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The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfConflicts and Conflict ResolutionChild Soldiers in Yemen: One Element of a Humanitarian Disaster
Jul 8, 2019Annelise AdrianACW intern Annelise Adrian reports on the use of child soldiers in the Yemen war by both the Saudi-led coalition and the Houthi rebel group. This is one of the…
- Policy Analysis
EgyptRegional Relations and GeopoliticsSaudi-Emirati-Egyptian Alliance Steering US Middle East Policy
Jun 26, 2019Charles W. DunneWith the American retreat from the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Egypt are presenting themselves as reliable allies. However, they are pursuing an ag…
- Policy Analysis
IranSecurity and DefenseIran: How Trump is Emboldening the Hawks and Hardliners
Jun 25, 2019Imad K. HarbUS hawks, their Gulf allies and Israel will see Trump's preference for avoiding military confrontation as capitulation.
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaConflicts and Conflict ResolutionThe Mecca Summits: Spinning the Wheels on Iran
Jun 11, 2019Imad K. HarbBy devoting its three Mecca summit meetings to vilifying and criticizing Iran, Saudi Arabia missed a good opportunity to address the many problems facing the G…
- Policy Analysis
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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…
- 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 …
- 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…
- 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
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 Analysis
LevantConflicts and Conflict ResolutionDeteriorating Circumstances in Syria and Yemen Overshadow US Tactical Success
Jan 16, 2019Charles W. DunneChanging circumstances in Syria and Yemen and Washington’s shifting strategies have exposed the Trump Administration’s claims of success as threadbare.
- Policy Analysis
IraqSecurity and DefenseThe United States and the Turkish-Kurdish Conundrum in Northern Syria
Jan 11, 2019Mustafa GurbuzFuture US-Turkey relations depend on Ankara’s demands in northern Syria regarding the Kurds and how its relationship with Moscow develops.
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaJustice, Equality, and Human RightsThe Khashoggi Murder and US Middle East Strategy in 2019
Jan 10, 2019Joe MacaronThe Khashoggi affair and Trump’s hasty withdrawal from Syria are expected to cast a cloud over Washington’s Middle East strategy in 2019.
- Viewpoint
IraqInternational LawTrump’s Visit Violated Iraq’s Sovereignty
Jan 8, 2019Abdulwahab Al-QassabWhile many in Iraq considered Trump’s visit a violation of sovereignty, there is no plan for changing the ongoing security relationship with the United States …
- Viewpoint
Saudi ArabiaDemocracy and GovernanceThe Saudi Shake-Up to Consolidate One-Man Rule
Jan 2, 2019Imad K. HarbKing Salman’s cabinet reshuffle was to divert attention away from MbS’s responsibility for the killing of Jamal Khashoggi; but it will likely not succeed.
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfUS Foreign PolicyNo American Traction on Resolving the GCC Crisis
Dec 27, 2018Charles W. DunneTo maintain or reassert its leadership role in the Gulf region, the United States must effectively and forcefully address the reasons behind the start of the G…
- Policy Analysis
IranIdentity Politics and SectarianizationIran’s Hardliners and Reformists and the Syria Gambit
Dec 27, 2018Daniel BrumbergIranian hardliners have tried to isolate reformists by asserting that in times of growing security threats, all political forces must unite behind the drive fo…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaDemocracy and GovernanceThe Aftermath of the Khashoggi Murder: Freedom of the Press in 2018
Dec 21, 2018Tamara KharroubThe rise of populism and anti-globalism has contributed to erosion of the international rights system, with governments moving away from accountability and tra…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaUS Foreign PolicyMohammed Bin Salman and the “Deal of the Century”
Dec 17, 2018Yousef MunayyerMbS has proven that he is the wrong man for the job of marketing Trump’s deal. If Trump goes ahead with his peace plan with MbS as his salesman, expectations o…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaUS Foreign PolicyUS Senate Votes to Pressure Saudi Arabia
Dec 14, 2018Marcus MontgomeryCorker's resolution to cut off American assistance to the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen is a rebuke to President Trump and the administration.
- Viewpoint
QatarEnergy and EconomicsQatar Withdraws from OPEC: Business, Politics, or Both?
Dec 6, 2018Khalil E. JahshanIt strains credulity to believe that Qatar’s decision to withdraw from OPEC was taken in total isolation from the regional conflict and tensions with neighbors.
