Creating new perspectives since 2009
Items by Burak Elmali
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Endorsement is complicity
Fifty years ago, Saudi Arabia’s late King Faisal complained about the biased world’s conscience when it comes to the systematic oppression in Palestine. Fast forward half a century, and the unrelenting brutality witnessed in Gaza again underscores the troubling reality that his question remains unanswered. Netanyahu’s ‘war cabinet’, responsible for the response...
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Can BRICS challenge the Western order?
An enduring quote from Shakespeare’s Hamlet encapsulates a conflictual tension between reality and uncertainty: “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” These words gain even more currency in today’s discussions surrounding the organisation of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) and the Western-led...
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A greener Gulf is possible, and Qatar can lead the way
The world stands at a crucial juncture as the dire consequences of global climate change loom ever closer. Although currently distributed unevenly across nations, its effects will eventually transcend borders, impacting our entire planet. A critical aspect of tackling this issue lies in revolutionising our energy production to slash...
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The limits of China’s global power
China’s rise has been the talk of the global village, with its impressive economic performance, ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and frenzied diplomacy, ranging from the Ukraine conflict to Africa and the Gulf. But is there more to this “rising China” narrative? Despite the oft-advertised strengths, China’s significant limitations...
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Two decades after the ‘liberal’ invasion of Iraq, what have we learned?
On 20 March 2003, a US-led coalition invaded Iraq, a tragic event which has had a lasting impact on the country and the region. The invasion was launched just one and a half years after the 9/11 attacks at a time when the United States was the world’s undisputed...
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Is Europe’s pseudo-religious ‘freedom of expression’ excuse just a pretext for provocation?
Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, burnt a copy of the Qur’an during a demonstration in front of the Turkish Embassy in Stockholm at the weekend. Despite Turkish foreign office staff warning their Swedish counterparts about Paludan’s protest, it was held to...
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China and the US are in ‘dire straits’ over Taiwan
Immediately after the announcement that US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would visit Taiwan during her Asia tour, the complex relationship between China, Taiwan and the United States resurfaced. China warned the US that it would pay the price for this visit. Beijing and Moscow, which are allegedly bound by...
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We have to be realistic about climate change and the war in Ukraine
The Russia-Ukraine War has lasted for four months and counting. It has raised various questions about new waves of refugees, energy resources, food prices and the revision of national security policies all over the world. The week after the Russian invasion in February, US President Joe Biden banned oil imports...