Al-Sadir is playing to win, whatever the cost. The Sunnis won the first round. The Kurds have lost sight of the bigger picture & focused on internal rivalry. It is not too late to find a win-win outcome.

Full list of sessions and links to summary reports and full video recordings at MERI Forum 2021 are listed below. 

This year’s Forum follows the Iraqi general elections, covid pandemic & a series of crises in the Middle East. The Forum created a perfect environment for an open, frank and constructive policy debate.

A summary report of a policy debate held at MERI, attended by a selection of policy makers, politicians and academics. Policy recommendations are presented to stakeholders.

Strengthening societal resilience is considered vital for the prevention of violent extremism. MERI is a member of 15 international research centres (lead by NUPI) to address this issues.

Four years after the military defeat of the so-called Islamic State, pre-existing conditions associated with the risk of violent extremism continue unabated in Iraq.

This policy report Identifies key weaknesses in the governing system, highlights the political barriers for progress; and offers policy recommendations to stakeholders.

Summary of the MERI policy debate with the German Ambassador Ole Diehl on his country’s policies and the challenges they face in Iraq and KRI.

Sectarianisation of Iraq’s governance has already become a powerful driver of conflict. Left unaddressed, it can become irreversible. Here, ambassadorial appointments are used to underline the issues and offer ways forward.

A summary report of the MERI rountable discussions on the UK’s policy objectives in Iraq & Kurdistan Region, the challenges they face and policy recommendations for stakeholders.