element
While there is a strong element of a proxy war behind the fighting in Syria, the forces and interests involved are best understood in terms of inter-state relations going back more than a decade.
Iran, the Arab Street and Avoiding a Military Strike
Iran’s influence on the Arab world is waning. The regime faces increasing domestic and international pressures, and is looking for a game changer. This is why a military strike on Iran must be avoided.
Review – The Permanent Crisis
Shashank Joshi’s comprehensive analysis of Iran’s nuclear orientation contends that the West must employ the strategies of ‘compellence’ and ‘denial’ to influence Iran’s nuclear policies.
Towards a More Crowded Heavens?
National space programs are tools states leverage for a variety of purposes, not expressions of an apolitical human urge to explore. Like nuclear weapons, crewed spaceflight programs remain widely perceived as a signifier of great power status.
Why Can’t Iran and the US Just Get Along?
A U.S.-Iran rapprochement, though unlikely, could reduce Israeli-Iranian tensions and even potentially see Iran become a positive force in negotiations over a two-state solution.
The 16th Non-Aligned Movement Summit: Beyond the Politics of Spectacle
The principled position of the Non-Aligned Movement on non-proliferation could be used productively to contain Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions if this state does indeed have any.
The Eight-Day War
The one problem that prevents an end to the Israel-Palestine issue is the willingness of leaders to take the chance of compromise to get something which is better than nothing.
Israel-Iran Nuclear Crisis: A Diplomatic Opportunity
A nuclear-armed Iran could create a military catastrophe for the region, potentially demanding a militarized response from neighbors. However, it is not without opportunity for resolution.
Iran’s Syria Gamble: Losing the War, Losing the Peace?
If the Syrians manage to build a free future of their own, it will almost undoubtedly be one without Assad, rendering Iran the great loser both of the war and of the potential peace.
Pieces of the Persian Puzzle: The Three Layers of Iranian Nuclear Rhetoric
Confusion over Iran’s nuclear ambitions is generated by the apparent inconsistency of the leadership’s political rhetoric, which shapes the country’s approach to foreign policy.
