Middle East

Problems With Neighbors: Turkey, Iraq, and the Syrian Kurds

With reports of clashes between Kurdish militias and jihadist elements of the Syrian opposition in the ethnically mixed town of Ras al-Ain on the Syrian-Turkish border, the question of how Syria’s Kurdish population will fit into a post-Assad state has been forced to the front. For the past twenty months Syrian opposition forces have challenged […]

NATO Partnerships in the Middle East: Time for a New Look

By Richard LeBaron

NATO’s efforts to establish patterns of cooperation with countries in the Middle East and North Africa have not prospered. With the exception of the Libya campaign, the Alliance has not played a significant role in addressing conflicts in the region. NATO has assiduously avoided involvement in the Syria conflict or in countering Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Formal […]

Another Election “Crisis” in Kuwait

By Richard LeBaron

Kuwait has more experience with elections than any other country in the Gulf and more than most countries in the Middle East and North Africa.  Its tiny population of eligible voters (currently around 400,000) has been going to the polls since 1975, and the number of crises involving the ruling al-Sabah family and the 50 […]

VIDEO: Secretary Kerry Addresses the Key Points of the Iran Deal

By US Dept of State

Appoint or Elect the Constitutional Committee of Libya?

By Karim Mezran and Duncan Pickard

Now that Libya’s General National Congress (GNC) has appointed and installed a government, its attention will turn to the selection of a committee to write a new constitution for the country. The fundamental question in this debate is whether or not the committee should be popularly elected or appointed by the GNC.Some in the eastern […]

Libya’s Transition: The Current State of Play

By Jason Harmala

November 2012 Download PDF The Political Process Political Parties Issues of Concern Key People to Watch Economic Situation International Response Despite localized violence and continuing resistance to militia disbandment, Libya’s democratic transition is moving forward largely as planned. Elections for the 200-member General National Congress (GNC), Libya’s first free election in six decades, took place […]