The elections in Iraq were widely hailed as a tentative success in an otherwise disastrous situation. But considering the history of foreign intervention in the Middle East when it comes to oil interests, perhaps this silver cloud has a dark lining.

Jahan Zeb writes us about Malala and her father, Ziauddin Yousofzai, who recently visited the Syrian-Jordanian border to meet with people fleeing the conflict in Syria, and to draw international attention to the needs of refugees -- especially refugee children.

News from Syria Author: Harout Akdedian Originally Published at Peace and Conflict Monitor on: 08/05/2011   On the 4th of July, on my way to Syria, I was reading a book entitled Between Equal Rights by China Miéville. The book was a Marxian perspective on international law and the title

The causes and catalysts of the current civil war in Syria are many and varied, including narratives that range across religion, poverty, past repression, and ideology. Understanding why the conflict began is only possible when these causes are considered together as a holistic whole rather than as stand-alone explanations.

Jehun Alexander Hong discusses the continued escalation of the Syrian civil war in terms of internal, regional, and international power struggles, in the overlapping sectors of ethnic, religious, political, and economic rivalry. Emphasis is placed on the question of chemical weapons and the high number of child casualties, as well

Independent journalist Atkilt Geleta comments on the UNGA speeches made by Ahmadinejad and Netanyahu and offers some analytical insight on the worsening Syrian crisis and the complex geopolitical structure of alliances and interests that surround it.

Vanessa Bassil argues that social divisions and state failures pose significant, but surmountable challenges to peace in Lebanon.

University for Peace PhD Candidate Harout Akdedian presents grassroots perspectives on the Syrian crisis and an analysis of today’s socio-political reality in the Middle East.

A new order is taking shape from North Africa to the Middle East; but as the dust settles down, will the quest for human dignity and democracy continue? Patrick Mugo Mugo analyzes what kind of governance system will win the hearts and minds of millions of the Arabic people: a