Online Features Editor Bryan Knight reports on the recent political developments in Africa and assesses the threats faced by the continent. In 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced an ambitious initiative that would revamp an ancient trade network that connected the Eastern world with the West. This ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, as it is commonly […]
Iran
Dual or no dual – a discussion of Iran
The purpose of a Foreign Secretary is to facilitate and develop Britain’s relationships with countries abroad. Boris Johnson’s appointment to this role in July 2016 was immediately questioned by many, due to his numerous embarrassing faux pas. An arguably more serious and damning mistake of the Foreign Secretary’s has been his recent comments regarding British […]
Trump’s trepidation at possibilities of Iran deal
US President Donald Trump has announced he will not certify that Iran is complying with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran Deal. What this means for the future of the deal and Middle Eastern policy more generally is uncertain but, based on educated guesses (little more than futurologists of foreign […]
Iran’s Presidential Elections – a key moment in the country’s post-revolutionary history
On the 19th of May, Iranians will have the chance to vote for their country’s most senior elected politician in the 12th Presidential Elections to be held since the Revolution of 1979. The Islamic Republic of Iran is run by a combination of elected politicians and appointed figures from among the country’s most senior religious […]
Ten thoughts for 2017
After the trials and tribulations of 2016, here are ten thoughts to take away for 2017: 1) Don’t cling too hard to any predictions, good or bad. If 2016 taught us anything, it’s that if a storm has been brewing for a while, no amount of wishful thinking or good intentions will preventing from breaking – […]
The Iran-isation of the Middle East: what road to pursue?
With Iran still seeking to dominate the Middle East through funding a plethora of armed conflicts, it would seem the cycle of war and carnage may never end. Iran may be seeking to dominate the region through coercion, but it is only through soft power that they will be able to do so. How so? […]
What’s going on in Yemen, and why isn’t the world doing more to help?
Although far from a media or political priority during these uncertain times, it is clear that Yemen is in a desperate crisis. The World Health Organisation has released a study showing that fewer than half of the southern Arabian country’s health facilities are equipped to deal with injuries or infectious diseases, and it is estimated that […]
Negotiations and escalations: what’s next for Syria, the Middle East and the world?
Amid the ongoing rumblings of the devastating conflict of Syria, the last fortnight has seen some interesting developments on the international stage. Despite the huge impact these will have on those still living in Syria, there is a large extent to which they represent performance politics, with heads of state and diplomats addressing one another […]