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Middle East

August 20, 2025

Trump’s foreign policy playbook returns: what Europe must learn

Shamsoddin Shariati From escalating trade wars with the EU to snap ultimatums on Iran, Donald Trump's international playbook is startlingly predictable. Trump seeks not agreement, but surrender. Shamsoddin Shariati explains how Europe must now learn from this pattern, and respond with firmness, not concession Read more
July 3, 2025

Where are China and Russia in the Israel-Iran conflict?

Jonathan Roll International Relations theory would predict strong opposition from China and Russia to Israel’s assault on Iranian military and nuclear sites. In practice, says Jonathan Roll, other considerations got in the way, and the role of both powers has been minimal. This suggests US influence may be more durable than expected Read more
June 24, 2025

Recognising war: Gaza’s occupation and the Israel-Iran conflict

Süleyman Güngör From Atatürk’s homeland — where 'peace at home, peace in the world' still resonates — Süleyman Güngör argues that Gaza is Palestinian land. The violence there, and between Israel and Iran, we must recognise as war under international law — and urgently bring it to an end Read more
June 24, 2025

Trump’s attack on Iran and the logic of America First

Ruairidh Brown Does military intervention against Iran contradict Trump’s America First ideology? Ruairidh Brown argues it, in fact, is a textbook case of Trump’s Machiavellian philosophy Read more
May 6, 2025

Is Iran’s sharp power waning? 

John Chin Bashar Assad is ousted in Syria; Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis weakened in ongoing conflicts. All this has significantly weakened Iran’s 'axis of resistance'. John Chin and Mary Urso argue that the crisis of Iran’s regional proxies is leading Iran to strengthen cooperation with a global network of autocracies Read more
March 19, 2025

Why Syrian refugees are unlikely to return home

Ümit Seven Syrian refugees face multiple challenges in returning to their homeland. The threat of violence may have ended, but the destruction of infrastructure, along with social and economic instability, make return unlikely. Ümit Seven shows how prolonged displacement has led many Syrians to rebuild their lives elsewhere. Many, he argues, have created a 'pragmatic home' in host countries Read more
January 14, 2025

The struggle for a dignified return of refugees to Syria

Maissam Nimer The sudden collapse of the Assad regime could result in Syrian refugees being pressured into returning. But Maissam Nimer and Susan Beth Rottmann say refugee returns must be voluntary, dignified, and sustainable – not driven by political agendas. Given Syria's shattered infrastructure, instability, and limited opportunities, 'safety' means more than simply the absence of violence Read more
December 19, 2024

Kurdistan: A double-edged sword for Turkey

Loqman Radpey In a rapidly changing political environment, the fate of Kurdistan is now shaping the future of the Middle East. Turkey’s century-long repression of the Kurds, argues Loqman Radpey, is now posing a critical dilemma: either embrace de jure recognition of Kurdistan and Kurdish rights, or risk escalating tensions and instability Read more

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THE EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM FOR POLITICAL RESEARCH
Advancing Political Science
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