Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Iranian men use Instagram - source: Reuters

Social Media in Iran’s Protests: A New Public Sphere?

Apps like Clubhouse and Instagram have greatly broadened the people’s ability to exchange ideas and even criticize the regime, but authorities have simultaneously subverted, coopted, and silenced these platforms at will.

Oct 6, 2022

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Mehdi Khalaji

Fikra Forum

Iran’s Dilemma in Managing Shiite Conflicts in Iraq

Iran has recently adopted a more hands-off approach in Iraqi politics, hoping that the internal fractures will eventually work in their favor.

Oct 6, 2022

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Firas Elias

Iran's Ali Karimi, wearing green wristbands at a 2010 World Cup qualifier - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Celebrities, the Clergy, and Succession: Wild Cards in Iran’s Protests

By targeting celebs and financially coopting the clergy, the regime has revealed a great deal about what it sees as its greatest vulnerabilities.

Sep 30, 2022

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Mehdi Khalaji

Iranian morality police confront women in Tehran - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

How Iran’s Protests Differ from Past Movements

The unrest has shown that many young people are not only rejecting the regime, but also steering away from long-time actors such as the clergy, reformers, and dissident politicians inside and outside the country.

Sep 28, 2022

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Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Kuwait’s Election Offers Insights on Wider Gulf Politics

The vote and the events leading up to it reflect a system in near-paralysis rather than an example for neighbors to emulate.

Sep 28, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Saudi King Gives Up Prime Minister Role to Crown Prince

The transfer further boosts his son’s authority and could even be a prelude to an unprecedented abdication.

Sep 27, 2022

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Iraq’s Constitutional Moment?

Although the country currently lacks the unity and rule of law needed to safely pursue a process as fraught as amending the constitution, there are several alternatives that could get it on the path to systemic reform.

Sep 27, 2022

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Safwan Al-Amin
Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

Israeli Elections, Round Five: A Game of Inches

The first in a series of Washington Institute articles about the upcoming vote discusses how the rival coalitions are shaping up, why extremists are gaining ground on the right, and which policy issues are most likely to steer the national debate.

Sep 21, 2022

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David Makovsky

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

SDR Allocations in the Middle East: Helpful, but No Silver Bullet

Various governments have made good use of last year’s unprecedented IMF allocation, but the Ukraine war, ongoing debt issues, and other economic problems are a reminder that the region cannot sidestep deeper reforms indefinitely.

Sep 20, 2022

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Jonah Shrock

Fikra Forum

What’s Next for Iraq After al-Sadr’s Withdrawal from the Political Process?

Violent protests broke out after al-Sadr announced his withdrawal from Iraqi politics, but this is unlikely to be the end of al-Sadr's political maneuvering.

Sep 12, 2022

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Azhar Al-Rubaie

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

What Cyber Attacks Against Ukraine Can Teach Israel

Israel must look to the war in Ukraine for insight into potential cyber attacks and security strategies ahead of the November legislative elections.

Sep 8, 2022

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Ophir Barel

Brief Analysis

Responding to the PA’s Mounting Fiscal Crisis

Years of declining international aid, unsustainable public patronage, and controversial policies have pushed the Palestinian government and banking sector to the brink of insolvency.

Sep 1, 2022

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Jonah Shrock
Gabriel Epstein
David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

Removing All Militias From Baghdad’s International Zone

Iran-backed PMF units shot first in the latest showdown, so they should hardly be the ones left in charge of security in the government center.

Aug 31, 2022

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Michael Knights

Fikra Forum

Will the Sadrists Succeed in Effecting Regime Change in Iraq?

New polling reveals how the Iraqi public views Baghdad’s ongoing political crisis.

Aug 26, 2022

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Munqith Dagher

Articles & Testimony

Biden’s Indifference Has Given Iran the Upper Hand in Iraq

In light of Tehran’s concerted efforts to reverse last year’s electoral setback, it has become too risky to let Baghdad’s nascent democracy simply fend for itself.

Aug 24, 2022

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

What If Netanyahu Wins?

His party is already taking aim at the Supreme Court and other institutions that sought to hold him accountable during his previous term.

Aug 24, 2022

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Neri Zilber

Photo of Turkish and Taliban officials meeting in Ankara, October 2021.

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Looking for Legitimacy: Taliban Diplomacy Since the Fall of Kabul

The group’s international profile has risen substantially with help from China, Turkey, and other states, but Western leaders should curtail their engagement so long as Kabul keeps gaslighting them about its al-Qaeda ties.

Aug 15, 2022

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Fikra Forum

Navigating the Political Impasse Between Sadrists and the Coordination Framework

10 months after Iraqi elections, intra-Shia feuding between the Sadrist movement and the Coordination Framework has led to several public demonstrations but few viable solutions.

Aug 12, 2022

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Azhar Al-Rubaie

Brief Analysis

Oman’s Economic Success Is Driven by Accountability as Much as Oil

By pushing the government to make more efficient use of higher hydrocarbon prices and a budget surplus of $2 billion, the sultan has helped reduce anxiety about the stability of the strategically positioned Gulf state.

Aug 11, 2022

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Jonathan Campbell-James

Supported by the

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

Fikra n. [Arabic] "Idea"

The Washington Institute's Project Fikra is a multiyear program of research, publication, and network-building designed to generate policy ideas for promoting positive change and countering the spread of extremism in the Middle East.

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Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

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Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

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