James M Dorsey

The writer is a senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, co-director of the University of Würzburg's Institute for Fan Culture, and the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer blog, and a book with the same title.

Saudi Arabia and Israel put a high US price tag on diplomatic relations

Like Israel, Saudi Arabia wants a formalised security agreement, even if that accord may not target Iran as explicitly as Israel’s request does.

Playing games in Nato, Turkey eyes its role in a new world order

Nato’s spat over Turkish opposition to Swedish and Finnish membership is about more than expanding the North Atlantic military alliance.

S Arabia targets a more Republican Washington

Rather than push for an immediate improvement of strained relations with the United States, Saudi Arabia appears to be looking forward to a

Russian societal tensions are mirrored in Putin’s Orthodox church

The Russian Orthodox Church blesses rather than fire weapons. In doing so, it has emerged as a powerful weapon in its own right in President Vladimir Putin’s civilisationalist arsenal.

Saudi, Emirati religious moderation yet to inspire others

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have drawn praise for social reforms that have domestically reduced the role of religion in public life.

Christmas finally arrives in Saudi Arabia

Long banned, Christmas has finally—at least tacitly—arrived in Saudi Arabia; just don’t use the name in marketing or be ostentatious about your tree.

A new world: The Middle East tries cooperation alongside competition

Just in case there were any doubts, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu demonstrated with his visit to Lebanon last week that improved relations between Middle-Eastern rivals would not bury hatchets.

Reducing Middle East tensions can lessen sectarianism and open doors for women

Two separate developments involving improved relations between Sunni and Shia Muslims and women’s sporting rights demonstrate major shifts in how rivalry for the leadership of the Muslim world and competition to define Islam in the 21st century are playing out in a world where the Middle Eastern states can no longer depend on the United States coming to their defence.

August 21, 2023
August 21, 2023

Saudi Arabia and Israel put a high US price tag on diplomatic relations

Like Israel, Saudi Arabia wants a formalised security agreement, even if that accord may not target Iran as explicitly as Israel’s request does.

May 29, 2022
May 29, 2022

Playing games in Nato, Turkey eyes its role in a new world order

Nato’s spat over Turkish opposition to Swedish and Finnish membership is about more than expanding the North Atlantic military alliance.

April 25, 2022
April 25, 2022

S Arabia targets a more Republican Washington

Rather than push for an immediate improvement of strained relations with the United States, Saudi Arabia appears to be looking forward to a

March 9, 2022
March 9, 2022

Russian societal tensions are mirrored in Putin’s Orthodox church

The Russian Orthodox Church blesses rather than fire weapons. In doing so, it has emerged as a powerful weapon in its own right in President Vladimir Putin’s civilisationalist arsenal.

January 13, 2022
January 13, 2022

Saudi, Emirati religious moderation yet to inspire others

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have drawn praise for social reforms that have domestically reduced the role of religion in public life.

December 29, 2021
December 29, 2021

Christmas finally arrives in Saudi Arabia

Long banned, Christmas has finally—at least tacitly—arrived in Saudi Arabia; just don’t use the name in marketing or be ostentatious about your tree.

November 24, 2021
November 24, 2021

A new world: The Middle East tries cooperation alongside competition

Just in case there were any doubts, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu demonstrated with his visit to Lebanon last week that improved relations between Middle-Eastern rivals would not bury hatchets.

October 12, 2021
October 12, 2021

Reducing Middle East tensions can lessen sectarianism and open doors for women

Two separate developments involving improved relations between Sunni and Shia Muslims and women’s sporting rights demonstrate major shifts in how rivalry for the leadership of the Muslim world and competition to define Islam in the 21st century are playing out in a world where the Middle Eastern states can no longer depend on the United States coming to their defence.

September 19, 2021
September 19, 2021

Initial Taliban moves fail to convince Afghanistan’s neighbours

The Taliban’s record in recent weeks on making good on promises to respect human and women’s rights as well as uphold freedom of the press is mixed at best.

September 7, 2021
September 7, 2021

Afghanistan has lessons for the Gulf

The US withdrawal from Afghanistan will likely clarify what the Gulf’s security options are.

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