Humanitarian Crises in the Middle East and Africa: Examining Causes, Consequences and Policy Choices
To commemorate the new partnership between the Stimson Center and the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota, we are pleased to convene a panel comprised of scholars and scholar/practitioners from both institutions. This discussion examined the ongoing humanitarian crises in the Middle East and Africa and explored what academic work reveals […]
Geneive Abdo quoted in The Toronto Star on Syrian Migrants
Just when it seemed that Syria’s bloody civil war could get no worse, it has. As Russian air strikes and increased fighting force more people to flee their homes, an escalating number of lives are risked and lost in the struggle for safety, and desperation is reaching new levels. -snip- “This is not just Sunni extremism,” points […]
Ellen Laipson’s Op-ed in World Politics Review on Iraq and Syria
Developments over the past year in Syria and Iraq suggest many parallels between the two countries. From the separatism of the Kurds and the fight against the self-declared Islamic State to the expansion of Russia’s presence and influence, the two states seem to be following similar trajectories. But a closer look suggests quite distinct realities. […]
Ellen Laipson’s Op-ed in World Politics Review on Tunisia’s Quartet
The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Tunisia’s so-called National Dialogue Quartet was deeply moving to those us who are familiar with the country where the Arab uprisings began in late 2010. The Nobel Committee’s selection of the four civil society organizations for their work in facilitating Tunisia’s democratic transition since then was a […]
Gordon Adams’s co-written Op-ed in The New York Times on Russia and Syria
FOR four years, American policy toward Syria has been built on a wish and a prayer: a wish that President Bashar al-Assad would leave and a prayer that the “moderate” Syrian opposition would be more than it is. Now Russia has stepped up its game, and the response from the American government and many commentators seems to be to wish harder […]
Alex Bollfrass’s Op-ed in The Washington Post Blog on Iran nuclear deal
Iran’s deal with the members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany survived Israeli, Republican and Arab criticism over an endless nuclear-themed summer. As the fight continues, the debate can only be improved with a deeper historical understanding of the difficulties the nations have in friendship, spying and deal-making in the nuclear age. Conveniently, “Deutschland […]
Ellen Laipson’s Op-ed in World Politics Review on Iran and UNGA
At last week’s United Nations General Assembly opening, many observers were keeping a close eye on how the key players spoke of the Iran nuclear agreement and its implications for regional security and even world peace. Strikingly, both the U.S. and Iranian leaders were positive but precise in discussing the deal, with neither allowing any […]
Op-ed by Ellen Laipson in World Politics Review on Iran deal
President Barack Obama has now won enough support among Democrats in Congress to ensure that the nuclear agreement reached between world powers and Iran will move forward. But while indisputably a major political achievement, the victory is not any guarantee of long-term success. We can now see the outlines of the next phase of the […]