Arab & Islamic Politics

Policy Analysis on Arab & Islamic Politics

Egyptian Human Rights Experts Analyze the Draft Constitution

Amid fierce debate over Egypt's draft constitution, Fikra Forum editors asked Egyptian human rights experts Hafez Abu Saeda and Magdi Khalil to analyze the draft with respect to human rights, religious freedom, and democratic values. Hafez Abu Saeda is the head of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights and Magdi Khalil is the executive director of the Middle East Freedom Forum.

Nov 15, 2012

Articles & Testimony

The Gaza Invasion: Will It Destroy Israel's Relationship with Egypt?

In deciding what to do about Israel, the new Egyptian president is torn between the security establishment and the Muslim Brotherhood.

Nov 15, 2012

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Eric Trager

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei delivers public remarks.

Brief Analysis

Khamenei's Strategy for Obama's Second Term

If the Supreme Leader decides to get serious about nuclear negotiations, he will likely take a more public role in the process than before, if only to maintain control of Iran's increasingly turbulent domestic politics.

Nov 14, 2012

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Mehdi Khalaji

Articles & Testimony

The Changing Terrain: An Interim Assessment of the Arab Spring and Its Policy Implications

Nearly two years after the onset of the Arab Spring, four leaders have been toppled, a bloody civil war is raging in Syria with no end in sight, and the status quo in other Arab states is fragile. Where does all of this lead? In this paper, Michael Herzog assesses

Nov 13, 2012

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Michael Herzog

Brief Analysis

Syria's Internal War Turns Against the Regime

As the Assad regime's increasingly precarious military situation becomes irreversible, outside assistance could help deter Damascus from extreme escalation.

Nov 13, 2012

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Jeffrey White

Video

Brief Analysis

Middle East Policy Planning for a Second Obama Administration

Memo from a Fictional NSC Staffer

On November 8, 2012, Washington Institute executive director Robert Satloff addressed a Policy Forum along with Dennis Ross and Jim Jeffrey. The following is an edited version of Dr. Satloff's comments; the full event can be viewed in the above video. If President Obama tasked a courageous National Security Council

Nov 9, 2012

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Robert Satloff

Articles & Testimony

The Dream Team

Amid talk of personnel shakeups and foreign policy retooling, a former Obama advisor suggests how the president should choose his top aides and cabinet secretaries.

Nov 8, 2012

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Saudi Resignation Prompts Fresh Succession Debate

Assumptions about who will be the future ruler of Saudi Arabia -- the world's largest oil exporter and self-declared leader of the Islamic world -- need to be revised after the sudden resignation of one of the royal family's senior-most members. Today's surprise announcement that Interior Minister Prince Ahmed bin

Nov 5, 2012

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Simon Henderson

In-Depth Reports

Who's Who in Turkey's Justice and Development Party?

In September 2012, anticipating nationwide local elections in 2013 (later rescheduled) and a presidential election in 2014, members of Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) held internal voting to determine who will guide them through the coming transition. Results from the convention, which were strongly influenced by Prime Minister

Nov 5, 2012

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Tyler Evans
Esin Efe

Articles & Testimony

Brotherly Love

So far, the Obama administration has chosen the wrong way to influence Egypt's new Islamist leaders.

Nov 5, 2012

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Eric Trager

Emir's Visit to Gaza Highlights Qatari Adventurism

The emir of Qatar, Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, recently became the first head of state to visit Gaza since it came under the control of Hamas in 2007. In an email interview, Simon Henderson, director of the Gulf and Energy Policy Program at The Washington Institute, discussed the Qatari leader's visit.

Nov 5, 2012

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Shiite Clergy's Silence toward Syrian Crisis

In times of conflict, being impartial does not necessarily translate into neutrality; silence in such circumstances may signify taking a side. This is indeed the Shi’ite clergy’s narrative about the violence in Syria.

Nov 5, 2012

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Mehdi Khalaji

Articles & Testimony

Lessons from a Forgotten War

How America's first foray into the modern Arab world can help solve its current entanglements.

Nov 2, 2012

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Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

Powder Keg in Gaza

Convincing Hamas to contain Gaza's increasingly violent jihadists will likely require international pressure on the group's backers in Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar.

Nov 1, 2012

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Michael Herzog

Articles & Testimony

Syria and the Next U.S. Administration

Although Syria has long been a vexing policy issue for the United States, intervening after the election to help end the Assad regime should not be a difficult decision.

Nov 1, 2012

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David Schenker

In-Depth Reports

Turkey’s Changing Relations with Iraq:

Kurdistan Up, Baghdad Down

Turkey's ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq have reached a level unimaginable a few years ago. From rapidly growing business and oil deals to numerous high-level diplomatic visits, Ankara is in the midst of an unprecedented rapprochement with the Iraqi Kurds, one that has come largely at

Oct 24, 2012

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Soner Cagaptay
Tyler Evans

Articles & Testimony

Why Syria's Fragmentation Is Turkey's Opportunity

As Ankara's longstanding Kurdish conflict continues, its neighbor's breakup could create unexpected allies.

Oct 24, 2012

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Soner Cagaptay
Parag Khanna

Articles & Testimony

Hezbollah under Pressure

Hezbollah's days of dominating Lebanon are likely numbered, and the militia's recent behavior suggests that it sees the writing on the wall.

Oct 23, 2012

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

The Missing Obama-Romney Debate on Egypt

Neither candidate recommended a way to address the country's increasing radicalism and instability. How well do they really understand the problem?

Oct 23, 2012

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Eric Trager

Brief Analysis

How to Vet Potential Allies in Syria

Washington has the means of finding and assisting Syrian opposition factions that meet important political and military benchmarks, despite the risks involved.

Oct 22, 2012

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Andrew J. Tabler
Jeffrey White

Supported by the

Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

The Washington Institute's Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics focuses on social, political, and economic developments in the Arab world, with an emphasis on the Arab countries of the Levant.

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Featured experts

David Schenker

David Schenker is the Taube Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute and director of the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics. He is the former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

Ghaith al-Omari

Ghaith al-Omari is the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute's Irwin Levy Family Program on the U.S.-Israel Strategic Relationship.

Hanin Ghaddar

Hanin Ghaddar is the Friedmann Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute's Rubin Family Arab Politics Program, where she focuses on Shia politics throughout the Levant.

Bilal Wahab

Bilal Wahab was the Nathan and Esther K. Wagner Senior Fellow at The Washington Institute.

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Arab & Islamic Politics

Policy Analysis on Arab & Islamic Politics

Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

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Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

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