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IranIdentity Politics and SectarianizationIraq’s Militias and the US-Iran Impasse
Jun 6, 2019Abdulwahab Al-QassabThe Iraqi government has a difficult time managing its mutual relations with Iran and the United States because of the influence of Iran-supported militias in …
- Policy Analysis
IranInternational LawOn the Lebanese-Israeli Border, US and Iran Are Negotiating
Jun 5, 2019Joe MacaronA breakthrough in Beirut is helping American mediation in the land and maritime border dispute between Lebanon and Israel, but many obstacles still prevent a q…
- Policy Analysis
LevantJustice, Equality, and Human RightsIdlib between Regional and International Imbalances
Jun 5, 2019Radwan ZiadehRadwan Ziadeh writes that the Trump Administration must look at Syria as more than merely a humanitarian crisis and help in reaching a political transition to …
- Policy Analysis
Identity Politics 2.0: Cyber Geopolitics and the Weaponization of Social Media
Jun 1, 2019Tamara KharroubThis paper is part of ACW's fourth book, titled The Arab World Beyond Conflict.In the months leading up to the attacks against the Rohingya Muslim minority in …
- Policy Analysis
Middle East Sectarianism: A Symptom to a Cause
Jun 1, 2019Marwan J. KabalanThis paper is part of ACW's fourth book, titled The Arab World Beyond Conflict.Sectarianism and sectarian conflict in the Middle East are often presented as ce…
- Policy Analysis
The Dilemma of “Normalization”: Can Islamists Participate without Polarizing Politics?
Jun 1, 2019Shadi HamidThis paper is part of ACW's fourth book, titled The Arab World Beyond Conflict.The dislike, or even hatred, of mainstream Islamist parties1 is assumed to lead …
- Policy Analysis
Identity and Inclusion: Rethinking Citizenship in Arab Societies
Jun 1, 2019Linda Bishai Elly RostoumLinda Bishai and Elly Rostoum decry exclusivist identity politics in the Arab world and propose this remedy: a transition to democratic practices that respect …
- Policy Analysis
A Collaborative Regional Reconstruction Strategy in the Arab World
Jun 1, 2019Sultan BarakatArab states can no longer pretend that poor economic, social, and environmental conditions and other consequential challenges affect only some of them and not …
- Policy Analysis
Time, Transition, and Justice in Arab States
Jun 1, 2019Noha AboueldahabThis paper is part of ACW's fourth book, titled The Arab World Beyond Conflict.What does it mean to pursue criminal accountability in the context of resurgent …
- Policy Analysis
AlgeriaDemocracy and GovernanceThe Legacy of the Pillared Arab State
Jun 1, 2019Daniel BrumbergThis paper is part of ACW's fourth book, titled The Arab World Beyond Conflict.IntroductionAmong other things, politics provides a means of managing conflicts.…
- Policy Analysis
Chronic Insecurity in the Middle East: Causes and Consequences
Jun 1, 2019Mehran KamravaThis paper is part of ACW's fourth book, titled The Arab World Beyond Conflict.Even before the discovery of oil in southwestern Iran at the start of the 20th c…
- Policy Analysis
Government Survival Strategies in the Middle East
Jun 1, 2019Sarah Leah WhitsonThis paper is part of ACW's fourth book, titled The Arab World Beyond Conflict.Regional and global geopolitics, intrigues, and rivalries often attract the most…
- Policy Analysis
The Path to Ending Conflicts: Prospects and Hindrances
Jun 1, 2019Amatalalim AlsoswaThese remarks are the edited transcript of the keynote address Dr. Alsoswa delivered at Arab Center Washington DC’s annual conference on September 20, 2018, “T…
- Policy Analysis
BahrainMigrants, Refugees, and IDPsThe Kushner Bahrain Ordeal: Why Are the Palestinians Boycotting?
