A New Levant: a possible way through in the Syrian crisis

Gabrielle Rifkind and Giandomenico Picco 7 February 2013

War is not the only solution. Iranian flexibility and political creativity in Syria, and Saudi flexibility as well as political creativity in Iraq, could offer a way through.

Medicine as a weapon of war in Syria

Saleyha Ahsan 6 February 2013

With international humanitarian access and staff limited by the Assad government, liberated areas see not only deteriorating conditions but also new roles for Syrians outside and inside the country confronting the consequences.

Syria's activists: politics of anger

Vicken Cheterian 6 February 2013

The hopes of Syria's opposition for external support are turning into bitter suspicion of the west's real motives in refusing to intervene in the war, says Vicken Cheterian.

Paths to change: peaceful vs violent

Martin Shaw 5 February 2013

The diverse experiences of the Arab spring renew the question of whether non-violent movements are more effective than armed struggle in achieving the overthrow of authoritarian regimes, says Martin Shaw.

The oneness of God and the plurality of Syria

Rita from Syria 4 February 2013

On January 21, 2013, the largest bombing of its kind shook the centre of Salamiyeh, leaving more than 50 people dead and dozens wounded.

Why did Mouaz al-Khatib change his mind about talks with the Syrian government?

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 1 February 2013

Relying on the regional and world powers has proven to be a costly participation in a proxy war that is devastating the country.

Mali, and the al-Qaida trap

Paul Rogers 25 January 2013

A decade ago, western leaders' excessive reaction and inflated rhetoric served to amplify rather than diminish the power of Islamist groups. The same danger now overhangs Mali, Algeria and beyond.

The creation of an unbridgeable divide

Ammar Abdulhamid 24 January 2013

Syria's civil war is now strongly characterised by militias identifying along sectarian lines. The growing divide between Sunnis and Alawites has profound implications for Syria, and the Middle East.

Syria: the danger of false dichotomies

Issa Khalaf 24 January 2013

How one defines Syria’s troubles determines one’s prescriptions. Evidence that a silent majority did not want violent conflict and preferred a political solution leading to reform is not easily dismissible. And Syrian politics, unlike Libya under Gaddafi’s ‘personal rule’, is not about Assad.

Will reversing roles help Turkey avoid war in Syria?

Emad Abdullah Ayasrah 21 January 2013

The strategy of "reversed roles," in which the ruling party adopts a position contrary to its traditional ideological bent, thereby forcing the opposition to take the opposite stance, was used by the Justice and Development Party with regard to the American war in Iraq. Could the same tactic be used in the ongoing Syrian conflict?

Syria and the risk of Somalisation

Haian Dukhan 19 January 2013

If the crisis continues, Syria risks not so much division into hostile states as happened in Yugoslavia, but control by warlords who will persecute the Syrian people.

Syria: the futility of diplomacy

Salam Kawakibi 11 January 2013

It seems that UN envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi is still convinced of the effectiveness of soft diplomacy and of rhetoric, in coming up with compromises to put a halt to continuing Syrian homicide.

Syria's regime and a populist left

Hazem Saghieh and Samer Frangie 9 January 2013

Syria under the rule of Hafez al-Assad acquired the image of a bastion of intransigent anti-imperialism that made it attractive to a section of the western left. The process reflected changes in regional politics whose effects are felt to this day, say Hazem Saghieh & Samer Frangie.

Syria - a bleak year ahead

James Denselow 4 January 2013

Over 60,000 people have been killed in Syria. What prospects face the beleaguered country in 2013?

Syria, weapons vs politics

Paul Rogers 28 December 2012

The growing challenge to Bashar al-Assad's regime raises the issue of Syria's chemical weapons, and whether there are any feasible military options in addressing it. Here, the decisions of the United States and Israel will be crucial.

This week's editor

Heather McRobie


Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

More

Democratic Wealth

More

Nuclear non-proliferation

More

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

More

Mali - the plot thickens

More

Remote control war

More

The media in Europe

More

Syndicate content