James is a writer and researcher on Middle East politics and security issues. His work has been in published in Chatham House, among other think tanks, as well as The Guardian, The Huffington Post and the New Statesman. Twitter: @jamesdenselow
Comment: The Syria peace process is vital to countries far from Syria's borders, and the world needs to come together to stop the violence, writes James Denselow.
Comment: It wasn't Syria, but a waste crisis that hit Lebanon's political scene hardest last year. This year, everyone expects unpredictability, writes James Denselow.
Comment: Running Iraq is not an enviable job, but Abadi's flexibility allows him to balance key domestic, regional and global power players, writes James Denselow.
Comment: Britain risks being drawn into military action, due to the enthusiasm of leading politicians for joining the bombing coalition, writes James Denselow.
Comment: With the arrival of new Russian and Iranian firepower in Syria, Western leaders may be more open to the idea of a "peaceful political transition", writes James Denselow.
Comment: High profile commanders in the US are contemplating the end of Iraq as a unified state. With that, questions of accountability and post-war arrangements arise, writes James Denselow.