The Arrogance and Limits of American Power in the Latest Gulf War

By Alaa Elhadidi / Summer 2026

With waning confidence in American influence and power to maintain peace in the region, Arab middle powers are moving toward a security equation characterized by multi-lateralism and regional defence pacts.

The War over Wartime Narratives

By Hany Farid / Summer 2026

Three information ecosystems are interacting to reshape narrative control of global conflicts: states, influencers, and autonomous AI systems.

The New Gulf Realignments: Saudi-UAE Competition and the Evolution of Regional Order

By Abdelrahim Shalaby / Summer 2026

The GCC is transforming, and the relationship between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi is guiding the change.

The Iran War and the Limits of Great Power

By Caroline Dibble and Gedaliah Afterman / Summer 2026

As American military power and Chinese geoeconomics fall short, regional players are searching for greater agency.

The Case for Soft Power and the Enterprise Fund Model—with James Harmon & Cornelius Queen: CR Amplified ep. 10

By Abigail Flynn / Summer 2026

What’s a better geopolitical strategy—force, or finance? James Harmon and Cornelius Queen join CR Amplified to discuss how business can be an alternative to hard power for Washington.

Europe’s Credibility Crisis in the Middle East

By Klara Vlahčević Lisinski / Summer 2026

Europe talks about rules but follows power. When power shifts, Europe shifts with it, belatedly and uncertainly.

Will Washington and Beijing Nationalize AI Labs?

By Paul Triolo / Summer 2026

Both countries are increasing government oversight on artificial intelligence, but whether (or when) they enact total state control depends on their own perceptions of risk and potential leaps in AI development.

One Alliance, Two Wars: Why Israel and America Diverge on Iran

By Jagannath Panda / Summer 2026

While strategically interdependent, their ambitions and long-term mapping of Iran strategy do deviate, ultimately drawing red lines between them

The Axis of Resistance and Shifting Gulf Alliances—with Dr. Hamidreza Azizi: CR Amplified ep. 9

By Abigail Flynn / Summer 2026

How has the recent U.S.-Israel war on Iran shifted the balance of power in the Middle East? Dr. Hamidreza Azizi joins CR Amplified to discuss the restructuring of the Axis of Resistance, the fracturing alliances of the Gulf States, and Iran’s long-term strategy for regional deterrence

It All Started with “Standing with the People of Iran”

By Kourosh Ziabari /

The international community must move beyond the tantalizing rhetoric of solidarity and vows of support to something actionable—an extension of pathways to global integration for Iranians

Iran and Egypt Now Have An Opportunity to Rebalance the Middle East

By Nanis Fahmy and Seyed Hossein Mousavian /

As the war continues, cooperation between Tehran and Cairo could build a foundation for a more stable regional arrangement

Internet Influencers and the Far-Right—with Dr. Scott Burnett: CR Amplified ep. 8

Winter 2026

How did internet self-help culture and the online manosphere evolve into a pipeline for modern fascism? Dr. Scott Burnett joins CR Amplified to revisit the historical roots, neoliberal anxieties, and global impact of right-wing influencer culture.

Cruel Capitalism and the Rise of the Right—with Dr. AJ Bauer and Dr. Paula Chakravartty: CR Amplified ep. 7

Winter 2026

How did Silicon Valley’s “cool capitalism” and alternative media evolve into an engine for modern authoritarianism? Dr. AJ Bauer and Dr. Paula Chakravartty join CR Amplified to unpack the political economy, media strategies, and global impact of the new American right.

The Iran War Isn’t About China, But Beijing May Still Benefit

By Gedaliah Afterman /

As the United States finds itself embroiled in another war in the Middle East, its ability to pressure China in the region and in Asia may be waning

Minnesota’s Perfect ICE Storm

By Zoe Carver / Winter 2026

As Minneapolis once again becomes the center of national protests, a dive into the state’s recent history of racial tensions and police violence reveals just why the North Star City has come head-to-head with the executive branch

Of Bombs and Regime Change: Experts Weigh the Israel-U.S. Strategy on Iran

Both the Americans and Israelis have for decades sought to topple the Islamic Republic. With Khamenei assassinated by Israeli bombing, is the end game near?

