Farzad Ramezani Bonesh Senior Researcher and Analyst of International Affairs The July 2020 confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan did not open a new situation in the history of their conflict. But Turkey’s position on this issue is plausible. From the past, Turkey has been concerned about Armenian domination to parts of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas,…

Hamed Kazemzadeh This is not unfamiliar territory for Canada. Many of Canada’s recent foreign policy crises centre on the Middle East, such as major diplomatic disputes with Gulf states in 1979, 2010 and 2018. Within Canada bitter arguments regarding Israel-Palestine are commonplace and Canada’s decision not to support the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 was deeply contested, too.  So, this begs a question, “What is…

Hamed Kazemzadeh had a short talk in the panel of Armed Conflict in SIPRI Debates of Stockholm Forum 2020. He mentioned that the pattern of armed conflict and peace processes in 2019 appeared to confirm the recent trend for a reversal of the post-cold war peace, but the picture is mixed. According to the UCDP,…

By Hamed Kazemzadeh Rising rates of cybercriminal activities occur as threat actors observe the flourishing economies in the Middle East. These activities can range from the opportunistic data breaches to more targeted attacks, and increasing use of ransomware by threat actor groups. As security professionals in this region plan for 2021, here are the top…

Hamed Kazemzadeh This is true for a number of reasons, including: the high exposure of many fragile states to climate risks; their economic reliance on climate-dependent sectors (particularly rain-fed agriculture); and their histories of conflict, poverty and weak governance, which all serve to increase vulnerability to climate change. A failure to consider and address climate change and…

On January 2nd 2020, the US sent a drone to bomb an Iranian General, Qassem Soleimani. This open declaration of war from the United States is bringing the low-scale conflict between the US and Iran into a dangerous escalation point that could potentially bring more instability in the region and possibly another full-scale war in…

The author argues that Peace and Conflict Studies serves as a comprehensive reference book that provides a lively account of peace and conflict that simultaneously stimulates the mind and tugs at the heart. There is some psychology in this book. However, the coverage is much broader and particularly generous with historical material, which gives the reader a…

Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen, populations remain at risk of war crimes and are experiencing the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. Fighting between Houthi rebels, members of the General People’s Congress, the Southern Transitional Council (STC), and various forces loyal to the internationally-recognized government – as well as airstrikes…