Charged Affairs Fall 2017 Content Call – Deadline Extended
Prompt: Sixteen years later, the war in Afghanistan rages on with no clear end in sight. What can the international community do to achieve an enduring solution while denying terrorists safe havens in Afghanistan? We believe that...
Why are European Countries Investing in Iran?
Post-sanctions, Iran may prove to be an emerging market for European Investors. On July 3, France’s biggest oil and gas company, Total, signed a multibillion-dollar deal to expand the development of Iran’s South Pars gas field,...
The Qatar Crisis and the Future of the GCC
Qatar is no stranger to escalation from its fellow members of the Gulf Cooperation Council. In 2014, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain recalled their ambassadors, and severed ties with the country for “meddling...
Why Resettling Syrian Refugees Matters
Since the 2011 onset of the Syrian war, more than 4.5 million of 22.8 million Syrians have become refugees. As millions flee armed conflict, violent extremism, chemical weapons, and barrel bombs, the question of where they go...
The Hobby Lobby Settlement and Combating Cultural Property Trafficking
On July 5, 2017, prosecutors for the Eastern District of New York announced a settlement with Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc. for its purchase and importation of Iraqi artifacts in violation of applicable customs laws. Hobby Lobby, a...
Kurdistan’s Desire for Statehood is Still Alive—Here’s Why
Iraqi Kurdistan President Masoud Barzani issued a historic document on June 28 in which he announced a referendum for independence of Iraqi Kurdistan set on September 25. With ISIS control fading quickly, diplomatic drama in...
The Mental Health Crisis in Syria: A Major Gap in Humanitarian Medical Response
The civil war in Syria has led to a significant increase in the number of Syrians battling mental disorders. These include anxiety disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), and developmental problems....
Mother of all Bombs: Women as the Best Weapon against Violent Extremism
From Nigeria’s Boko Haram, to Al Qaeda, to ISIS, one commonality that links terrorist and extremist groups is their malicious assaults on the rights of women and girls. However, while women and girls are often the first targets...
Trump’s Support for the House of Saud Highlights his Middle East Hypocrisy
President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia concerned a variety of issues centered on strengthening the strategic U.S.-Saudi partnership and containing their shared rivals in Tehran. While the ongoing war in neighboring...
Do Not Lift the Arms Embargo on Libya
The conflict in Libya is intensifying. Battles between rival militias are unceasing and deadly. As I wrote last month, the conflict is unlikely to resolve quickly. Amid this chaos, Egypt recently called for an end to a United...