The New Generation in North Africa and the Middle East
written by: Annemarie Ulbrich
Jan 16, 2012

During the last couple of months the world witnessed deep changes taking place in Middle Eastern and North African countries such as Egypt and Tunesia: The fall of well-established leaders, regime changes and elections generating new opportunities for the formation of more democratic structures ...more

Field Marshal Lord Inge on Libya, Afghanistan and Pakistan
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Jan 06, 2012

When you want to meet a real British army officer and a gentleman with a British sense of humour, a world-view and inner power and musicality, the best option is a lunch in the House of Lords with ...more

Christmas and Holiday Season 2011: Freedom is a Date Palm Emerging from the Sand
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Dec 22, 2011

The year 2011 revealed an unexpected second wave of freedom and democratic values expressing the desire of individuals for dignity and self-determination. Following the dramatic years of liberation in Eastern Europe and the USSR from 1989 to 1991, freedom this time resembled a date palm emerging ...more

The world’s new economic giants: China’s fight for supremacy and India’s subtle rise
written by: Annemarie Ulbrich
Dec 03, 2011

In recent years, there has been a battle for supremacy between the US and China, both states trying to strengthen their influence not only in economics but also in the field of politics. This battle for power and the rise of China can certainly not be proclaimed as the new cold war but it has not ...more

Dead end for US - Pakistan alliance?
Dec 01, 2011

Heartrending images of the green and white, national flag draped coffins of the 24 soldiers and officers that died recently in the NATO attack on two border posts in Pakistan’s Mohmand agency has fuelled intense rage across the country.

Moving into high gear, Pakistan has blocked all ...more

Syrian goalkeeper emerges as protest leader in embattled city of Homs
written by: James M. Dorsey
Nov 15, 2011

The goalkeeper of the Syrian national Under-23 soccer team as well as well as for the Al Karama soccer club in Homs, a focal point of the eight-month old uprising against embattled President Bashar al-Assad, is emerging as a leader of the protests in the city’s Al Bayyadh district.
...more

20 years of independence: Azerbaijan – a nation kept away from democracy?
written by: Annemarie Ulbrich
Nov 06, 2011

As the year 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of Azerbaijan’s independence from the USSR, it also offers the possibility to reflect on what has happened in terms of democratization within the country since it’s restoration in 1991. Azerbaijan has a rich democratic tradition: it was ...more

Second Bonn Conference on Afghanistan
written by: Ahmad Noor
Nov 03, 2011

On December 5 2011, there will be another significant event in the recent history of Afghanistan when the international community and Afghans will once again sit down together to mark the 10^th anniversary of the decade long war. At this juncture of time, the international community and ...more

Energy-Power: Ukraine with Russia or EU?
written by: Constantin von Wangenheim
Oct 29, 2011

The Ukraine is in the midst of a back-and-forth with Russia concerning prices of natural gas and ultimately concerning it's potential fusing with Russia's Customs Union. The latter would unify the country's tariff system, and potentially open the path for Russia to swallow up and integrate Ukraine's ...more

India Toying with Dangerous Cold Start War Doctrine
written by: BrigGen (ret) Dr. Muhammad Aslam Khan Niazi
Oct 28, 2011

Indian Military ‘Cold Start Doctrine’ (CSD) surfaces occasionally in Indian and Pakistani media as an unexplored paradigm. The opinion makers enjoy Voltaire’s philosophy support across the board, that in the third millennium globalized world politics, has become synonymous ...more

Col. Gaddafi killed: What’s next in Libya?
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Oct 24, 2011

In only a few months the world’s longest-serving dictator was ousted from absolute power and now even killed by his people supported by a joint Arab-NATO military campaign including jets from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Now it is time to look for the right decisions for the future of ...more

12 Million Hungry People at the Horn of Africa
written by: Annemarie Ulbrich
Oct 19, 2011

Annemarie Ulbrich, Editor of the World Security Network, interviewed ...more

Israel's Missing Soldiers – A Sacred Principle and its Implications on the Conflict
written by: Malte Gaier
Oct 18, 2011

The principle of returning 'missing in action' (MIA), 'prisoners of war' (POW), fallen soldiers and their remains has been sacrosanct since the Israel Defense Forces' inception in 1948. Since then, the debate on prisoner deals and the price that the State of Israel has to pay for its citizens has ...more

