Fikra Forum

Iran

What Do Iran’s Protests Mean for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region?

Internal instability in Iran may cause significant religious, economic, and political repercussions across the border in Iraq.

Jan 17, 2023

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Zubir R. Ahmed
Nawzad Shukri

Fikra Forum

Iranian Daughters: Struggling for the Rights Their Mothers Lost in the Revolution

Activists fighting for women's rights in Iran today have learned from their predecessors' mistakes and are more determined than ever to achieve gender equality.

Jan 13, 2023

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Sepideh Zamani

Fikra Forum

Iranian Counterculture and Gen Z

Decades of underground counterculture have led to an informed and interconnected youth in Iran, now eager for freedom and change.

Jan 4, 2023

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Arash Aalaei

Fikra Forum

The Regional Impact of Iran’s Drones in Ukraine

Russia's use of Iranian drones in Ukraine foreshadows potentially dangerous developments for U.S. forces and their allies in the Middle East.

Dec 7, 2022

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Omar Alradad

Fikra Forum

Iran Team’s Ambivalent Approach to Protests During the World Cup

Iran's loss at the World Cup coincides with controversy and tensions both back home and around the globe.

Dec 2, 2022

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S. Houseini

Fikra Forum

The Tenacity of Young Iranians in the Protest Movement

Despite the regime's crackdown, Iranian protestors are showing unprecedented resilience and unity in their demands, making the international community's next steps even more crucial.

Nov 29, 2022

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Haleh Esfandiari

Fikra Forum

Sunnis in Iran: Protesting Against Decades of Discrimination and Repression

After years of underrepresentation and repression at the hands of the regime, Iran's Sunni population is playing an important role in the current protests.

Nov 21, 2022

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Mehrzad Boroujerdi

Fikra Forum

Iranian Protests and Attacks on KRI: An Attempt to Deflect from Domestic Turmoil

Iran's repeated attacks on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq represent the regime's efforts to both distract from internal opposition and disrupt external opposition support.

Nov 21, 2022

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Nawras Jaff

The Washington Institute's Interactive Polling Platform

Fall 2022 Polling

Israeli and Arab foreign ministers, along with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken, at the Negev Summit - source: Reuters

Forty Percent of Saudis and Emiratis Still Accept Israeli Contacts, Even Under Netanyahu

Approval for contacts with Israelis remained steady through 2022, even as hesitancy on Abraham Accords continued.

Jan 19, 2023

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David Pollock

Fikra Forum

New Egyptian Opinion Poll: Continued Dissatisfaction with Government Performance, Almost Half Reject Mass Protests, and Mixed Views on Foreign Relations

The most recent poll results from Egypt suggest a disconnect between public opinion and pubic policy, especially on economic concerns and relations with Israel.

Dec 21, 2022

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Mohamed Abdelaziz

Fikra Forum

New Lebanon Opinion Poll Shows Continued Internal Dissatisfaction and Desire for International Partners

Lebanese respondents expressed positive views of the maritime deal and World Cup in Qatar, but seemed disappointed by almost everything else.

Dec 20, 2022

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Frances McDonough

Fikra Forum

New UAE Poll Shows Nuance on Domestic Issues; Growing Public Uncertainty over U.S. Relations; Split Views of Iran & Israel

Although many results are consistent with past polling, the most recent Emirati survey reveals interesting perspectives on Iran, the economy, and other issues.

Dec 20, 2022

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Catherine Cleveland

Fikra Forum

New Saudi Poll: Some Surprises on the U.S., Iran, Israel, Oil, and More

Saudis voiced their thoughts on global partners, internal dynamics, and regional issues, including opinions on the Iranian protests and nuclear dilemma.

Dec 16, 2022

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David Pollock

Summer 2022 Polling

Fikra Forum

In 2022 Polls, Views on U.S. Relations On Par with Other World Powers in the Middle East

Regional polls from March and August reveal shifting power dynamics, as economic conditions and relations with Israel continue to weigh on citizens’ minds.

