Our world today is deeply polarized. Comparisons are increasingly being made with the Cold War but in many ways it is more complex and dangerous now, because the opponents are not just governments but also armed groups with little or no stake in international relations.

Like the Cold War...

One of the key themes at the World Economic Forum has been the Middle East and there seems to be an opening to move forward on a political process. There is a note of optimism about a window of opportunity.

Everyone seemed to agree that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "the...

In true WEF style, a galaxy of stars - from Blair to Bono and Bill Gates, from Thabo Mbeki, the President of South Africa to Ellen Sirleaf Johnson, the President of Liberia and the first woman head of state in Africa - sat around the table, with lesser luminaries like...

Davos is a circus of the rich and powerful. Standing by the juice bar is Sneh, the Deputy Minister of Defence of Israel, and chief negotiator with the Palestinian Authority. He immediately recognises me from our meeting in Tel Aviv last December, and comes forward, introducing me to his companion...

Across the world, governments are actively undermining human rights in the name of the fight against terrorism. How far has this process of erosion actually inflamed terrorism, rather than staunching it - particularly given that these measures have all too often targeted and discriminated against those very communities whose support...

The World Economic Forum prides itself as a "multi-stakeholder forum", the one place where government leaders, big business and civil society are supposed to rub shoulders. Its press release announcing the theme of this year's Annual Meeting even listed some of the NGO heads present (including myself).

As a veteran...