From Vietnam to Campus Encampments & Anti-Ice Protests: A Legal History of Federal Cases On Student First Amendment Rights

By Jacob Blau / Winter 2026

Students who have been silenced for their participation in recent protests should be aware of a deep legal history that has seen federal courts grapple with and protect the concept of student free speech

Book Review: 2017 Novel Warns of Decay of American Democracy

By Mariam Mohsen / Winter 2026

Escalating state violence and waning strength of democratic norms paints a concerning picture for the future of the United States

Iran at a Strategic Breaking Point

By Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy /

The war in June and recent nationwide protests could shape not only Iran’s future but also broader debates on sovereignty, intervention, nuclear proliferation, and the prospects for fundamental political change

Critical Education in the Age of Trump’s Fascist Politics

By Henry A. Giroux / Winter 2026

To protect democracy, the classroom must remain a space of freedom, not fear

2025 Year in Review: Prolonged Conflict, Erratic Policy, and Burgeoning Artificial Frontiers

The past year has presented important lessons for the world to learn

The Banality of a Public Race for the Nobel Peace Prize

By Kourosh Ziabari /

Donald Trump’s year-long campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize was not just impractical, unrealistic, or outrageous. It showed a clear disregard for the rules of the Nobel Foundation

U.S. Jazz Diplomacy—with James Ketterer: CR Amplified ep. 6

By Judi Yassin /

How did jazz evolve into an unlikely diplomatic force for the United States? Professor James Ketterer joins CR Amplified to revisit the history, tensions, and global impact of jazz diplomacy

Gamechanger or Fantasy? Trump’s Evolving Middle East Strategy

By Carla Dondera and Gedaliah Afterman /

Trump’s return to the White House has revived his ambition to reshape the Middle East, but as the recent war between Israel and Iran shows, the way forward is anything but simple and demands an unprecedented level of U.S. involvement

Fairness and Philosophy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

By Abigail Flynn / Spring/Summer 2025

The Cairo Review speaks with philosopher Aaron Wolf about complexities of algorithmic fairness

Tehran’s Red Lines, Trump’s Maximum Pressure, and Regime Survival

By Ali Fathollah-Nejad / Spring/Summer 2025

Progress toward a potential nuclear deal between the United States and Iran stalls, amid a high-stakes process for Tehran and others

Silicon Borders: The Global Justice of AI Infrastructure

By Johannes Himmelreich / Spring/Summer 2025

Washington uses ‘chokepoints’ to restrict global access to AI development, but this approach may threaten U.S. national security while creating significant moral dilemmas

Great Power Competition Makes Its Exit as Middle Eastern AI Ambitions Grow

By Vincent J. Carchidi / Spring/Summer 2025

As the Trump Administration downgrades the policy importance of science and technology, Middle Eastern states are pursuing tech autonomy

The Future of Democracy in the Age of Deepfakes

By Hany Farid / Spring/Summer 2025

AI-generated content has already begun to work against us, rather than for us. To ensure this technology brings benefits rather than harms, we must institute immediate changes

A Costly Illusion of Control: No Winners, Many Losers in U.S.-China AI Race

By Paul Triolo / Spring/Summer 2025

The aggressive U.S. approach to China risks triggering conflict between the two nations while upending any progress to a global framework for AI safety and security

U.S. Missionaries in 1979’s Iran—with Matthew Shannon: CR Amplified ep. 4

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U.S.-Iranian relations changed dramatically as the 1979 Islamic Revolution approached. The U.S. Christian Missionaries in Iran were not immune to these political transformations

Longer Sticks and Shorter Carrots: How the U.S. is Changing its Engagement in MENA

By Amr Adly / Winter 2025

The United States’ approach to achieving international hegemony is shifting away from trade and investments back toward bombs and missiles

In Jordan, Trump is a Divisive Figure

By Laila Shadid / Winter 2025

Before Trump officially took office, some Jordanians believed that he was the “lesser of two evils”. Now, two months into his presidency, Trump has few fans in Amman

