
The case of the Salafi groups underscores the complex evolution of cross-border exchange of religious ideas, with external powers able to increase their influence among local communities.
This week on Babel, Jon speaks with Olivia Lazard, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe focusing on the geopolitics of climate and the transitions ushered by climate change.

Why water scarcity in Iran is a source of domestic and regional instability.
Thus far, climate change has exacerbated pre-existing social, socio-economic, and political fractures. In the future, systemic, profound disruptions - including that of conflict between states - is possible.

Turkey’s upcoming elections help to explain why Recep Tayyip Erdogan is thinking of rekindling ties with Syria.
Ankara’s relationship with Moscow is becoming directly linked to his bid to win the Turkish elections in 2023. Meanwhile, a disruptive Turkey within NATO and President Erdogan’s continued balancing act with the Kremlin offer Putin a strategic advantage.
New developments emerged this week in negotiations between the U.S. and Iran over reviving the nuclear weapons agreement abandoned by the Trump administration.

Spot analysis from Carnegie scholars on events relating to the Middle East and North Africa.

Both Moscow and Ankara are benefiting from Turkey’s mediating role since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Strategically, however, Putin has the upper hand.

A lot is happening in Syria’s Suwayda Governorate, but Damascus still remains the dominant outside actor.