Divergences

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  Kurdish Politics in Theory and Practice (w/ Soran Tarkhani)

  Kurdish political parties all face a similar set of challenges in how they engage with governments, compete with local rivals, and deconflict issues with counterparts across the region. They have to find a mode of accommodation with the state to demonstrate their ability to govern responsibly, but they also need to preserve their legitimacy as

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  Syria’s Fragile Transition (w/ Malik al-Abdeh)

  Syria’s Fragile Transition (w/ Malik al-Abdeh) It has been more than a year since the Assad regime was overthrown and the Syrian Transitional Government has held together despite provincial demands for autonomy, enormous economic challenges, Israeli occupation and military strikes, and pressure from the wars in Iran and Lebanon. In some respects, Ahmad al-Shara‘a is

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  Iraqi Elections (w/ Tamer al-Badawi)

  Iraqi Elections (w/ Tamer al-Badawi) Iraq will go to the polls on November 11 in an election likely to be dominated by the Iran-backed parties of the Shi‘a Coordination Framework. Although Moqtada al-Sadr is boycotting the election, he is likely weighing his options in both the short- and medium-term. That may mean quietly supporting independent

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  The Yemeni Conflict in a Global Context (w/ Khaldoon Bakahail)

  The Yemeni Conflict in a Global Context (w/ Khaldoon Bakahail) The decade-long conflict in Yemen has settled into a fragile stalemate, with neither the internationally recognized government nor the Houthi movement able to secure a decisive victory. What role have Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Iran played in sustaining or shaping the war—and how are

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  Iran After the 12-Day War (w/ Farid Mirbagheri)

  Iran After the 12-Day War (w/ Farid Mirbagheri) Iran is militarily weakened and politically divided. It is unlikely to restore the pre–12 Day War status quo with Israel, particularly as its regional proxies struggle to recover. Many Iranians have lost confidence in their government and would welcome fundamental change. Yet even under a new regime,

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