Fikra Forum

Kazakhstan and the Abraham Accords in the Critical Minerals Hedging Game

Kazakhstan's entry into the Abraham Accords may be designed to facilitate new critical minerals supply chains, reducing signatories' dependence on China.

Jan 20, 2026

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Shivane Anand
Nava Goldstein

SDF commander Mazloum Abdi pictured in Damascus in 2025 - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

The SDF’s Approach to Integration Talks in Syria and the Risk of Expanded Conflict

Recent clashes between Damascus and the Kurdish forces in Aleppo highlight the risk that stalling integration talks may trigger broader violence.

Jan 15, 2026

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Wladimir van Wilgenburg

An Iraqi voter dips their finger in ink after casting a ballot in regional elections in Iraqi Kurdistan in 2024 - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

Don’t Be Deceived by Reported Electoral Turnout: Analyzing Iraq’s Elections by the Numbers

By comparing the outcome of Iraq's recent elections with the country's demographic trends, a clear difference emerges between the proportion of Iraqis whose votes are represented in the new parliament and the Iraqi population writ large.

Dec 30, 2025

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Munqith Dagher

Restoring Direction: Iraq’s Renewed Political Path

To prevent hawkish actors from once again seizing the initiative, Kurdish, Sunni Arab, and moderate Shia factions need to come

Dec 15, 2025

Libya’s High National Elections Commission Is a Dangerous Gamble

The UN Support Mission in Libya and the country’s rival legislatures are pushing to restructure the electoral authority, an effort

Nov 13, 2025

The Washington Institute's Interactive Polling Platform

Moroccan youth protest in Rabat in 2025 - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

The Arab Spring’s Digital Heirs in Morocco

While the “GenZ 212” movement emerged from protests over maternal deaths and government neglect, it has evolved into a decentralized, quickly mobilizable digital network that continues to highlight Morocco’s governance problems.

Nov 3, 2025

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Virginia MacArthur

Men stand next to exhibits at the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

South Korea and the Middle East’s Defense Localization Drive: A New Strategic Fit

Given South Korea’s willingness to offer technology transfer, local production arrangements, and politically flexible partnerships, it has become an attractive alternative to Western and Russian suppliers, presenting both opportunities and competitive challenges for U.S. policy in the region.

Oct 30, 2025

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Ju Hyung Kim

New Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends the first regular session of the Council of Ministers in Baghdad in November 2022 - source: Reuters

The Roadmap to a Second Term for Sudani: Between Hope and Hardship

While Sudani leverages his position as prime minister to pursue another term, Iran and its militia proxies increasingly favor a weaker leader who won’t challenge their influence.

Nov 4, 2025

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Nawzad Shukri

Coal, Oil, Gas, and Nuclear: Risks in Turkey’s Growing Energy Demands

Without further diversification of suppliers, expanded renewable capacity, strategic investments in LNG, and nuclear partnerships beyond Russia, Turkey risks exchanging one form of energy dependency for another.

Oct 22, 2025

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Mustafa Enes Esen

Syria’s Post-Baath Mass Dismissals: Transitional Justice or Catalyst for Division?

While those deemed responsible for crimes committed under the Assad regime must face justice, the sweeping purge of public-sector employees threatens to deepen divisions in an already fragmented nation.

Oct 10, 2025

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Nadia Asaad

The IMF’s Lebanon Framework: Balancing State Debt with Depositor Rights

So far, the proposals presented to Lebanon’s central bank risk prolonging rather than solving the country’s financial and economic woes.

Oct 1, 2025

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Samara Azzi

Facing Fiscal Pressures: Iraq’s Struggle for Reform Ahead of the 2025 Election

Baghdad’s oil dependency is a risk for long-term stability, but making the necessary changes will mean confronting political elites who benefit from the status quo.

Sep 18, 2025

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Mohammed Hussein

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