America Needs a Stable and Democratic KRG as a Partner
January 25th, 2016 by MERI
The United States needs to preserve its goodwill and reputation in Kurdistan by remaining neutral in its internal disputes, but also engaging constructively as a close ally.
Addressing the Structural Weaknesses of Kurdistan Region’s Economy
January 20th, 2016 by MERI
An analysis of the major gaps in Kurdistan’s economic development and potential ways forward in terms of reinforcing initiatives aimed at private sector development; improving the functioning of the State and its budget; and transforming Kurdistan’s institutional landscape linked to the economy.
Violence against Women in War and Conflict
January 17th, 2016 by MERI
In August 2015, the UN Security Council warned that, in Iraq and Syria, sexual violence is being used as a deliberate tactic, saying these acts are war crimes, with claims that Daesh in particular has created a ‘theology of rape’ including sexual slavery.
A Tough Job: Building Democracy in Oil-Dependent Kurdistan
December 6th, 2015 by MERI
A social contract which enables the KRG to escape accountability in return for providing a salary and services is fundamentally at odds with Kurdistan’s democratic aspirations.
In it for the Long Haul: A New Response for IDPs in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
November 11th, 2015 by MERI
This report is a compilation and analysis of critical issues and possible next steps for dealing with the challenges posed by increasingly protracted displacement in the Kurdistan Region.
Electoral Failures, Misguided Choices: The Finite Point of the AKP’s Kurdish Policy
October 22nd, 2015 by MERI
Irrespective of the results of the coming elections, the AKP has reached a finite point whereby it cannot deliver fully on democratic reforms and resolution of the Kurdish issue. This article suggests that the AKP needs to seriously consider forming a coalition government that is determined to address serious domestic issues. Any other behaviour would reveal its inability to share responsibilities and power.
Protecting Minorities’ Rights in the Kurdistan Region: A Tailor-Made Model
October 12th, 2015 by MERI
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) should be proud of its reputation as a guardian of minorities, providing at risk groups with security and shelter.
Negotiations for international loans for Kurdistan should resume with a clearer vision
September 20th, 2015 by MERI
Recent developments damaged beyond repair the confidence investors had in lending money to the KRG. As a result, the only other way out of the current economic crisis, at least in the short term, is to bring in fresh capital to cover for the money Kurdistan is unable to generate internally.
Oil for Food: The Global Food Crisis and the Middle East
September 16th, 2015 by MERI
Like the Gulf countries, Iraq has a high dependence on oil export revenues, food imports and considerable population growth.
Post-Maliki Iraq: An uncertain future?
February 1st, 2015 by MERI
While it is tough to predict how developments in Iraq will manifest in the future, Iraq’s new political dispensation under Haidar Al-Abadi is actively striving to move beyond Maliki’s destabilizing ethno-sectarian legacy and treading the path of dialogue and reconciliation.