May 31, 2019Khalil E. JahshanThe proposed US “Peace to Prosperity” workshop in Bahrain is destined to fail because it ignores Palestinian participation and avoids linking economic prosperi…
- Policy Analysis
LevantJustice, Equality, and Human RightsInsult of the Century: Assessing the Trump Administration’s Peace Plan
May 30, 2019Yousef MunayyerThe Trump Administration’s Palestinian-Israeli peace deal, leaked to the press, and the upcoming Bahrain meeting represent an insult to the Palestinians and ar…
- Policy Analysis
IranThe GCCArab Leaders Trying to Decipher US Iran Policy
May 30, 2019Daniel BrumbergThe Trump Administration’s contradictory statements and signals about its approach to Iran are increasing the confusion for GCC states and Iraq as tensions mou…
- Policy Analysis
IranThe GCC“Maximum Pressure” on Iran Stresses US-Iraq Ties
May 29, 2019Charles W. DunneThe US policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran intensifies pressure on the US-Iraq relationship, too. Baghdad is eager to step out of the fray, and Washington nee…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaSecurity and DefenseHow a Legal Loophole is Helping Trump Sell Arms to Saudi Arabia
May 28, 2019Marcus MontgomeryPresident Trump is using tensions with Iran to bypass Congress and push through weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates
- Policy Analysis
JordanConflicts and Conflict ResolutionFacing Pressure at Home and Abroad, Jordan’s King Shifts Strategy
May 23, 2019Joe MacaronThe Trump Administration’s anticipated Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative is pushing Jordan’s King Abdullah to realign interests with his country’s Muslim Br…
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfJustice, Equality, and Human RightsIs Partition Becoming a Reality in Yemen?
May 22, 2019Imad K. HarbIf Yemen’s southern secessionists succeed in establishing a UAE-controlled rump state, Saudi Arabia will have to contend with either continuing the conflict in…
- Policy Analysis
IranUS Domestic Politics and ElectionsA US-Iranian Clash Presents Dangers and Opportunities for Russia
May 10, 2019Daniel BrumbergRussia stands to benefit from the current standoff between the United States and Iran because President Putin has built good relations with all parties, which …
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionSyria for Sale: The Price of Assad’s Survival
May 10, 2019Radwan ZiadehRussia’s so-called investments in vital Syrian installations like the Tartous port and in strategic assets such as oil and gas illustrate that the country is b…
- Policy Analysis
LevantUS Domestic Politics and ElectionsThe First Amendment Blocks Anti-BDS Legislation in the United States
May 8, 2019Yousef MunayyerDevelopments over the last several months have shown a shift in the battle over the right to boycott Israel in the United States, with the First Amendment pres…
- Policy Analysis
Democracy and GovernanceTrump versus Biden: US Politics and the Middle East
May 7, 2019Joe MacaronA Trump-Biden contest in the 2020 presidential elections would likely be a battle between two opposing views of America and its foreign policy in the Middle Ea…
- Policy Analysis
EgyptConflicts and Conflict ResolutionWorrisome Competition in the Red Sea Subsystem
May 1, 2019Abdulwahab Al-QassabThe Red Sea subsystem involves many capable regional and international actors with competing agendas that, if not reconciled, could increase tensions and lead …
- Policy Analysis
EgyptDemocracy and GovernanceEgypt’s New Constitutional Amendments: Moving toward Totalitarianism
Apr 30, 2019Charles W. DunneEgypt's new constitutional amendments, passed overwhelmingly in a national referendum, drive the country further along the road to totalitarianism. In reality,…
- Policy Analysis
The Horn of AfricaDemocracy and GovernanceSudan’s Long Walk to Freedom: Will the Military Council Cede Power to Civilians?
Apr 26, 2019Abdelkhalig ShaibSudan’s Transitional Military Council and the opposition may have unintentionally entered into a power struggle and lost sight of the fact that they should hav…
- Viewpoint
LevantArab Americans/ Muslim AmericansWhat the Ilhan Omar controversies reveal about US politics
Apr 26, 2019Tamara KharroubThe attacks against Omar are part of a larger project to silence voices that advocate for Palestinian rights.
