The Syrian war is not a clean-cut sectarian conflict as some would suggest. However, a study of sectarian trends and dynamics can illuminate some overlooked aspects of the war, says Fabrice Balanche of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution.

Indian women are reclaiming their sense of safety in public spaces and taking on the patriarchy...one nap at a time.

Many international donors want to invest in Afghan women’s economic potential. But the country needs to transform its entire gender infrastructure to really change women’s lives, writes Ayesha Ahmad.