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.
The trial and conviction of senior Assad-era officials, including Bashar himself, is a watershed moment in the Syrian transition. But for accountability not to go too far, discernment between those who designed or directed the state crimes and those who were surviving in an authoritarian system is necessary.
Why did tens of thousands of people risk their lives to leave Morocco for Europe? New court rulings and the spread of misinformation only go so far in explaining the phenomenon.
From Syria to Yemen, Iran has demonstrated a vast capacity for manufacturing crises, yet it has failed to translate its strategy into legitimate influence or durable security.