Skip to main content
TWI logo The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
logo
wordmark
Homepage

Main navigation

  • Analysis
  • Experts
  • About
  • Support
  • Maps & Multimedia
Trending:
  • Democracy & Reform
  • Terrorism
  • Lebanon
  • Iran
  • Israel
  • Syria

Regions & Countries

  • Egypt
  • Gulf States
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Middle East
  • North Africa
  • Palestinians
  • Syria
  • Turkey

Issues

  • Arab & Islamic Politics
  • Arab-Israeli Relations
  • Democracy & Reform
  • Energy & Economics
  • Great Power Competition
  • Gulf & Energy Policy
  • Military & Security
  • Peace Process
  • Proliferation
  • Terrorism
  • U.S. Policy
TWI English
TWI Arabic: اللغة العربية Fikra Forum

Breadcrumb

  • Policy Analysis

Shia Politics

Policy Analysis on Shia Politics

Filter by:

Security forces the Iraqi-Syrian border, after it has been reopened for trade and travel, in Al Qaim, Iraq in 2019 - source: Reuters
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Nujaba Projects Paranoia Over Domestic Security
Nujaba's immediate allergic reaction to regime change in Syria is a bellwether of how vulnerable Coordination Framework militias feel as pro-Iran hierarchies come tumbling down.
Dec 16, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
◆ Militia Spotlight
Nasrallah
Brief Analysis
What Nasrallah’s Death Could Mean for the Hezbollah Network
Iran’s proxy faces steep challenges on the leadership and military fronts, and the international community can now act vigorously to free Lebanon from its grip.
Sep 28, 2024
◆
  • Hanin Ghaddar
Iraqi Parliament
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Iraqi Parliament and Child Marriage: Iraqi Child Rights from One Tight Spot to Another
The new amendment has been met with concerns as it is believed to promote child marriage, raising the stakes of this proposed amendment and its potential implications.
Sep 4, 2024
◆
  • Bashar AlHadla
Rocket truck used to attack US forces at Al-Asad, Iraq, Aug 5, 2024
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
What to Make of Recent Attacks on Coalition Bases in Iraq and Syria?
The strikes are not yet numerous enough to form a definitive pattern, but they probably reflect deep militia divisions over whether to renew anti-coalition attacks in earnest amid the Gaza war.
Aug 5, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
"Holy Shrine Defenders" at Sayyid Zainab Mosque, Damascus
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Iran’s Evolving Strategy in Eastern Syria
The Iranian model of creating and supporting proxy groups is consistent across the “Shia Crescent,” but recently Tehran has begun employing new and troubling tactics that threaten to only expand their influence.
Jul 18, 2024
◆
  • Omar Abu Layla
Iraqi medical students at Basra University
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Injecting New Blood into Militias: The Gradual Takeover of Iraqi Higher Education by the Popular Mobilization Forces
By firmly resisting the takeover of higher education by pro-Iran faculty and students, the United States can prevent the militias from recruiting the next generation of fighters.
Jul 12, 2024
◆
  • Jawad Mahdi
Moqtada Sadr in Tehran, 2019
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Sadr’s Rebranded Political Movement: The Old, the New, and a Reality Check
Given the complicated baggage that Sadr brings into Iraq’s political game, his re-entry into formal politics after a years-long hiatus will likely destabilize the internal Shia political landscape.
Jun 24, 2024
◆
  • Mohammed Salih
Iraq Council of Representatives
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Eid al-Ghadir: A Renewed Debate for Iraq's Shia Politicians
Muqtada al-Sadr’s recent attempt to designate Eid al-Ghadir a national holiday has sparked fierce debates and threatens to further destabilize the Iraqi political system in the coming months.
Jun 12, 2024
◆
  • Waqas al-Kadi
Secretary of State Blinken meets Iraqi PM Sudani
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Navigating the US-Iraq Relationship: Toward Stability and Cooperation
Both sides have a role to play in developing an U.S.-Iraq relationship built on Sudani’s vision of "sustainable cooperation" and in addressing the actors that can limit this potential.
Apr 29, 2024
◆
  • Khairuldeen Makhzoomi
  • Minatullah Alobaidi
PMF soldiers on tank
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Avoiding Iranian-Backed Iraqi Militias’ Political Takeover in the Shadow of a U.S. Withdrawal
Washington and allies should find ways to increase the cost to Iraqi politicians of normalizing the militias’ role and the subordination of the Iraqi state to Tehran’s rulers.
Apr 3, 2024
◆
  • Omar Al-Nidawi
Ballot box in Iraq
