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 […]
Saudi Arabia is the Gulf’s Status Quo Power
Saudi Arabia has been an anchor of stability and growth in the Gulf and beyond. There are at least three reasons for this. First, as the largest economy in the […]
The UAE and Qatar’s Thawing Relationship
In recent years, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been on a diplomatic spree, re-normalising relations with a host of countries in the region, including Syria, Iran and Turkey, as […]
Iraq’s Diplomatic Mediations: Strong on Symbolism but Short on Substance
Over the last two years, Iraq has been overwhelmed with protests, internal instability, US-Iran confrontation on Iraqi soil, political stalemate, and intra-Shia power rivalries. However, against all odds, Iraq has […]
Charting a New Direction: Turkey and Israel Normalise Ties
On 17 August 2022, Turkey and Israel announced that they would restore diplomatic ties and appoint ambassadors. Signs that the tide was turning were apparent with Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s […]
Is the Anti-Assad Camp Stuck in a Prisoner’s Dilemma?
Recent events surrounding the Syrian war are impacting diplomatic and political processes designed to end it, including Turkish calls for reconciliation talks with the Syrian government. This is a result […]