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Afkār is a publication of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, providing short-form analyses, insights, and perspectives on regional issues and developments from the Council's experts and outside contributors. Afkār is published in English and Arabic, and is edited by Omar H. Rahman.
Contact us at afkar@mecouncil.org.

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Economic Diversification is the GCC’s Top Priority

Saudi Arabia has taken great steps to diversify its economy – Kuwait must follow suit.

Nasser Saidi
The Development Road Project – Council Views

Iraq, Türkiye, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates agreed to collaborate on the ambitious Development Road project. ME Council experts assess the drivers behind the agreement and feasibility of the initiative.    

Ranj Alaaldin, Dania Thafer, Galip Dalay, Özge Genç, June Park
Can BRICS Really Drop the Dollar?

For decades, the U.S. dollar has been the international reserve currency. With many countries now seeking an alternative, and BRICS adding new members, are the dollar’s heydays numbered?

Paul Dyer
Interview: Russia in the Middle East

In this interview with Afkār, Galip Dalay examines Russia’s changing role in the Middle East over two years into Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and Russia’s recent elections.

Galip Dalay
Conflict in the Red Sea Makes Economic Waves

The spillover from Israel’s onslaught of the Gaza Strip is not only generating conflict in far-reaching places from Lebanon to Yemen, but is creating economic consequences that could affect the entire globe.

Faozi Al-Goidi, Oumeyma Chelbi
Iran’s Strategy in the War on Gaza

Iran is using the latest war in the Middle East to advance its long-standing agenda. Can it be stopped without expanding the current conflict?

Ranj Alaaldin