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.
Beijing’s approach towards the Middle East and North Africa balances ambition with caution, but regional instability is testing the opportunity cost of its risk-averse strategy.
Gulf states enjoyed positive relations with Trump the first time around. But a different geopolitical landscape poses new challenges for the relationship.
Experts from the ME Council and its network analyze the potential impacts of central bank digital currencies on MENA economies and the future of money globally.
Nader S. Kabbani, Tarik M. Yousef, Ahmet F. Aysan, Nasser Saidi, Rabah Arezki, June Park
As the war on Gaza continues, China is increasingly positioning itself as a counter to the U.S. and Western European approach, emphasizing diplomacy and a need to address root causes of conflict.