The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014 equates with an unquestionable strengthening of the Taliban movement or even with its actual coming to power. The external actors will have to adjust to the new situation and the future Afghan coalition leadership which will include the Taliban.
Fethullah Gülen’s Islamic movement in Azerbaijan engages solely and uniquely through secular and modern education, which allows it to promote Islamic philosophy and ethics.
The predictability of the election outcomes contrasts with unpredictability of Georgia’s further development.
The improvement in the U.S.-Iran relations was quite expected after Hassan Rowhani came to power. The main question today is that of mutual confidence and the genuineness of the intentions of the new Iranian president.
With revolutions across the Arab world, Russia’s chances for strengthening its position in the region look increasingly slim. The Kremlin must change course and ensure that its approach to the Middle East and Islamists reflects post–Arab Spring realities.
The tenth-anniversary Valdai Club meeting was named “Russia’s diversity for the Modern World.” Nevertheless, the issue of diversity was put to the side by other hot current issues: the recent Russian elections, corruption, and Syria.
To be a full player in a genuinely democratic Egyptian political system, the Brotherhood has to embark on an ideological, doctrinal, and organizational transformation.
Beijing is emerging as the big winner in Central Asia, displacing Washington and Moscow while ensuring that engagement with countries in the region takes place on its terms.
In Iran’s three-decade history as an Islamic republic, no religious or ethnic minority has endured more persecution than members of the Baha’i faith.
As the U.S. troop withdrawal approaches, Washington should consider how improving U.S.-Iranian relations can further its long-term goals in Afghanistan and the region.