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absorb

(verb) to slowly take in and understand new information, ideas, or feelings

aftermath

(noun) the period of time following a dramatic or harmful event, and its results

ally

(noun) a country, group, or person that supports and helps another, especially in a war

alongside

(preposition) together with or next to someone or something else

anti-Islamic prejudice

(phrase) unfair hatred, dislike, or distrust directed against Muslims or Islam

approach

(noun) a particular way of thinking about or dealing with a situation or topic

archival

(adjective) relating to historical documents, photographs, or official records preserved from the past

assess

(verb) to carefully evaluate or judge the quality, importance, or value of something

at a remove from

(phrase) distant or detached from a situation, either physically or emotionally

at the root of

(phrase) the basic, fundamental cause of a problem or situation

bloodshed

(noun) severe violence that results in the killing or injuring of people

blur

(noun) something that is unclear, hard to remember, or difficult to distinguish

bollard

(noun) a short, strong post placed on a street or pavement to block vehicles and protect pedestrians or buildings

chance remark

(phrase) something said casually or by accident, without planning

come away with

(phrasal verb) to leave an experience or situation with a particular impression or feeling

consensus

(noun) an opinion or agreement shared by all the people in a group

curriculum

(noun) the complete set of subjects taught in a school, college, or course

depth

(noun) the quality of being detailed, thorough, and serious rather than superficial

dictatorship

(noun) a country governed by a single leader who holds absolute power

discomfort

(noun) a feeling of anxiety, embarrassment, or mental unpleasantness

diversity

(noun) a range of different people, things, ideas, or opinions

dominate

(verb) to have total control, power, or strong influence over a place or situation

dwell on

(phrasal verb) to spend a lot of time thinking or talking about something negative

emphasize

(verb) to give special importance or extra attention to a specific fact or idea

endure

(verb) to continue to exist or remain over a long period of time

examine

(verb) to look at, inspect, or study something very carefully

forward-looking

(adjective) progressive and focusing on plans or ideas for the future

geopolitics

(noun) international politics and relations influenced by geographical factors

global affairs

(noun) political, social, and economic events happening around the world

globalization

(noun) the process by which countries become connected through trade and culture

grapple with

(phrasal verb) to struggle hard to deal with or understand a complex problem

handle

(verb) to deal with, manage, or address a difficult situation or topic

hegemony

(noun) political, military, or economic control by one powerful nation over others

hinder

(verb) to make it difficult for someone to make progress or do something

horrific

(adjective) extremely terrible, shocking, or frightening

legacy

(noun) a situation or set of conditions created by events in the past

merge

(verb) to combine or join together to form a single entity

military might

(phrase) the massive physical power, weaponry, and strength of an army

mix up

(phrasal verb) to confuse one person or thing with another by mistake

motive

(noun) the underlying reason why someone chooses to do a specific action

narrative

(noun) a particular story or way of presenting a connected series of events

national agenda

(noun) the main political priorities and goals pursued by a government

nationalistic tilt

(phrase) a strong bias or perspective that favors one's own nation

obliquely

(adverb) in an indirect way, without stating something directly

obtain

(verb) to acquire or get something through effort, planning, or request

outdated

(adjective) no longer useful, modern, or accepted in current times

overlook

(verb) to fail to notice, pay attention to, or include something

overtly

(adverb) done openly, publicly, and without trying to hide anything

perspective

(noun) a particular attitude toward or way of regarding a topic

potential

(adjective) showing the possibility of developing into something in the future

prominence

(noun) the condition of being famous, important, or given high visibility

ramification

(noun) a complex, serious, or unexpected consequence of an action

refer to

(phrasal verb) to mention or speak briefly about a person, topic, or thing

regime change

(noun) the forced replacement of a government, often by foreign military force

retaliate

(verb) to hurt or attack someone in response to harm or an attack they caused you

rigor

(noun) the quality of being extremely thorough, careful, and detailed

rundown

(noun) a brief summary of the main facts or details of a situation

sabotage

(verb) to intentionally ruin, damage, or undermine a plan, system, or process

seek (sought)

(verb) to try to find, achieve, or discover something

set an agenda

(phrase) to decide which goals, topics, or issues will be prioritized

sharp insight

(phrase) a deep, clear, and intelligent understanding of a complex issue

skeptical

(adjective) having doubts or reservations about whether something is true

spark

(verb) to cause a sudden event, emotion, or reaction to begin

stress

(verb) to emphasize or give special importance to a point or idea

striking

(adjective) extremely noticeable, surprising, or impressive

stumble across

(phrasal verb) to find or discover something completely by accident

touch on

(phrasal verb) to mention or discuss a subject briefly without going into detail

trauma

(noun) severe emotional pain and lasting distress caused by a terrible experience

trigger

(verb) to cause a strong emotional reaction, thought, or event to happen suddenly

vary

(verb) to differ or be distinct from one another in size, degree, or nature

vulnerable

(adjective) easily physically, emotionally, or politically hurt or attacked