Nov 9, 2022

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Frances McDonough

Fikra Forum

Bahrain Opinion Poll Confirms Sectarian Split on Iran, but not on U.S. or Israel

The Bahraini public provided their perspectives on ties with international partners, moderate Islam, and the country’s economic situation.

Sep 9, 2022

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David Pollock

Fikra Forum

In New Poll, Most Egyptians Split on Relations with Foreign Powers, Pessimistic About Domestic Economy

Egyptians expressed skepticism about the economy, reliance on the United States, and the Abraham Accords with Israel.

Sep 9, 2022

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Mohamed Abdelaziz

Fikra Forum

July/August 2022 UAE Survey Shows U.S. Leads Iran, but Lags Russia and China

Emiratis share their views on global players, regional dynamics, and economic conditions.

Aug 30, 2022

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David Pollock

Fikra Forum

New Saudi Poll Shows Biden's Visit Barely Budged Skepticism

The Saudi public gave mixed reviews on issues such as normalization and ties with the United States, but remained mostly united regarding Russia’s actions in Ukraine and relations with Iran.

Aug 26, 2022

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David Pollock

Fikra Interactive Public Polling Platform Thumbnail

Maps & Graphics

Fikra Forum

TWI Interactive Polling Platform

Interactive datasets, from 2014 to today

Jun 30, 2022

Saudi Arabia

Fikra Forum

Saudi Arabia’s Surprise Soccer Victory

The Saudi men’s team’s major upset against Argentina in their opening World Cup match has brought together many Saudis and the Arab world writ large in celebration, demonstrating the powerful pull of the game.

Nov 23, 2022

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Faris Almaari

Fikra Forum

MbS and Saudi Arabia’s Israel Policy: What Can We Expect from the New Prime Minister?

As Prime Minister, MbS won't throw out the Arab Peace Initiative altogether, but he will likely reframe it.

Nov 7, 2022

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Aziz Alghashian

Fikra Forum

Pragmatic Re-Balancing: the Saudi Dual Outreach to Israel and Iran

While the Middle East remains littered with flashpoints, Saudi Arabia is reaching out to Israel and Iran in an attempt to defuse simmering tensions and build consensus, with the Kingdom shifting from a confrontational to fence-mending approach.

Sep 20, 2022

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Leonardo Jacopo Maria Mazzucco

Syria

Fikra Forum

Turkish Drone Strikes and Building Concerns About Washington in Syria’s Autonomous Administration

Some U.S. allies believe the Biden administration has been noticeably muted regarding Turkey's escalations in northern Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Jan 11, 2023

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Baraa Sabri

Fikra Forum

Exploring Russia's Views on Humanitarian Aid in Syria

With the UN Security Council set to vote on whether to extend UN cross-border aid efforts into northwest Syria, Russia is once again poised to jeopardize humanitarian assistance to the 4.1 million civilians who rely on this lifeline to survive.

Jan 4, 2023

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Jonathan Robinson

Abu Muhammad al-Jawlani, leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, speaks in a recorded interview released in Jan. 2019. Photo credit: Screenshot by Cole Bunzel via Twitter.

Fikra Forum

The Future of al-Jawlani’s Pragmatism in Idlib and Afrin

Despite years of overhauling HTS’s global reputation, al-Jawlani’s strategy in northwest Syria has long been driven by opportunism instead of ideology.

Nov 8, 2022

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Yilmaz Saeed

Fikra Forum

Daesh’s Forgotten Massacre in Deir al-Zour

Justice for the victims of the al-Shaitat massacre is only just starting to emerge, and the international community must do its part.

Oct 24, 2022

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Omar Abu Layla

Flag of the Syrian Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)

Fikra Forum

Shifting Lines and IDPs: Azaz, Afrin, and the HTS Incursion

HTS is on the move through northern Syria, leaving locals in Afrin and Azaz even more vulnerable.

Oct 19, 2022

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Rena Netjes

Fikra Forum

Insight into As-Suwayda’s Position in the Syrian Situation

As-Suwayda has been unstable since the onset of the Syrian revolution. The increasingly fractured political leadership in this majority-Druze region reflects how Syria’s ongoing conflict has warped and splintered local governance.

