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TWI Arabic: اللغة العربية Fikra Forum

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Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

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KRG-Premier-Masrour-Barzani-Esta
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Barzani's Failures on Freedom of Expression in Iraqi Kurdistan
The Kurdish Region of Iraq, rife with economic and security challenges, is witnessing increased censorship and suppression of free speech.
Aug 4, 2022
◆
  • Diary Marif
Supporters of Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr gather during a sit-in, inside the parliament building in Baghdad - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
The U.S. Role in Iraq’s Political Crisis: Guidelines for More Effective Engagement
Disengaging after last year’s election was a costly miscalculation, but Washington can still meet its goals in Iraq by diving into the fray and prioritizing the system over individual political preferences.
Aug 1, 2022
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  • Bilal Wahab
A Turkish Baraktar TB2 drone - source: Reuters
Articles & Testimony
Drones and Resets: The New Era of Turkish Foreign Policy
The Ukraine war has not only reaffirmed Erdogan’s remarkable political survival skills, but also highlighted the degree to which Ankara’s improved diplomatic standing is traceable to its success in exporting an innovative drone-centered military operational approach.
Summer 2022
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  • Soner Cagaptay
  • Rich Outzen
Tunisia timeline thumbnail image
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Timeline of Tunisia's Constitutional Crisis and the U.S. Response
An infographic illustrating President Saied's controversial political moves since summer 2021 and the steps U.S. officials have taken to discourage authoritarian backsliding.
Jul 20, 2022
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  • Ben Fishman
  • Kyle Robertson
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Political Opposition in Iraq: Between Reform and Regime Change
Iraq’s model of opposition traditionally focuses on ideological frameworks and regime change at the expense of working within the political system to effect change.
Jul 11, 2022
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  • Abbas Abboud Salem
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
New Poll Reveals Moderate Trend Among East Jerusalem Palestinians
A new poll captures East Jerusalem attitudes towards Arab-Israeli rapprochement, involvement from other Arab countries, and the U.S. policy on the conflict.
Jul 8, 2022
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  • David Pollock
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmon durnig a meeting with Russian President Vladimor Putin in Rihady - source: Reuters
Articles & Testimony
A Picture Could Paint a Thousand Words When Biden Meets MbS
Although political constraints in Washington, Jerusalem, and Riyadh could make substantive progress hard to come by, a few good photo ops may be all that's needed to deem the visit a success.
Jul 8, 2022
◆
  • Simon Henderson
Iraq-Sadr
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Implications of the Sadrist Withdrawal for the Shia Coordination Framework and Iran
The conflict between the Sadrists and the Shia Coordination Framework signals the potential for a new political order in Iraq and a shift in Iran's influence in the country.
Jun 29, 2022
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  • Firas Elias
Articles & Testimony
One Small Handshake for the United States, One Giant Leap for U.S.-Saudi Relations
President Biden has a powerful moral imperative for ending his feud with the crown prince: to ensure that the kingdom’s gradual pivot away from extremism doesn’t falter.
Jun 29, 2022
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  • Robert Satloff
Tishreen
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
The Tishreeni Movement Continues: Change Is Inevitably Coming to Iraq
Iraq’s Tishreen movement, driven by a reduced fear of political authority, is reshaping Iraqi politics by injecting fear of the popular will into the political elite.
Jun 28, 2022
◆
  • Munqith Dagher
Photo of an oil facility in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Video
Brief Analysis
The KRG Turns Thirty: The Future of U.S.-Kurdish Relations in Iraq (Part 3)
Three experts evaluate the KRG’s oil and gas industry and discuss the growing urgency of resolving its disputes with Baghdad.
Jun 28, 2022
◆
  • James Jeffrey
  • Matthew Amitrano
  • Bilal Wahab
◆ The KRG Turns Thirty
Flags_of_Turkey_and_Sweden
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
NATO Membership for Sweden: Between Turkey and the Kurds
With the NATO summit approaching, Sweden is now caught between Turkey’s demands and its own complicated domestic politics.
Jun 27, 2022
◆
  • Magnus Norell
Brief Analysis
Israel Likely Headed to Another Election: Outlining the Political Battle Ahead
Following Prime Minister Bennett’s resignation, an expert assesses the coalition’s prospects of finding a more viable configuration—and Netanyahu’s chances of completing his return to power.
Jun 24, 2022
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  • David Makovsky
 Ali Khamenei and Muqtada al-Sadr
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Why did the Sadrists Withdraw from the Iraqi Political Process?
The current stalemate in Iraq may lead to a complete collapse of its political institutions and prompt the international community to intervene if domestic political actors fail.
Jun 23, 2022
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  • Mohanad Faris
Vice President Joe Biden arrives in Saudi Arabia
Articles & Testimony
Engaging the Saudis Does Not Require Biden to Forgo Our Concern for Human Rights
The president will still be able to set boundaries with Riyadh—while also addressing other major issues such as national security, rampant energy costs, and normalization with Israel.
Jun 22, 2022
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  • Dennis Ross
Brief Analysis
Rhetoric Meets Reality in Jawlani’s Push for Self-Sufficiency
As a key UN vote approaches, Washington should push Turkey to help promote a diverse, balanced economy in HTS-controlled northwest Syria.
Jun 8, 2022
◆
  • Aaron Y. Zelin
Video
Brief Analysis
The KRG Turns Thirty: The Future of U.S.-Kurdish Relations in Iraq
On the anniversary of the Kurdish region’s first election, three experts take stock of the bilateral relationship and internal political and economic challenges.
May 23, 2022
◆
  • Bilal Wahab
  • Amberin Zaman
  • Vance Serchuk
◆ The KRG Turns Thirty
Video
Brief Analysis
Hezbollah-Shia Dynamics and Lebanon's Election: Challenges, Opportunities, and Policy Implications
On the eve of the election, two Lebanese experts joined a former U.S. official to discuss the prospects for widening the cracks in Hezbollah’s core Shia constituency.
May 18, 2022
◆
  • Hanin Ghaddar
  • Bashshar Haydar
  • David Schenker
A Lebanese protester holds a sign denouncing Iranian influence
Brief Analysis
What Hezbollah’s Parliamentary Loss Means for Lebanon
The voting results provide even more hope for change than meets the eye, though the winners will need international help to prevent Hezbollah from obstructing the next steps.
May 16, 2022
◆
  • Hanin Ghaddar
Hassan Daqou
Brief Analysis
Dethroning Lebanon’s “King of Captagon”
A major international drug smuggler with close ties to Hezbollah has continued threatening Lebanese residents and helping the Assad regime next door, giving Washington ample cause to intervene.
May 9, 2022
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  • Lauren Fredericks

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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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Featured experts

Catherine Cleveland
Catherine Cleveland
Catherine Cleveland is The Washington Institute's Croft-Wagner Family Senior Fellow and managing editor of Fikra Forum.
Ben Fishman
Ben Fishman
Ben Fishman is the Steven D. Levy Senior Fellow in the Linda and Tony Rubin Program on Arab Politics at The Washington Institute, where he focuses on North Africa.
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