Maritime piracy is one of the several grave security issues faced by today’s world. This problem, however, isn’t a new phenomenon, and nations have long-battled this issue. How did piracy manifest itself in the Indian Ocean in the 19th century, and what was the nature of counter-piracy efforts during that period?
An artificial moral panic over the fate of Arab women runs the risk of reinstating gender and class markings in the Arab World. It’s therefore necessary to recognise the radical social shifts towards the genuine unorganised local groupings in these countries, to promote engagement with the global south.
From cyberstrikes, assassinations, and drone surveillance, Iran appears to be retaliating to Western pressure with Western tactics. It is evident that retaliation, not escalation, is Tehran's goal, and it’s likely that Iran will increasingly rely on cyberwarfare in the long-term.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in the summit held recently in Mecca, suspended Syria’s membership, citing the regime’s inhuman actions. Does this censure spell major consequences for the troubled nation? What alternate decision could the OIC have taken?
Simultaneous efforts to resolve the problem in Syria remain stymied even as more and more high level meetings and consultations take place. The more countries treat the situation as a proxy for political differences, the more it creates the conditions for a wider conflagration with an unpredictable outcome.
The G20 Leaders' declaration at the 2012 Summit in Mexico aims to achieve economic stability; better employment and social protection policies; strengthen and reform the international financial architecture; enhancing food security and address commodity price volatility.
Apart from bilateral ties, also at play at the India-U.S. Strategic dialogue is the difficult triangulation in India’s relations with the U.S. and Iran. It does not serve India to get enmeshed in the U.S-Iran confrontation. Instead, the relationship must develop on the basis of realpolitik and mutual interest.
Conflict over oil and gas reserves, sectarian rivalries between Shiites and Sunnis and foreign involvement interconnect as sources of instability in the Persian Gulf–Arabian Peninsula.
The author outlines the partnership between NATO and Wahhabi extremists, and how the West assisted in an armed Sunni movement, which has spread to many countries in West Asia. Consequently, the Shia population suffers from serious discrimination at the hands of Wahabbi.
With the recent visit of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to three oil-rich Gulf monarchies, China continues to maintain good relations with Tehran by refusing sanctions against it and prioritizing its energy needs over Western demands.
