Next week is the 68th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Climbing down the nuclear ladder is an undeniably complex task, but one the world’s politicians must continue to rise to.
The history of tear gas traces a metamorphosis from chemical weapon of warfare to 'legitimate' crowd control technology. Whilst casualties are persistently blamed on 'misuse' by police and security forces, history reveals tear gas to be an inherently dangerous weapon.
Video: The Friends of Syria have played what may be their 'last card' - what difference will it make on the ground? Yezid Sayigh talks to Jo Tyabji about spinning out military escalation, and the slim chance of creating commitments for de-escalation.
With tear gas a prominent weapon used to repress the recent uprisings in North Africa and the Middle East, the multi-billion global market has been expanding. Reported incidents of tear gas-related deaths and injuries have prompted critique of its classification as 'non-lethal' and renewed calls f
Arming Syrian rebel forces could tip the balance and break the deadlock - at the negotiating table.
Rather than giving the opposition a decisive means to victory, arms to Syria will only prolong the violence and suggest a grander agenda: rebalancing regional power.
Syria’s agony has been a critical factor in the surprise outcome of Iran’s presidential election. Iran’s Supreme Leader has risked a second opening to the west by allowing Dr Hassan Rouhani’s election to stand. The west must respond urgently in kind.
The red line threshold has finally been crossed – but on unverified intelligence, encouraged by appetites for military intervention. It is Iraq all over again.
Given the track record of failed attempts at diplomacy, it is questionable whether some tacit agreement can bring a long-term resolution to this new Cold War. There is no less at stake than a fundamental rethinking of the way we approach international relations.
The simmering dissent and dissatisfaction unleashed at Gezi Park may not be enough to topple AKP's majority, but it threatens their political agenda as well as Turkey's democratic consolidation.
In this excerpt from the latest ECFR policy briefing on Syria, the authors argue that a rare moment of opportunity has emerged following the US-Russian agreement to launch peace initiative, Geneva II. Europe and the west should prioritise ratcheting down violence and the threat of regional spill o
What the civil war in Syria has exposed is that the massive political and social transformation, and real regime change under way is led by people themselves. US military involvement serves only to escalate the destruction.
