From the International Peace Academy, a series of papers on Coping with Crisis, including essays on Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Central Asia and the Caucasus, Europe and Latin America and the Caribbean. A review of The Bottom Billion: Why the poorest countries are failing and what can be done about it by Paul Collier (and more). Weapon of choice for children, rebels and soldiers: A review of AK47: the Story of the People's Gun by Michael Hodges (and more). A review of How to Kill: The Definitive History of the Assassin by Kris Hollington. When Africa ignores the youth, its warlords celebrate. Some justice, at last: The first war criminals are convicted in Sierra Leone.
From The Ghanaian Chronicle, an article on capitalism and the developing world. Africa's Green Revolution on Shaky Ground: A new African aid project may be in danger of becoming yet another boon for Big Agra. In a world on the move, Cape Verde strains to cope. Poor little brother: Why Lesotho is still unstable. Can drag queens and hired guns save Darfur? Sarah Stillman investigates.
From Ode, a review of On Islamism by Fouad Laroui. The Muslim faithless: Ridiculing and questioning Islam, Muhammad, the Qur'an and religion in general is an ancient tradition in Muslim countries. Can one agree on a principle that can serve as the basis for the establishment of genuine peace and harmony in the world? Ishtiaq Ahmed on reason, sympathy and human relations. The many sides of Allah: From NPQ, an interview with Amartya Sen on Turkey and the clash between religion and secularism.
From The New Yorker, an article on The Taliban’s Opium War: The difficulties and dangers of the eradication program. A review of Reading Legitimation Crisis in Tehran by Danny Postel. A key Iranian minister calls "temporary marriages" a pragmatic way to deal with young people’s sexual needs and to prevent prostitution, but a wide range of critics lambasts them as little more than ways to give religious sanction to practices that degrade women. A review of The Prince: the Secret Story of the World's Most Intriguing Royal, Prince Bandar bin Sultan by William Simpson. A review of The Truth About Syria by Barry Rubin. Immanuel Wallerstein on winners and losers in Palestine. A review of Walled: Israeli Society at an Impasse by Sylvain Cypel.
An op-ed on why the Iraq war won't engulf the Mideast. A review of The Mess They Made: The Middle East after Iraq by Gwynne Dyer. Dennis Ross on Tony Blair's daunting challenge as Middle East envoy. Were the US and UK governments complicit in framing an innocent man for the Lockerbie bombing? The truth has yet to be told.
