Tag "Baghdad"
The Energy Briefing: The struggle for Kurdistan’s oil
On Monday, September 25, the government of Iraqi Kurdistan will hold an independence referendum. Although the vote will not trigger any immediate change to the nature of the Kurdish sovereignty
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
Iraq: future irredentism or national unity?
Iraq has been experiencing violent sectarian conflict since the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003. The causes of these conflictual political and ideological positions in Iraqi society have roots in
In response to losing territory, IS targets civilians in Baghdad
Ongoing attacks in Baghdad show that IS remains a powerful threat, despite losing ground on the battlefield. A weak security apparatus struggles to cope.
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
The impact of the independence of Kurdistan
In this second of two articles on Kurdistan, GRI examines the likely repercussions of an independent Iraqi Kurdistan. The previous article made the case that this is a good time
Deployment of Turkish troops in Iraq threatens economic ties
The deployment of Turkish troops to northern Iraq has sparked strong criticism from Baghdad, threatening political and economic ties between the two countries. The decision by Turkey to send additional
Women rise up in the Middle East
As the world focuses on the region’s violent geopolitical struggles, a quiet revolution is taking place. The women of the Middle East are making remarkable gains in politics and businesses.
Hope ahead for Baghdad’s future
From the 1950s to the 1970s, Baghdad was on the path towards modernization and prosperity. The decades of conflict that followed left the once vibrant city in stagnation. However, things
Turkey has much to lose in Kobani
With the Islamic State’s insurgency in Kobani still raging economic fallout in Turkey has already begun. The Turkish state is making significant unforced errors, with damaging long-term consequences for its
