In terms of its organizational resilience and flexibility, its structure and communications, al-Qaeda is not unlike a successful, smart company – or even a venture capital firm. It has a clear message, a charismatic leader, a firm purpose and is not afraid to delegate. Recognizing how it works might be a useful step towards learning…

Iraq’s future is best understood through the lens of its past, says the author Dilip Hiro. But, having failed to prepare for peace in a country where tensions between different ethnic factions and sects were masked by a regime of brutal repression, Iraq’s administrators risk fomenting further internal strife – and hastening the threat of…

News reporting is losing its impartiality, says Ibrahim Helal. In a climate of heightened global anxiety and conflict, the objectivity and balance of the media are at risk. The line between information and opinion is becoming blurred. But balanced coverage of global events is crucial to stabilizing an unstable world A striking phenomenon has evolved…

Democracy also means the right of the people to self-determination, says Europe’s only absolute monarch HSH Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein. That right has been far less empowering than it should have been. But a new interpretation of self-determination could herald a new era for democracy When looking at the future of democracy, one has…

Scientific discoveries and new technologies will change beyond all recognition the way we live, work, think, feel and see the world. As our environment is transformed, our minds will be transformed too. Human nature itself will be transformed. And, for the first time in almost 100,000 years, says Susan Greenfield, we may finally understand and…

European Union discussions on defence cannot be separated from other divisive issues such as Iraq, enlargement, transatlantic relations, the economy, the new constitution and the development of a common foreign and security policy. They have exposed rifts between ‘Old’ Europe and ‘New’ Europe – and caused deep concern in Washington. But, as Charles Grant reports,…

Global business partnerships cannot achieve their full potential unless they also embrace respect for national identities and cultural values in different parts of the world – at a personal and a corporate level. Carlos Ghosn, a Brazilian-born executive of Lebanese descent who trained in France and has spent the past four years turning round a…

There are few places in the world where the challenge of building security and prosperity is more pressing or more complex than in Afghanistan. The stakes are high and the difficulties immense. Ashraf Ghani, the country’s finance minister, outlines his priorities – and the role that the international community can play – to Oonagh Leighton…

Trade is the best way to bring nations together, overcome political and cultural barriers, and promote development in rich and poor countries alike, says Luiz Fernando Furlan. But it must be free and it must be fair. Protectionism is not an option. The only way ahead is greater liberalization and integration, either within the framework…

How can companies keep outperforming their peers and competitors time after time? What makes a company perform to the very best of its potential? And what is the right mix of short-term and long-term management? Joe Forehand takes a look at the characteristics that make – and keep – companies great What makes a company…