Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

After Palermo: Achievements and Future Challenges for Libya

The Italian-sponsored stabilization conference produced some positive outcomes, but a genuine breakthrough requires U.S. involvement.

Dec 17, 2018

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Anna Borshchevskaya
Ben Fishman
Barbara A. Leaf

Brief Analysis

Sisi Restores Jewish Heritage in Egypt

His recent outreach to Jews is welcome, though it should not be mistaken for a total shift in his repressive tendencies or a sea change in the Egyptian public’s rejection of Israel.

Dec 14, 2018

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Haisam Hassanein

Brief Analysis

Hints of Crisis as Algeria Enters Election Mode

The country avoided the tumult of the Arab Spring, but its next election cycle will bring political, economic, and social challenges back to the fore.

Dec 12, 2018

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Abdelillah Bendaoudi

Articles & Testimony

The United States, Saudi Arabia, and the Middle East in the Post-Khashoggi Era

In addition to imperiling U.S. public support for regional relationships, neglecting human rights issues can blind policymakers to the brittleness of certain partner states.

Dec 10, 2018

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Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

There’s No Reason Congress and Trump Can’t Achieve Their Goals for Saudi Arabia

The two branches have several means of imposing consequences and altering objectionable Saudi policies without demolishing the entire strategic relationship.

Nov 29, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

The Sectarian Significance of Bahrain’s Elections

The imminent polls will not alter the power structure of the strategically positioned Gulf state, but they could affect its simmering Shia unrest and wider regional politics.

Nov 21, 2018

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

In Israel, a Coalition of the Barely Willing

Netanyahu outmaneuvers rivals, heads off early election.

Nov 20, 2018

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Neri Zilber

A bread seller in Cairo walks past a sign promoting President Sisi - source: Reuters

Brief Analysis

Egypt’s Economy Rising, Rights Declining

Cairo has made progress on returning to its pre-revolution economic levels, but censorship, surveillance, and other humanitarian abuses continue to accelerate.

Nov 19, 2018

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Barak Barfi

Brief Analysis

New Saudi Statement on Khashoggi’s Killing: Policy Response

Riyadh’s shifting, dubious storyline presents a dilemma for allies who want to reestablish good working relations with the world’s largest oil exporter.

Nov 15, 2018

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Simon Henderson

Video

Brief Analysis

Do U.S. Actions Affect Iranian Policy?

A veteran U.S. policymaker and two notable Iranian expatriates look back at forty years of fraught relations, discussing ways to advance American interests and reduce bilateral antagonism without letting human rights issues lapse.

Nov 15, 2018

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Stuart Eizenstat
Mehrangiz Kar
Mehdi Khalaji

Video

Brief Analysis

New Data on Iraqi Political Trends:

Parsing the Regional Implications

Watch an in-depth conversation with Iraqi experts who share and assess surprising new polling results about Iraqi public opinion.

Nov 8, 2018

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Munqith Dagher
Ahmed Ali
David Pollock

Video

Brief Analysis

Egypt and Washington: Challenges in the Sisi Era

Two experts discuss how Washington can balance its sometimes conflicting interests in Egyptian security and human rights.

Nov 7, 2018

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Barak Barfi
Michele Dunne

Brief Analysis

New Governments in Iraq and Kurdistan: A Trip Report

Four experts who recently returned from Baghdad and Erbil report on the results of the government formation process.

Nov 6, 2018

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Kenneth Pollack
Nussaibah Younis
Michael Knights
Bilal Wahab

Brief Analysis

Iran Intensifying Its Crackdown on Citizens Abroad

The regime is once again targeting dissidents in Europe and arresting dual nationals, giving Washington and the EU common cause to sanction senior Iranian officials.

Nov 2, 2018

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Mehdi Khalaji

Articles & Testimony

How France and Italy’s Rivalry Is Hurting Libya

The upcoming Palermo conference should be used to facilitate UN-led dialogue between Libyan groups, not to score points in a European diplomatic spat.

Oct 31, 2018

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Federica Saini Fasanotti
Ben Fishman

Brief Analysis

Tunisia’s Female Jihadists

An unprecedented attack by a female bomber should not come as a surprise considering the spike in women’s jihadist activism since 2011.

Oct 31, 2018

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Articles & Testimony

U.S. Must Impose a Price on Saudis, But One With a Clear Purpose

Rather than limiting itself to half-measures, Washington should suspend the delivery of offensive weapons and take other steps that convince Riyadh to change the way it operates.

Oct 30, 2018

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Economy Is Stagnating Even Before New U.S. Sanctions Hit

The impact of imminent sanctions will be magnified by the economy’s recent struggles, and Tehran’s bad financial policies will only make matters worse.

Oct 29, 2018

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Patrick Clawson

Articles & Testimony

A Window of Opportunity Has Just Opened in Iraq. Will the U.S. Act?

The triumvirate of leaders to emerge from this year’s elections are strongly associated with nonsectarian, pragmatic government.

Oct 27, 2018

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Bilal Wahab

A banner of Iran's former Supreme leader Khomeini

Brief Analysis

Iran’s Anti-Western ‘Blueprint’ for the Next Fifty Years

Khamenei’s latest guidelines for Iranian culture and governance focus on resisting any efforts to reform the regime’s decisionmaking tendencies.

Oct 24, 2018

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Mehdi Khalaji

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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