The View from Africa Before and After the U.S. Elections—Q&A with Mark Deets

By Omar Auf / Winter 2025

Trump’s re-election brought massive changes to many aspects of the United States and the world. What led to Trump regaining the presidency? What will the reverberations look like in West Africa? Omar Auf sat with historian Mark Deets to find out

The Consequences and Prospects of Israel’s Ban of UNRWA

By Jørgen Jensehaugen and Kjersti G. Berg and Lex Takkenberg / Winter 2025

As the UN agency’s operations continue to be obstructed, its outright ban will continue the perpetuation of severe human suffering and have multidimensional ramifications, from illegality on the international level to political considerations regarding the tenuous ceasefire

Syria Remains at a Dangerous Crossroads

By Jacob Blau /

The recent removal of Bashar al-Assad’s regime creates two divergent paths for Syria, one of freedom, and the other that embodies an all too familiar authoritarian style of governance

American Netizens Worry For the Future of TikTok

By Sydney Wise / Winter 2025

The temporary banning of TikTok in the United States in January prompted concern over the politicization of tech platforms. The two likeliest paths forward for TikTok represent alternate visions of the relationship between Big Tech and government

Round Two: Trump’s Foreign Policy Takes on New Challenges

By William B. Quandt / Winter 2025

Trump will have to manage the continuing conflict in the Middle East, the war in Ukraine, and the rising power of China as he navigates the beginning of his second term

Trump 2.0: Where Rhetoric Meets Reality

By Diana Bartelli Carlin / Winter 2025

The new president has made big promises, but can he keep them?

A Resurgent Trump Returns to a Turbulent Middle East

By Paul Salem / Winter 2025

Trump’s unpredictable yet forceful leadership is entering a region in flux, offering both challenges and opportunities for his second term

President Trump’s Policies in the Middle East

By Raphael Cohen-Almagor / Winter 2025

The U.S. president’s pragmatic approach and his out-of-the-box bold ideas may bring a positive change to both Israel and the Palestinians provided they will be translated into action plans carefully and through sensitive communication with all concerned stakeholders

The Elusive Saudi-Israeli Normalization Deal: Why an Agreement is Likely to Fall Short of Expectations

By Robert Mogielnicki / Winter 2025

A deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel will likely happen eventually but is unlikely to transform the Middle East

Is China Becoming a Political Player in the Middle East?

By Dominika Urhová and Gedaliah Afterman /

China saw Israel’s war in Gaza as an opportunity to gain traction in the Middle East at the expense of the United States, but is it ready to become a serious political actor in the region?

Posting Our Way to the Presidency

By Sydney Wise /

American presidential campaigns have increasingly turned to social media to reach Gen Z voters. How well can they speak the youth’s language?

Don’t Forget About the Red Sea

By Burak Şakir Şeker / Summer 2024

A widening of Israel’s War on Gaza could threaten the vital Red Sea waterway and lead to a global economic crisis

China Tests the Water in Palestinian Diplomacy

By Ramzy Baroud / Summer 2024

While the ramifications of the recent unity agreement signed in Beijing by multiple Palestinian factions remain to be seen, it is evident that China has stepped up as a leader in the region

The Olympics: Arenas of Contention

By Jung Woo Lee / Summer 2024

Political tensions simmered under the facade of international communion at the Paris 2024 Games as countries competed both on and off the stage

War on Palestine Underscores the Supremacy of Geopolitics

By Omar Auf / Spring 2024

Why do states ignore violations of international law in Gaza?

A World that Ended Apartheid can do the Same for Israel’s Occupation

By Abderahman Salaheldin /

Ending the Israeli occupation and forging a Palestinian state requires a unified effort that parallels the process which ended racial segregation in South Africa.

U.S. Position on Gaza Risks Wider War in the Middle East

By Karim Haggag /

Just days before the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan proclaimed a “quieter” Middle East, and, with faintly concealed satisfaction, declared how little attention he – and thus the nation – needs to devote to the region’s myriad geopolitical headaches.
But now, Israel’s war on Gaza has dragged the United States back to the Middle East, and the Biden administration finds itself sucked into the vortex of multiple regional flashpoints revolving around Gaza. » Read more about: U.S. Position on Gaza Risks Wider War in the Middle East »

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