Baghdadi’s Alive, and So Is Islamic State’s Narrative

by Giorgio Cafiero On April 29, the so-called caliph of Islamic State (ISIS or IS), Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, appeared in an 18-minute propaganda video published by Al Furqan media network. In his first public appearance since the summer of 2014,… Continue Reading

Clash of Civilizations 2.0

by Robert Wright According to some officials in Sri Lanka, last week’s bombing of hotels and churches by ISIS-affiliated jihadists came in retaliation for the mosque shooting in ChristChurch, New Zealand five weeks earlier. There are reasons to doubt this… Continue Reading

China’s Belt and Road Funding Terms Spark Criticism

by James M. Dorsey Steep commercial terms for China’s investment in infrastructure projects across Eurasia related to its Belt and Road initiative may give it control of key ports and other assets as recipients of Beijing’s largess find themselves trapped… Continue Reading