Oct 12, 2022

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Ishtar Al Shami

Fikra Forum

The Captagon War: Smuggling on the Jordanian-Syrian Border

As drug smuggling increases across Jordan’s border with Syria, Jordanian authorities need to seek solutions in both the security and social spheres.

Sep 30, 2022

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Saud Al-Sharafat

Fikra Forum

Despite Airstrikes, Iran Continues to Permeate Western Syria

Efforts to counter Iran in Syria are solely focused on Iran’s military presence in the country, and have ignored the soft-power, cultural spheres of influence being developed by Iran as a long-term strategy.

Sep 14, 2022

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Omar Abu Layla

A Stabilizing Factor: Oman’s Quiet Influence amid Mounting Uncertainty in the Gulf

Based on its sound reputation as a conflict mediator and talks facilitator, Oman is well-positioned to tone down flaring rivalries in the Gulf and prevent tensions from spiraling out of control.

Dec 22, 2022

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Leonardo Jacopo Maria Mazzucco

Iraq

Fikra Forum

PUK and KDP: A New Era of Conflict

As divisions between the PUK and KDP grow, the Kurdistan region stands to lose its economic and political stability.

Dec 21, 2022

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Nawras Jaff

Fikra Forum

Activist Haidar al-Zaidi’s Prison Sentence and Growing Pressures on Iraqi Activists

Despite claiming to defend free speech, the Iraqi government is increasingly targeting critics and protestors with arrests and lengthy jail sentences.

Dec 16, 2022

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Azhar Al-Rubaie

What Do Iran’s Protests Mean for Iraq and the Kurdistan Region?

Internal instability in Iran may cause significant religious, economic, and political repercussions across the border in Iraq.

Jan 17, 2023

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Zubir R. Ahmed
Nawzad Shukri

Perpetrators of Stephen Troell’s Killing in Baghdad Remain Unknown

The circumstances surrounding Troell's death in November clearly indicate that the murder is tied to political infighting and the ongoing issue of armed militias in Iraq.

Dec 15, 2022

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Mohanad Faris

KRG and PA: Reprioritizing Governance over Symbolism

Although Palestinian and Kurdish politics have similarly deteriorated into ineffective blame games, fresh U.S. policies focused on institution-building could restore the promise of progress in both cases.

Dec 2, 2022

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Ghaith al-Omari
Bilal Wahab

The System and the Parallel System in Iraq

Instead of blaming the untested constitution for government failures, Iraqi politicians must look inward to the corrupt parallel system that undermines national politics.

Nov 22, 2022

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Bjar Sharif

What Could Iraqis Gain from Their Oil Windfall?

Although Iraq stands to gain significant revenues from an oil windfall, urgent reforms are needed to ensure these funds benefit the people, not just the elites.

Nov 18, 2022

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Mohammed Hussein

U.S. Middle East Policy

A supporter of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda Party protests against the Tunisian president's 2022 coup - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

Tunisia: Caught Between the IMF and International Isolation

In the absence of strong international support, Tunisians have been left to face the worsening political and economic crises on their own

Dec 12, 2022

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Maher Latif

Fikra Forum

Two Years On, the Abraham Accords Bear Fruit

The Abraham Accords agreement between the UAE and Israel has made important steps in the direction of regional economic and political cooperation.

Oct 26, 2022

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Mohamed Maher

Turkish Drone Strikes and Building Concerns About Washington in Syria’s Autonomous Administration

Some U.S. allies believe the Biden administration has been noticeably muted regarding Turkey's escalations in northern Syria and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Jan 11, 2023

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Baraa Sabri

Will Haftar’s Heir Be an Ally of the Russians or the Americans?

As Libya's political dynamics continue to change, Washington's next moves are more important than ever.

Oct 21, 2022

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Khalil El Hasse

Reactions of Palestinian Media and Political Leaders to Biden’s Visit to the Region

Palestinians felt that Biden’s visit did little to aid the Palestinian cause, despite attempts by the Palestinian Authority to portray the trip as a success.

