Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

New UAE Poll Shows Nuance on Domestic Issues; Growing Public Uncertainty over U.S. Relations; Split Views of Iran & Israel

Although many results are consistent with past polling, the most recent Emirati survey reveals interesting perspectives on Iran, the economy, and other issues.

Dec 20, 2022

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Catherine Cleveland

Fikra Forum

New Lebanon Opinion Poll Shows Continued Internal Dissatisfaction and Desire for International Partners

Lebanese respondents expressed positive views of the maritime deal and World Cup in Qatar, but seemed disappointed by almost everything else.

Dec 20, 2022

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Frances McDonough

Leaders assemble for the France-sponsored Baghdad Conference in August 2021 - source: Government of Iraq

Brief Analysis

A Baghdad Summit in Amman: Implications for Regional Stability

The French-sponsored event could be a welcome starting point for wider cooperation between Iraq’s new government and its Arab neighbors—particularly Jordan—but only time will tell whether agreements made there come to fruition.

Dec 19, 2022

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Louis Dugit-Gros
Ghaith al-Omari
Bilal Wahab

Fikra Forum

New Saudi Poll: Some Surprises on the U.S., Iran, Israel, Oil, and More

Saudis voiced their thoughts on global partners, internal dynamics, and regional issues, including opinions on the Iranian protests and nuclear dilemma.

Dec 16, 2022

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David Pollock

Fikra Forum

Activist Haidar al-Zaidi’s Prison Sentence and Growing Pressures on Iraqi Activists

Despite claiming to defend free speech, the Iraqi government is increasingly targeting critics and protestors with arrests and lengthy jail sentences.

Dec 16, 2022

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Azhar Al-Rubaie

U.S. and Algerian flags at the U.S. Embassy in Algiers - source: U.S. government

Brief Analysis

Bolstering U.S.-Algeria Relations Amid the Africa Leaders Summit

At a time when Algerian military cooperation with Russia is growing and African counterterrorism challenges are proliferating, Washington cannot afford to take the relationship for granted.

Dec 15, 2022

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Sabina Henneberg

Biden Summit for Democracy 2021, Tunisia media protesters, Egyptian democracy workshop

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

Reexamining U.S. Aid to the Middle East:

Ideas for Advancing Both Governance and Democracy

Massive U.S. investment has failed to improve outcomes since the Arab Spring uprisings. A more targeted, sensitive approach could yield better results and promote regional stability.

Dec 14, 2022

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Ben Fishman

◆ Reform, Protest, Change

A Lebanese protester holds a sign denouncing Iranian influence

Articles & Testimony

Iran Occupies Lebanon via Proxy, But the Lebanese Still Have Agency

Although not much can be done about disarming Hezbollah at the moment, any serious Western policy will need to focus on sanctioning the group’s domestic political enablers while engaging and protecting its Shia opponents.

Dec 13, 2022

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Hanin Ghaddar

Kurdish protesters killed by the Iranian regime

Video

Brief Analysis

Kurds Against the Iranian Regime: Internal and Regional Implications

Activists and experts discuss what Washington can do to curb Tehran’s violent campaigns against Kurdish populations at home and next door in Iraq.

Dec 13, 2022

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Abdullah Mohtadi
Shukriya Bradost
David Pollock

A supporter of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahda Party protests against the Tunisian president's 2022 coup - source: Reuters

Fikra Forum

Tunisia: Caught Between the IMF and International Isolation

In the absence of strong international support, Tunisians have been left to face the worsening political and economic crises on their own

Dec 12, 2022

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Maher Latif

Articles & Testimony

The Paradox of Centralization and State Fracture in Iraq

Decentralizing power would have been the best way of avoiding a return to Saddam-era authoritarianism and corruption, but Baghdad has favored centralization instead—while simultaneously fissuring the state through sectarian patronage and competition.

Dec 9, 2022

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Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

Human Rights Sanctions on Iran Need More Coordination and Creativity

Several countries have rapidly imposed new sanctions in response to the regime’s repression of peaceful protests, but they should do more to harmonize and expand these actions.

Dec 9, 2022

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Henry Rome

Brief Analysis

Violence in Iran’s Uprising: What Happens If Either Side Escalates?

The regime still has additional means of making the crackdown even more lethal, and parts of the country are potentially primed to take up arms in response, with uncertain consequences on the ground.

Dec 8, 2022

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Farzin Nadimi
Patrick Clawson

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei, gestures while speaking

Brief Analysis

Khamenei Focusing on “External Threats,” Not Protest Demands

In an attempt to rally Iranians around the flag, his latest speech fixated on “Western plots,” indicating that he has no imminent plans to make significant concessions to protesters.

Dec 2, 2022

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Omer Carmi

Brief Analysis

Tunisians Pessimistic Ahead of Parliamentary Election

Socioeconomic unrest is growing in many parts of the country, and the series of elections planned this month and next year hold little prospect of bolstering public confidence in an increasingly autocratic government.

Dec 2, 2022

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Sabina Henneberg

Fikra Forum

KRG and PA: Reprioritizing Governance over Symbolism

Although Palestinian and Kurdish politics have similarly deteriorated into ineffective blame games, fresh U.S. policies focused on institution-building could restore the promise of progress in both cases.

Dec 2, 2022

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Ghaith al-Omari
Bilal Wahab

Fikra Forum

The Tenacity of Young Iranians in the Protest Movement

Despite the regime's crackdown, Iranian protestors are showing unprecedented resilience and unity in their demands, making the international community's next steps even more crucial.

Nov 29, 2022

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Haleh Esfandiari

An Iranian soccer fan protests at a World Cup game in Qatar - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Team Melli vs. Team USA: Iran’s Game of Contradictions

The regime’s often-hypocritical handling of this year’s World Cup comes to a head with a matchup against the United States, and a political victory seems unattainable regardless of the results on the field.

Nov 29, 2022

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Mehdi Khalaji

Articles & Testimony

Saving Iraqi Sovereignty: Iran, Turkey and a Fractured Homeland

There are ways for the new prime minister to reinforce Iraq’s independence after a series of foreign attacks, but they will be complex and painful.

Nov 27, 2022

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Bilal Wahab

Fikra Forum

Tracking the Religious Zionist Party Bloc in the Settlements

An analysis of Israel's last five Knesset elections indicates that settlement demographics have played a big role in the rise of Israel's ultra-nationalist, far-right bloc.

Nov 22, 2022

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Alex Harris
Sander Eizen

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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