IRAN-SAUDI ARABIA (by Farid Mirbagheri). Iran and Saudi Arabia have recently broken off diplomatic relations following an assault by mobsters on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran. The assault, in itself, is said to have been triggered by the execution of a Shi’a cleric in Saudi Arabia, who preached against the Saudi government. What is there to read between the lines in this diplomatic … MORE
 
  THE ROJAVA KURDS AND THEIR REGIONAL ROLE (by Sotiris Roussos). In the last round of Syria peace talks in Geneva, the Kurds were left without an invitation. No true peace process could, however, bring any tangible results without the Kurdish decisive participation. The Kurdish self-government in Rojava (North and North-East Syria) is the only military-political power, apart from the … MORE
 
  PIPELINE POLITICS (by George Georgiadis). The Arab spring has its roots in Tunisia in 2011, following Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation. His self-sacrifice sparked protests in Algeria in Oman, Yemen, Egypt, Syria, & Morocco. The government of Tunisia was overthrown on 14 January 2011. Some of the other protests also led to the partition of Sudan and regime changes in Egypt … MORE
 
  PERCEPTIONS OF HOMELAND: THE CASE OF CYPRUS (by Thanos Koulos). Throughout history every group has associated itself one way or another with a particular territory, a homeland that functions as a reference point in the evolution and development of the group.  Gradually, and with successive generations living, working and dying in the same territory, the territory is invested … MORE
 
  THE END FOR THE LARGE EUROPEAN UTILITIES? (by Steve Thomas). A decade ago, it seemed likely that European electricity and gas markets would increasingly be dominated by about ten European companies with bases in a number of countries. The companies included: E.ON and RWE (Germany), EDF and GDF (France), Endesa and Iberdrola (Spain), ENEL (Italy), … MORE
 
  SOME ACTION-PLAN SUGGESTIONS FOR CYPRUS (by Chris Alexander). Did you know that the rent of an averagely disappointing room in a more bearable part of London now could be about 30-40% of the average monthly take-home pay of a reasonably-paid university lecturer working in London? If you then deduct food, travel, bills, the odd KFC moment-of-weakness, and the other stuff … MORE