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By David Mednicoff, Associate Professor of Middle Eastern Studies and Public Policy, UMass Amherst The oil-rich states of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have a lot going for them: wealth, domestic stability and growing global influence. In recent months, these Gulf kingdoms also appear closer to something they have long sought: reliable … Continue reading “They remain hostage to events”
By Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike on the Qatari capital of Doha on September 9, the first time it has directly attacked a Gulf state. The “precision strike”, as Israel has called it, targeted a building in which Hamas officials were reportedly discussing a … Continue reading “Middle East leaders condemn Israel’s attack on Qatar as Netanyahu ends all talk of Gaza ceasefire – expert Q&A”
By Scott Lucas, Professor of International Politics, Clinton Institute, University College Dublin Israel launched an unprecedented airstrike on the Qatari capital of Doha on September 9, the first time it has directly attacked a Gulf state. The “precision strike” as Israel has called it, targeted a building in which Hamas officials were reportedly discussing a … Continue reading “Middle East holds its breath after Israel launches attack on Qatar: expert Q&A”
We tracked every overseas trip by world leaders since the end of the Cold War – here’s what we found
By Kylie McKee, Project Manager & Research Associate, University of Denver Donald Trump’s return to the White House has so far seen the U.S. president travel to foreign lands to sign billion-dollar deals, attend lavish royal welcomes and attempt to forge elusive peace agreements amid conflicts and crises. And on Sept. 17, 2025, he is … Continue reading “We tracked every overseas trip by world leaders since the end of the Cold War – here’s what we found”
By Jeremy Wildeman, Research Fellow at the Human Rights Research and Education Centre, University of Ottawa and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Carleton University Canada and Canadians have long considered themselves defenders of human rights, democracy, justice and the rule of law. Canada played a significant role in the development of what’s known as the liberal international … Continue reading “Canada’s response to the war in Gaza raises questions about its commitment to human rights and justice”
By Sambit Bhattacharyya, Professor of Economics, University of Sussex Business School, University of Sussex Donald Trump’s tariff policy seems to have morphed into as much of a tool of foreign policy as an economic strategy. But the administration’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on India, a key US ally as part of the Quad … Continue reading “Why Trump’s fight with India could have global repercussions”
By Adeline Morez Jacobs, Postdoctoral researcher, University of Padova (Italy); visiting lecturer, Liverpool John Moores University (UK), University of Padua A group of scientists has sequenced the genome of a man who was buried in Egypt around 4,500 years ago. The study offers rare insight into the genetic ancestry of early Egyptians and reveals links … Continue reading “We decoded the oldest genetic data from an Egyptian, a man buried around 4,500 years ago – what it told us”
By Nicholas Westcott, Professor of Practice in Diplomacy, Dept of Politics and International Studies, SOAS, University of London The Trump administration’s policies are making life more complicated for US diplomats abroad. In the past few days, senior US diplomats in two friendly countries – France and Denmark – have been summoned to receive diplomatic protests … Continue reading “How the Trump administration changed the rules of international diplomacy – by a former British ambassador”
By Peter William Walsh, Researcher, The Migration Observatory, University of Oxford Speaking to the press in an airport hangar near Oxford on August 26, the leader of Reform UK, Nigel Farage, unveiled his party’s new policy on mass deportations. There are many elements to the policy, but fundamentally it is a decision to abandon the … Continue reading “The most radical part of Reform’s deportation plans”
By Chris Smith, Course Director, History, Coventry University In a recent Meet the Press interview, the vice-president of the US, J.D. Vance, argued in relation to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine: “This is how wars ultimately get settled. If you go back to world war two, if you go back to world war one, if … Continue reading “J.D. Vance is wrong about history – here’s why this matters for Ukraine”