Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi speaking in 2021

President Raisi is accelerating Ayatollah Khamenei’s plan to Islamize the university system, with apparently little regard for how previous campaigns sent Iran plummeting down the regional rankings for higher education.

Feb 28, 2022

◆

Saeid Golkar

Flames emerge from flare stacks at Nahr Bin Umar oil field, north of Basra, Iraq - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

The Death of Oil Federalism? Implications of a New Iraqi Court Ruling

The legal decision and its political fallout are threatening some of the country’s key interests, including its aspirations toward federalism, its relations with Turkey, and its ability to attract sorely needed international investment.

Feb 18, 2022

◆

Bilal Wahab

Articles & Testimony

As China Thrives in the Post-9/11 Middle East, the US Must Counter

The West needs to radically alter its strategy for competing with Beijing in the region, particularly when it comes to economic stimulation, allied security blocs, and human rights.

Feb 16, 2022

◆

Jay Solomon

Libyans protest against their parliament's decision to appoint a new prime minister in Tripoli - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Libya’s Renewed Legitimacy Crisis

Washington and Europe need to clearly signal that they will not endorse any new governing arrangements until all local actors peacefully adhere to a negotiated political roadmap.

Feb 14, 2022

◆

Ben Fishman

Muslim man praying at al-Aqsa Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Brief Analysis

Saudi Arabia Adjusts Its History, Diminishing the Role of Wahhabism

The first celebration of Founding Day, on February 22, could be accompanied by other changes.

Feb 11, 2022

◆

Simon Henderson

Video

Brief Analysis

An Arab Leader in Israel: A Conversation with Mansour Abbas

The head of the first Arab party to join an Israeli governing coalition answers questions about the country’s domestic and foreign policies, including its approach to Palestinian issues and diplomacy with Arab states.

Feb 10, 2022

◆

Mansour Abbas
David Makovsky
Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

Hezbollah Leaders Are Dreading the Election—But They Have a Plan

Opposition parties may win enough votes to strip Hezbollah’s parliamentary majority, but the group is already preparing to employ its usual tactics of postponement, paralysis, and street violence if necessary.

Feb 1, 2022

◆

Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

“The Holocaust Was an Arab Story Too”: Holocaust Remembrance in the Arab World

المحرقة كانت قصة عربية أيضاً: إحياء ذكرى "الهولوكوست" في العالم العربي

The Washington Institute’s executive director reflects on this year’s wave of remembrance events in the region, including his remarks at two landmark programs in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates.

Jan 28, 2022

◆

Robert Satloff

Brief Analysis

Saad’s Sad Goodbye: Hariri Leaves Lebanese Politics

Despite seeming more well-intentioned than most of his colleagues in Beirut’s political elite, Hariri ultimately became part of the coterie that has pushed Lebanon to the brink of state failure.

Jan 25, 2022

◆

David Schenker

Brief Analysis

Recasting Syria’s Cross-Border Aid Debate

The UN aid mechanism is alive for another six months, but the threat of famine, Russian vetoes, and military escalation will persist unless Washington takes appropriate steps before the next round of renewal negotiations.

Jan 21, 2022

◆

Anna Borshchevskaya
Andrew J. Tabler
Calvin Wilder

Portraits of Baha'i adherents arrested in Iran on display in Brazil - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Increased Persecution of the Bahai

Targeting the faith’s followers is a longstanding feature of the Islamic Republic but has been escalating of late.

Jan 21, 2022

◆

Mehdi Khalaji

A U.S. military helicopter evacuates personnel from the American embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan

Articles & Testimony

Trading Places

After two decades of direct U.S. involvement, what went so wrong in Afghanistan compared to the relative successes seen in Iraq?

Jan 7, 2022

◆

David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Law Enforcement Shuffle Reflects Concern About Protests

The Supreme Leader and the IRGC are asserting more control over the task of monitoring and managing protest movements, creating yet another intelligence agency in the process.

Jan 5, 2022

◆

Amir Toumaj

Turkish president Erdogan - Source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Erdogan’s End Game: Will He Undermine Turkish Democracy to Stay in Power?

The president is very unlikely to win the next election fair and square, so he may well resort to undermining the vote, disregarding the result, or even fomenting a January 6-like insurrection.

Jan 4, 2022

◆

Soner Cagaptay

In-Depth Reports

Power to the People?

Scrutinizing the U.S.-Arab Effort to Supply Energy to Lebanon via Syria

Residents of the beleaguered country desperately need electricity, but a U.S.-Arab scheme carries complications that could benefit Syria's Assad regime.

Dec 16, 2021

◆

Katherine Bauer
Ben Fishman
Hanin Ghaddar
Simon Henderson
David Schenker
Andrew J. Tabler

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Next Budget Assumes No Nuclear Deal

The government seems to believe the economy will grow significantly even without sanctions relief or increased oil revenue.

Dec 14, 2021

◆

Patrick Clawson

In-Depth Reports

Seasoned Skeptics

Why Syrian Kurds Have Resisted Political Islam

The historic role of Sufism, an inclination toward the secular left, and recent repression under extremists have all driven the Kurds away from religiously informed ideology.

Dec 13, 2021

◆

Sirwan Kajjo
Oula A. Alrifai

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

The Militia Assassination Surge (Part 1): Sabereen and Unit 10,000 Threaten Iraqi Forces

Both outlets are openly advocating the murder of Iraqi security forces at a time of escalated shootings and bombings.

Dec 10, 2021

◆

Hamdi Malik
Michael Knights
Crispin Smith

◆ Militia Spotlight

President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken host the Summit for Democracy. Source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

The Summit for Democracy Skips the Arab World

To address the region’s democracy gap, Washington needs to develop consistent messaging on reform objectives and help its partners focus on achievable goals such as protecting free speech, dissidents, and civil society.

Dec 8, 2021

◆

Ben Fishman

Articles & Testimony

Lebanon Stands at a Crossroad Between a Painful Revival and a Complete Submission to Iran

The country’s ongoing crises are closely intertwined with Hezbollah’s internal challenges, creating real potential for change if the West stands firmly behind fair elections, judicial accountability, and targeted pressure.

Dec 7, 2021

◆

Hanin Ghaddar

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.

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.

Featured experts

Catherine Cleveland

Catherine Cleveland is The Washington Institute's Croft-Wagner Family Senior Fellow and managing editor of Fikra Forum.

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.

Regions & Countries

Issues

Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

Featured experts

Regions & Countries

Issues

Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

Sign Up for Email Updates from The Washington Institute

Featured experts