Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, casts his vote for president

World leaders need to be clear-eyed about the false facade of Iranian democracy, focusing instead on the regime's chronic regional meddling, terror sponsorship, and human rights abuses.

May 16, 2017

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Dennis Ross
Jason Brodsky

Brief Analysis

Vanishing Islam in Iran's Election

With Islamic ideology losing its seductive influence, the only way to prolong the regime's life is to reform the economy -- a difficult prospect given the president's weakness and the continued interference of powerful, unaccountable entities.

May 16, 2017

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Mehdi Khalaji

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

The Kurdish Path to Socialism in Syria

To maintain its dominant position and stay true to its ideological roots, the PYD is pushing socialist policies on a skeptical Rojava populace, with uncertain consequences for the future of the Syrian Kurdish zone.

May 16, 2017

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Fabrice Balanche

Articles & Testimony

Making Diplomacy Great Again

Washington won't achieve foreign policy successes without better diplomacy, and the first step is to understand what diplomacy can and can't do.

May 15, 2017

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James Jeffrey

Turkish president Erdogan - Source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Why the Turkish President's Biography Should Tell Trump Everything He Needs to Know

Erdogan has always wanted to take revenge on the system that repeatedly persecuted Turkey's Islamist movement, his first political home.

May 12, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

Transactional or Transcendent? Turkey's Ties to the European Union

The West's relationship with Ankara will become increasingly cold as long as populist leaders on both sides continue polarizing their constituents with anti-Muslim and anti-Western rhetoric.

May 8, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay
Oya Aktas

Brief Analysis

Iran's Presidential Election: The Clergy's Political Irrelevance

As clerics are pushed ever further to the political margins, the regime will need to double down on its current strategy: relying more on security measures than spiritual authorities to ensure its survival.

May 5, 2017

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Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

Iran's Presidential Election: The Economic Situation

Despite some positive growth indicators, Rouhani faces an uphill struggle to convince voters that his economic plan is truly best for them.

May 3, 2017

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Patrick Clawson

Video

Inside Iran's 2017 Election: Economics, Politics, and National Security

In this short video, Institute scholars explain the economic, security, and political dynamics shaping Iran's 2017 presidential election and the future of Iranian policy.

May 3, 2017

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Patrick Clawson
Nader Uskowi
Mehdi Khalaji

Brief Analysis

A Kurdish Referendum: Unforeseen Benefits

The KRG's independence referendum should be treated as a tactical bid to unify the Iraqi Kurds and strengthen their position toward Baghdad, but without jettisoning their gradualist approach.

May 3, 2017

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Bilal Wahab
Rebwar Karim Mahmood

Brief Analysis

Low Expectations for Abbas Visit

The first summit between the two leaders is unlikely to result in any major initiatives, though Abbas could complicate future peace prospects or ties with the United States if he fails to deliver on Trump's initial requests.

May 2, 2017

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

The Kurds Can Fight: Now They Need to Govern

Getting governance right is the only way to prevent future waves of terrorism and warlordism, making efforts toward that end a matter of Iraqi and U.S. national security.

Apr 27, 2017

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Bilal Wahab

Articles & Testimony

The Importance of CVE in Light of the Changing Nature of the Threat

To decrease the likelihood of terrorist attacks, governments should complement traditional CT with de-securitized tools on the front and back end of the radicalization process.

Apr 27, 2017

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Algeria's Growing Security Problems

By encouraging Algiers to develop a more comprehensive approach to the persistent extremist threat in the south and east, Washington can also help manage the crises in Libya and Mali.

Apr 25, 2017

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Vish Sakthivel

Brief Analysis

Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, One Year On

Royal rivalries, oil uncertainties, and premature optimism about reform initiatives could jeopardize the kingdom's hopes for transformative economic change.

Apr 24, 2017

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Simon Henderson

Video

Brief Analysis

Turkey's 'New Sultan'

Prospects for Future U.S. and Regional Policy

Read a summary or watch video of an in-depth conversation regarding Turkey's recent referendum, which has further consolidated Erdogan's hold on power but also signaled deep internal divisions.

Apr 21, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay
Gonul Tol
Amberin Zaman

Articles & Testimony

Could Italy Get Trump to Care About Fixing Libya?

To take a strong step forward on a major ongoing conflict, the president should listen closely to a U.S. ally and make a clear statement in support of Libya's unity government and the UN-sponsored peace process.

Apr 20, 2017

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Ben Fishman

Articles & Testimony

Taxing Times in Jordan

Under increasing pressure from regional wars and more than a million refugees, Amman is ratcheting up taxes on ordinary citizens to bridge the budget gap.

Apr 19, 2017

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

Turkey in Crisis

Without an organized opposition, Erdogan's expanded powers may end Turkish democracy.

Apr 18, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

Articles & Testimony

Turkey's Ties to the West Are in Deep Trouble

As Europe and the United States await the fallout from the April 16 referendum to gauge the future of an important partner, they must also recognize some sad realities about the state of Turkish politics and society.

Apr 14, 2017

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Soner Cagaptay

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.

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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Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Project Fikra: Defeating Extremism through the Power of Ideas

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