Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

The Khashoggi Showdown: Executive-Congressional Dynamics and the U.S.-Saudi Relationship

The administration’s handling of the situation has exacerbated distrust among lawmakers and opened the door to wider questioning of the bilateral relationship.

Feb 19, 2019

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Dana Stroul

Video

Brief Analysis

Are Regional Leaders in Sync with Public Opinion? The Israeli-Palestinian Case

Two renowned pollsters share their latest findings and debate what surveys can tell us about the current Arab-Israeli climate.

Feb 11, 2019

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Tamar Hermann
David Pollock

A banner of Iran's former Supreme leader Khomeini

Articles & Testimony

Iran, 40 Years After Revolution, Still Looms Large in Middle East

The ball has bounced mostly in the regime’s direction since 1979, though Tehran may now be approaching the revolutionary equivalent of imperial overstretch.

Feb 11, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

As Arab Leaders Warm toward Israel and Jews, Are Arab Publics Following?

Arabs advocating a ‘peace between peoples’ still face high barriers and need help.

Feb 8, 2019

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Joseph Braude

Video

Brief Analysis

Reports from Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Capitol Hill

Middle East Policy Forecast for 2019

Three Institute scholars report on recent regional visits and U.S. legislative developments, looking ahead to the most critical policy questions in the coming year.

Feb 4, 2019

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Barbara A. Leaf
Dana Stroul
Dennis Ross

Articles & Testimony

Here’s Why U.S. Aid to Palestinians Needs to Continue

A former ambassador to Israel and a veteran congressional staffer outline concrete steps for preserving the most crucial security and humanitarian programs.

Jan 31, 2019

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Dana Stroul
Daniel Shapiro

Articles & Testimony

Women in Saudi Society Press for Change—Some Suffer Despite Successes

Recent reforms are running up against deep-seated cultural realities, and some foreign investors and officials are not ready to forget the Khashoggi incident.

Jan 27, 2019

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

In Damning Report, UN Panel Details War Economy in Yemen

By benefiting from questionable wartime revenue streams and outright corruption, both the Houthi rebels and the U.S.-supported Hadi government are inhibiting a transition to peace.

Jan 25, 2019

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Elana DeLozier

Brief Analysis

Pushing Back on Iran in Syria: Beyond the ‘Boots’

Apart from its military intervention, Tehran has pursued a wide range of economic and social tactics for increasing its sway in Syria, but Washington can still push back with targeted assistance, innovative sanctions, and strategic messaging.

Jan 22, 2019

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Hanin Ghaddar
Dana Stroul

Brief Analysis

Netanyahu’s Political and Legal Challenges in the Next Elections

For now, he is sticking with the tried-and-true formula of emphasizing his security pedigree, but looming indictments could change his campaign narrative and coalition-building strategy.

Jan 22, 2019

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David Makovsky

Brief Analysis

Gulf Cyber Cooperation with Israel: Balancing Threats and Rights

The provision of powerful cyber tools is important for national security in the Gulf states, but it has reportedly opened the door to human rights abuses.

Jan 17, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Articles & Testimony

Pompeo’s Cairo Speech More ‘Back to the Future’ Than Break With Past

The administration should focus more on amplifying the voices of regional citizens while convincingly standing against collective threats.

Jan 16, 2019

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Ben Fishman
Dana Stroul

Brief Analysis

Sending the Right Message in Cairo: Advice for Secretary Pompeo

All eyes will be on the secretary’s speech this week, so striking the right balance between President Trump’s domestic imperatives and the realities of regional policy is crucial.

Jan 7, 2019

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Anna Borshchevskaya
Soner Cagaptay
Simon Henderson
Martin Kramer
Matthew Levitt
David Pollock
Dennis Ross
Dana Stroul
Bilal Wahab

Egyptian and Israeli flags along the Sinai border

Brief Analysis

Egyptian-Israeli Citizenship Issues Are Impeding Normalization

Egyptian authorities are still using travel restrictions, intimidation, and loss of citizenship to discourage their compatriots from living in or even visiting Israel.

Jan 3, 2019

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Haisam Hassanein

Brief Analysis

Saudi Reshuffle Emphasizes Security and Foreign Policy

Ministerial changes seemed likely in the wake of the Khashoggi crisis, but some of the specifics came as a surprise.

Dec 28, 2018

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Ever Cagey, Netanyahu Calls an Early Election He’s Expected to Win

The Israeli prime minister looks to get out ahead of legal and security threats to his tenure.

Dec 24, 2018

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Neri Zilber

Brief Analysis

Protests Underscore West Bank Instability

The international community can help avert future chaos through measures to stem political, economic, and security deterioration, and Washington can reinstate funding for Palestinian development projects.

Dec 21, 2018

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Ghaith al-Omari
Madison Rinder

Brief Analysis

What to Watch for as Lebanon Forms a New Government

The cabinet’s composition is a fait accompli, but foreign officials may still be able to influence key security appointments—or, failing that, up the financial and diplomatic pressure on Hezbollah and its political allies.

Dec 20, 2018

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Hanin Ghaddar

Video

Brief Analysis

Forty Years of the Islamic Republic: What Next?

What are the prospects for liberal democracy in Iran, and what can the international community do to help the ongoing protest movement? Watch video or download a full transcript of this special event.

Dec 18, 2018

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Reza Pahlavi

A Tunisian woman holds a photo of a relative who joined a jihadist movement

Video

Brief Analysis

Tunisia's Foreign Fighters

Two leading experts discuss why thousands of young Tunisians mobilized for jihad in Iraq and Syria, and what governments are doing now that they are taking their cause back home—or to the West.

Dec 17, 2018

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Aaron Y. Zelin
Jacob Walles

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

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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.

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.

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