- Policy Analysis
JordanConflicts and Conflict ResolutionWill Israel’s New Government Annex the West Bank?
Apr 24, 2019Yousef MunayyerWith growing domestic support and unquestioning backing from the Trump White House, Israeli leaders may decide that there is a rare opportunity to annex at lea…
- Policy Analysis
LibyaReligion and PoliticsHaftar’s Attempted Coup and Trump’s Collusion over Libya
Apr 23, 2019Imad K. HarbIt is doubtful that Haftar’s campaign against Tripoli will end Libya’s chaos; indeed, it is likely to exacerbate and extend the country’s civil war and increas…
- Policy Analysis
AlgeriaDemocracy and GovernanceNegotiating a Path Forward in Algeria
Apr 17, 2019Daniel BrumbergIn Algeria, as in Egypt, the single biggest obstacle to advancing a democratic transition is the military. The opposition has some hard choices—none are good, …
- Viewpoint
SudanDemocracy and GovernanceThe Military in Sudan Is Not the Savior
Apr 11, 2019Imad K. HarbBashir’s departure is not enough to save Sudan from the dismal record of failures over which he presided. His military chiefs and party stalwarts must also dep…
- Policy Analysis
Democracy and GovernanceThe Post-Mattis US Administration and the Rise of Trumpism
Apr 9, 2019Joe MacaronFollowing the resignation of former Defense Secretary James Mattis, conservatives in the Trump Administration are consolidating and applying their far-reaching…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaMigrants, Refugees, and IDPsAs Congress Scrutinizes Yemen, Spotlight Shines on Saudi Arabia and Its Partners
Apr 9, 2019Charles W. DunneCongress's vote to end US support for the war in Yemen reflects growing anger at Saudi Arabia. That anger is also extending to two of the kingdom’s closest all…
- Policy Analysis
LevantDemocracy and GovernanceTurkey after the Heated Municipal Elections: Key Takeaways
Apr 8, 2019Mustafa GurbuzThe results of the municipal elections in Turkey have surprised many including the ruling AKP, which called them a “coup” and demanded a recount in Istanbul an…
- Policy Analysis
IranIdentity Politics and SectarianizationIraq Torn between Iran, the United States, and the Islamic State
Apr 3, 2019Abdulwahab Al-QassabSince the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, Iran has implemented policies to ensure its regional influence and control of Iraqi affairs. Recent American isolationi…
- Policy Analysis
LevantJustice, Equality, and Human RightsThe Policy of No Return: The Case of Syrian Refugees
Apr 2, 2019Radwan ZiadehThe third annual conference to support Syrian refugees concluded in Brussels with $7 billion pledged but without political commitments, exposing shortcomings a…
- Policy Analysis
LebanonDemocracy and GovernanceThe Trickiness of Syria’s Return to the Arab League
Mar 29, 2019Imad K. HarbIt is important for Arab states to continue to withhold Syria’s membership until Damascus agrees to a political process that leads to a transition from Assad’s…
- Policy Analysis
North AfricaConflicts and Conflict ResolutionTunisia’s Fragmented and Polarized Political Landscape
Mar 28, 2019Daniel BrumbergIn the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in November 2019, if Tunisia’s politicians continue to battle under the umbrella of a largely feigned …
- Policy Analysis
LevantDemocracy and GovernanceAmerican Campaigning Elevates Netanyahu’s Election Chances to New Heights
Mar 26, 2019Yousef MunayyerA historical look at shifting US policy positions demonstrates the significance of recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory. The warm embrace and cam…
- Viewpoint
LevantInternational LawTrump and the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights
Mar 25, 2019Radwan ZiadehTrump’s presidential proclamation officially recognizing the Golan Heights as Israeli territory will have serious implications for international law, US role i…
- Policy Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe New Shtayyeh Government in Palestine: Challenges and Prospects
Mar 20, 2019Khalil E. JahshanThe newly designated Palestinian prime minister faces difficult challenges in forming an inclusive government at a time of serious divisions in Palestinian ran…
- Policy Analysis
LibyaDemocracy and GovernanceCorrecting Libya’s Imbalance
