Search results

State role will entrench Syrian-Lebanese drugs trade

Location:

SYRIA/LEBANON

Key to the new pattern is the increased association of state and state-linked actors with the trade in narcotics, primarily Captagon and hashish. The new environment creates risks…

Rabat’s maritime sector will help geopolitical aims

Location:

MOROCCO

Existing conditions facilitate this: the country's open economy is highly dependent on foreign trade, it enjoys access to Mediterranean and Atlantic routes and ongoing…

Lebanon’s economy has further to fall

Location:

LEBANON

The central bank has struggled to address a deep financial crisis that, exacerbated by COVID-19, has impoverished a whole population. In addition to complex exchange controls, it…

Algeria's energy wealth will help weaken the Hirak

Location:

ALGERIA

The COVID-19 pandemic and energy revenues in 2021-22 allowed Algerian authorities effectively to weaken the Hirak movement -- the large-scale popular protests that demanded the…

Local tensions will sustain Iraq’s returns challenge

Location:

IRAQ

Five years after its collapse, IS has a declining presence in Iraq. However, the question of how to deal with the many displaced people perceived as being associated with the…

Turkey will be less secularist after Erdogan

Location:

TURKEY

Erdogan is the second head of government (after Necmettin Erbakan, 1996-97) to emerge from a specifically Islamist political movement. Under his leadership, Islam has become more…

Iraq's militias will move to consolidate power

Location:

IRAQ

The militias have targeted Israel but largely avoided targeting US bases, for fear of Washington's retaliation and to reduce tensions with their own government. The attacks on…

Saudi women's employment will boost global image

Location:

SAUDI ARABIA

In April, the Saudi defence ministry announced employment opportunities for women as well as men. These developments reflect the government’s efforts to increase women’s…

Election could push Israel towards illiberal democracy

Location:

ISRAEL

The results of Israel’s fifth parliamentary election in less than four years were decisive, ending a period of political instability. Although policy guidelines and the division…

Lebanon’s local port blast investigation will stall

Location:

LEBANON

However, the HRC stopped short of establishing an international probe -- a key demand of Lebanese protesters who complain the local process is stalled. They reject in particular…