Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

Will Protests at Home Affect Turkey's Foreign Policy?

On June 13, 2013, Soner Cagaptay and James F. Jeffrey addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Mr. Jeffrey is the Philip Solondz distinguished visiting fellow at the Institute and former U.S. ambassador to Turkey (2008-2010) and Iraq (2010-2012). Dr. Cagaptay, author of the forthcoming book The Rise of

Jun 19, 2013

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Soner Cagaptay
James Jeffrey

Fikra Forum

Egypt’s State of Rebellion

Recent clashes between Muslim Brotherhood and neighborhood youth highlight tension and the group’s desire to control the Egyptian state’s vital institutions.

Jun 18, 2013

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Maged Atef

Brief Analysis

Morsi's Provocative Appointments

Although Washington has long sought to moderate the Brotherhood's behavior through quiet diplomacy, Morsi's inflammatory political appointments suggest that this approach has failed.

Jun 18, 2013

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Eric Trager

Qatari leader Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Regime Change in Qatar

Knee-deep in Syria's civil war and surrounded by family quarrels, Qatar's emir is looking to hand over the country to his thirty-three-year-old son.

Jun 14, 2013

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Bahrain Rounds Up Organizers of Antigovernment Violence

Although Bahrain's ongoing troubles are domestically focused, the latest developments are a reminder of the region's wider Sunni-Shiite divide and the problematic role played by Iran.

Jun 14, 2013

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Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Jordan's Web Policy Mistake

Jordan is in danger of associating its traditionally enlightened monarchy with the practices of its repressive neighbors.

Jun 14, 2013

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

Syria's Collapse and How Washington Can Stop It

Washington should pursue a measured but assertive course with Syria, because the longer the conflict lasts, the greater the threat it poses.

Jun 14, 2013

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Andrew J. Tabler

Brief Analysis

'There Must Be Order': How Russia's Internal Muslim Issues Affect Its Syria Policy

A firmer combination of pressure and incentives, with appropriate attention to Moscow's domestic concerns, could tip the balance toward greater U.S.-Russian cooperation in Syria.

Jun 14, 2013

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Peter Eltsov

Brief Analysis

A Way Forward in Benghazi

Helping the Libyan government root militias out of Benghazi and secure the city would go a long way toward securing the country as a whole.

Jun 12, 2013

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Andrew Engel

Brief Analysis

Regional Consequences of Qatar's Leadership Transition

The forthcoming elevation of Crown Prince Tamim to Qatar's top leadership roles could spur Iran and other rivals to play mischief.

Jun 11, 2013

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

The Muslim Brotherhood in the Gulf: Prospects for Agitation

Local Brotherhood groups range from regime irritants to regime supporters, and the security challenge they represent to the Gulf monarchies should be assessed on a country-by-country basis.

Jun 10, 2013

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Lori Plotkin Boghardt

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

Articles & Testimony

Don't Discount the Iranian Election

Khamenei's handling of the presidential election highlights his desire to prevent foreign accommodation, including on the nuclear issue.

Jun 5, 2013

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

New Palestinian Prime Minister Is a Victory for Fatah

Abbas's chosen candidate will boost Fatah's profile in the near term, but international donors will ultimately judge the new premier based on how he handles fiscal transparency, economic stewardship, and security cooperation.

Jun 4, 2013

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David Makovsky

Articles & Testimony

Turks Have Learned the Power of Grassroots Politics

Even if this week's demonstrations fizzle away, grassroots activism and middle-class demands for liberties have apparently become a force in Turkish politics.

Jun 4, 2013

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Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

Egypt's NGO Convictions Demand an Assertive Response

The Muslim Brotherhood has no interest in adding an international crisis to its many domestic crises, so a strong U.S. response to today's court decision would likely bear fruit in Cairo.

Jun 4, 2013

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Eric Trager

Articles & Testimony

US and EU Must Arm the Syrian Rebels or Watch Assad Destabilize the Region

Anything short of Assad's defeat would be a setback not only for Syrians, but also for America and Europe.

May 30, 2013

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David Schenker

Brief Analysis

Sworn Frenemies: Sunni-Shiite Conflict and Cooperation

Notwithstanding current hostilities, there is a long history of cooperation between Sunni and Shiite extremists.

May 30, 2013

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David Schenker

Articles & Testimony

It Takes a Village to Raze an Insurgency

Enlisting Afghan locals in their own defense offers a more sustainable model for combating the Taliban in rural areas.

May 29, 2013

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Daniel Green

Brief Analysis

Egypt's Summer of Discontent

Even as it prods Egypt's political actors to dial down the tension, Washington should help the country's military leaders prepare for even greater instability.

May 28, 2013

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Eric Trager

Articles & Testimony

Political Instability in Jordan

A new report on how Washington can help Jordan deal with continuing turmoil at home and abroad.

May 16, 2013

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Robert Satloff
David Schenker

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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