Harold Rhode

Are China, Russia, and Turkey locked in a battle for control over Central Asia, historic Turkestan? Are there prospects for one – or any combination of two against the other – to win? How much should this matter to the United States and the West? Historically, Central Asia formed one cultural unit, but wrote in […]

Armenia and Azerbaijan are in the news again, as the normal low-level hostility in the region has flared into hot war. This round of the never ending conflict began in mid-summer, when the Armenians accused the Azerbaijanis of bombing them with drones, which Azerbaijan denies happened. Since September 27th, the conflict has escalated to the […]

In photographs with leaders of other NATO countries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan looks like his male peers, beardless and wearing a western suit and tie. But given his performance since 2003, first as prime minister, more recently as president, Erdogan’s looks should no longer be deceiving. Harold Rhode, a specialist on Islamic culture and […]