Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

How the Contest to Succeed Abbas Is Shaping Palestinian Options

Israeli and Palestinian experts and former negotiators explore the lack of clarity surrounding the next PA leader, including the potential effects succession might have on internal politics, annexation responses, U.S. policy, and more.

Jul 6, 2020

◆

Ghaith al-Omari
Ehud Yaari
Michael Herzog

Brief Analysis

Testing Iraq’s Ability to Crack Down on Anti-U.S. Terrorism

After Kataib Hezbollah was caught red-handed prepping new rocket strikes, justice needs to be served, and Iraq’s government needs to be better secured.

Jun 26, 2020

◆

Michael Knights

Multimedia

Brief Analysis

Is Regime Collapse on Syria's Horizon? Evaluating Assad's Grip on Power

A State Department official explains the latest sanctions against entities that do business with Assad, while two experts assess the regime’s current status and its susceptibility to foreign pressure.

Jun 22, 2020

◆

Joel Rayburn
Oula A. Alrifai
Sam Dagher

Video

Brief Analysis

The New U.S.-Iraq Strategic Dialogue: Expert Views from Both Sides

One of Iraq’s most prominent public opinion analysts joins two American experts to assess the dialogue’s achievements and discuss what Baghdad and Washington can do to advance real reform.

Jun 18, 2020

◆

Munqith Dagher
Barbara A. Leaf
Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

Middle East Mega-Trends, COVID-19, and Beyond:

Views from France

A leading scholar of Islam explores the region’s crises and their effects on Western policy, assessing what has changed since the Arab Spring.

Jun 12, 2020

◆

Gilles Kepel

Brief Analysis

The Caesar Act Comes Into Force (Part 2): Pressuring Hezbollah in Lebanon

In addition to targeting Hezbollah and other local actors who support the Assad regime and harm Lebanon’s economy, the new U.S. legislation can help bolster Beirut’s sovereignty.

Jun 12, 2020

◆

Hanin Ghaddar

Video

Brief Analysis

Lebanon's Bumpy Road to an IMF Deal:

Implications for U.S. Policy

A former senior Lebanese official joins two experts to discuss the country's growing financial crisis and the deep institutional problems it must address in order to meet IMF reform requirements.

Jun 10, 2020

◆

Maroun Hitti
Jessica Obeid
Sami Nader Sami Nader

Brief Analysis

Shifting Tides in Libya Require More Active U.S. Involvement

Directly engaging all parties is essential if Washington hopes to advance a national dialogue and prevent a Turkish-Russian accommodation that establishes their presence in Libya indefinitely.

Jun 10, 2020

◆

Ben Fishman

Brief Analysis

Hashd Reforms in Iraq Conceal More Than They Reveal

The reform measures called for by PMF leaders are so opaque that they could enable militia consolidation masquerading as security sector improvements.

Jun 9, 2020

◆

Michael Knights
Hamdi Malik

Brief Analysis

Bumped Crops: Iran’s Grain Imports and Geopolitical Shocks

Despite its declarations of self-sufficiency, the country still imports large amounts of agricultural staples from abroad, leaving its food basket vulnerable to supply shocks, sanctions-related payment difficulties, environmental volatility, and other risks.

Jun 8, 2020

◆

Kevjn Lim

Articles & Testimony

Turkey’s COVID-19 Response

President Erdogan’s ever-tightening circle of policy influencers has lagged behind on proposing innovative solutions to the pandemic, giving other politicians an opening to become the main drivers of national change.

Jun 4, 2020

◆

Soner Cagaptay
Deniz Yuksel

Brief Analysis

Recent Aid Agreements Provide Opportunity to Support Women in Jordan

New USAID funds and a pending strategy for enhanced development cooperation could facilitate reforms that foster a better economic environment for women, and for the kingdom as a whole.

Jun 4, 2020

◆

Allison Jacobs Anderson

Video

Brief Analysis

The Future of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces

Three experts examine one of the most sensitive problems facing Iraq's new prime minister: the future of militias that were mobilized to fight the Islamic State but have since balked at subsuming themselves to the government's authority.

May 28, 2020

◆

Michael Knights
Hamdi Malik
Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi

United Nations headquarters building in New York - source: Reuters

Video

Brief Analysis

Can the UN Still Save Syria?

Views from a Former Special Envoy

Is it too late for the UN to counter the Assad regime and its allies on their abuses or to salvage cross-border mechanisms for humanitarian aid? Former UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura joined a virtual Policy Forum to probe the prospects.

May 25, 2020

◆

Staffan de Mistura

Articles & Testimony

Khashoggi’s Family Forgives His Killers, But Will the World Forget the Saudi Scandal?

Whether continued campaigns to hold Riyadh accountable for the crime succeed or not, the crown prince’s economic ‘Vision’ is increasingly likely to slip by another decade or more.

May 23, 2020

◆

Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Don’t Overthink the Assad-Makhlouf Feud

The Syrian leader’s dramatic war of words with his massively wealthy cousin may seem like a major fracture inside the regime, but the dynamics of past and present family disputes paint a different picture.

May 22, 2020

◆

Oula A. Alrifai

Brief Analysis

Kadhimi as Commander-in-Chief: First Steps in Iraqi Security Sector Reform

After his promising start, the new prime minister needs time and latitude to stamp his authority on the country’s security sector, even as militia rockets fall in Baghdad.

May 19, 2020

◆

Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

The Jihadi-Backed Salvation Government and Covid-19 in Northwest Syria

Disease prevention efforts in Idlib illustrate the movement's political evolution and its differences from the Islamic State, but the pandemic may still hit the area hard given inconsistent implementation and years of regime destruction.

May 15, 2020

◆

Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Violence Targeting Palestinian Banks Comes at a Sensitive Time

The latest row over prisoner payments has highlighted the PA’s longstanding legitimacy deficit and its potential inability to control events on the ground if public unrest escalates this summer.

May 14, 2020

◆

Ghaith al-Omari
Katherine Bauer

In-Depth Reports

Palestinian Politics After Abbas

Sudden Succession Essay Series

Throughout his tenure as leader of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas has studiously avoided grooming a successor, instead consolidating his control over numerous Palestinian entities and sidelining officials he perceived as threatening to his rule. When he eventually exits the scene, Abbas will leave many leadership roles to be filled—including in the PLO, Fatah movement, and national security agencies.

May 5, 2020

◆

Ghaith al-Omari
Ehud Yaari

◆ Sudden Succession Essay Series

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