James M Dorsey
Commentator
James M Dorsey is an award-winning journalist and commentator on foreign affairs who has covered ethnic and religious conflict and terrorism across the globe for more than three decades.
Opinion: Turkey signals sweeping regional ambitions
Azerbaijan's defeat of Armenia with Turkey's backing appears to have raised Turkish confidence of its sphere of influence
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Opinion: A Muslim scholar says human rights policy needs to focus on religious scholars
He was speaking at a virtual conference, organized by the Washington-based Arab Center for Law and Research to focus attention on another popular but controversial religious scholar
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Opinion: Separating the wheat from the chaff Saudi moderation put to the test
How the mix plays out will ultimately bring into spotlight the outcome of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to inject a significant dose of nationalism in a Saudi identity that…
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Islamophobia: A fungible prop for Muslim religious soft power
Rising anti-Muslim sentiment in countries like China and Myanmar as well as the West against the backdrop of increased support for anti-migration and extreme nationalist groups, and far-right…
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Opinion: Iranians move into front line of the Middle East’s quest for religious change
A survey of Iranian attitudes towards religion has revealed a stunning rejection of state-imposed adherence to conservative religious mores as well as the role of religion in public life
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Opinion: When is usury usury? Turkish fatwa casts doubt on Erdogan’s religious soft power drive
In a surprise move, Erdogan appointed a new central bank governor and promised to adhere to more orthodox monetary policies that would include higher interest rates in a bid to stem the slide of…
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Opinion | Looming large: The Middle East braces for fallout of US–China divide
With relations with the United States rapidly deteriorating, China’s primary focus is on what it views as its main battleground: the Asia–Pacific. China is nonetheless realising that remaining…
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Gulf state religious moderation falls by the wayside in Pakistan
The Gulf States’ silence is the latest example of a geopolitics and economics-driven refusal to speak out on repression of or discrimination against Muslims in various parts of the world,…
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Opinion: Erdogan positions powerful Turkish military as backbone of regional strategy
Mr. Erdogan appears to define Turkey’s place in the new world order as Turkish leadership of a broader Muslim world of which lands populated by Turkic ethnicities are a part.
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Opinion: Indonesia potentially set to take on China and claim leadership of ‘moderate’ Islam
Indonesia has to date sought to walk a fine line in escalating tensions between the United States and China, including its refusal to speak out on the plight of the Uighurs. Indonesia has further…
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France, Belgium and Austria move into the frontline of a battle for the soul of Islam
The UAE’s footprint is visible across the globe, most recently in France, the latest arena in what amounts to a battle for the soul of Islam, as well as in US disclosures about the nature of…
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Vision or mirage: Saudi Arabia at the crossroads
Elite cohesion was disrupted by disenfranchising or subjugating key elements of the Saudi power structure, including significant segments of the bloated ruling Al Saud family and the religious…
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Saudi rushes to improve its image in advance of G20 and Biden
Like other countries that fear a Biden administration may be less friendly than its predecessor, Saudi Arabia is looking for Washington PR and lobbying firms that can get it access to the…
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Subtly, China pressures Gulf states to reduce regional tensions
Relying on scholars rather than officials, China is signalling to Gulf states adjustments they would have to make to enable China to become more engaged in regional security and geopolitics.
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Masters of the pearl: Understanding Qatar critically
Michael Quentin Morton, author of nine books on the Gulf and oil, brings an understanding of Qatari history to the table based on extensive research and the fact that he lived in Qatar and UAE at…
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