There is a new wave of political turmoil washing through Arab countries that should be raising political and security concerns amongst the states.

The merger of the Civil Defence and Gendarmerie departments into the Public Security Department (PSD) is an important step for many reasons, not least to facilitate better coordination and faster response times, which is critically necessary.

There is no doubt that a significant shift in the conduct of international politics is taking place. International relations are increasingly based on economic interest, and less on ideological alliances and values.

The progressive change in priorities in the Middle East over the last decade is quite poignant. Imposed democracy to revolutions for democracy and liberty have, in recent years, evolved into the singular focus of combatting terrorism.

Following the fall of Daesh and the assassination of Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, new challenges are arising. With the physical presence of Daesh defeated by the international coalition, it is unclear what is needed in order to defeat what is remaining.

The recent indications from the United States that it no longer considers Israeli settlements in the West Bank as illegal under international law is far from surprising. Under President Donald Trump, the vision for the peace process has been clearly based on three pillars.

Last week marked 30 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall. This will be always a remarkable date in history, as it heralded the end of the Cold War and the confrontation of the two blocs.

The death of the leader of a terrorist group does not mean the end of that group, and, in fact, can often be the beginning of a new phase of brutalism and new tactics as the senior people left start positioning to take control, if the group does not factionalise and break apart,

Following the recent teachers’ strike in Jordan, there are a number of indicators that demonstrate the direction that political activism is taking.