الديمقراطية والإصلاح

Policy Analysis on الديمقراطية والإصلاح

Syria's Collapse and How Washington Can Stop It

Washington should pursue a measured but assertive course with Syria, because the longer the conflict lasts, the greater the threat it poses.

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Andrew J. Tabler

Brief Analysis

'There Must Be Order': How Russia's Internal Muslim Issues Affect Its Syria Policy

A firmer combination of pressure and incentives, with appropriate attention to Moscow's domestic concerns, could tip the balance toward greater U.S.-Russian cooperation in Syria.

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Peter Eltsov

Brief Analysis

A Way Forward in Benghazi

Helping the Libyan government root militias out of Benghazi and secure the city would go a long way toward securing the country as a whole.

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Andrew Engel

Qatari leader Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Regional Consequences of Qatar's Leadership Transition

The forthcoming elevation of Crown Prince Tamim to Qatar's top leadership roles could spur Iran and other rivals to play mischief.

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

The Muslim Brotherhood in the Gulf: Prospects for Agitation

Local Brotherhood groups range from regime irritants to regime supporters, and the security challenge they represent to the Gulf monarchies should be assessed on a country-by-country basis.

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Lori Plotkin Boghardt

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, casts his vote for president

Articles & Testimony

Don't Discount the Iranian Election

Khamenei's handling of the presidential election highlights his desire to prevent foreign accommodation, including on the nuclear issue.

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

New Palestinian Prime Minister Is a Victory for Fatah

Abbas's chosen candidate will boost Fatah's profile in the near term, but international donors will ultimately judge the new premier based on how he handles fiscal transparency, economic stewardship, and security cooperation.

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Turks Have Learned the Power of Grassroots Politics

Even if this week's demonstrations fizzle away, grassroots activism and middle-class demands for liberties have apparently become a force in Turkish politics.

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Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

Egypt's NGO Convictions Demand an Assertive Response

The Muslim Brotherhood has no interest in adding an international crisis to its many domestic crises, so a strong U.S. response to today's court decision would likely bear fruit in Cairo.

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Eric Trager

Articles & Testimony

US and EU Must Arm the Syrian Rebels or Watch Assad Destabilize the Region

Anything short of Assad's defeat would be a setback not only for Syrians, but also for America and Europe.

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David Schenker

Brief Analysis

Sworn Frenemies: Sunni-Shiite Conflict and Cooperation

Notwithstanding current hostilities, there is a long history of cooperation between Sunni and Shiite extremists.

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

It Takes a Village to Raze an Insurgency

Enlisting Afghan locals in their own defense offers a more sustainable model for combating the Taliban in rural areas.

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Daniel Green

Brief Analysis

Egypt's Summer of Discontent

Even as it prods Egypt's political actors to dial down the tension, Washington should help the country's military leaders prepare for even greater instability.

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Eric Trager

Articles & Testimony

Political Instability in Jordan

A new report on how Washington can help Jordan deal with continuing turmoil at home and abroad.

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Robert Satloff
David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

Syria to Top Erdogan's Washington Agenda

Turkey's worsening border situation gives President Obama considerable asking power with Erdogan on a variety of issues, including Iran, Israel, and domestic reform.

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Soner Cagaptay
James Jeffrey

Articles & Testimony

The Muslim Brotherhood: From Opposition to Power

Assuming the Brotherhood is "democratic" and "nonviolent" has left the international community unprepared for the very undemocratic and violent reality. Alison Pargeter is not so deluded.

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Eric Trager

Articles & Testimony

Yes, Iraq Is Unraveling

Loosening the ties that bind Iraq together is a risk, but holding too tightly is the greater danger.

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Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

Standoff Between the Tunisian Government and Ansar al-Sharia

Whichever way the latest tensions unfold, Tunis is unlikely to return to its "light touch" of old, and further confrontations with the Salafists could become the norm.

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Articles & Testimony

On Syria, Diplomacy and Coercion Are Not Mutually Exclusive

Increased U.S. support for the opposition and credible threats of military force are vital to altering the calculations of other parties and advancing diplomacy.

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Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

Multilateralism Breeds Paralysis

The Obama administration has made intervention in Syria dependent on the Arab League, which is utterly unprepared to act.

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David Schenker

Supported by the

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

Fikra n. [Arabic] "Idea"

The Washington Institute's Project Fikra is a multiyear program of research, publication, and network-building designed to generate policy ideas for promoting positive change and countering the spread of extremism in the Middle East.

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