- Policy Analysis
QatarThe GCCThe GCC Is Meeting Again: What to Expect?
Dec 3, 2018Kristian Coates UlrichsenRegardless of what happens at the GCC summit on December 9, the likelihood is that the council as it functioned up until 2017 is not coming back anytime soon, …
- Policy Analysis
IranConflicts and Conflict ResolutionUS Economic Warfare and Iran’s Politics of Muddling Through
Nov 30, 2018Daniel BrumbergIf the Trump Administration and its Middle East allies are counting on capitulation by Iran’s leaders, they are likely to be disappointed in knowing that these…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaInternational LawMohammed bin Salman Tries to Polish His Image at the G20
Nov 29, 2018Imad K. HarbLooking at what has transpired since Khashoggi’s death, MbS’s participation in the G20 is unlikely to help him polish his image or restore his reputation.
- Viewpoint
Saudi ArabiaJustice, Equality, and Human RightsPompeo and Mattis Strongly Support Saudi Arabia in the US Senate
Nov 28, 2018Marcus MontgomeryThe Trump Administration likely dealt itself a blow when it sent Secretaries Pompeo and Mattis to the Senate but prevented Haspel from testifying as well.
- Viewpoint
Saudi ArabiaUS Foreign PolicyTrump’s Extraordinary Statement on Saudi Arabia
Nov 21, 2018Khalil E. JahshanAmerican national interests would have been better served by withholding such futile statements of denial and disclaimer until Saudi, Turkish, and US investiga…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaUS Foreign PolicyPresident Trump, Congress, and US-Saudi Relations: A Post-Election Assessment
Nov 21, 2018Marcus MontgomeryPresident Trump has made it clear that even if the Saudi crown prince did order the brutal Khashoggi slaying, this should not fundamentally alter US-Saudi rela…
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfJustice, Equality, and Human RightsThe Now-Halted War in Hodeida: Was It a Cover for Khashoggi’s Murder?
Nov 15, 2018Imad K. HarbThe resumption of fighting around Hodeida cannot be separated from the Saudi attempt to deflect the international community’s attention away from its responsib…
- Policy Analysis
SyriaJustice, Equality, and Human RightsThe Developing GCC-Damascus Rapprochement
Nov 15, 2018Joe MacaronA rapprochement between GCC countries and the Syrian regime is becoming more possible and is being reinforced by recent regional developments.
- Viewpoint
IranUS Foreign PolicyAmerican Sanctions on Iran Will Seriously Impact Iraq
Nov 13, 2018Abdulwahab Al-QassabWhile the new set of American sanctions on Iran will undoubtedly have a negative impact on its interactions with the world, the fear is that Iraq will be an un…
- Policy Analysis
Palestine/IsraelConflicts and Conflict ResolutionA Weakened Arab Gulf Should Not Normalize Relations with Israel
Nov 9, 2018Imad K. HarbToday, Israel seems to be closer to officially normalizing its existence in the wider Arab world by aggressively pursuing relations with the monarchies of the …
- Policy Analysis
IranConflicts and Conflict ResolutionA Flawed American Sanctions Policy on Iran
Nov 9, 2018Daniel BrumbergThe capacity of the United States and its regional friends to affect the Middle East’s geostrategic map could diminish further as flaws in the American strateg…
- Viewpoint
YemenConflicts and Conflict ResolutionIs the United States Serious about Ending the Yemen Conflict?
Nov 2, 2018Khalil E. JahshanBipartisan congressional pressure and the Khashoggi murder may have forced the Trump Administration to revise its position on Yemen.
- Policy Analysis
LevantUS Domestic Politics and ElectionsThe 2018 Midterm Elections: What Do They Mean for the Middle East?
Nov 1, 2018Marcus MontgomeryPresident Trump is potentially days away from being handed a divided Congress; a Democratic-led House could challenge Republican orthodoxy over US policy regar…
- Viewpoint
IraqRegional Relations and GeopoliticsRussian Gains Are American Losses in the Arab World
Oct 30, 2018Imad K. HarbPutin’s assessment of a receding American international influence paves the way for an even larger Russian role in the Arab world.
