Arab & Islamic Politics

Policy Analysis on Arab & Islamic Politics

Ethnic Cleansing Threatens Syria's Unity

The escalating conflict remains a sectarian war, and deliberate ethnic cleansing by various actors is drawing new internal borders that will be difficult to erase.

Dec 3, 2015

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Fabrice Balanche

Articles & Testimony

Misreading the Middle East, Again

Ironically, most of the Sunni Arab states see Israel as a bulwark against Iran and the Islamic State, so emphasizing those security relationships and restoring the image of American reliability would make it easier to ask more of them on both fronts.

Dec 1, 2015

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Iran's Widening Crackdown Pressures Rouhani

Despite endorsing the nuclear deal, the Supreme Leader has empowered the IRGC Intelligence Organization to tighten Iran's domestic political environment ahead of 2016 elections.

Nov 25, 2015

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Nima Gerami

Articles & Testimony

What Is Salafism?

ISIS and other groups have appropriated an inherently nonpolitical ideology to suit their political ambitions.

Nov 24, 2015

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Jacob Olidort

Articles & Testimony

Fikra Forum: Online Engagement Between the West and the Middle East

An in-depth look at the mission, scope, and growing reach of the Fikra Forum online community, highlighting its diverse contributors and their unique role in the ongoing, intense dialogue with the region.

Nov 23, 2015

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David Pollock
Gilad Wenig
Noam Raydan
Gavi Barnhard

Multimedia

Brief Analysis

Mobilizing Against a 'Preeminent Challenge of the Twenty-First Century': Countering Violent Extremism

A top State Department official discusses the U.S. government's efforts to mobilize a more preventive and holistic approach to the urgent challenge of countering violent extremism.

Nov 20, 2015

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Sarah Sewall

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

The Paris Response: Answering Urgent Questions in the Anti-ISIS Fight

Experts weigh in on key questions regarding the perpetrators of the Paris attacks and the proper response, including counterterror and military measures in Syria and Iraq.

Nov 19, 2015

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Mohammed Dajani
Lori Plotkin Boghardt
Sarah Feuer
Soner Cagaptay
Simon Henderson
Michael Eisenstadt
Fabrice Balanche
Brig. Gen. Muni Katz
Nadav Pollak
Jeffrey White
Jacob Olidort
Matthew Levitt
Olivier Decottignies
Michael Knights
David Pollock
James Jeffrey
Anna Borshchevskaya

Articles & Testimony

ISIS Has Already Lost the War of Ideas, Despite the Specter of Paris Attacks

The vast majority of Muslims polled in a recent regional survey clearly rejected the bloodthirsty ISIS extremists who pretend to act in their name.

Nov 18, 2015

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David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Kerry in Tunis: Bolstering an Arab Democracy Through Strategic Dialogue

At a time of political and economic uncertainty in Tunisia, this week's bilateral talks could offer urgent protection to the lone 'Arab Spring' success story.

Nov 12, 2015

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Sarah Feuer

Brief Analysis

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

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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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.

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Arab & Islamic Politics

Policy Analysis on Arab & Islamic Politics

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