Tag "Shi’a"
Special report: The impact of Iraq’s 2018 parliamentary elections
On 12 May, Iraqis chose their representatives for Parliament. In an environment influenced by the four-year conflict with the Islamic State and the fragmentation of politics, these elections are a critical test.
Will the Iraq-U.S. relationship survive the Trump era?
Iraq is at an important crossroads in the fight against the Islamic State. With aggressive posturing between the incoming Trump Administration and Iran, pressure will increase on Iraqi Prime Minister
Future Generator: Bahrain faces political volatility
In Bahrain, growing public unrest and government suppression of dissent will perpetuate negative media coverage over the next two weeks.
Iraq’s deepening political dysfunction
The recent occupation of Baghdad’s Green Zone by followers of Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr highlights the country’s entrenched political deadlock, which poses a significant source of political and security risk
Breaking down the Middle East’s sectarian tensions
The impact of rising Saudi-Iran tension has serious repercussions for peace talks. However, simple-minded sectarianism isn’t always so clear-cut when considering the region’s complex conflicts. One of the messages that
Can Ramadi be rebuilt?
The success of the elite Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service in driving ISIS out of Ramadi offers a lesson for success to those who want to rebuild this demolished city. Iraq
Can Iraq’s Prime Minister Al-Abadi hold on?
Division within Iraq’s ruling Dawa Party threatens to jeopardize the position of the Prime Minister. The United States’ key ally in Iraq is struggling to find a balance that ensures
OPEC ‘no-cut’ decision adds to Middle East divide
OPEC’s recent decision to not to cut oil production and instead maintain low prices is having a ripple effect across the Middle East. While countries with rich oil reserves are
Opinion: The economic case for a unified Iraq
With ethno-sectarian tensions at a high, observers, stakeholders, and policymakers of Iraq are calling increasingly for a break-up of the country along ethnic and sectarian lines. But a break-up would be
Balochistan Talks May Release Local Resource Wealth
Over the past month, Pakistan’s long-term, slow-burning Balochistan conflict has seen both continued violence and new rhetoric about possible peace deals. The newly elected provincial chief, Abdul Malik, a Baloch
