Al Sharq Strategic Research | 01 January 2018
Nationalism has been one of the main dynamics that shaped the MENA region in the post WWI era. It fundamentally changed the political loyalties of the peoples in the region, and reshaped it around national [...]
Al Sharq Strategic Research | 01 January 2018
Though the weakening of a military’s political influence is not a sufficient condition for democracy, it is a necessary condition. Democratic consolidation depends on, among other things, the manner in which political armies still interfere [...]
Basheer Nafi | 27 December 2017
For decades, no Saudi ruler has drawn world attention the way the current crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has done. Interest in him is not confined to the Arab world but has gripped the entire [...]
Galip Dalay | 27 December 2017
Haider al-Abadi's victories over Islamic State and the pushback against Kurdish independence have given rise to optimism about the future, but Iraq's leader has yet to begin building a new inclusive country In 2017, Iraq [...]
Al Sharq Strategic Research | 18 December 2017
Al Sharq Forum is looking for graduate students or final year undergrad students for a 5 months paid internship scheme between the months of February and June of 2018. The internship position is for young fellows who have [...]
Basheer Nafi | 09 November 2017
In a recent interview with the Guardian, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman confirmed his decision to return the country to moderate Islam. The prince insisted that the conservative, extremist trend was a recent phenomenon [...]
Basheer Nafi | 02 November 2017
For some time, I have been grappling with the British reasons behind the Balfour Declaration and what it really meant. Let us start with what we know. In early March 1915, with a sense of [...]
Al Sharq Strategic Research | 19 October 2017
Donald Trump presented his "Iran strategy" on October 13, arguably delivering the most negative speech on Iran ever delivered by a U.S. president. In his nine months in office, Trump has arguably generated more anti-Americanism among Iranians [...]
Tamer Badawi | 18 October 2017
In the wake of the Kurdish independence referendum on September 25, the Kurdish peshmerga and the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) clashed in Kirkuk on October 16
Al Sharq Strategic Research | 18 October 2017
Decertification does not necessarily mean the Trump administration is walking away from the nuclear agreement, but it certainly weakened the deal and cast doubt on its viability and future. But no matter Washington keeps the [...]
