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Lebanese polls may largely confirm the status quo

Location:

LEBANON

A new electoral law passed on June 16, 2017, for the first time allows expatriates to participate. It also gives independent candidates a chance to compete against the established…

EU will ignore Azerbaijan’s repression of minority

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AZERBAIJAN

The arrests are connected with continuing tensions with Iran, stemming from an attack on Azerbaijan’s embassy in Tehran in January. They have profound implications for Azerbaijani…

New higher education policies will hurt Iranian women

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IRAN

The prominent role of women during the large-scale Mahsa Amini protests of 2022, and the subsequent battle that has raged over the wearing of the hijab (female Islamic dress code…

Iranian environmental efforts face political hurdles

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IRAN

Iran’s environmental crises and political responses.

Political and fiscal reforms will be slow in Bahrain

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BAHRAIN

The country has struggled with internal unrest for decades, and the government ensured that opposition representatives were prevented from standing in the election. Despite the…

International intervention will aid Venezuela's Maduro

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VENEZUELA

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic has enabled President Nicolas Maduro to stabilise his domestic position. The government is leveraging humanitarian needs to bypass US…

Pakistan likely to avoid direct involvement in Yemen

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PAKISTAN

The Pakistani armed forces are reportedly already involved in the campaign: some troops have been deployed in Saudi Arabia and a naval ship is stationed off the Yemeni coast…

Iran’s budget will increase social welfare spending

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IRAN

The expansionary budget increases social welfare spending significantly above the present inflation rate, highlighting the government’s concern that worsening economic conditions…

Oman's next sultan will face greater social challenges

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OMAN

Challenges for Oman's next sultan.

Iraqi 2021 polls may help Sadrists but hurt austerity

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IRAQ

This follows the finalisation in October of a new electoral law introducing a higher degree of proportional representation (PR), and fraught parliamentary agreement on…