Mar 19, 2019Imad K. HarbThe international community must help Libya avoid renewed authoritarianism and political and military chaos by supporting UN efforts to hold elections and help…
- Policy Analysis
IranConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Mutually Connected Fronts between Israel and Iran
Mar 18, 2019Joe MacaronAlthough a direct confrontation between Israel and Iran is improbable at this time, the two countries share three potential war fronts in Lebanon, Syria, and t…
- Viewpoint
LevantInternational LawDo Not Recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Occupied Golan
Mar 15, 2019Imad K. HarbBy agreeing to Israel’s annexation of the Golan Heights, the Trump Administration would be dealing a serious blow to its global influence––let alone its moral …
- Policy Analysis
EgyptSecurity and DefenseThe US-Egypt Political-Military Relationship: A Critical Assessment
Mar 13, 2019Charles W. DunneOnce a pillar of American regional planning in the Middle East, Egypt’s relationship with the United States is likely to be reevaluated by the new House of Rep…
- Policy Analysis
IranIdentity Politics and SectarianizationZarif Throws Down the Gauntlet Carefully
Mar 12, 2019Daniel BrumbergBy threatening to resign, Zarif made it clear that he would continue his international engagement efforts and, in so doing, defend the place and legitimacy of …
- Viewpoint
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionIt May Be Time to Go Beyond Zionism
Mar 8, 2019Laurie KingIt is necessary to distinguish between hatred of Jews and valid and overdue criticism of Israel’s violations of international humanitarian law.
- Viewpoint
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionBankrolling Kushner’s Mideast Plan
Mar 7, 2019Khalil E. JahshanThe Palestinians have no option but to reject the Trump Administration’s peace plan because of its failure to publicly and explicitly guarantee Palestinian sta…
- Policy Analysis
LevantUS Domestic Politics and ElectionsCan the 2020 Democratic Candidates Change the US-Israel Relationship?
Mar 6, 2019Yousef MunayyerDemocratic presidential contenders have a difficult task reconciling their party’s traditional pro-Israel position with that of young and progressive activists…
- Policy Analysis
LebanonDemocracy and GovernanceSyria’s Demographic Changes Buttress Assad’s Authoritarianism
Mar 1, 2019Radwan ZiadehThe Syrian regime violated international prohibitions on the conduct of war by forcing millions of people to flee their homes in order to spur demographic chan…
- Viewpoint
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Trump Administration Is Buying Time in Syria
Feb 26, 2019Joe MacaronIt is no secret that Trump does not see any financial or strategic value in keeping US forces in Syria; however, his policy there has been like an aimless roll…
- Policy Analysis
IranIdentity Politics and SectarianizationThe Iranian Revolution at 40: The Politics of Supreme Leader Succession
Feb 26, 2019Daniel BrumbergAs Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei advances in age, he must be careful about how his actions domestically and internationally will affect the inevitable succession…
- Policy Analysis
Democracy and GovernanceHow Principled Is US Realism in the Middle East?
Feb 22, 2019Charles W. DunneUS authority, credibility, and interests in the Middle East are paying the price for the administration's confusion and abandonment of principles in its foreig…
- Viewpoint
US Foreign PolicyThe Trump Administration Repeats Its Follies in Warsaw
Feb 15, 2019Imad K. HarbThe Warsaw conference was another example of Trump’s failed foreign policy, one that runs away from past mistakes by creating others that lead to further disap…
- Viewpoint
Saudi ArabiaInternational LawThe Khashoggi Affair: Saudi Denial 2.0
Feb 14, 2019Khalil E. JahshanSaudi Arabia continues to deny its leadership’s responsibility for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi, despite all the evidence that has emerged since his assassin…
- Policy Analysis
IraqConflicts and Conflict ResolutionIran Should Worry about New Iraq-Jordan Relations
Feb 13, 2019Abdulwahab Al-QassabThe recent economic agreement between Iraq and Jordan sends signals to Iran that Iraq may find Arab alternatives to its relations with the Islamic Republic.
