Paradoxes of "Peace Development" in Africa
Despite an extended period of civil and inter-state wars, ethnic strife and external intervention, Africa is said to be showing certain positive prospects of political change, economic stability and development. Not only have many African states shown signs of prosperity and peace but...
Israel and the Logic of Violence in Palestine
Numerous incidents of violence and conflict and consequent news of constructing new habitations constitute the main outline, in the Western media, of the “Palestinian” conflict. Usually, the stories of violence are covered under the heading of targeting the so-called “terrorists...
Emerging Dynamics of Russia-Pakistan Relations
The US’ decision to effect “pivot” to Asia has also stimulated some major powers of Asia to build their strangleholds across different countries. The underlying logic for this policy shift is the threat perception they have from this and many other strategic moves of the US. In a...
The US and Israel - An ‘All-times' Alliance
The so-called ‘all-times’ alliance between the US and Israel --- the supposedly ‘only’ democratic state in the Middle East --- has largely been determined by politico-strategic expediencies rather than by some ‘natural’ convergence of interests...
“Drone War” Casualties – an Ugly Symptom
The killing of Hakimullah Mahsud on November 1, 2103 in a drone attack is said to have derailed the peace process, however fragile it was, between Pakistan and the Taliban (TTP and that serious resentment is being observed among the Pakistani authorities over the US strategy...
Increasing strain in the US-Saudi Relations
One of the most conspicuous features of the international system is the shifting nature of what are commonly called the “durable alliances.” Perhaps, it is for this very reason that state to state relations and alliances are more often characterized as artificial in the sense that they...
The BRICS: An Emerging Challenge for the West?
The BRICS are said to have emerged as a major challenge to the so called global hegemony of the US and its satellites. It is a politico-economic union of five countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa striving to come up with some sort of a formula which could help them co-ordinate their...
Afghan Taliban Resistance: Lesson Learned
Although it appears that the 12 year Afghan war will end in stalemate in 2014 with Afghan resistance groups poised to pounce as NATO troops are on the way out, the Taliban have taken considerable beating as well and have been compelled to alter its position dramatically. Not only have they...
The U.S. and the making of Nuclear World
The much heated debate in the western media on the ‘probable’ use of chemical weapons by the Syrian government, and the US’ attempts to use this ‘use’ of weapons of mass destruction to legitimize an attack on Syria has left virtually minimum room for investigating as to how the world...
The US’ “Asia Pivot” and Containment of China
Qatar, Saudia and the US: A Coalition or Collision?
Change in the leadership of Qatar has been followed by certain significant geo-political changes not only in Qatar, but also in the Middle East and beyond, leading to a relationship of ‘near-confrontation’ between Qatar and Saudia on the one hand, and Qatar and the US on the other...