The latest tension between Iran and the United States has created an unhealthy debate among local actors in Iraq and the wider Middle East, reflecting minimal insight into Washington or Tehran’s policy environment.
More
With Iraq’s displacement crisis, violence against women and girls has reached new levels of cruelty. However, with transition into stabilisation, there is an historic opportunity to tackle barriers to women empowerment.
More
Many of the IS associated women & children are denied identity cards. These practices violate national and international laws and are likely to contribute to on-going violent extremism.
More
Telafar has one of the most diverse ethno-religious populations in Nineveh Province. It witnessed significant demographic changes after Islamic State occupation & subsequent liberation. Telafar leaders debated the future of the district and its people.
More
Iraq’s various security forces were united in defeating IS. With their common enemy defeated, unity seems to have vanished rapidly. Implications & Recommendations are presented in this policy brief.
More
A brain-storming session with a visiting United States Institute of Peace (USIP) delegation, KRI political representatives and experts from civil society on the future of Nineveh and IDPs.
More
Iraq reconstruction costs $88B. Donors pledged $30B, but little has so far materialised, because the Iraqi government has failed to address its structural and functional weaknesses. The onus is on the Iraqi leaders.
More
A summary report of the MERI rountable discussions on decentralization and empowerment of local government in the KRI. Present were diplomats, parliamentarian, KRG officials and academic experts.
MoreMERI Ranked as Iraq’s Leading Think Tank for The 4th Year Running
Telafar has one of the most diverse ethno-religious populations in Nineveh Province. It witnessed significant demographic changes after Islamic State occupation & subsequent liberation. Telafar leaders debated the future of the district and its people.
MERIA brain-storming session with a visiting United States Institute of Peace (USIP) delegation, KRI political representatives and experts from civil society on the future of Nineveh and IDPs.
Anne van der WolffA summary report of the MERI rountable discussions on decentralization and empowerment of local government in the KRI. Present were diplomats, parliamentarian, KRG officials and academic experts.
MERIMERI is among the top 7% think tanks in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. It went up by 22 places to No. 35 among 507 institutions.
MERI
Who wants war, where is this US-Iran escalation leading and what policy would be best for the local actors to pursue?
Dlawer Ala’Aldeen
With Iraq’s displacement crisis, violence against women and girls has reached new levels of cruelty. However, with transition into stabilisation, there is an historic opportunity to tackle barriers to women empowerment.
Henriette Johansen
Many of the IS associated women & children are denied identity cards. These practices violate national and international laws and are likely to contribute to on-going violent extremism.
Anne van der Wolff
Iraq’s various security forces were united in defeating IS. With their common enemy defeated, unity seems to have vanished rapidly. Implications & Recommendations are presented in this policy brief.
Emma Hesselink
Iraq reconstruction costs $88B. Donors pledged $30B, but little has so far materialised, because the Iraqi government has failed to address its structural and functional weaknesses. The onus is on the Iraqi leaders.
Dlawer Ala’Aldeen
Turkey and EU have adopted multifaceted foreign policies in the Middle East. They converge only on specific issues but their mutual cooperation has not been easy.
Dlawer Ala’Aldeen
Five months after declaring victory over the Islamic State group, Iraq will tomorrow go to the polls to elect a new parliament.
“Squeezing the Kurds too much could turn an armed standoff into an all-out ethnic conflict between two U.S.-armed forces. Given these developments, the only sensible way forward is for Baghdad and Irbil to make negotiations a priority.
“In the post-IS era old wounds threaten to resurface. Especially after IS, the Iraqi society became especially militarised. Everybody carries a weapon now. The risk of future conflicts being managed in a more violent way is much higher.”
This is an audio file:
“The lack of a common narrative shared by both Arabs and Kurds regarding the history of Hasan Sham village is an obstacle to reconstruction and reconciliation”
Even a complete military victory over the Sunni extremists in Mosul will not change the reality that there is still no political agreement in place, or even basic trust, that could reconcile Iraq’s Sunni Arab minority with the Shiite-dominated national government.
“Instead of breaking off relations between communities in Nineveh it is better to find ways for how to improve those relationships”
