The 11th Presidential election of Iran will be held on June 14, 2013. Why will this election be a test for the Islamic Republic’s stability? What are the factors at play that make this election critical; and more importantly, why must India monitor it closely?
Courtesy: Al Jazeera English/Flickr
In early 2011, in the backdrop of the uprisings in several West Asian nations, youth and pro-democracy movements flared up in the Persian Gulf island of Bahrain. In the light of these events, this paper assesses how Bahrain’s policies are affecting relations between Sunni and Shia groups in the archipelago.
The trilogy analyses three themes of discussions carried out at the World Trade Organization’s Doha Round – (i) agricultural tariffs and subsidies, (ii) non-agricultural market access and services trade, and (iii) trade remedies and facilitation.
Today, two years after a defining political revolution began in Egypt, majority of the youth are still finding it difficult to find employment. Can Internet-based initiatives provide a springboard for economic growth and development in the country?
For long, deterrence has been the backbone of the U.S. national security strategy. It has applied deterrence to Russia, failed to apply it to Iraq and Iran, and is confused about applying it to China. Does the U.S. need to relearn the basics of deterrence?
Earlier in April, representatives of the U.S., EU, China and Russia held discussions in Kazakhstan to break the deadlock over Iran’s nuclear program, but with little result. What are the complexities of the Iranian nuclear dispute, and what are the chances of progress in the negotiations?
During his visit to Israel, U.S. President Barack Obama spoke in favour of both the Israelis’ right to security and the Palestinians’ right to sovereignty. The issue of settlements, however, remains unresolved and it is unlikely that Israel will make concessions when its neighbours are in turmoil.
Authors and Middle East analysts Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett, in their recent book, argue that the U.S. needs to change its approach towards Iran, and outline the reasons for the same.
The fifth BRICS summit will take place from 26-27 March with South Africa - a late entrant to the grouping - playing host. Although sceptics have questioned the salience of this bloc, the group is essentially a work in progress. Expectations, therefore, must be modest and pragmatic.
This paper analyses the political developments in West Asia in the wake of the Arab uprisings, and examines the nature and implications of India's policies towards these countries
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