“Only war makes it possible to mobilize all of today’s technical resources while maintaining the property system.”

- Walter Benjamin, 1936

About Ranj Alaaldin

Ranj Alaaldin is a political and security risk analyst. He is Senior Analyst at the Next Century Foundation and is doing his PhD on the Middle East at the London School of Economics and Political Science. More details about his research interests can be found on his blog at: www.ranjalaaldin.com

Articles by Ranj Alaaldin

Libya: politics before security?

Ranj Alaaldin 21 September 2012

Last week's attack against the US ambassador is a warning sign that large security gaps are threatening Libya's stability. Democratically electing a new government is no guarantee of better times to come.

Libya: time to decide

Ranj Alaaldin 31 March 2011

Providing air support and arms for the Libyan opposition is necessary if stalemate and partition are to be avoided, argues Ranj Alaaldin

Kurdistan comes alive

Ranj Alaaldin 16 March 2011

Despite its unique circumstances, Kurdistan has not been immune to the chain of protests across the middle east. Ranj Alaaldin expresses hope that the movement will help build upon, rather than set back, the region's nascent democratic institutions.

Weighing intervention in Libya

Ranj Alaaldin and Daniel Korski 25 February 2011

International organisations will never regain popular legitimacy if they continue their inaction over Libya. Intervention must be measured so as not to exacerbate the situation, but inaction is the worst course of all.

How to stop a Libyan massacre: the power is in our hands

Ranj Alaaldin 22 February 2011

Ranj Alaaldin issues a timely call for a considered form of intervention in Libya's uprising. With the Libyan air force already firing on its own people, and escalation likely, a no-fly zone must be implemented over Libyan airspace to prevent mass casualties.

Al-Sadr returns to an uncertain and unstable Iraq

Ranj Alaaldin 8 January 2011

Ranj Alaaldin explores the significance of Muqtada al-Sadr's return to Iraq for the nation's politics, and the US and Iranian stakes in the country.

Afghanistan: time to face reality

Ranj Alaaldin 22 December 2010

Ranj Alaaldin argues that only the drastic curtailment of Nato ambitions in Afghanistan, and some unpalatable choices, will secure any semblance of stability in the country.

This week's editor

Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
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As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
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European debate

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