Country to Watch in 2019: Iraq
December 30th, 2018 by MERI
After 4 years of political & security turbulence, Iraq has now turned a new page with plenty of cautious optimism for 2019. Evolution of events & predictions for the new year.
MERI Forum 2018: Full Report
December 23rd, 2018 by MERI
This is the full report of all the panels of MERI Forum 2018 where policy- and decision-makers and opinion-leaders shared visions and solutions for a range of core issues and challenges that are facing the Middle East today.
The Caliphate’s defeat: the future of Iraq
December 23rd, 2018 by MERI
In spite of the Caliphate’s defeat, Iraq remains a fragile country with its sovereignty grossly undermined, and its state institutions weakened. Unless the Iraqi leaders focus on good governance and rule of law, ISIS is capable of re-emerging
How the Kurdish opposition parties missed a historical opportunity to challenge KDP and PUK?
August 14th, 2018 by Yerevan Saeed
By failing to reach an agreement to form an electoral alliance, the Kurdistan Region’s opposition parties missed a golden opportunity to shake up the duopoly of the KDP and PUK’s power.
State-building: A Roadmap for the Rule of Law and Institutionalisation in the Kurdistan Region
June 12th, 2018 by Dlawer Ala’Aldeen
This policy book addresses the structural & functional weaknesses in th KRI’s governance system, and makes practical recommendations for its reform.
The Kurdish ‘Bloc’ in Iraq: Post-Election Challenges and Opportunities
May 13th, 2018 by Dlawer Ala’Aldeen
In the run-up to this month’s parliamentary elections (12 May), the Kurdish parties are running individually, but in the Iraqi-controlled disputed territories they act differently.
Turkey-EU Relations: Conflicting Policies & Opportunities for Cooperation
April 15th, 2018 by Kamaran Palani
“dissent between Brussels and Ankara is highly likely given the Turkish Armed Forces’ broad kinetic engagement in both Iraq and Syria”
EU and Turkish Energy Interests in the Caspian and Middle East Regions
March 28th, 2018 by Dlawer Ala’Aldeen
We found that multiple energy drivers strategically incentivize the EU and Turkey to cooperate and converge on overall political and economic policies and priorities.
Confessionalism and Electoral Prospects in Iraq
March 26th, 2018 by Yasir Kuoti
” given the unpopularity of Iraq’s political class, no single alliance is expected to win a majority of parliamentary seats, forcing the formation of a grand-coalition government”
Post-Crises Prospects for Reconciliation in Iraq: A Kurdish-Shi’ite Debate in Najaf
March 19th, 2018 by Khogir Wirya
“We can’t call Iraq a federal state when there is only one federal region”. Baghdad needs to develope a national reconciliation strategy among the country’s various ethno-religious & social groups, through dialogue and trust-building.