- Policy Analysis
LebanonIdentity Politics and SectarianizationLebanon’s New Government: No Need for Washington to Panic
Feb 6, 2019Joe MacaronLebanon’s new cabinet is not that different from the previous one. An American overreaction to Hezbollah’s role in it is likely to strengthen the party’s hold.
- Viewpoint
EgyptDemocracy and GovernanceA Pharaoh in the Making: Sisi Seeks Long-term Job Security
Feb 5, 2019Imad K. HarbMany Arab presidents have loved the chair and have worked hard to make it more like a throne. One wonders if Sisi would be audacious enough to just declare him…
- Policy Analysis
Energy and EconomicsTrump’s Doomed Quest for a Middle East Strategic Alliance
Feb 5, 2019Daniel BrumbergTrump's Middle East Strategic Alliance is doomed because not all states there agree that Iran poses the biggest threat. A larger obstacle is the president's re…
- Policy Analysis
JordanDemocracy and GovernanceHow Netanyahu’s Dominance of Israeli Politics Has Shaped the Field
Feb 5, 2019Yousef MunayyerWhatever Netanyahu's fortunes in the coming elections, his brand of politics has already conquered Israel's political landscape, which is unlikely to change an…
- Viewpoint
LevantDemocracy and GovernanceThe Tragic Governance Crisis in Palestine
Feb 1, 2019Khalil E. JahshanFatah and Hamas are underestimating the damage of their split on Palestinians and their strategic objectives to end Israel’s occupation and establish an indepe…
- Policy Analysis
LevantUS Foreign PolicyThe Arab World in the 115th Congress: A Review
Jan 30, 2019Marcus MontgomeryThe 115th Congress was largely deferential to President Trump on policies related to the Arab world, but the 116th is likely to challenge him on important issu…
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfDemocracy and GovernanceHow the Private Sector Supports Authoritarians in the Arab World
Jan 30, 2019Charles W. DunneThe private sector in the United States and around the world has a responsibility to confront authoritarian regimes and help protect human rights and the rule …
- Policy AnalysisSudanJustice, Equality, and Human Rights
“We are all Darfur!” – Sudan’s Unity Protests Stand a Real Chance. Time for the West to Step Up
Jan 29, 2019Linda Bishai Azaz ElshamiA series of student-led protests in Sudan that started in the provinces has quietly grown into a bona fide movement.
- Policy Analysis
LebanonEnergy and EconomicsThe Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum Reinforces Current Regional Dynamics
Jan 25, 2019Joe MacaronThe recently announced Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum is not likely to aid cooperation or economic integration because the policies of its member states mirro…
- Policy Analysis
LevantDemocracy and Governance‘Does Israel Have a Right To Exist’ Is a Trick Question
Jan 22, 2019Yousef MunayyerCriticizing Israel’s policies toward the Palestinian people should never be conflated with eliminationism.
- Viewpoint
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Manbij Attack Exposes the Vulnerabilities of US Policy in Syria
Jan 17, 2019Joe MacaronThe US withdrawal from Syria may encourage Turkey and Russia to fill the vacuum, but IS’s Manbij attack may persuade Trump to stay a bit longer there.
- Policy Analysis
JordanJustice, Equality, and Human RightsA Shift Begins on Israel/Palestine in the 116th Congress
Jan 17, 2019Yousef MunayyerA shift in public opinion and a clash between the older establishment and the young activists in the Democratic Party will change how the 116th Congress looks …
- Policy Analysis
LebanonDemocracy and GovernanceThe Arab Rehabilitation of the Assad Regime
Jan 16, 2019Radwan ZiadehAssad will be able to regain his political legitimacy after winning his battle militarily only if he rehabilitates his regime’s standing in the Arab world.
