The Middle East Economy in 2010
Audio recording from The Middle East Economy in 2010
The Arab Gulf States: Beyond Oil and Islam
Audio recording from The Arab Gulf States: Beyond Oil and Islam
Iran After the Sanctions: What Next?
Audio recording from Iran After the Sanctions: What Next?
Crisis in the Yemen Economy
How Yemen can use their most valuable resource of human labor to respond to their economic difficulties through increased institution-building.
The Artesh Navy: Iran's Strategic Force
Iran has two independent naval forces: the Islamic Republic of Iran Navy (IRIN), whose existence predates Iran’s 1979 Revolution, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN), which evolved separately in midst of the Iran-Iraq war (1985).
Hamas Out in the Cold?
One of the most enduring epithets for Hamas, right up there with “terrorist,” is “proxy.” If you Google “Hamas Iran proxy,” you get 1,750,000 hits. The idea that the relationship between Sunni Hamas, the Gaza affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Shia Iran was merely a marriage of convenience and not a true love match is rejected by those who forget that most enduring maxim of Middle East politics: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” And implicit in that maxim are two more words: “for now.”
Ayatollah Khamenei's Advances Toward the Artesh
To truly appreciate the political standing of Iran’s regular armed forces in today’s Islamic Republic, the key is to take into account the impact of the ongoing and unparalleled internal feud in the top ranks of the regime. The feud, pitching the factions of Supreme Leader Ayatollah ‘Ali Khamenei and President Mahmud Ahmadinejad against one another in a bitter contest for power, has turned the Artesh into an inescapable entity that neither faction can afford to ignore.
Turkey and Iran Find Common Ground in Iraq
This Opinion piece first appeared in Frontline’s Tehran Bureau on January 19, 2012.
After months of frosty relations, Iran and Turkey are talking again. The ostensible reason for Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s visit to Tehran two weeks ago was to try to jump start stalled nuclear talks with the so-called P5+1 group of nations. Davutoglu conveyed to Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili the European Union’s invitation to resume the talks in Turkey that were suspended a year ago for lack of progress.
Crisis in the Yemeni Economy: A Troubled Transition to Post-Hydrocarbon Growth
Dedicated to the memory of our friend and colleague Chris Boucek
The Arab Spring: Implications for US Policy and Interests
The Arab Spring: Implications for US Policy and Interests