Arab world pro-democracy movements raise questions about how much Islam will figure into the political calculus in emerging governments in Tunisia and Egypt, as well as new ones that might arise elsewhere, says religion expert Ebrahim Moosa.
Karim Sadjadpour writes in the Washington Post that by accentuating the country's internal rifts and breaking previously sacred taboos -- such as challenging the supreme leader -- Ahmadinejad has become an unlikely, unwitting ally of Iran's democracy movement.
A rise in Iraq's violence and sectarian tensions--and the highest U.S. monthly combat deaths since 2008--come amid mounting concerns over the government's role and questions about the U.S. troop presence, says expert Sean Kane.
In his piece for Foreign Policy, Vali Nasr explores Iran's main political fissure, specifically how Ahmadinejad is a threat to clerical supremacy, but without him, Khomeinism is even more vulnerable to reformist challengers.
Authors: Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh New York Times
Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh say Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is being sidelined by religious fundamentalists in Iran, and it's bad news for American officials seeking to halt Iran's nuclear program.
CFR's John Campbell discusses the increased religious violence that has occurred in the wake of Nigeria's elections, as part of CFR's Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call series.
In this Huffington Post piece, Sharmine Narwari, a Senior Associate at St. Anthony's College, Oxford University, argues that given the current geopolitical standpoint, the "political spat" between Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is, for now at least, much ado about nothing.
Pakistan is bracing for more turbulence in the wake of Osama bin Laden's killing. This Backgrounder looks at how state support for Islamist militants has led to growing religious intolerance in society.
The killing of Osama bin Laden has led to both elation and anger in Muslim countries around the world, raising questions about what his death means for Arab democracy and stability in Pakistan.
The Council on Foreign Relations' David Rockefeller Studies Program—CFR's "think tank"—is home to more than seventy full-time, adjunct, and visiting scholars and practitioners (called "fellows"). Their expertise covers the world's major regions as well as the critical issues shaping today's global agenda. Download the printable CFR Experts Guide.
Special operations play a critical role in how the United States confronts irregular threats, but to have long-term strategic impact, the author argues, numerous shortfalls must be addressed.
The author analyzes the potentially serious consequences, both at home and abroad, of a lightly overseen drone program and makes recommendations for improving its governance.
Two experts argue that despite myriad development strategies, only one can succeed in alleviating poverty in India: the overall growth of the country's economy. More