Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, casts his vote for president

From Rouhani to Raisi: Pressing Questions on the Eve of Iran’s Election

With Ebrahim Raisi’s road to the presidency seemingly paved, the regime has been working to prevent low voter turnout and give him a vote of confidence through a landslide win.

Jun 17, 2021

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Omer Carmi

Video

Brief Analysis

The Last Vote? Obstacles to Renewing UN Cross-Border Assistance in Syria

Amid talk of a potential new Security Council resolution, veteran diplomats and aid practitioners debate the future of humanitarian assistance to needy Syrians.

Jun 16, 2021

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James Jeffrey
Basma Alloush
Carsten Wieland

Flag of the Syrian Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)

Brief Analysis

Hanging on in Idlib: Hayat Tahrir al-Sham’s Expanding Tribal Engagement

As Western policymakers debate potential engagement with HTS, they should do so with eyes wide open to the jihadist group’s true status in the province and its intentions toward local tribal institutions.

Jun 11, 2021

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Iraq’s Judiciary Weak Link

Regardless of the executive branch’s willingness to confront militia abuses, true rule of law cannot take hold unless judges are protected from intimidation and corruption.

Jun 10, 2021

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Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

Preserving the Lebanese Armed Forces Amid State Decline

Although continued pressure on the country’s political elites is necessary, the U.S. government needs to find more immediate ways of helping soldiers and citizens by making creative use of State, Defense, and congressional authorities.

Jun 9, 2021

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David Schenker
Grant Rumley

Articles & Testimony

Israel and Hamas After Gaza War

From expelling UN officials to giving Jews unsolicited relocation advice, Hamas has once again shown its true colors, even as Israeli politicians prepare to form a new multiethnic coalition government.

Jun 5, 2021

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David Pollock

Israeli politicians Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett

Brief Analysis

Israel’s Proposed Power-Sharing Government: Policy Implications and Prospects for Survival

Even if the consensus-based coalition is sworn in, the big question mark hanging over Bennett and Lapid is whether Palestinian developments or Netanyahu’s relentless opposition will produce irreconcilable internal differences.

Jun 3, 2021

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

Algeria’s Economic Challenges: Opportunities for U.S. Engagement

The pandemic has exacerbated persistent structural problems in the government’s approach to foreign investment, banking reform, monetary policy, and other sectors, but Algiers may be more open to U.S. advice on such matters.

May 28, 2021

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Geoff Porter

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Muqawama Fake News Surrounding Qasim Muslih’s Arrest (Part 2): Release Claims

Militias made a concerted effort to create the false impression that their colleague had been released immediately, and the claim was soon echoed by major global media outlets.

May 28, 2021

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Michael Knights
Crispin Smith
Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Muqawama Fake News Surrounding Qasim Muslih’s Arrest (Part 1): International Zone Claims

The first wave of post-arrest deception operations tried to give the false impression that militias controlled the Baghdad zone containing the prime minister's residence, the U.S. embassy, and other sensitive sites.

May 28, 2021

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Michael Knights
Crispin Smith
Alex Almeida
Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight

Police walk past the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah

Articles & Testimony

Palestinian Politics Are More Divided Than Ever

Fatah and Hamas have tried every conceivable power-sharing mechanism to no avail, and many Palestinians now feel alienated from both brands of authoritarianism.

May 27, 2021

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Ghaith al-Omari

Brief Analysis

Iraqi Militias Try, and Fail, to Intimidate the Government

Baghdad effectively enforced the rule of law by detaining a senior militia figure, though it still needs to arrest other murder suspects and show the public that October’s election will be safe.

May 27, 2021

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Michael Knights

Video

Brief Analysis

Not (Just) Another Rigged Syrian Election: Implications for Settling the War

A panel of experts discuss the short- and long-term consequences of the 2021 presidential vote, including its potential effects on domestic opposition, regional normalization, future peace prospects, and Western policy.

May 26, 2021

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Vladimir Pran
Hannah Roberts
Wael Sawah
Zahra Albarazi
Emile Hokayem
Emma Beals

Iranian presidential candidate Ebrahim Raisi speaking in 2021

Brief Analysis

A Race of One? Iran Slashes Its Presidential Candidates List

The regime is seemingly removing any obstacle that might prevent Ebrahim Raisi from winning the presidency and, perhaps, succeeding Khamenei down the road, but the risk of further eroding its internal legitimacy is high.

May 25, 2021

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Omer Carmi

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

The Tansiqiya Signals Escalation Versus the United States

The Iraqi militia coordination committee is laying out its political and legal arguments for the removal of U.S. forces.

May 24, 2021

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Crispin Smith

◆ Militia Spotlight

Syrian rebel fighters play a board game in a cafe

Brief Analysis

Stalemate in Northeast Syria: Options for Advancing U.S. Interests

In addition to clarifying its intentions and fortifying its presence in the area, the U.S. government needs to increase its focus on stability, security, and economic development.

May 21, 2021

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Kenneth R. Rosen

Articles & Testimony

Achieving Sustainable Peace in Yemen

A political settlement with the Houthis is important, but no agreement can last without local buy-in and concerted efforts to rebuild Yemen’s infrastructure, institutions, and governance practices.

May 19, 2021

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Elana DeLozier
Adam Baron

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Presidential Election Season Kicks Off: Five Takeaways

The upcoming campaign will likely focus on a three-way race between conservative Raisi, conservative-turned-pragmatist Larijani, and reformist-affiliated Jahangiri.

May 17, 2021

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Omer Carmi

Articles & Testimony

How Fighting With the Palestinians Gave Israel’s Netanyahu a Political Lifeline

The most imminent threat to his rule has fizzled since the shooting began, but domestic anger toward him remains widespread.

May 14, 2021

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Neri Zilber

Articles & Testimony

Russia Pushes a Dangerous Narrative Ahead of Syria’s Sham Election

Moscow would have the world believe that the best route to stability is legitimizing a dictator who plunged his country into war and destabilized the entire Middle East.

May 14, 2021

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Anna Borshchevskaya

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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Catherine Cleveland

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

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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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