Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Turkey’s military engagement in Syria could lead the PKK to reorient its focus back toward Turkey, where increased repression has left Kurdish activists fewer nonviolent alternatives for opposition.
Losing control of his campaign narratives, Iraq’s incumbent prime minister is facing questions about his credentials on nationalism, security, and public services.
Jordan has managed to reduce budgetary deficits for 2018, but rising operational costs and stagnant sources of revenue will keep it reliant on foreign aid.
Growing cooperation between Egypt and Israel will have direct implications on Cairo’s ability to play its traditional role as a mediator in the Palestinian peace process.
Syrians’ efforts to survive aerial bombardment in Eastern Ghouta have left them more vulnerable to chemical attacks.
The lack of elite support for nonviolent protests in Palestine means the model of local resistance will remain marginalized.
Under increasing financial pressure, states hosting Syrian refugees are pressuring them to return whether conditions in Syria are safe or not.
After several early stumbles in his campaign, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will likely end up with a narrow plurality in a highly fragmented field.
Turkey’s military incursion into Kurdish-controlled northern Syria risks straining diplomatic ties and exposing Turkey to increased terror threats.
Under strain from protracted conflict, displacement, and a budgetary crisis, Iraq’s health system is struggling to care for the physically disabled.
Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has significant implications for Palestinian politics and the peace process.
Jordan is making a concerted effort to address unemployment by restricting foreign labor and promising increased vocational training.
Though challenges remain, Turkey is pushing forward with efforts to integrate Syrian students and teachers into its education system.
As Riyadh’s rivalry with Tehran in the Levant turns to Lebanon, its increasing pressure on Hezbollah threatens to severely destabilize the country.
Masoud Barzani’s resignation as president of the Kurdistan Regional Government is part of an attempt by the two main parties to preserve their influence in an increasingly volatile political environment.
Local authorities and international actors alike have serious questions to consider about how to stabilize the region.
Escalating tensions surrounding the Kurdish independence referendum are encouraging Iran to accelerate efforts to diversify trade to Iraq.
The Kurdistan Region’s “yes” vote in the independence referendum does not translate to unconditional support for independence in the short term.
The aggressive rhetoric surrounding Kurdistan’s largely symbolic independence referendum risks triggering armed conflict in ethnically mixed territories.
As Iran-aligned factions within Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces expand their political influence, Abadi is working to strengthen and integrate rival factions within the military.