It’s Happening: the Saudi-Israel Peace Deal
Saudi Arabia and Israel have been working on a deal to normalize ties between the two nations. The news spread when Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, appeared in a televised interview with Fox News on 20th September and said that the nations were close to concluding a ‘serious’ agreement regarding bilateral peace.
Israel’s right-wing Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed the rumors of budding peace two days later as well. This deal is complex, and to understand it, there is a need to recognize all stakeholders and their respective demands.
Captagon—The Drug Fueling the Syrian Civil War
Captagon is a drug that is currently funding the Syrian civil war. It has become one of the most famous and easily accessible drugs in the black market, especially in the Gulf States.
It was created in the 1960s by a German pharmaceutical company, but its sales have grown exponentially over the past three years.
However, the question is, why is it featured large in diplomatic discussions, especially those involving Arab countries and their relations with Syria?
Modi’s Uniform Civil Code: A Threat to the Muslims of India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again become a topic of discussion as he’s decided to bring up the long-debated Indian civil code before the national elections. The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) will mean a set of common personal laws for all the country’s citizens regardless of their religion. Clearly, he wants to use this legislative appeal to sway a majority of the masses in his direction, but is that the predicted outcome? Ideological dissent is making headway in India, and this move by the BJP is threatening the longstanding Indian claim of being the world’s largest secular democracy.
Oppenheimer: Recorded History vs Glossed Reels
In this day and age, everyone who is chronically online knows to take any form of media or information with a grain of salt; the same should be the case with Christopher Nolan’s groundbreaking new film ‘Oppenheimer’ which was released just last month on 21st July 2023.
Based on the book ‘American Prometheus’ by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, the highly anticipated movie had a budget of around $100 million. Records broke around the globe as people rushed to theaters and cinemas to catch the earliest screenings.
Nolan has been known to create intellectually challenging films such as Tenet, Inception, Interstellar, and more which make the viewers question not only the laws of physics but of reality as well. Oppenheimer, too, has not deviated from this path.
Is the movie an accurate depiction of history, or has it instead been portrayed to advance American heroism?
Notable Political Philosophers
It would not be possible to comprehend how society and the state function without an analysis of political science. It gives people clarity of mind and thought, and the ability to formulate opinions without generational bias.
Termed as the “Queen of Sciences” by Aristotle, political science encompasses the local government, constitutional law, political parties, judicial institutions, policy-making, resource allocation, socio-political ideologies, and state machinery.
Hafsa Ammar explores the works and ideas of five prominent political philosophers: Plato, Al-Farabi, Al-Ghazali, Ibn Khaldun, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau.
The Migration Crisis in Tunisia
The Republic of Tunisia, a North African country, has seen much despair over the past decade and has garnered much international recognition due to its vital role in the Arab Spring. Seen as the only state that fully turned over a new leaf and dedicated its efforts to a democratic future, it seemed that the country had a course chartered for progress and prosperity, but that soon went downhill.
Currently, Tunisia is going through a major humanitarian crisis that involves police brutality, cultural and structural violence, and blatant human rights violations, especially concerning migrants and refugees.
Parallels between Palestine and Kashmir
Palestine and Kashmir are two of the world’s most drawn-out and complex conflicts to date. They are multi-dimensional, focusing not only on a territorial epicenter but an ideological one as well.
Hafsa Ammar focuses on the several parallels between these two conflicts: a Muslim-majority population, colonialism, regional enmity, geostrategic importance, among others.
The Golden Triangle: The Opium Centre of Southeast Asia
An infamous region widely known as the “Golden Triangle” is located in the forestry depths of Southeast Asia, between the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar. The area has historically been seen as the home site for the mass production of opium. Millions of methamphetamine pills (Meth) have been seized by Thai security forces. Moreover, hundreds of kilograms of crystal meth, heroin, and ketamine have allegedly passed on from the region.
Paul Rusesabagina, Hotel Rwanda Hero
Rwanda has seen its fair share of conflict and political despair. The 1994 Genocide that massacred over 800,000 Tutsi civilians, a minority group, has been the epicenter of Rwandan politics.
To understand the role of Paul Rusesabagina in the genocide and realize why there was recently a global clamor for his freedom, there is a need for a refresher on the conflict.
Dr. Aafia Siddiqui: Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Who is Dr. Aafia Siddiqui? This article explores the life and troubles of the Pakistani scientist who has been at the center of a global controversy.
By all accounts, Dr. Siddiqui’s story is known to be of grave injustice and tragedy.
Who is Rahul Gandhi?
Rahul Gandhi, an MP until just recently and the descendant of Jawaharlal Nehru, has been sentenced to two years in prison for a four-year-old defamation case.
This sentence has been spurred by the popularity of Rahul Gandhi’s Congress Party and the success of the Unite India March against the BJP government.
International Women’s Day 2023: Embrace Equity
8th March or ‘International Women’s Day’ has been deemed a day to honor women all around the world.
It is a small reprieve from the remainder of the year and this specific distinction reminds us to pay a little closer attention to the women in our lives.
In her piece, Hafsa Ammar discusses this year’s theme, ‘Embrace Equity’, similar to that of last year’s ‘Accelerate Equity’.
Victor’s Peace: Merits & Pitfalls
Victor’s Peace strategy is deployed when all peaceful means toward conflict are unsuccessful in de-escalating it. The ultimate goal of the intervening party is to establish durable and long-lasting peace, instead of prioritizing their strategic motives.
In theory, military overtaking has negative connotations but in places where negotiated peace fails time and again, the immediate solution is Victor’s Peace, conditions can always be negotiated afterward.
Hafsa Ammar provides both national and international as well as historical and recent accounts to illustrate the concept and dimensions of Victor’s Peace.
The True Face of Crime in the United States
Many people around the globe look at America as a beacon of hope and success, yet upon a more detailed perusal of the nation, it is found to be a cesspool of high crime rates and a faulty justice system. These criminal acts include robberies/larceny, armed violence, fraud, assault, sex crimes, and homicides.
The Sicilian Mafia
Organized crime refers to a structured criminal enterprise whose primary focus is on generating profit, be it capital or other material profit.
Their criminal activity revolves around illicit activities, such as the provision of illegal substances, and in some cases, even human trafficking.
There are many major groups within organized crime functioning all over the world, but the most fear-inducing is the Sicilian Mafia.
West Papua: A Bid for Freedom
West Papua, also known as the western half of New Guinea, has been plagued by an armed uprising since the mid-nineties.
As did most global conflicts, this one too rose out as a result of colonization.
Previously a colony of the Netherlands, the region was being prepped and restructured for independence and self-determination.
However, the Indonesian government vehemently opposed this plan of action which led to the conflict still present to this day.
Gendered Dimensions of Terrorism
Terrorism is a tactic used by extremist groups and terror organizations to embed fear into the masses.
Hafsa Ammar explains how women, too, either voluntarily or involuntarily, are active participants in terrorism. Their harmless disposition allows them to blend in and pass off as a bystander.
Hence, a gendered discourse is necessary within terror studies to evaluate the difference between male and female participation and perception.