Articles
Turkey's growing influence in the Balkans has profound implications for the Middle East
The influence that Turkey gains in the Balkans gives it greater leverage with the European Union – and thus weakens Europe’s leverage over Turkey’s policy in other areas, such as in Syria, writes Faisal Al Yafai
Assad’s claim that he is willing to rewrite Syria’s constitution is merely a fig leaf
The idea that the regime, having fought a bloody and brutal war for seven years, would now freely offer a concession to the UN is fanciful, writes Faisal Al Yafai
Tunisia's leading woman politician who found a second act after the revolution
Maya Jribi had been in politics for decades before the 2011 uprising thrust her into the national spotlight
Pompeo’s hardline stance walks a fine line between a new deal and all-out war with Tehran
The politics of this new policy are immensely tricky as Iran has spent decades pursuing its policies, giving it considerable leverage to retaliate against US pushback, writes Faisal Al Yafai
American values have never seemed further from their core
The president has jettisoned the idea of presenting the United States as a universal country that others can relate to and even admire, writes Faisal Al Yafai
Tunisian politics is deadlocked. That’s a good thing
Tunisia’s first municipal elections since the revolution ended this week. The vote suggests something positive about the country’s democratic transition, writes Faisal Al Yafai
Nasrallah’s win shows Arab futurism has plenty to say about the region’s present
The growing genre allows dire predictions to be made based on the current trajectory, writes Faisal Al Yafai
The art of art-washing: how Israel's propaganda machine swings into action every time an artist boycotts the country
Israel is so incensed every time anyone take a political stand against its modus operandi that the government has created an entire department to oppose it, writes Faisal Al Yafai
What was gained by the $200 million 'Goldilocks' airstrikes on Syria?
The problem with the strikes was the Goldilocks strategy adopted by the coalition, which simultaneously went too far and not far enough, writes Faisal Al Yafai
Chemical warfare might just be one of the worst legacies of the Syrian war
The prohibition on the use of chemical weapons is part of the international order. Today, that prohibition has been effectively overturned, writes Faisal Al Yafai
After the Facebook scandal, questions of privacy and consent still abound
In a region that values privacy, the question of what happens to the data of millions of users may not be easily resolved, writes Faisal Al Yafai
Damascus' leaked wanted list shows the regime does not much care whether it kills Syrians quickly or slowly
The international community cannot save Syrians who have already died – but it can perhaps salvage some sort of protection for those who remain inside
Turkey's moves to dismantle US policy in Syria
After Turkey's victory in Afrin, Ankara has turned its sights on a small Syrian city with vast strategic importance
Syria shows how urban sprawl and physical divides can erupt into political ones
A Pritzker Prize-nominated architect argues that ancient Syria, created over centuries, fostered communal living and a sense of community, unlike the impersonal tower blocks of recent times
Kabul wants a peace deal, the Taliban is preparing for war
An offer of political recognition for the Taliban is clever politics, designed to split the ranks of its leadership. It may work, writes Faisal Al Yafai
