Democracy & Reform

Policy Analysis on Democracy & Reform

The number of Europeans joining the Syrian jihad is not as high as some fear, but their impact on the war and potential threat upon returning home could be disproportionately great.

Apr 2, 2013

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Egypt Takes Another Step Toward Autocracy -- and Instability

Washington should tell Morsi that politicized prosecutions and other autocratic moves are increasing the risk of wider violence.

Apr 1, 2013

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Eric Trager

Brief Analysis

Saudi Arabia's Perfect Storm of Domestic Challenges

Amid uncertain leadership and growing domestic criticism in Saudi Arabia, Washington should press Riyadh to tolerate greater political participation, accelerate the succession discussion, and prevent Iran from exploiting the situation.

Mar 29, 2013

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Simon Henderson

Brief Analysis

Youth Activism in the Small Gulf States

Young activists will likely be important agents of structural reform in the small Gulf states, and Washington should make more effort to engage them.

Mar 28, 2013

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Lori Plotkin Boghardt

Brief Analysis

The PKK Announcement: Can Turkey Build a Kurdish Cordon?

Washington should work with Ankara, the Syrian opposition, and Baghdad to ensure that new PKK peace talks alleviate their mutual concerns about Syria's future and the Kurdish question.

Mar 25, 2013

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David Pollock
Soner Cagaptay

Brief Analysis

Egypt's Economic Crisis: How to Help Cairo Help Itself

Because Egypt's economic crisis has political roots, international donors cannot save the country by themselves. But they can use the IMF negotiations to help Cairo recognize that a turnaround will require not just economic reform, but more inclusive government and political reconciliation.

Mar 25, 2013

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Michael Singh

Brief Analysis

Arms for Syria's Rebels: Shaping the War's Outcome

Military assistance can make Syrian rebel forces more effective, help shape the post-Assad period for Syria, and increase influence and access for the donor.

Mar 25, 2013

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Jeffrey White

Brief Analysis

Syria's Meltdown Requires a U.S.-Led Response

As Syria heads toward a meltdown spilling over its borders -- with loss of control over strategic weapons, accelerated refugee flows, spreading extremism, and Sunni-Shiite clashes -- only engaging with those doing the fighting will give Washington much influence over events.

Mar 22, 2013

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Andrew J. Tabler

Video

Brief Analysis

Obama to the Middle East: Expectations and Implications (Part 2)

Subscribe to Washington Institute videos on YouTube. Sign up for live event broadcast alerts from The Washington Institute On March 18, 2013, David Makovsky, Michael Singh, and Dennis Ross addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Mr. Makovsky is the Ziegler distinguished fellow and director of the Project on

Mar 21, 2013

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David Makovsky
Michael Singh

Articles & Testimony

In Power, But Not in Control

The Muslim Brotherhood may have the votes for now, but Egypt is a ship without a rudder.

Mar 21, 2013

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Eric Trager

Video

Brief Analysis

Obama to the Middle East: Expectations and Implications (Part 1)

Subscribe to Washington Institute videos on YouTube. Sign up for live event broadcast alerts from The Washington Institute On March 18, 2013, Dennis Ross, David Makovsky, and Michael Singh addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Ambassador Ross, the Institute's counselor, served most recently as special assistant to President

Mar 20, 2013

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Dennis Ross

Brief Analysis

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Set to Prevail Despite Policy Failures

The following article is one of three to emerge from " Dateline Egypt and North Africa: Updates from the Field," a Policy Forum hosted by The Washington Institute on March 5. The other two are Aaron Zelin's op-ed " Tunisia's Post-Revolution Blues" and David Pollock's PolicyWatch " Rule the Casbah

Mar 19, 2013

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Eric Trager

In-Depth Reports

Obama II and the Middle East

Strategic Objectives for U.S. Policy

THE MIDDLE EAST has been home to incessant turmoil and instability since the end of World War II, yet as President Obama enters his second term, he faces a spectrum of threats in this region unparalleled in modern history. Iran's nuclear program rapidly approaches the threshold to breakout capability, perhaps

Mar 19, 2013

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Dennis Ross
James Jeffrey

Brief Analysis

Iran's Politicians Focus on 2013 Presidential Elections, not Nuclear Issue

The growing political struggle over the 2013 presidential elections in Iran may substantially divert the attention of the Islamic regime from external issues and hamper the progress of nuclear talks.

Mar 18, 2013

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Nikolay Kozhanov

Articles & Testimony

Turkey's Kurdish-Language Policy: Learning from Europe

To get back on the road toward peace, democratization, and perhaps even EU membership, Turkey's leaders will need to forge ahead on language reforms aimed at recognizing the country's ethnic minorities.

Mar 18, 2013

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Soner Cagaptay
Tyler Evans

Brief Analysis

Rule the Casbah: The Moroccan Monarchy's Delicate Balancing Act

Morocco has found a formula for stability through gradual reform, with the king firmly in control behind the scenes, and this deserves strong U.S. support

Mar 18, 2013

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David Pollock

Articles & Testimony

Is Morocco a Model or a Mirage?

Neither of these two polar-opposite views, model or mirage, does justice to Morocco's uniquely mixed picture or prospects.

Mar 15, 2013

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David Pollock

Brief Analysis

Bahrain's Royal Politics and the U.S. Navy Base

Bahrain's appointment of the reconciliation-minded crown prince as first deputy prime minister is a sign of progress, despite the potential for opposition from royal hardliners and overreaction in Washington.

Mar 12, 2013

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Simon Henderson

Video

Brief Analysis

Field Reports on Syria and the Opposition

Sign up for live event broadcast alerts from The Washington Institute On March 7, 2013, Andrew J. Tabler, Jeffrey White, and Simon Henderson addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute to discuss their recent trips to Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Israel, and the Persian Gulf. Mr. Tabler is a senior

Mar 12, 2013

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Andrew J. Tabler
Jeffrey White
Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Meeting Tunisia's Ansar al-Sharia

An expert on jihadist groups travels to Tunisia to see how one key faction is using a potent social-welfare approach to win hearts and minds.

Mar 8, 2013

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Aaron Y. Zelin

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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