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Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

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Democratic Forces of Change
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Long-Awaited Coalition of Civic Minds: Democratic Forces of Change
Combining a wide range of of political views and principles, the Democratic Forces of Change hope to provide the Iraqi people with an action-driven opposition platform.
Oct 26, 2022
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  • Ashleigh Whelan
Mansour Abbas - source: Reuters
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
At the Edge of the Precipice: Jewish-Arab Relations in Israel on the Eve of the 2022 Parliamentary Election
Conflicted between a desire for political and social integration and a disillusionment with Israeli politics, Israel’s Arab population—particularly Arab youth—will be an unpredictable element in the upcoming elections.
Oct 20, 2022
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  • Michael Milshtein
  • Ilham Shahbari
Brief Analysis
Scoring Iraq’s New Government: Metrics for Preserving U.S. Interests
The protracted post-election process has been a step backward for Iraqi democracy, so Washington will need to closely monitor the new leadership’s actions and hold Baghdad to measurable benchmarks.
Oct 19, 2022
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  • Michael Knights
Abdul Latif Rashid
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Forming a New Government in Iraq: Possible Scenarios
Although Iraq’s new government has ended the year-long deadlock, the path forward is still rife with obstacles.
Oct 18, 2022
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  • Munqith Dagher
Kurdish People
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
As Anti-Regime Protests Swell Across Iran, Ethnic Minorities Demand Freedom and Equality
In order to create more lasting changes, the current wave of protests in Iran must be inclusive of the demands and expectations of ethnic minorities.
Oct 14, 2022
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  • Rahim Hamid
  • Ruth Riegler
Iranian men use Instagram - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Social Media in Iran’s Protests: A New Public Sphere?
Apps like Clubhouse and Instagram have greatly broadened the people’s ability to exchange ideas and even criticize the regime, but authorities have simultaneously subverted, coopted, and silenced these platforms at will.
Oct 6, 2022
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  • Mehdi Khalaji
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Iran’s Dilemma in Managing Shiite Conflicts in Iraq
Iran has recently adopted a more hands-off approach in Iraqi politics, hoping that the internal fractures will eventually work in their favor.
Oct 6, 2022
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  • Firas Elias
Zainab Isam
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia Disinformation and the Zainab Isam al-Khazali Shooting
"Resistance" groups launched a coordinated and intentionally misleading anti-American media campaign to ease domestic pressure caused by the unrest in Iran.
Oct 5, 2022
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  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Iran's Ali Karimi, wearing green wristbands at a 2010 World Cup qualifier - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
Celebrities, the Clergy, and Succession: Wild Cards in Iran’s Protests
By targeting celebs and financially coopting the clergy, the regime has revealed a great deal about what it sees as its greatest vulnerabilities.
Sep 30, 2022
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  • Mehdi Khalaji
Iranian morality police confront women in Tehran - source: Reuters
Brief Analysis
How Iran’s Protests Differ from Past Movements
The unrest has shown that many young people are not only rejecting the regime, but also steering away from long-time actors such as the clergy, reformers, and dissident politicians inside and outside the country.
Sep 28, 2022
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  • Mehdi Khalaji
Brief Analysis
Kuwait’s Election Offers Insights on Wider Gulf Politics
The vote and the events leading up to it reflect a system in near-paralysis rather than an example for neighbors to emulate.
Sep 28, 2022
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  • Simon Henderson
Brief Analysis
Saudi King Gives Up Prime Minister Role to Crown Prince
The transfer further boosts his son’s authority and could even be a prelude to an unprecedented abdication.
Sep 27, 2022
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  • Simon Henderson
Brief Analysis
Iraq’s Constitutional Moment?
Although the country currently lacks the unity and rule of law needed to safely pursue a process as fraught as amending the constitution, there are several alternatives that could get it on the path to systemic reform.
Sep 27, 2022
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  • Safwan Al-Amin
  • Bilal Wahab
Brief Analysis
Israeli Elections, Round Five: A Game of Inches
The first in a series of Washington Institute articles about the upcoming vote discusses how the rival coalitions are shaping up, why extremists are gaining ground on the right, and which policy issues are most likely to steer the national debate.
Sep 21, 2022
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  • David Makovsky
Currency exchange prices on display
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
SDR Allocations in the Middle East: Helpful, but No Silver Bullet
Various governments have made good use of last year’s unprecedented IMF allocation, but the Ukraine war, ongoing debt issues, and other economic problems are a reminder that the region cannot sidestep deeper reforms indefinitely.
Sep 20, 2022
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  • Jonah Shrock
Iraq protestor flag
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
What’s Next for Iraq After al-Sadr’s Withdrawal from the Political Process?
Violent protests broke out after al-Sadr announced his withdrawal from Iraqi politics, but this is unlikely to be the end of al-Sadr's political maneuvering.
Sep 12, 2022
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  • Azhar Al-Rubaie
egyptian flag
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
In New Poll, Most Egyptians Split on Relations with Foreign Powers, Pessimistic About Domestic Economy
Egyptians expressed skepticism about the economy, reliance on the United States, and the Abraham Accords with Israel.
Sep 9, 2022
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  • Mohamed Abdelaziz
cyber security
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
What Cyber Attacks Against Ukraine Can Teach Israel
Israel must look to the war in Ukraine for insight into potential cyber attacks and security strategies ahead of the November legislative elections.
Sep 8, 2022
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  • Ophir Barel
Brief Analysis
Responding to the PA’s Mounting Fiscal Crisis
Years of declining international aid, unsustainable public patronage, and controversial policies have pushed the Palestinian government and banking sector to the brink of insolvency.
Sep 1, 2022
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  • Jonah Shrock
  • Gabriel Epstein
  • David Makovsky
An Iraqi member of a Shia PMF militia
Brief Analysis
Removing All Militias From Baghdad’s International Zone
Iran-backed PMF units shot first in the latest showdown, so they should hardly be the ones left in charge of security in the government center.
Aug 31, 2022
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  • Michael Knights

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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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Featured experts

Catherine Cleveland
Catherine Cleveland
Catherine Cleveland is The Washington Institute's Croft-Wagner Family Fellow and editor of Fikra Forum.
Ben Fishman
Ben Fishman
Ben Fishman is a Senior Fellow in The Washington Institute's Program on Arab Politics.
David Pollock
David Pollock
David Pollock is the Bernstein Fellow at The Washington Institute, focusing on regional political dynamics and related issues.
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