Sep 26, 2022

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Jalal Selmi

The Middle East NATO: From Fiction to Fact

In light of increased regional tensions, the idea of a Middle East NATO is becoming more and more realistic, this time with the possibility of Israeli-Arab cooperation.

Sep 14, 2022

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Mohamed Chtatou

Women’s Rights—Why the West Shouldn’t Abandon the Middle East

A Reaction to Biden’s trip to the Middle East through the lens of women’s rights.

Aug 31, 2022

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Jemima Shelley

Israel

Fikra Forum

Forty Percent of Saudis and Emiratis Still Accept Israeli Contacts, Even Under Netanyahu

Approval for contacts with Israelis remained steady through 2022, even as hesitancy on Abraham Accords continued.

Jan 19, 2023

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David Pollock

Fikra Forum

Tracking the Religious Zionist Party Bloc in the Settlements

An analysis of Israel's last five Knesset elections indicates that settlement demographics have played a big role in the rise of Israel's ultra-nationalist, far-right bloc.

Nov 22, 2022

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Alex Harris
Sander Eizen

Egypt

Fikra Forum

Aid for Security: The Gulf-Egypt Dynamic Supporting Egypt’s Economy

As Gulf states perceive the repercussions of the Arab Spring, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the potential disintegration of the Egyptian army as existential threats to their regimes, they have sustained the deteriorating Egyptian economy to maintain what they see as the sole guarantor of regional stability.

Jun 7, 2022

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Mohamed Abdelaziz

Fikra Forum

Cairo’s Opportunity for Policy Change on the War in Ukraine

The Russian war on Ukraine poses challenges for Egypt's economic interests—but Egypt should look to its Western partners to ameliorate these impacts.

Mar 10, 2022

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Ramy Aziz

Turkey

Turkish president Erdogan at NATO headquarters in Brussels

Fikra Forum

Sweden, Turkey, and the Concessions for NATO Membership

Turkey's refusal to approve Sweden's NATO membership is yet another foreign policy tool being used by Erdoğan ahead of 2023 elections.

Dec 9, 2022

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Magnus Norell

Fikra Forum

Re-evaluating Turkish Nationalism: A Bulwark Against the Religious Establishment

While the past few decades saw a dip in any political references to Turkey’s founder, opposition groups and the AKP alike have returned to Atatürk as a key political symbol of nationalism ahead of the elections.

Nov 10, 2022

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M. Bahadırhan Dinçaslan

Turkish President Erdogan at a summit with Russian President Putin in Sochi in 2021 - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

A Domestic Audience for Turkish Foreign Policy

With elections in the balance, Erdoğan is playing a risky game of international normalizations in the hope that the Turkish electorate will approve of economic ties and immigrant solutions.

Sep 30, 2022

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Batu Coşkun
Gökhan Çınkara

Fikra Forum

Turkey Knocks France Out on Mosul Airport Reconstruction Project

Turkey’s involvement in the reconstruction of Mosul Airport could cause problems amidst regional tensions with France and Iran, but it is also emblematic of the growing economic ties between Turkey and Iraq.

Aug 19, 2022

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Mehmet Alaca

Fikra Forum

Iran’s Efforts to Undermine the Turkish-Israeli Rapprochement Are Backfiring

Iran’s efforts to target Israeli citizens on Turkish soil has brought Turkey and Israel closer together.

Jul 26, 2022

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Ali Bakir
Ömer Özkizilcik

Fikra Forum

Rebuilding Israeli-Turkish Relations: A Marriage of Convenience

During 2022, Israel and Turkey have had friendly exchanges that suggest serious steps are being taken towards rapprochement.

May 26, 2022

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Jalal Selmi

Algeria’s Foreign Policy: Facing a Crossroads

The ongoing war in Ukraine, with its recrystallization of allegiances, can provide Algeria the opportunity to return from a shift towards Russia and China back to a more balanced relationship with great powers.

Aug 9, 2022

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