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Between Power Sharing and Power Consolidation: The Impact of Iraq’s Provincial Elections Results
The Coalition Framework’s overall electoral successes in Iraq’s provincial elections is playing out in governor appointment decisions across much of the country, including in Baghdad and Basra. The ongoing competition in Kirkuk, however, highlights just how complicated power-sharing dynamics can become.
Mar 7, 2024
◆
  • Shimaa Ali
Israeli flag, Hezbollah flag, implied Lebanon border
Maps & Graphics
In-Depth Reports
Reinforcing U.S. Diplomacy to Stop a Hezbollah-Israel War
Only a comprehensive initiative aimed at curbing Hezbollah’s influence both within Lebanon and in the region stands a chance of delivering peace for the long term.
Feb 8, 2024
◆
  • Hanin Ghaddar
PM Sudani
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
What the U.S. Should Demand in a Dialogue with Iraqi PM Sudani
With regard to Sudani’s visit to America, we need to see what the Iraqi PM can achieve before confirming this important invitation. Sudani can be a real prime minister of a real sovereign state if he wants to be, but that will require taking risk.
Feb 1, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
Brief Analysis
A Hamas Leader Dies in Beirut
Saleh al-Arouri served as a major operative for the group over decades, and his loss will pose challenges for Hamas and Hezbollah alike.
Jan 2, 2024
◆
  • Hanin Ghaddar
  • Matthew Levitt
Iraqi politicians Muqtada al-Sadr, Mohammed al-Halbousi, Bafel Talabani, and Masrour Barzani.
Maps & Graphics
In-Depth Reports
Family Rule in Iraq and the Challenge to State and Democracy
A handful of personalities have consumed all the country’s political oxygen, dashing hopes for a truly pluralistic ecosystem and requiring creative engagement from U.S. officials.
Dec 19, 2023
◆
  • Sardar Aziz
  • Bilal Wahab
Government in Kirkuk, Iraq
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Iraq’s Disputed Territories and the Potential Impact of the Upcoming Provincial Elections
These elections will directly affect the future of the disputed territories, and political parties must be careful to avoid deepening sectarian divides, both in this case and in future elections.
Dec 12, 2023
◆
  • Hiwa Abdullah Hussein
Houthis parade through Sanaa to mark anniversary of coup, September 2023
Maps & Graphics
In-Depth Reports
An Heir and a Spare?
How Yemen’s “Southern Hezbollah” Could Change Iran’s Deterrent Calculus
Houthi militant activity during the Hamas-Israel war should challenge the perception that the group has a mere “marriage of convenience” with Tehran.
Dec 12, 2023
◆
  • Michael Knights
Kurdistan Flag
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
Tracking Iranian Soft Power Influence in the KRI
The Islamic Republic of Iran over several years has gained a significant foothold in Iraq, spreading its influence and agenda throughout Iraqi daily life.
Aug 11, 2023
◆
  • Nawras Jaff
Fikra Forum
Fikra Forum
New Poll Shows Lebanese Frustrations with Government, Iran, and Other Powers
New polling results from Lebanon emphasize ways in which the country’s public is frustrated domestically and at key Hezbollah ally Iran, while expressing mixed views of other powers.
Jun 22, 2023
◆
  • Catherine Cleveland
Banque du Liban, BDL commissioner Riyad Salameh, Hezbollah symbol, ATM machine
Maps & Graphics
In-Depth Reports
Cash Cabal:
How Hezbollah Profits from Lebanon's Financial Crisis
The Lebanese economy requires an urgent overhaul, and the international community must press for deep reforms.
Jun 22, 2023
◆
  • Samara Azzi
  • Hanin Ghaddar

Pagination

  • Current page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Page 4
  • Last page Last »
  • Next page Next ›

Sign Up for Email Updates from The Washington Institute

Never miss a breaking event on U.S. policy interests in the Middle East. Customize your subscription to our expert analysis, op-eds, live events, and special reports.

Sign up

Background image with TWI branding
logo
wordmark
Homepage

1111 19th Street NW - Suite 500
Washington D.C. 20036
Tel: 202-452-0650
Fax: 202-223-5364

Footer contact links

  • Contact
  • Press Room
  • Subscribe

The Washington Institute seeks to advance a balanced and realistic understanding of American interests in the Middle East and to promote the policies that secure them.

The Institute is a 501(c)3 organization; all donations are tax-deductible.

Footer quick links

  • About TWI
  • Support the Institute
  • Alumni

Social media

  • The Washington Institute on Facebook facebook
  • The Washington Institute on X x
  • The Washington Institute on YouTube youtube
  • The Washington Institute on LinkedIn linkedin

© 2025 All rights reserved.

Footer

  • Employment
  • Privacy Policy
  • Rights & Permissions