Tahrir Forum

Breaking North Africa’s Border Security Conundrum

April 20, 2018

Although Maghreb states have tended to pursue border security unilaterally, increased transnational coordination at the local level offers a more sustainable approach.

Kuwait’s Foreign Labor Quandary

By Scott Weiner

April 13, 2018

Recent tensions with the Philippines regarding mistreatment of domestic workers highlight Kuwait’s dependence on foreign labor for lower-paying jobs.

Morocco’s Difficult Path to ECOWAS Membership

By Riccardo Fabiani

April 10, 2018

Although Morocco is aiming to diversify its trade relations into West Africa, political and social opposition within ECOWAS raises questions about its real intentions.

Video: The Three Mindsets of Egyptian Voters

By Abdel Monem Said Aly

March 28, 2018

In this Tahrir Dialogue talk, Abdel Monem Said Aly speaks about three “stories” or narratives about the state of Egyptian politics, which represent how people are voting in these elections.

The Turkish Predicament in Syria

By Alaa Elhadidi

March 20, 2018

The geopolitical ripples around Operation Olive Branch raise questions about Ankara’s ability to achieve its goal of preventing the establishment of an autonomous Kurdish entity in northwestern Syria.

Arabs Rising to the Occasion?

By Amre Moussa

March 10, 2018

Former secretary general of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa, offers eight recommendations for establishing a new regional order that would see Arab countries end instability and regain control of their futures.

The Meaning of Eastern Ghouta and Assad’s “Victory”

By Nabeel Khoury

March 6, 2018

The Assad regime has won the war; it cannot, however, win the peace.

Iraq’s Status Quo Election

By Kirk H. Sowell

February 26, 2018

After several early stumbles in his campaign, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi will likely end up with a narrow plurality in a highly fragmented field.

Countering Extremist Ideology

By Milo Comerford and Rachel Bryson

February 21, 2018

Many efforts to provide counter-narratives for Salafi-jihadism are currently failing to address extremists’ abuse of religious scripture directly.

Turkey’s Risky Adventure in Afrin

By Pinar Tank

February 19, 2018

Turkey’s military incursion into Kurdish-controlled northern Syria risks straining diplomatic ties and exposing Turkey to increased terror threats.

Mashhad’s Rebuke to Rouhani

By Mohammad Ali Shabani

January 31, 2018

Entrenched interests based beyond Tehran stand to gain politically from the Iran protests of late December and early January, leaving President Rouhani’s administration at a crossroads.

Questioning Iran’s Regional Ambitions

By Holly Dagres

January 29, 2018

Now that the Islamic State has all but been defeated, some Iranians are beginning to wonder what they will receive in return for supporting regional allies.

Podcast on the Iran Protests

By Holly Dagres and Sean David Hobbs

January 22, 2018

Senior Editor Sean David Hobbs speaks with Iran Specialist and Contributing Editor Holly Dagres about the causes behind the protests that rocked Iran in late December and early January

A Wiser U.S. Policy for Iran?

By Thomas Buonomo

January 19, 2018

As U.S.-Iranian tensions rise, the Trump administration should adopt a political-military strategy that will counter the causes and effects of Iranian aggression.

On the Politics behind Tunisia’s Protests

By Issandr El Amrani and Michael Ayari

January 17, 2018

Analysis on why the recent protests erupted in Tunisia.

The Iranian-Israeli Confrontation in Western Syria

By Maysam Behravesh

January 14, 2018

With Iran’s deepening engagement in Syria following the expulsion of the Islamic State (IS), the old Iranian-Israeli feud is reigniting.

Vladimir Putin and Voltaire walk into a bar…

By Rami G. Khouri

January 2, 2018

Modern Syria becomes a view into transformations of power in the Middle East.

Educating Syrian Refugees in Turkey

By Kinana Qaddour

December 28, 2017

Though challenges remain, Turkey is pushing forward with efforts to integrate Syrian students and teachers into its education system.

Video Podcasts: The Future of Europe and the Middle East

By Sean David Hobbs

December 21, 2017

Senior Editor Sean David Hobbs speaks to the Ambassadors of UK and France about the future of Europe and the Middle East.

The Real Turning Point in Yemen Has Yet to Come

By Kierat Ranautta-Sambhi and Miriam Eps

December 20, 2017

Ali Abdullah Saleh’s death could be the end of the Houthis, or a blessing in disguise. The future course of the Yemeni conflict hinges on whether and how Houthis will prevail without him.

Tahrir Forum

A Blog on Middle East Transformation