Mohamad Bazzi comments on the death of Shiite cleric Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah.

In The Flight of the Intellectuals, Paul Berman argues that it is not violent Islamists who pose the greatest danger to liberal societies in the West but rather their so-called moderate cousins, such as Tariq Ramadan.

Mohamad Bazzi explains how Muqtada al-Sadr reshapes Iraqi politics.

Mohamad Bazzi says a more moderate, democratic vision of Shiism could ultimately resolve the current conflict in Iran.

The"proximity talks" being conducted between Israelis and Palestinians probably won't lead to a final status agreement, say CFR experts Elliot Abrams and Steven A. Cook, but they could lead to the framework for a Palestinian state on the West Bank.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the "proximity talks" in Jerusalem.

Walter Russell Mead says that fears and panic over the current economic crisis in Europe expose the failures of the "religion" of liberal modernity.

Those who warn against efforts to promote free elections in Muslim-majority countries often point to the threat posed by Islamic parties that stand ready to use democracy against itself. Writing for the Journal of Democracy, Charles Kurzman and Ijlal Naqvi examine the historical record of Islamic parties and Muslim voters.

Walter Russell Mead outlines the difficulties in interpreting the politics of American support for Israel.

Walter Russell Mead discusses the history of American Christian missionaries in the Arab world and their role in shaping American public opinion.

Walter Russell Mead comments on the disproportionate international treatment of Israel and the differences between critiques of Israel, anti-Zionism, and anti-Semitism.

The government's expanding investigation into an alleged Turkish military plot to seize power exposes the military's declining influence as democracy gains in the country, writes CFR's Steven Cook.

Recent violence against Christians in Malaysia and Egypt points to rising tensions over religious freedom and Islamic identity. Legal expert Angela Wu argues these issues must be considered more carefully in U.S. foreign policy.

The charging of a Nigerian with trying to blow up a U.S. airliner casts new attention on Nigeria's growing Muslim militancy and social challenges, writes CFR's John Campbell.

Turkey hopes to be a global power, but it has not yet become even the regional player that the ruling AKP declares it to be.

Maznah Mohamad expresses concern over the increased radicalization of Malaysia's ruling United Malays National Organization (UMNO).

Seyran Ates, a practicing Muslim, charges that  Germany has been downplaying human rights--and women's rights in particular--in an effort to remain politically correct with respect to religious practices.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech to the United Nations will actually be aimed towards improving his reputation in the Muslim community as a "Third World hero," writes Mohamad Bazzi.

George Weigel argues that a real understanding of Pope Benedict's trip to the Middle East "must start at the true source of Benedict's own thinking: scripture."

Elliott Abrams reviews The Persian Night by Amir Taheri, in Commentary.