Dalai Lama WSN Interview On Tolerance
written by: Anne Stiens
Oct 11, 2011

It was one of those few perfect sunshine days when you can smell the summer, flowers, trees and grass, and feel the warm touch of sunlight on your skin with temperatures of 35 degrees Celsius as you expect in India, when ...more

Ex-Chief of British Secret Service Sir Richard Dearlove: “Al-Qaeda ten years after 9/11”
written by: Annemarie Ulbrich
Oct 01, 2011

Sir Richard Dearlove, Chief of the British Secret Intelligence Service between February 1999 and May 2004, describes 9/11 in London as a defining historical moment in a presentation to the Henry ...more

For a more consistent and robust EU role in the Middle East
written by: Ruba Zinati
Oct 06, 2011

The Middle East and the North African region have been witnessing a more direct and visible EU role in the unfolding events that the region is currently experiencing. This new activity contrasts with the role the EU has been pursuing in the Arab-Israeli conflict – a role that has been perceived ...more

North Korea – on the Brink of Starvation or on the Rise to a “Strong and Prosperous Nation“?
written by: Dr. Bernhard J. Seliger
Oct 06, 2011

Recent media reports about North Korea in the world news seem to be unequivocal as they depict people who live off one meal a day and are forced to sell what is left of their belongings on semi-legal markets, living by the day; crop shortfalls due to long, cold winters and other shortages are reported ...more

Dalai Lama-Tibet-China: Re-set Buddhist Harmony with Soft Autonomy vs. Cultural Nihilism
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Sep 27, 2011

Meeting the Dalai Lama for the second time in August 2011 - for the first meeting in May 2006 in Buenos Aires see Hubertus ...more

Afghanistan Needs Permanent US Support not Bases
written by: Ahmad Noor
Sep 24, 2011

Last December, US Senator Lindsey suggested the idea of permanent bases for the USA in Afghanistan. He argued that it would help “secure the gains” made in Afghanistan over the past years. The Afghan President, Hamid Karzai confirmed in February that he was in talks with the US about ...more

In search of a good capitalist
written by: Rene Kuuksmann
Sep 24, 2011

I have been most likely affected by living half my life in welfare states (Scandinavia) and I can only speak for the region (including Baltic states) but after following the news of UK and international newspapers almost daily for about 10 years, the tendency seems to be partly the same globally ...more

How to get rid of Europe's last Dictator in Belarus?
written by: Nathalie Vogel
Sep 07, 2011

In the course of the Arab Spring the dictators of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya have been ousted. Yet, there is one forgotten dictator at the Eastern border of Europe in Belarus. During the last presidential election December 19, 2010, Alyaksandr Lukashenka garnered ...more

Proposals for innovative Actions in Syria
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Aug 17, 2011

The continuation of the killing of more than 1000 civilians in Syria by dictator Bashar al-Assad must now be answered by innovative actions by the Arab states and the West.

Words are not enough anymore, he does not listen to them.

The UN Security Council is blocked ...more

Habib Malik Orakzai: "Education is key for development of FATA in Pakistan"
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Aug 16, 2011

Habib Malik Orakzai is the Founder and Chairman of ...more

Norway Continue!
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Jul 24, 2011

The Norwegians are one of my most respected and admired people.

When others followed a strategy of appeasement after the Nazis invaded their countries (like most French did), the whole nation rose up against the occupiers and fought for freedom and liberty - supported by the Norwegian major ...more

Estonia: From Soviet Occupation to EU Role Model
written by: Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
Jul 21, 2011

Tunne Kelam experienced the harsh and cold times of Soviet occupation, became a leader of the independence ...more

The Indus Equation – the battle for water between India and Pakistan
Jul 11, 2011

The Pakistani media is full of reports claiming India is encroaching on their water supply but a close examination of the facts reveals that the controversy over water is much ado about nothing and easily avoidable.

Here are some key ...more

Power Politics of ethnic groups and the future of Afghanistan
written by: Ahmad Noor
Jul 08, 2011

Power politics means the use of force or threat to use force by political parties, nations, groups, subgroups or individuals to protect, preserve or to promote their national, personal or party interests. It can also be defined as diplomacy in which nations threat to use force in ...more