Arab & Islamic Politics

Policy Analysis on Arab & Islamic Politics

The Rise of ISIS: 'Remaining and Expanding'

Read or an in-depth conversation on the fifteen-year history of ISIS and its predecessor groups, and the potential future of the so-called 'Islamic State,' with three leading scholars of jihadist terrorism.

Nov 12, 2015

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Joby Warrick
Will McCants
Aaron Y. Zelin

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

Articles & Testimony

Why Are Salafi Islamists Contesting Egypt's Election?

Despite a poor showing in the first round, Salafi parties may simply be trying to convince the government and public that they are a part of Egyptian society rather than a threat to it.

Nov 12, 2015

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Jacob Olidort

Articles & Testimony

Russia's Syria Propaganda

News about Syria has quickly replaced news about Ukraine in the Russian media, thanks to the Kremlin's propaganda.

Nov 11, 2015

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Video

Brief Analysis

A More Constructive U.S. Egypt Policy

Following their latest visit to Egypt, the former congressman and White House counsel who constitute an Institute task force shared their views on the country's leadership, economy, and prospects for better ties with Washington.

Nov 10, 2015

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Vin Weber
Gregory Craig

Video

Brief Analysis

The Iraqi Kurdish Battle Against ISIS: Reports from the Front

An Iraq expert and a top Kurdish intelligence official provide an on-the-ground account of how the coalition can mobilize greater Kurdish military support for the fight against ISIS.

Nov 6, 2015

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Michael Knights
Lahur Talabani

Brief Analysis

The Vienna Declaration: Precision Is Key to Avoiding a Slippery Slope

For all the sound principles laid out in Vienna, future talks cannot evade the timeline and mechanism of a transition in Syria, and Russia needs to prove its goodwill on the ground.

Nov 5, 2015

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Andrew J. Tabler
Olivier Decottignies

In-Depth Reports

Cooperating, Not Condoning:

Toward a More Constructive U.S. Egypt Policy

► Join us for a live policy forum webcast as the authors present their newest report on advancing U.S.interests with the "new" Egypt. Webcast begins at 10:00 a.m. EST on November 5, 2015. In July 2013, Egypt's defense minister Abdul Fattah al-Sisi responded to mass protests and impending state breakdown

Nov 4, 2015

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Vin Weber
Gregory Craig

Brief Analysis

The Day After Turkey's Snap Elections

Hours after Turkish voters delivered a stunning victory to President Erdogan's party in snap parliamentary elections, three of America's leading experts on Turkish politics shared an in-depth discussion of the vote and what it means for Turkey's future.

Nov 4, 2015

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Soner Cagaptay
Alan Makovsky
Henri Barkey

Articles & Testimony

The Not-So-Great Game in Syria, and How to End It

Russia has greatly complicated an already-fraught situation by picking a fight with Syria's majority Sunni rebels and tripping into other regional players' spheres of influence.

Nov 4, 2015

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Andrew J. Tabler

Brief Analysis

The Manama Dialogue: Searching for Unity in the Face of Chaos

The solidarity expressed at the latest regional gathering of senior U.S., European, and Middle Eastern defense officials, diplomats, journalists, and analysts was encouraging, though some aspects of Washington's policies in Syria and elsewhere still need clarification.

Nov 3, 2015

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James Jeffrey

Articles & Testimony

Acting Now Can Reverse an ISIS-Iran Power Grab in Iraq

Two former U.S. ambassadors explain why a more aggressive campaign against ISIS is necessary to preserving a unified, pro-American Iraq.

Nov 2, 2015

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Robert Ford
James Jeffrey

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Why Now? The Syrian Refugee Flow to Europe

Neighboring countries present dangers, privations, and complications not present in Europe, and after hearing about these problems or experiencing them firsthand, many desperate Syrians have decided to head for the continent.

Nov 2, 2015

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Fabrice Balanche

Articles & Testimony

Syria in 60 Seconds

The following summary of the Syrian conflict by Andrew J. Tabler appeared as a sidebar to the October Atlantic Monthly article, " The Syrian Civil War: What?" The Syrian Civil War is arguably the worst humanitarian crisis since the Second World War, with over a quarter million killed, roughly the

Oct 29, 2015

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Andrew J. Tabler

Articles & Testimony

New Kuwaiti Survey Reveals Sectarian Divide, Concerns About Iran

In a country where public opinion tends to matter more than elsewhere in the region, the Kuwaiti people and government seem bent on maintaining their delicate balancing act between unfriendly neighbors and uncertain foreign friends.

Oct 28, 2015

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David Pollock

Video

Brief Analysis

A Learning Moment: Arabs, Palestinians, and the Holocaust

Two scholars discuss how the brushfire prompted by Prime Minister Netanyahu's comments concerning the Mufti of Jerusalem and the Holocaust can serve as a learning moment.

Oct 28, 2015

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Mohammed Dajani
Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

An Insider's Perspective on the Syrian Refugee Crisis

A German diplomat and a former Syrian official join two American experts to discuss how various parties are handling the ongoing mass refugee flow, and what more they can do to address the cause of the problem, not just its symptoms.

Oct 26, 2015

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Philipp Ackermann
Bassam Barabandi
Margaret Brennan
David Pollock

In-Depth Reports

Palestinian Succession:

An Overview of Institutional Turmoil

Prospects appear bleak for the Palestinian Authority and its leader, Mahmoud Abbas: a stalled peace process with Israel, a failed reconciliation effort with its rival Hamas, and historically low trust from Palestinian constituents. These dynamics add urgency to the Palestinian succession question, which has grown in prominence given Abbas's advanced

Oct 26, 2015

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Ghaith al-Omari

Articles & Testimony

Youth and Silent Protest in Egypt

Frustrated youths largely boycotted the first phase of the parliamentary elections, and tensions could once again boil over unless political elites put aside their personal interests and commit to achieving the goals of the 2011 revolution.

Oct 23, 2015

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Mohamed Abdelaziz

Brief Analysis

The U.S.-PYD-Turkey Puzzle

Sustaining U.S. and Turkish assistance to the Syrian Kurds is crucial to blocking ISIS and stemming Russian influence, as is resolving Ankara's Kurdish problems at home, but sending heavy weapons to the PYD would likely have unintended consequences.

Oct 23, 2015

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Soner Cagaptay
Andrew J. Tabler

Articles & Testimony

New Saudi Poll Shows Iran, Russia, United States, and ISIS Are All Unpopular; Mixed Views on Others

Recent survey results reveal the nuances in Saudi public opinion on a wide variety of pressing regional issues, and the role of foreign powers in resolving them.

Oct 22, 2015

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David Pollock

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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Policy Analysis on Arab & Islamic Politics

Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics

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