Can the Iraqi Prime Minister implement his pledges?
After more than a year of political stalemate, the Iraqi government headed by Mohammad Shiaa al-Sudani was formed, and his selections for ministerial positions were passed without much Parliamentary obstruction. […]
Lebanon Falls Short on Refugee Returns
Following months of public statements in support of their supposed refugee return plan, Lebanese officials have begun sending Syrian refugees to neighbouring Syria. This effort falls against the backdrop of […]
Can the West circumvent the Iranian regime’s ultimate monopoly of the internet?
The ongoing civil protests[i] taking place across Iran in response to the killing of Gina (Mahsa) Amini, which have been taking place since 13 September, have been accompanied by the […]
The Lebanon-Israel maritime deal: A masterstroke from Hezbollah?
Hezbollah’s approach to Lebanon’s historic maritime deal with Israel is canny because it can be interpreted in two ways. As the Lebanese government rubs its hands in anticipation of potential lucrative hydrocarbon […]
Netanyahu’s return throws future of Israel-Gulf ties into question
Published in the Jerusalem Post
How the Middle East Thinks About Great Power Competition
Published in the National Interest
Muqtada’s Retirement from Iraqi Politics Shows the Power of the Maraji
On 29 August 2022, Muqtada Al-Sadr, Iraq’s Shi’ite-nationalist leader, announced his permanent retirement from Iraqi politics. One of the major factors that led to this announcement was the decision by […]
Lebanon’s New Lawmakers and the Potential of Parliamentary Friendship Groups
In May 2022, Lebanon held parliamentary elections with a turnout of 49.2 per cent, including the votes of Lebanese expatriates living abroad[i]—a 0.5 per cent drop since 2018. Yet the […]
Regime Legitimation in Syria: How the West Is Falling for Bashar al-Assad’s Propaganda
“Assad or no one”; “Assad or we burn the country.” This slogan, first uttered by militiamen at the onset of the Syrian Civil War, reflects Bashar al-Assad’s relation to power: […]
Bahrain: Tribalism, Sectarianism, and the Challenges of the 21st Century
More than any other Arab Gulf state, Bahrain reflects the contradictions and conflicts of its past—an ossified British colonial political structure without the British. Al Khalifah rule is a byproduct […]