Publications

Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) issued by the Gulf countries, and their competition with digital dollar, digital yuan, and other digital currencies.

Algeria’s relations with Russia extend from historical ties and military cooperation to strategic partnerships in foreign, economic, and cultural. Read more!

There is little doubt that modern Türkiye and its current leadership pose a serious dilemma for many countries in the West. On one hand, the country is a rising star in the international arena, thanks to its growing geostrategic influence based on its membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), unique geographic location which bridges Asia and Europe, growing economy, and increasing diplomatic weight. On the other hand, there has been constant Western unease about Türkiye’s human rights record and the perceived strongman leadership style of its current leader.

This paper recommends transformative yet progressive solutions, embedding women’s education as the rule rather than the exception. It advocates leveraging educational institutions that resonate with society’s beliefs and traditions. Furthermore, it calls for establishing dialogue and integration channels between Afghan society and Islamic communities to dismantle the prevailing obstructions to women’s education and employment.

This paper explores the evolution of Yemen’s power dynamics and highlights how factions vie for control and perpetuate cycles of conflict. It explores competing groups’ motives and factors that enable political elites to eclipse other factions and stifle equitable representation.

The question of (dis)order remains central to current debates on Middle Eastern politics and security. It is a multifaceted question with security, political, and economic dimensions and is intimately interlinked with the Middle East’s place in the changing global system and external powers’ relations with the region. 

This issue brief argues that the war has thus far not changed Russia’s position in the Middle East in any significant way. Moscow strives to maintain its place and influence in regional geopolitics as much as possible.

Iran’s “Look East” policy is generally understood as a strategy aimed at fostering stronger political, economic, and strategic connections with countries in the Eastern hemisphere, particularly in Asia, with the goal of broadening alliance networks and diminishing Iran’s susceptibility to Western powers’ influence.

Over the past few years, Asian powers have strengthened their economic, political, and security relations with countries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While much attention has been given to China’s growing role, another Asian power has been working diligently and consistently to expand its own footprint across the region, notably in the Gulf: South Korea.

Accelerating the growth of the green economy should happen rapidly through policy actions. If the global green transition is left to market forces, it can have grave consequences for the world. Considering the varied levels of technological advancements among countries, some will be better placed to develop and push forward green technology, whereas others will simply be adopting these new technologies.

The four major Asian powers—Japan, China, India, and South Korea—have deepened their engagement across the Middle East.

At his first meeting with the Council of Ministers in April 2023, Qatar’s new Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani articulated a clear set of priorities for Qatar’s public sector. They include managing the state and its resources to achieve the greatest efficiency and productivity; providing high-quality services to citizens, residents, investors, and tourists; and diversifying the employment of Qatari nationals away from the public sector