Michael Bonner explores aspects of Kurdish history and its oil-driven aspirations for independence.
The Middle East and North Africa
Middle East Region
Canada and Turkey: Time for a Strategic Partnership
His Excellency Ahmet Davutoglu recently visited Canada – the first visit by a Turkish foreign minister in 14 years – demonstrated that Canadian-Turkish relations are not as sound as they might be, and also that they are slowly improving.
Libya’s Militia Problem
[captionpix align=”left” theme=”elegant” width=”320″ imgsrc=”http://www.semissourian.com/photos/17/39/07/1739075-H.jpg ” captiontext=”Libyans protesting against militias in Benghazi.”] Protests continue to hit the streets of Libya, though with anger now directed towards members of its own population rather than the incendiary, anti-Islamic YouTube film that captured the world’s attention earlier this month. On September 21st, tens of thousands of protesters stormed Read More…
Hashem No, We Won’t Go
A crisis emerging in Israel centers on a decades-old question: who has the right to be exempt from service in the Israeli military?
Turkey: the world is our focus
The NATO Council of Canada hosted a talk by the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on 20 September 2012.
What Role for Canada in the Arab Spring?
With many calling on Canada to play a bigger role in stabilizing post-Arab Spring countries, what political options are available for a country not explicitly tied to the region?
What to do about Iran?
Years of increasingly stern sanctions are taking a serious toll on the Iranian economy. Though Iran has long been at odds with the US and the West, this summer has seen the imposition of the toughest sanctions to date.
Conflict and proxy conflict in the Persian Gulf
Tensions in Persian Gulf between Gulf Cooperation Council and Iran bring world powers into the fray.
Reconstruction in Afghanistan: Looking Beyond 2014
With NATO announcing its intention of handing over security to Afghanistan’s national forces by the end of 2014, new attention needs to be given to the efficiency of Afghanistan’s institutions.
Battlefield… Earth?
When attempting to keep their countries secure, leaders are faced with many difficult choices in combating an adversary that hides in plain sight, targets noncombatants, and has shown a propensity to sacrifice themselves in the name of a cause.