The Massacres at Houla and al-Qubeir: The Work of Terrorists?
The claim that Al Qaeda is responsible for Syrian massacres is outlandish. Yet, terrorists were responsible, in the form of Shabiha militants, at the command of the Syrian regime.
Papua New Guinea: Will an Election Restore the Country’s ‘Disorderly Democracy’?
Papua New Guinea has in fact been one of the few post-colonial states to maintain an unbroken record of democratic government, with national elections held on schedule and governments changing by constitutional means. Recent events have threatened to undermine its record.
More ‘Hama Rules’ or a Democratic Opening from the Tragedy of Syria?
The conflict in Syria has gone beyond the point of no return. The rules of the game are Hama Rules; the regime views the contest in terms of us or them.
How Civilization Became a Course
At the start of the course, I warn students that I am not responsible if they end up addicted to the game Civilization. One more turn is always necessary before shutting down for the day.
Responses to Intercommunal Violence in Jonglei State
There is a need for greater in-depth research into local perceptions and understandings of violence, which must underpin any external support to short and long-term reconciliation.
Syria: Prospects for Transition from Minority to Majority Rule
Absent the circumstances that facilitated the transition to majority rule in Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Iraq, the prospects in Syria appear to be extremely poor.
Global Economic Governance 2.0: From G20 to a Global Economic Council
The G7 states themselves are no more likely to push for a Global Economic Council than turkeys are to vote for Christmas, but that should not stop others from advocating along these lines.
It’s Official: Syria is in a State of Civil War. Or is it?
Achieving an effective international consensus to stop the killing in Syria has little to do with semantics. It has much more to do with the squandered legacy of the Responsibility to Protect.
Implications from Aung San Suu Kyi’s European Tour
Suu Kyi’s chief challenge may be to avoid the temptation to turn vindication into vindictiveness. If she panders to her Western supporters at the expense of her partners at home, it would be a bad sign.
Sectarian Violence in Burma: A Country Opening Up, or Collapsing?
The existence of ethnic minority insurgencies will not bring about the collapse of the government. Nor will they have a decisive impact on other aspects of Burma’s reforms or on the decisions of outsiders to work with a reformed Burmese government.