- Viewpoint
Saudi ArabiaJustice, Equality, and Human RightsThe Khashoggi Affair: The Five Stages of Saudi Denial
Oct 27, 2018Khalil E. JahshanComing to terms with the heinous crime and its implications for the kingdom was a slow and painful process reminiscent of the five stages of grief model associ…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaDemocracy and GovernanceThe Global Magnitsky Act and Saudi Arabia
Oct 26, 2018Marcus MontgomeryThe Trump Administration prefers to accept a plausible story about the Khashoggi killing that allows the president to maneuver away from sanctioning Saudi indi…
- Research Paper
EgyptDemocracy and GovernanceRegional States and Egypt’s Democratic Transition
Oct 25, 2018Imad K. HarbQatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates were the most influential external actors in Egypt’s transition to democracy and its reversal after the 2011 …
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaDemocracy and GovernanceHas Saudi Arabia Become a Monarchy of Fear?
Oct 24, 2018Daniel BrumbergWith increasing authoritarian tendencies in the current Arab political order, the Khashoggi killing may point to Saudi Arabia as approaching being a monarchy o…
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaThe GCCThe Khashoggi Affair: Can Congress Force the President’s Hand?
Oct 18, 2018Marcus MontgomeryKhashoggi’s murder prompted many in Congress to speak out forcefully; but for Republicans, a political battle with the president over relations with Riyadh may…
- Policy Analysis
IranIdentity Politics and SectarianizationIraq’s Changing Political Landscape: The Beginning of a New Era?
Oct 17, 2018Abdulwahab Al-QassabElecting a new president and choosing a new prime minister may provide some hope for positive changes in Iraq’s current political conditions.
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaThe GCCThe Khashoggi Affair and the Future of Saudi Arabia
Oct 12, 2018Imad K. HarbJamal Khashoggi’s disappearance has taken on the importance of a serious international incident whose repercussions are likely to remain with the kingdom for a…
- Policy Analysis
LevantInternational LawArab Leaders Return from New York with Little to Show
Oct 4, 2018Joe MacaronRepresentatives of Arab governments delivered their remarks at the United Nations General Assembly last week. A review of the 16 speeches shows that they focus…
- Policy Analysis
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfSecurity and DefenseUS Involvement in Yemen: Changing Course Required as Disaster Worsens
Sep 26, 2018Charles W. DunneWith no end in sight, no exit strategy, and little to show for its involvement so far, the US should revise its strategy soon or face mounting international an…
- Policy Analysis
IraqIdentity Politics and SectarianizationTime to Reboot American-Iraqi Relations
Sep 13, 2018Charles W. DunneAs the conflict in Syria draws to its inevitable bloody close, the United States can't afford to ignore Iraq. In fact, it is time to reboot US-Iraqi relations.
- Policy Analysis
Saudi ArabiaJustice, Equality, and Human RightsSaudi Arabia’s Extrajudicial Arrests: Between Reforms, Modernization, and Human Rights Violations
Aug 31, 2018Tamara KharroubThe White House deals another blow to Palestinians, cutting millions of dollars in aid; Trump Administration officials pan Washington to talk Syria, Yemen, Ira…
- Viewpoint
IraqDemocracy and GovernanceThe Complicated Formation of the Iraqi Government
Aug 30, 2018Abdulwahab Al-QassabIraq’s fourth parliament since the 2003 American invasion will convene in regular session on September 3, amid confusion and speculation about the formation of…
- Policy Analysis
IranConflicts and Conflict ResolutionComplications of the Houthis’ Role in the Red Sea
Aug 23, 2018Abdulwahab Al-QassabThe Houthis’ attack on two Saudi Arabian tankers near the Bab al-Mandab waterway prompts questions about whether they and Iran can disrupt shipping in the Red …
- Viewpoint
The Arabian Peninsula and The GulfConflicts and Conflict ResolutionCongress is Rattled by the US Role in Yemen—But Will It Matter?
Aug 22, 2018Marcus MontgomeryCriticism from Capitol Hill has been largely symbolic because few in the Republican majorities in the House and Senate have opted to challenge the president on…
- Policy Analysis
BahrainRegional Relations and GeopoliticsThe Exclusionary Turn in GCC Politics
Aug 21, 2018Kristian Coates UlrichsenThe emergence of a hyper-hawkish geopolitical axis running from Riyadh to Abu Dhabi has widened existing fractures within the GCC and inflicted potentially lon…
- Policy Analysis
QatarThe GCCCan a GCC Reconciliation Summit at Camp David Succeed?
Aug 14, 2018Gregory AftandilianPresident Trump is planning to host a GCC reconciliation summit in September to shore up Arab support for his Iran policies; but to succeed, he will need to re…
