الديمقراطية والإصلاح

Policy Analysis on الديمقراطية والإصلاح

The following excerpt is from the 2013 edition of the World Almanac of Islamism , a comprehensive anthology on the state of radical Islam in countries worldwide. Download the PDF to read the Libya chapter, or visit the AFPC website to access the full series. The tragic death of U.S

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Articles & Testimony

European Foreign Fighters in Syria

The number of Europeans joining the Syrian jihad is not as high as some fear, but their impact on the war and potential threat upon returning home could be disproportionately great.

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Egypt Takes Another Step Toward Autocracy -- and Instability

Washington should tell Morsi that politicized prosecutions and other autocratic moves are increasing the risk of wider violence.

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Eric Trager

Brief Analysis

Saudi Arabia's Perfect Storm of Domestic Challenges

Amid uncertain leadership and growing domestic criticism in Saudi Arabia, Washington should press Riyadh to tolerate greater political participation, accelerate the succession discussion, and prevent Iran from exploiting the situation.

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Youth Activism in the Small Gulf States

Young activists will likely be important agents of structural reform in the small Gulf states, and Washington should make more effort to engage them.

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Lori Plotkin Boghardt

Brief Analysis

The PKK Announcement: Can Turkey Build a Kurdish Cordon?

Washington should work with Ankara, the Syrian opposition, and Baghdad to ensure that new PKK peace talks alleviate their mutual concerns about Syria's future and the Kurdish question.

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David Pollock
Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

Egypt's Economic Crisis: How to Help Cairo Help Itself

Because Egypt's economic crisis has political roots, international donors cannot save the country by themselves. But they can use the IMF negotiations to help Cairo recognize that a turnaround will require not just economic reform, but more inclusive government and political reconciliation.

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Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

Arms for Syria's Rebels: Shaping the War's Outcome

Military assistance can make Syrian rebel forces more effective, help shape the post-Assad period for Syria, and increase influence and access for the donor.

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Jeffrey White

Brief Analysis

Syria's Meltdown Requires a U.S.-Led Response

As Syria heads toward a meltdown spilling over its borders -- with loss of control over strategic weapons, accelerated refugee flows, spreading extremism, and Sunni-Shiite clashes -- only engaging with those doing the fighting will give Washington much influence over events.

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Andrew J. Tabler

Video

Brief Analysis

Obama to the Middle East: Expectations and Implications (Part 2)

Subscribe to Washington Institute videos on YouTube. Sign up for live event broadcast alerts from The Washington Institute On March 18, 2013, David Makovsky, Michael Singh, and Dennis Ross addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Mr. Makovsky is the Ziegler distinguished fellow and director of the Project on

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David Makovsky
Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

In Power, But Not in Control

The Muslim Brotherhood may have the votes for now, but Egypt is a ship without a rudder.

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Eric Trager

Video

Brief Analysis

Obama to the Middle East: Expectations and Implications (Part 1)

Subscribe to Washington Institute videos on YouTube. Sign up for live event broadcast alerts from The Washington Institute On March 18, 2013, Dennis Ross, David Makovsky, and Michael Singh addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Ambassador Ross, the Institute's counselor, served most recently as special assistant to President

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Set to Prevail Despite Policy Failures

The following article is one of three to emerge from " Dateline Egypt and North Africa: Updates from the Field," a Policy Forum hosted by The Washington Institute on March 5. The other two are Aaron Zelin's op-ed " Tunisia's Post-Revolution Blues" and David Pollock's PolicyWatch " Rule the Casbah

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Eric Trager

In-Depth Reports

Obama II and the Middle East

Strategic Objectives for U.S. Policy

THE MIDDLE EAST has been home to incessant turmoil and instability since the end of World War II, yet as President Obama enters his second term, he faces a spectrum of threats in this region unparalleled in modern history. Iran's nuclear program rapidly approaches the threshold to breakout capability, perhaps

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Dennis Ross
James Jeffrey

Brief Analysis

Iran's Politicians Focus on 2013 Presidential Elections, not Nuclear Issue

The growing political struggle over the 2013 presidential elections in Iran may substantially divert the attention of the Islamic regime from external issues and hamper the progress of nuclear talks.

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Nikolay Kozhanov

Articles & Testimony

Turkey's Kurdish-Language Policy: Learning from Europe

To get back on the road toward peace, democratization, and perhaps even EU membership, Turkey's leaders will need to forge ahead on language reforms aimed at recognizing the country's ethnic minorities.

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Soner Cagaptay
Tyler Evans

Brief Analysis

Rule the Casbah: The Moroccan Monarchy's Delicate Balancing Act

Morocco has found a formula for stability through gradual reform, with the king firmly in control behind the scenes, and this deserves strong U.S. support

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

Is Morocco a Model or a Mirage?

Neither of these two polar-opposite views, model or mirage, does justice to Morocco's uniquely mixed picture or prospects.

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David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Bahrain's Royal Politics and the U.S. Navy Base

Bahrain's appointment of the reconciliation-minded crown prince as first deputy prime minister is a sign of progress, despite the potential for opposition from royal hardliners and overreaction in Washington.

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Simon Henderson

Video

Brief Analysis

Field Reports on Syria and the Opposition

Sign up for live event broadcast alerts from The Washington Institute On March 7, 2013, Andrew J. Tabler, Jeffrey White, and Simon Henderson addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute to discuss their recent trips to Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the Persian Gulf. Mr. Tabler is a senior

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Andrew J. Tabler
Jeffrey White
Simon Henderson

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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