Sovereign Wealth Funds: Investment Vehicles or Political Operators?

How do Putin, Trump, Blackwater and the UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed come together?

Pakistan is Struggling to Get a Grip on Militancy and Ultra-Conservatism

The stakes for Pakistan are high as it confronts mounting international pressure that includes China, its closest ally, to crackdown on militancy.

The Middle East’s Nuclear Technology Clock Starts Ticking

Nations pursue peaceful capabilities that potentially leave the door open to future military options

How Iran’s Rise and Fall Has Become Critical to the Middle East

Tehran now directly challenges America’s hopes to create a pro-American regional order

Let’s Defeat Terror Using Religious Arguments For Peace!

Prof. Rüdiger Lohlker about his VORTEX Program in Vienna

China’s Step Into the Maelstrom of the Middle East

China’s ventures into the region have shown how difficult it is to maintain its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.

Valentine’s Day Pinpoints Limits of Saudi Prince’s Islamic Reform Effort

Valentine’s Day is often but one battleground in culture wars that involve gay and transgender rights as well as the existence and application of blasphemy laws and the role of Islam in society

Expanding Regional Rivalries: Saudi Arabia and Iran Battle it out in Azerbaijan

If Iran is seeking to encircle Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia and Israel are trying to encircle Iran

Trump Cuts Aid to Palestinian Refugees – What is Next?

The window for mitigating the cut’s potentially disastrous impact is worryingly tight

Saudi-Iranian Rivalry Fuels Potential Nuclear Race

As Saudi Arabia ramps up its nuclear power and weapons option, Iran looks on