James M. Dorsey
ARTICLES BY: James M. Dorsey
Saudi Censorship Focuses on Internal vs. External Issues
The contours of public engagement in Saudi Arabia are evident in the contrast between passionate debates over issues such as a proposal to remove the sword...
Saudi Arabia Is Sending Joe Biden Mixed Messages
Saudi Arabia seems to be betting that President Joe Biden will be sufficiently cautious to avoid a rupture in relations with the kingdom, despite criticism...
Pakistan Struggles to Regain Its Footing in a Changing Muslim World
Increasing strains between Pakistan and its traditional Arab allies, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, are about more than the Gulf States’ opportunistic targeting of India’s...
Conflict in Ethiopia Extends Greater Middle East’s Arc of Crisis
Fighting between the government of Nobel Peace Prize-winning Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Tigrayan nationalists in northern Ethiopia could extend an evolving arc of...
The Qatar World Cup: Dreaming of Bridging the Gulf Rift
The idea of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar mending fences in the Gulf is grounded in the longstanding illusion that soccer can drive events...
Saudi Chairmanship of G20 Proves a Mixed Blessing
Lockdowns and other public health safety measures, coupled with the evisceration of air travel, meant that numerous preparatory meetings and brainstorming sessions for the Saudi-chaired...
China Could Signal Increased Engagement with Iran — But It Hasn’t
There are two ways that Beijing could signal its interest in moving ahead with a proposed $400 billion economic and military cooperation agreement with Iran:...
The Pakistan-Saudi Spat: Hitting the Kingdom Where It Hurts
Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureishi has stirred a regional hornet’s nest by challenging Saudi leadership of the Muslim world. Complaining about lack of support...
Rejiggering Gulf Security: China’s Game of Shadow Boxing
China and its Gulf partners appear to be engaged in a game of shadow boxing. At stake is the future of Gulf security and the...
Indonesia and the Battle for the Soul of Islam
In Indonesia, Java’s mosque landscape resembles a map dotted with flags marking outposts of warring parties. Mosques with three-tiered tiled roofs reflect traditional Javanese cultural...
In the Wake of the Israel-UAE Deal, What Happens to the Arab and Muslim World?
The UAE-Israel agreement weakens the Palestinians’ efforts to create a state of their own, but their criticism of the UAE’s move to become the third...
The China-Iran Deal: A Trial Balloon With a Clear Message for the West
A proposed 25-year humongous China-Iran cooperation deal has proven to be good business. Reams of articles, analyses, and commentary by pundits are ensuring that the...
China Stakes Its Flag in Syria, and Expands Its Influence in the Region
On the eve of the Syrian civil war, Muhammad Jarah and Ahmad Bustati’s warehouse in Damascus symbolized China’s emergence as Syria’s largest supplier of industrial...
The UAE Ramps Up Attacks on Turkey and Qatar
Europe’s headaches just got worse. Its efforts to contain wars on its doorstep in Libya and Syria have failed at a moment when Europe is...
