Fikra Forum

Caution and Fear of a Crackdown: Iranian Kurdish Opposition Responses to the Israel-Iran Conflict

Iranian Kurdish opposition groups remain committed to regime change in Iran, but external and internal factors contributed to the caution with which they approached the recent conflict.

Jul 2, 2025

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Wladimir van Wilgenburg

Fikra Forum

Kamil Idris and the Illusion of Civilian Leadership in Sudan

Sudan's new prime minister was recently appointed to present a civilian face palatable to the international community; whether he can implement reforms in Sudan's complex environment as promised in his recent speech will depend on international pressure and his ability to navigate the country's power dynamics.

Jun 19, 2025

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Areig Elhag

Fikra Forum

Under the Pretext of "Morality": Morality Rhetoric and Freedom of Expression in Iraq

Over the past number of years, many Iraqis have become increasingly concerned about media restrictions imposed by Iraqi authorities, who have banned numerous applications, electronic platforms, and news websites.

Jun 15, 2025

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Azhar Al-Rubaie

Between the Promise of Democracy and Repeated Failures of Iraq’s Electoral System

Twenty years on from the fall of Saddam Hussein, Iraq continues to suffer from a deep crisis in the practice

Jun 6, 2025

Barzani and Erdogan sitting across from each other, April 2025

Iraqi Kurds Could Facilitate and Mediate in PKK-Turkish Peace Process 

New developments in the PKK-Turkey peace process are a window of opportunity for Iraqi Kurdish parties to stabilize areas of

May 18, 2025

The Washington Institute's Interactive Polling Platform

Protesting Syrians in the town of Suwayda hold signs and Druze flags - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

The Importance of Regional Diplomacy for Syria’s Druze

The recent flare-up of violence in southern Syria has once again exposed the fragility of the country’s post-Assad order and minority communities’ underlying fears that the current government is unwilling or incapable of establishing a government that ensures minority rights or ensuring the safety of all Syrians against militia factions.

May 12, 2025

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Makram Rabah

Fikra Forum

Iraqis Are Increasingly Positive on Governance, but Waning National Identity a Warning Sign

With signs of fewer Iraqis prioritizing their national identity, Iraqis are likely to see another elections cycle shaped by subnational identities in the upcoming parliamentary elections.

May 8, 2025

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Munqith Dagher
Karl Kaltenthaler

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, gestures while speaking

The Developing Cracks in Khamenei’s Cult of Personality

Until now, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been happy with the comparisons his hard-core supporters make between him and Ali ibn Abi Talib—Shia Islam’s first divinely ordained Imam. Ironically, this insistence on Khamenei’s infallability, combined with the current acquiescence to strategic flexibility or policy concession, is eroding that sense of trust with Khamenei’s core base of hardline supporters.

May 14, 2025

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Saeid Golkar
Kasra Aarabi

Balancing National Security and Economic Priorities in the U.S.-Jordan Relationship

As the U.S. administration shifts towards an economics-first approach to foreign policy, Jordan will need to find ways to emphasize the benefits of the two countries' decades-long broader strategic relationship in public messaging—both for its own national security interests and as a way to assuage public concerns.

May 5, 2025

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Saud Al-Sharafat

Countering Iran's Deceptive Behavior in Nuclear Negotiations

In negotiations, the Iranian regime prefers to operate discreetly and secretly, allowing Tehran to shape the information spectrum and protract talks to buy time and wear down their negotiation counterparts. By shining light on the diplomatic process, U.S. policymakers can provide a counter-narrative that takes to task Iranian intransigence and provides accurate information for the Iranian public.

Apr 17, 2025

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Farzin Nadimi

Allowing Political Opposition in the New Syria

The new Syrian government will be judged not just by its treatment of minorities, but also how it approaches political opposition—and its checkered history in this regard gives pause.

Apr 17, 2025

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Ishtar Al Shami

China Flexes Its Soft Power in the KRI

In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, signs of Chinese soft power are increasingly visible to residents of an area with longstanding ties to the United States.

Apr 11, 2025

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Winthrop Rodgers
Sardar Aziz

In Memoriam: Dr. David Pollock, 1950-2024

David Pollock: A Retrospective

David’s endless optimism, insightful and entertaining anecdotes, and thoughtful comments on his colleagues’ work were all defining features of his time at The Washington Institute. His mentorship will undoubtedly continue to inspire the dozens of young professionals who worked with him, continuing his legacy.

Jan 11, 2024

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Catherine Cleveland

Issues

Fikra Forum

In Memoriam: Dr. David Pollock, 1950-2024