Eastern Ukraine could be the first big test of just where appeasement of Russia will lead.
Category: War and peace
Democracy on the march in West Africa
Conflict looms in Gambia over a contested election result, but it's likely to be very one-sided.
What does Israel want?
The season of peace and goodwill has produced little of either in the Middle East. But as a negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians looks ever more remote, no-one seems willing to spell out the alternatives.
Spain, eighty years on
Spain marks another anniversary, but the lessons of the civil war have a special resonance this year for the rest of the world as well.
Disunited Kingdom, European Disunion
A look at the winners and losers from the British referendum result.
Justice for genocide
Radovan Karadžić, unsurprisingly, is convicted of war crimes. Why do we bother?
Words that kill: terrorism and “Islamism”
Why "Islamist" is the wrong word to use to describe terrorists, and why some people want us to use it anyway.
Holiday reading
As usual, news is a bit thin at this time of the year, but for those who are looking for holiday reading in the political sphere I've put together some links to interesting stuff that I've come across recently.
We warn the Turks
Turkey is headed back to the polls, in an election that's unlikely to solve anything but may give the country's fractious opposition parties another opportunity.
If not peace, what?
Opponents of the Iran nuclear deal have good reasons for not being too explicit about what their alternative is.
The World is Not Enough 