Middle Eastern Terrorism and Authoritarianism in an Age of Western Populism
To answer questions about dynamic and responsive in the face of rapid political changes in the West and the Middle East, Kawa Hassan connects countering violent extremism to two transformative phenomena that would impact peace building in the coming years, namely authoritarianism in the Middle East and populism in the West.
Ellen Laipson’s Op-Ed in World Politics Review on Iraq
Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi visited Washington last week, and the Trump administration greeted him by approving more troops for the fight to retake Mosul and defeat the so-called Islamic State. The Iraqi government, for all its flaws, is taking the needed risks to regain control of its territory, and its leaders know that political […]
Ellen Laipson’s Op-Ed in World Politics Review on Iran’s Role in the Middle East
Only a few months ago it was the conventional view that regional dynamics in the Middle East were working in Iran’s favor. By this account, Tehran was accumulating growing influence through its direct or indirect involvement in the region’s crises and conflicts, buoyed by the confidence born of sanctions relief after the nuclear agreement with […]
Ellen Laipson’s Op-Ed in World Politics Review on Saudi Arabia and Iran
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s visit last week to Kuwait and Oman was the latest sign of an improvement in the tone of Tehran’s relations with the Persian Gulf states, and in particular Saudi Arabia, this year. Perhaps the uncertainties around U.S. President Donald Trump’s intentions, as well as the recent thaw between Turkey and Russia, are factors. […]
Ellen Laipson’s Op-ed in World Politics Review on Migration and Security
Some of the most compelling dramas about the effects of globalization are playing out in the Mediterranean basin today. This is understandable given the region’s position, where the worlds of the North and South intersect, quite tragically in recent years. But three distinct zones of the Mediterranean show quite different coping mechanisms with respect to […]
Ellen Laipson’s Op-ed in World Politics Review on Iran and Trump
The one-year anniversary of the Iran nuclear agreement’s implementation on Monday—combined with Senate confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees last week and the death of former Iranian President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on Jan. 8—has put Iran back in the spotlight. Read the full article here.
The Iran Dilemma Facing President-elect Trump
Editor’s note: This analysis is part of 2017 Presidential Inbox — an ongoing Stimson Center series examining the major global challenges and opportunities the Trump administration faces during its first 100 days in office. Click here to read the full series. By Barry Blechman and Ellen Laipson THE CHALLENGE: The next president will face the challenge of […]
Thinking Beyond Worst-Case Scenarios for 2017
By Ellen Laipson The drama and disruptions of the year just ended fill some with dread for the new year. Will the challenges of domestic polarization and a tilt in international influence toward the nondemocratic powers of the East only worsen? Without sounding too naïve, it’s possible to imagine outcomes that are not the worst-case […]