Publications

Concerns about corruption have been at the center of public dissatisfaction over the quality of governance in many Arab countries. Anger over bureaucratic indifference and malfeasance was one of the main drivers behind the Arab Spring in 2010 and 2011. In 2019, corruption concerns animated the unrest in Lebanon, Iraq and Sudan. Polling data from… Continue reading How Effective Are Arab Anticorruption Agencies? Is the Glass Half Empty or Half Full?

The Horn of Africa (HoA) and the states of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) share a long history of commercial, cultural, religious, and security ties. In recent years, relations between both witnessed consequential developments, primarily within the security and economic realms. These domains have grown to hold an important role in ties between both regions due to the global strategic importance of the Red Sea, a vital maritime route.

Introduction The geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has long been shaped by the interests of major global powers. Traditionally, Western powers, particularly the United States and a number of European countries, have played dominant roles in the region’s defense frameworks and security architecture. However, recent years have seen a notable shift in this dynamic,… Continue reading Asia & the Middle East Beyond Energy: Towards Security and Defense Cooperation

Devlet Bahçeli, leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), a political party deeply rooted in Turkish nationalism, recently made a groundbreaking call to invite Abdullah Öcalan, the imprisoned leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), to address Türkiye’s parliament. This move marks a significant shift in the country’s approach to the 40-year conflict. On October 22, 2024, Bahçeli urged parliament to allow Öcalan to “unilaterally declare that terrorism is over and his organization dissolved.”

Saied’s suppression of dissent has had severe implications for Tunisian journalists and freedom of the press.

Gulf countries are striving to align their economic expansion, which is largely dependent on fossil fuel industries, with sustainable, low-carbon economy practices. Almost all Gulf countries have pledged to adhere to the emissions reduction objectives of the Paris Agreement and have made commitments towards carbon management. Fifteen years ago, climate mitigation efforts in the Gulf were either minimal or nonexistent.

In this atmosphere of heightened tensions, calls to revise the country’s nuclear doctrine have increased in Iran.

Iraq’s Development Road Project constitutes a bold and much-needed initiative for a country that has been plagued by decades of civil war, ethnic and religious conflict, and geopolitical tensions. The $17 billion Development Road Project (hereafter referred to as Development Road or the Project) aims to transform Iraq into a transport hub by connecting its southern hinterlands to the Turkish border in the north,1 and act as a major driver of economic prosperity in both Iraq and the wider region.

The Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and its international partners have been fighting against Al-Shabaab for the last 17 years. Despite Mogadishu sharply escalating its efforts since 2022, it has failed to defeat the group. Al-Shabaab, for its part, seeks a total military victory against Somali authorities, but this too has failed.

Concerns about corruption have frequently been at the forefront of political unrest throughout the MENA region.

2023 marked a decade since the establishment of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

This issue brief analyzes the rationale behind Abiy’s renewed quest for a seaport in light of the struggle for control of the Red Sea, domestic factors, and the shifting geopolitics of the region, exploring how the standoff could be mitigated or resolved.