From the beginnings of Wahabism in the 18th century to the so called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS) violence has occasionally been justified in the name of Islam, which is problematic for secular ...From the beginnings of Wahabism in the 18th century to the so called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS) violence has occasionally been justified in the name of Islam, which is problematic for secular and traditional scholars alike. This paper demonstrates that there are three complex, interrelated causes for this violence: foreign military intervention, Salafi-Jihadism and a utopian state founded upon faith and justice, i.e. a caliphate.展开更多
The State of Xi was a small kingdom in ancient times located between the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. It was overturned by leaders from the State of Chu in 680 B.C. This bronze basin, the only unearthed relic from ...The State of Xi was a small kingdom in ancient times located between the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. It was overturned by leaders from the State of Chu in 680 B.C. This bronze basin, the only unearthed relic from the State of Xi, is 21 centimeters in girth, has a lid with a bugle-shaped handle and two symmetrical handles on the sides. The bottom of the basin is engraved with the characters meaning "Xing, the king of the State Xi has this as his food basin."展开更多
The Arab world has witnessed two interrelated phenomena after the Arab Spring.The first is the aggravation of the crisis of the nationstate,where many states experienced failure and disintegration,such as Libya,Syria ...The Arab world has witnessed two interrelated phenomena after the Arab Spring.The first is the aggravation of the crisis of the nationstate,where many states experienced failure and disintegration,such as Libya,Syria and Yemen,while many other states continued to suffer from weakness.The second is the rise of violent non-state actors(VNSAS)such as terrorist jihadi organisations,warlords,organised crime syndicates and armed militias affiliated with political parties,tribal,ethnic and sectarian groups.The second phenomenon is a natural outcome of the first one.When the state fails,it becomes unable to monopolise the use of force,impose its control over its territory and secure it borders.These conditions create a security and political vacuum and ungoverned spaces,which are considered a suitable environment for the expansion of VNSAs.Currently,in many Arab states,the role of VNSAs makes state-building and peacemaking efforts more difficult and complicated.This article aims to analyse the causes of the crisis of nation-state building in the Arab world,which explains the failure and collapse of many Arab states once the authoritarian regimes that have governed them for decades collapsed.Also,it discusses the types of VNSAs and the reasons behind the expansion of these actors and the escalation of their roles in many Arab countries,particularly in the post-Arab Spring era.Additionally,the future of VNSAS will be examined.展开更多
文摘From the beginnings of Wahabism in the 18th century to the so called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, ISIS) violence has occasionally been justified in the name of Islam, which is problematic for secular and traditional scholars alike. This paper demonstrates that there are three complex, interrelated causes for this violence: foreign military intervention, Salafi-Jihadism and a utopian state founded upon faith and justice, i.e. a caliphate.
文摘The State of Xi was a small kingdom in ancient times located between the Yangtze River and Huaihe River. It was overturned by leaders from the State of Chu in 680 B.C. This bronze basin, the only unearthed relic from the State of Xi, is 21 centimeters in girth, has a lid with a bugle-shaped handle and two symmetrical handles on the sides. The bottom of the basin is engraved with the characters meaning "Xing, the king of the State Xi has this as his food basin."
文摘The Arab world has witnessed two interrelated phenomena after the Arab Spring.The first is the aggravation of the crisis of the nationstate,where many states experienced failure and disintegration,such as Libya,Syria and Yemen,while many other states continued to suffer from weakness.The second is the rise of violent non-state actors(VNSAS)such as terrorist jihadi organisations,warlords,organised crime syndicates and armed militias affiliated with political parties,tribal,ethnic and sectarian groups.The second phenomenon is a natural outcome of the first one.When the state fails,it becomes unable to monopolise the use of force,impose its control over its territory and secure it borders.These conditions create a security and political vacuum and ungoverned spaces,which are considered a suitable environment for the expansion of VNSAs.Currently,in many Arab states,the role of VNSAs makes state-building and peacemaking efforts more difficult and complicated.This article aims to analyse the causes of the crisis of nation-state building in the Arab world,which explains the failure and collapse of many Arab states once the authoritarian regimes that have governed them for decades collapsed.Also,it discusses the types of VNSAs and the reasons behind the expansion of these actors and the escalation of their roles in many Arab countries,particularly in the post-Arab Spring era.Additionally,the future of VNSAS will be examined.