Category Archives: Middle East

The Druze: A Distinctive Middle Eastern Community

Posted on December 14, 2024 by nathanalbright

The Druze community represents a fascinating example of religious and cultural distinctiveness in the Middle East, with origins dating back to the 11th century CE. Their faith emerged during the Fatimid Caliphate when a group of Ismaili Muslims, led by … Continue reading →

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Conditions For Refugee Repatriation After Conflicts: A Historical Analysis

Posted on December 10, 2024 by nathanalbright

The return of refugees to their homelands represents a complex phenomenon that requires multiple stabilizing conditions to occur successfully. Historical analysis reveals several key patterns in refugee repatriation following major conflicts and crises. The post-World War II period provides one … Continue reading →

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Designing A Federal System For Syria

Posted on December 9, 2024 by nathanalbright

A federal system in Syria would need to carefully account for the complex ethno-religious demographics and historical power dynamics that have shaped the nation. The primary challenge lies in developing a system that can accommodate diverse groups while maintaining territorial … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Side By Side

Posted on July 20, 2024 by nathanalbright

Side By Side: Parallel Histories Of Israel-Palestine, edited by Sam Adwan, Dan Bar-On, Evil Naveh Prime If I think this book is praiseworthy, it is on somewhat modest terms. This book deserves praise for its existence far more than its … Continue reading →

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Book Revie: Carving Up The Globe

Posted on July 13, 2024 by nathanalbright

Carving Up The Globe: An Atlas Of Diplomacy, by Malise Ruthven, General Editor When we think of the saying: “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” we normally think of this statement as meaning that we should not think poorly … Continue reading →

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Implausible Deniability

Posted on April 19, 2024 by nathanalbright

From time to time it is important to remember that denial is not only a river that runs through Egypt, but a river that potentially runs through every human heart and mind. Such is the case, it would appear, with … Continue reading →

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Book Review: All Strangers Are Kin

Posted on April 16, 2024 by nathanalbright

All Strangers Are Kin: Adventures In Arabic And The Arab World, by Zora O’Neill My generally positive review of this book that I give is dependent on my reading of the author’s self-presentation as being deliberately critical. To the extent … Continue reading →

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Escalatory Retaliation, Or How History Feels When It Is Being Written

Posted on April 14, 2024 by nathanalbright

I happened to glance at my phone as I was getting ready to leave services and go to dinner, and found that on both Skype and Telegram, a dear friend of mine (who happens to live near the center of … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Rome And Persia

Posted on March 16, 2024 by nathanalbright

Rome And Persia: The Seven Hundred Year Rivalry, by Adrian Goldworthy For a large amount of world history, Persia has been a world power, and this was especially true in the ancient world, where three Persian dynasties ruled over large … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Xenophon’s Retreat

Posted on March 11, 2024 by nathanalbright

Xenophon’s Retreat: Greece, Persia, And The End Of The Golden Age, by Robin Waterfield What is the value of a book like this, which seeks to summarize Anabasis by Xenophon, a classic work that had world-historical importance in showing to … Continue reading →

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