The Kurdistan Region’s Strategies amid Turbulent Regional and Global Dynamics

The strategic position of the Kurdistan Region within Iraq’s evolving political landscape and the wider regional and international context

The Role of Non-State Actors in Iraq’s Foreign Policy

This policy brief explores Iraq’s multifaceted response to the regional upheaval & examines the role and agency of non-state actors

Mediating Governance in Sinjar

MERI developed & piloted the Sinjar Stakeholder Platform to depoliticize public services in the district

Peace in Türkiye: A Catalyst for Stability and Prosperity in the Levant and Iraq

The unresolved status of Kurds has been one of the principal obstacles to democratization in Turkey.

Opposition, Governance, and Political Reform in the Kurdistan Region

The evolving relationship between power and opposition in a Region where democratic institutions remain fragile

The Role and Challenges of Political Opposition in the Kurdistan Region

All three branches of governance are under the dominance of partisan interests, leaving little room for a functional opposition.

Iraq and the Kurdistan Region: Dual Fragilities, Shared Futures

Qubad Talabani: Just as the KRI demands devolved powers from Baghdad, it must also devolve powers from Erbil to provinces, districts and sub-districts.

Syria: In Search of Unity Amidst Fragmentation

Returning to authoritarian centralism was neither possible nor desirable and that Syria’s diversity remained an asset. A Policy Debate