AI and Policymaking in the MENA Region:
Impact and Risks

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Will the Saudi-Iran Rapprochement change anything for the Palestinians?

Afkar

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Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Edge
as Generals Battle It Out in Sudan

Afkar

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Recent
Publications

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May 17, 2023
Analysis Paper -
Excess Mortality and the Impact of COVID-19 in Egypt

Over the COVID-19 pandemic, Egyptian data on confirmed cases and deaths remained strikingly low, particularly given rates in neighboring countries, high comorbidities within the population, and evidence of infection among many traveling from Egypt. Despite governmental assertions of limited viral spread, COVID-19 was prevalent across the country—as it was in nearly all countries—and it had led to an uncertain number of deaths.

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April 30, 2023
Analysis Paper -
Voice, Accountability, and Economic Growth in the MENA Region

Polling data from across the Arab world suggests a growing disillusionment with democracy and its role in fostering economic development. While such disillusionment is understandable, it is not necessarily accurate. This paper reviews analytic work and empirical data on governance, economic growth, foreign direct investment, and export diversification in an effort to understand whether metrics of “voice and accountability” (which are often used as proxies for democratic development) are correlated with higher levels of economic growth and performance.

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April 4, 2023
Issue Brief -
The Geopolitics of Iraqi Kurdistan’s Gas Reserves: Challenges and Prospects

Iraqi Kurdistan’s gas reserves have the potential to significantly transform geopolitics. However, political divisions and disputes have complicated the process of realizing this potential.

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May 17, 2023
Analysis Paper -
Excess Mortality and the Impact of COVID-19 in Egypt

Over the COVID-19 pandemic, Egyptian data on confirmed cases and deaths remained strikingly low, particularly given rates in neighboring countries, high comorbidities within the population, and evidence of infection among many traveling from Egypt. Despite governmental assertions of limited viral spread, COVID-19 was prevalent across the country—as it was in nearly all countries—and it had led to an uncertain number of deaths.

learn more
April 30, 2023
Analysis Paper -
Voice, Accountability, and Economic Growth in the MENA Region

Polling data from across the Arab world suggests a growing disillusionment with democracy and its role in fostering economic development. While such disillusionment is understandable, it is not necessarily accurate. This paper reviews analytic work and empirical data on governance, economic growth, foreign direct investment, and export diversification in an effort to understand whether metrics of “voice and accountability” (which are often used as proxies for democratic development) are correlated with higher levels of economic growth and performance.

learn more
April 30, 2023
Analysis Paper -
Voice, Accountability, and Economic Growth in the MENA Region

Polling data from across the Arab world suggests a growing disillusionment with democracy and its role in fostering economic development. While such disillusionment is understandable, it is not necessarily accurate. This paper reviews analytic work and empirical data on governance, economic growth, foreign direct investment, and export diversification in an effort to understand whether metrics of “voice and accountability” (which are often used as proxies for democratic development) are correlated with higher levels of economic growth and performance.

learn more
April 30, 2023
Analysis Paper -
Voice, Accountability, and Economic Growth in the MENA Region

Polling data from across the Arab world suggests a growing disillusionment with democracy and its role in fostering economic development. While such disillusionment is understandable, it is not necessarily accurate. This paper reviews analytic work and empirical data on governance, economic growth, foreign direct investment, and export diversification in an effort to understand whether metrics of “voice and accountability” (which are often used as proxies for democratic development) are correlated with higher levels of economic growth and performance.

learn more
April 4, 2023
Issue Brief -
The Geopolitics of Iraqi Kurdistan’s Gas Reserves: Challenges and Prospects

Iraqi Kurdistan’s gas reserves have the potential to significantly transform geopolitics. However, political divisions and disputes have complicated the process of realizing this potential.

learn more

Events

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15 May 2023
past event 4:00 pm AST - 5:15 pm AST
The Battle for Sudan: Drivers and Ramifications
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12 April 2023
past event 3:00 pm AST - 4:00 pm AST
The Second Intifada: Reflections and Implications for Palestine Today
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21 March 2023
past event 4:00 pm AST - 5:15 pm AST
Saudi-Iran Agreement: Implications for the Middle East
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15 May 2023
past event 4:00 pm AST - 5:15 pm AST

The Battle for Sudan: Drivers and Ramifications

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12 April 2023
past event 3:00 pm AST - 4:00 pm AST

The Second Intifada: Reflections and Implications for Palestine Today

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21 March 2023
past event 4:00 pm AST - 5:15 pm AST

Saudi-Iran Agreement: Implications for the Middle East

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Afkar

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June 1, 2023
How Does Iran View Syria's Return to the Arab League?

In May 2023, Syria returned to the Arab League following a near-12-year suspension. The move has far-reaching implications for both the region and the international community. It came after more than a decade of widespread atrocities by Bashar Al-Assad’s regime against its own citizens, abuses that have cast a long shadow over Syria’s relationships with… Continue reading How Does Iran View Syria’s Return to the Arab League?

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May 25, 2023
Will the Saudi-Iran Rapprochement change anything for the Palestinians?

Amid the zeitgeist of diplomatic rapprochement and normalization in the Middle East—which has recently seen Saudi Arabia and Iran mend ties and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad welcomed at this month’s Arab League summit—the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas took a step forward to repair its own regional relationships.  In mid-April, a delegation of senior Hamas officials, led… Continue reading Will the Saudi-Iran Rapprochement change anything for the Palestinians?

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May 18, 2023
Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Edge as Generals Battle It Out in Sudan

As Sudan’s two main armed forces battle for control of Khartoum, hopes for a truce may lie on the other side of the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has been holding talks in Jeddah reportedly focused on reaching a ceasefire and ensuring aid can reach those affected by the fighting, which has already killed hundreds of… Continue reading Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Edge as Generals Battle It Out in Sudan

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June 1, 2023
How Does Iran View Syria's Return to the Arab League?

In May 2023, Syria returned to the Arab League following a near-12-year suspension. The move has far-reaching implications for both the region and the international community. It came after more than a decade of widespread atrocities by Bashar Al-Assad’s regime against its own citizens, abuses that have cast a long shadow over Syria’s relationships with… Continue reading How Does Iran View Syria’s Return to the Arab League?

learn more
May 25, 2023
Will the Saudi-Iran Rapprochement change anything for the Palestinians?

Amid the zeitgeist of diplomatic rapprochement and normalization in the Middle East—which has recently seen Saudi Arabia and Iran mend ties and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad welcomed at this month’s Arab League summit—the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas took a step forward to repair its own regional relationships.  In mid-April, a delegation of senior Hamas officials, led… Continue reading Will the Saudi-Iran Rapprochement change anything for the Palestinians?

learn more
May 18, 2023
Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Edge as Generals Battle It Out in Sudan

As Sudan’s two main armed forces battle for control of Khartoum, hopes for a truce may lie on the other side of the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has been holding talks in Jeddah reportedly focused on reaching a ceasefire and ensuring aid can reach those affected by the fighting, which has already killed hundreds of… Continue reading Saudi Arabia and the UAE on Edge as Generals Battle It Out in Sudan

learn more