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Middle East

From the archive Sara Dowse 22 October 2021 In search of his forebears, a writer finds an era of “constructive cosmopolitan complexity”
Books & Arts Jane Goodall 19 May 2021 Stan Grant distils his travels into an argument about the future International Dimi Reider 16 May 2021 Why Netanyahu and Hamas both risk losing control of the conflict in Gaza National Affairs Hamish McDonald 4 June 2020 A new voice in the Australian Jewish community retains hopes of a two-state solution to the Israel–Palestine conflict International Ross Burns 25 June 2019 Whether he knows it or not, Donald Trump is doing the crown prince’s bidding
National Affairs Marion Maddox 19 October 2018 Did Scott Morrison have a different audience in mind when he floated the idea of shifting Australia’s embassy to Jerusalem?
International Ross Burns 20 July 2018 Syria’s seven-year conflict is favouring those who play the long game International Ross Burns 17 April 2018 Chemical weapons have been a feature of the Syrian conflict since 2011. Are we any closer to a strategy to deal with their use — and with the forces fuelling the wider conflict? International John Tilemann 16 October 2017 White House decisions are making life harder for America’s allies, and not just in the Middle East International Ross Burns 25 September 2017 Foreign interference, however well-intentioned, could still prolong the conflict
Correspondents R. Tousi 7 July 2017 Despite the tough Middle Eastern neighborhood and internal resistance, Iranians continue to seek greater freedom and equality
International Ross Burns 24 June 2017 Islamic State’s destruction of the heritage of a great Islamic leader, Nur al-Din, signals a new desperation International Ross Burns 10 April 2017 Signs that Bashar al-Assad is panicking could create an opportunity to re-engage the Syrian peace talks National Affairs Tom Hyland 5 April 2017 The campaign to hide the full truth of Australia’s involvement in the Iraq war continues International Andy Butfoy 9 March 2017 Character and content can be hard to disentangle in assessing Donald Trump’s international security policies
Books & Arts Matthew Gray 2 December 2016 Books | Can the Ottoman Empire offer a guide to the future of the Middle East?
National Affairs Judith Betts 8 July 2016 Deft media management took the sting out of Australia’s first inquiry into the decision to go to war in Iraq, writes Judy Betts Books & Arts Tom Hyland 1 April 2016 Books | David Kilcullen helps us make sense of the madness unleashed by Islamic State, writes Tom Hyland. But he’s less convincing about what we should do next Correspondents David Hayes 1 March 2016 Six years after his death, the work of a protean internationalist scholar has never been more relevant, writes David Hayes International Bob Bowker 15 January 2016 The West’s failures have combined with bad national leadership to open the way for the wrong kind of anticipation, writes Bob Bowker
International John Besemeres 10 December 2015 Vladimir Putin’s actions in the Middle East reflect his view that all relationships are zero-sum games, writes John Besemeres
International Paul Rogers 23 November 2015 The strategy against ISIS must recognise that this fourteen-year conflict hasn’t played out anywhere near as expected, writes Paul Rogers International Jane Goodall 16 November 2015 In the face of the attacks in Paris and Beirut, the philosophical heritage of stoicism carries a radical challenge, writes Jane Goodall International Matthew Gray 17 September 2015 The crisis in Syria could easily worsen, writes Matthew Gray, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Islamic State is in the ascendant Books & Arts Matthew Gray 20 March 2015 Books | The Islamic State seemed to appear out of nowhere, writes Matthew Gray, but its origins lie in decades of conflict and bad decisions
Books & Arts Matthew Gray 5 February 2015 Books | Matthew Gray reviews an illuminating account of a diverse nationality in search of self-determination
Essays & Reportage David Corlett 27 January 2015 The fairness of Australia’s refugee policies looks different at the Al Zaatari camp, writes David Corlett International John Quiggin 6 October 2014 When a militarily powerful country tries to govern the affairs of millions of people on the other side of the planet, we shouldn’t be surprised that chaos results, writes… International Paul Rogers 31 July 2014 Israel won’t achieve its aims in Gaza without a long-term occupation, writes Paul Rogers. In the meantime, only its enemies are benefiting from the growing civilian… International Matthew Gray 20 June 2014 The extremist push into Iraq has exposed the divisive policies of the government in Baghdad, writes Matthew Gray. So far, the well-organised Kurds are the only real beneficiaries.