Down the Line of Succession: How Likely is Reform in Saudi Arabia?

Following the recent death of Saudi King Abdullah on Jan. 23, the ascendance of his half-brother, King Salman, to the throne has cast new light on the line of succession, leading to speculation over the future of reform in the country. Under King Abdullah, Saudi Arabia had experienced cautious, very limited reform. His initial policies … Continue reading →

Canada’s Lackluster Response to the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Amid the chaos from the Syrian Civil War as well as rising violence from Islamic State (IS) militants, millions of Syrians are being forced to flee their homes. Since the outbreak of the civil war in March 2011, over nine million Syrians have been uprooted. More than six million remain internally displaced, while an additional … Continue reading →

Saudi Women Gearing Up to Drive

On Saturday, October 26, a number of Saudi Arabian women got behind the wheel and drove cars. While it may not seem monumental, Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that prohibits women from driving on public roads. The country does not have an official law, but rather an unofficial ban imposed by … Continue reading →

The media and the shooting of Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old child-activist from the war-torn Swat Valley, Pakistan, was shot in the head and neck and nearly killed by Taliban soldiers on her way home from school in October of 2011. Although Malala had led an active campaign championing women’s rights to education worldwide since 2008 and had her experiences featured in … Continue reading →