The critical determinant of actual fertility levels in Muslim and non-Muslim societies alike at the end of the day would appear to be attitudinal and volitional, rather than material and mechanistic.

Tension between the United States and Iran reached levels not seen in more than 20 years when, on Wednesday, Iranian military officials threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, the 34-mile wide channel through which more than one-third of the world’s oil tanker traffic passes. 

A review of Uzi Rabi's The Emergence of States in a Tribal Society.

Ben Ali and Hosni Mubarak’s fall is the end of the beginning rather than the beginning of the end.

"Big Oil" is not to blame for the skyrocketing price of oil. Rather, domestic energy policy and international instability are to blame for rising prices.

The murder of four Americans should call attention to the increasingly dire situation in Mogadishu, which exacerbates the piracy problem.

Iraqi Kurds and Iraqis more broadly can argue about whether Western concerns about Iran’s nuclear program are justified and they can also debate responsibility for the recent tension between Tehran and Washington. Analysts—whether they are in Washington, Jerusalem, or Tehran—largely agree, however, that the Middle East is closer to a major war now than at any time since 2003.

Marking the birth of the 7 billionth person on earth, here are five myths challenging everything you think you know about the world's population.