Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Bahrain’s prime minister, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman al-Khalifa, has held his position since 1971, the year his country gained independence from Britain, but he is now eighty-four and evidently in uncertain health. Potential candidates to replace him include Crown Prince Salman or even a much younger nephew, Nasser bin Hamad, mirroring the generational handover in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. But the Khawalids, an influential, once-sidelined branch of the ruling family, also merit attention as Bahrain nears the end of an era.

Nov 26, 2019

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Simon Henderson

◆ Sudden Succession Essay Series

Maps & Graphics

In-Depth Reports

Course Correction:

The Muslim World League, Saudi Arabia's Export of Islam, and Opportunities for Washington

Throughout 2016 and 2017, statements from Riyadh suggested that Saudi Arabia might be on the verge of reorienting its decades-long promotion of Salafism around the world. Given the sheer scale of the kingdom’s support for Islamic institutions over the years, the ripple effects of such a shift would be profound

Nov 22, 2019

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Sarah Feuer

Articles & Testimony

What’s Next for Lebanon? Examining the Implications of Current Protests

An expert testifies on the concrete steps Washington can take to ensure that a credible, technocratic government forms in Beirut, and that the Lebanese Armed Forces protect civilians from Hezbollah-led reprisals.

Nov 19, 2019

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Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Gasoline Protests: Regime Unpopular but Resilient

The demonstrations indicate widespread popular rejection of the political system, but this same system remains well organized to deflect and counter unrest.

Nov 18, 2019

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Patrick Clawson
Mehdi Khalaji
Farzin Nadimi

Brief Analysis

Iraq in Crisis: The View from Kurdistan

The Iraqi Kurdistan government's top diplomat shares the Kurdish view of the growing unrest sweeping Iraq.

Nov 15, 2019

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Safeen Dizayee

Video

Brief Analysis

Counterterrorism in an Era of Competing Priorities: Ten Key Considerations

In this in-depth briefing, a leading CT official discusses how to address diverse challenges ranging from border security and document forgery to online radicalization and far-right copycat attacks.

Nov 12, 2019

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Russell Travers

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

Multimedia

Brief Analysis

The Lebanon Protests: Views from Beirut and Policy Implications

Four Lebanese experts assess the country’s fragile political and financial situation, explaining why the demonstrations will not stop with Hariri’s resignation.

Nov 8, 2019

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Hanin Ghaddar
Makram Rabah
Lokman Slim
Jean Tawile

Brief Analysis

The Counter-ISIS Coalition Has Much to Do After Baghdadi’s Death

From dissolving the group’s caliphate to killing its leader, the coalition has notched major achievements, but all that work may be for naught if the United States and other members do not renew their cooperation at the upcoming ministerial meeting.

Nov 7, 2019

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Using American Soft Power to Counter Russian Influence in Iraq

Moscow is beating Washington at the reputational game in Iraq, raising the need for greater U.S. engagement on education and media outreach rather than just security issues.

Nov 6, 2019

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Brief Analysis

Understanding the Saudi Aramco IPO

The long-anticipated stock selloff has finally been green-lit, but doubts remain about just how much it will help to economically transform the kingdom.

Nov 4, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

New Gaza Crossing Raises Questions About Blockade Policies

The items being moved from Egypt through Salah al-Din Gate underline the contradictions and long-term unsustainability of the current stalemate regarding Gaza assistance.

Oct 23, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Brief Analysis

Exposing and Sanctioning Human Rights Violations by Iraqi Militias

As new protests and further government crackdowns loom, Washington should call out abuses by Iran-backed entities and sanction the key offenders.

Oct 22, 2019

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Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

Netanyahu Era Likely Coming to an End Amid Post-Election Standoff

Three different scenarios could unfold in the coming weeks, but they all share one thing in common: Netanyahu would no longer dominate the political landscape the way he has over the past decade.

Oct 21, 2019

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Syria Study Group: Recommendations for U.S. Policy

The following joint statement was submitted to the House Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and International Terrorism in advance of testimony by Dana Stroul and Michael Singh, the Washington Institute fellows who serve as co-chairs of the bipartisan Syria Study Group. Chairman Deutch, Ranking Member Wilson, and members

Oct 16, 2019

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Dana Stroul
Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

Signposts for an Islamic State Comeback in Iraq

Despite the damage wrought by the U.S. withdrawal from Syria, the main drivers of Islamic State resurgence in Iraq can still be restrained by local U.S. engagement, which is now even more vital than before.

Oct 15, 2019

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

Iraq Is Not Yet Lost, But If We Continue to Ignore It, It Soon Will Be

Muddled governance, harsh crackdowns, and outside interference threaten to overturn the fragile freedom that Iraqis have won at great cost.

Oct 15, 2019

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Anna Borshchevskaya

Brief Analysis

As Protests Explode, Iraq Must Get Serious About Reform

The public’s demands are just and their patience is all but gone, so Baghdad needs to get on with the hard work of opening up the economy and providing critical services before the violence spirals out of control.

Oct 4, 2019

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Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

Hezbollah Prioritizes Its Own Interests, Putting Lebanon at Risk

As demonstrators rail against economic problems, corruption, and sectarianism, the group’s role in undermining the public’s financial and physical security is coming under greater scrutiny.

Oct 3, 2019

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

U.S.-Saudi Ties, a Year After Khashoggi’s Death

The crown prince’s televised apologies and welcome domestic reforms are overshadowed by his government’s ongoing litany of human rights abuses.

Oct 3, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Helping Iraq Take Charge of Its Command-and-Control Structure

Recent organizational shifts offer a glimmer of hope that Baghdad will stand up to Iranian influence, but implementation will be the test of their actual merit.

Sep 30, 2019

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Michael Knights

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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