Competing Interests in Shingal District: Policy Recommendations for Defusing Tensions
June 18th, 2017 by MERI
Since 2014, Shingal has become an arena of competition between local, national and regional actors. This report outlines the competing interests and provides recommendations to all stakeholders.
Assessing the Post-Disaster Needs in Agriculture Sector
June 4th, 2017 by MERI
Recommendations aiming at improving the current standardized processes of assessing the impacts and effects of disasters: How to enhance the effectiveness of needs assessment towards resource mobilization and recovery processes.
The Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraq: Subnationalism and the State
March 6th, 2017 by MERI
The report assesses the role of the Popular Mobilisation Forces in the provision of security in Iraq, arguing that dealing with the multiple competing subnationalisms within it must be addressed after defeating ISIS.
The Catch-22 in Nineveh: The Regional Security Complex Dynamics between Turkey and Iran
December 22nd, 2016 by MERI
This paper argues that the future political stability of Nineveh depends on a two-level normalisation.
Could the Trump Administration Mean a New Beginning for the Kurds?
December 17th, 2016 by MERI
This Policy Paper discusses some of the Trump administration’s most likely foreign policy advisers and their positions on Kurdish self-governance.
Governing Nineveh After the Islamic State: A Solution for All Components
October 24th, 2016 by MERI
Calls for a separate Nineveh Plain province could end up harming minorities and threaten stability. Instead, a Nineveh Federal Region could prove a better solution for post-IS governance in Nineveh.
Averting an Economic Meltdown in the KRI: Aligning Political Objectives with Economic Necessities
July 17th, 2016 by MERI
This Report analyses the crucial aspects of the current economic crisis and the KRG’s immediate response. The author argues that it is only when the economic meltdown is averted in the short-term that the KRG will be able to proceed with deep structural reforms.
Time for a Radical Rethink. Full report on the MERI Economic Forum 2016
July 12th, 2016 by MERI
This first MERI Economic Forum explored the challenges and policy options available to mitigate the current economic crisis in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The title, “Time for a Radical Rethink,” was reflected in the debates that resulted in actionable recommendations for the government and private sector.
Compliance of Armed Forces with International Humanitarian Law
May 2nd, 2016 by MERI
This initiative is aimed at raising awareness of the norms and principles of IHL at all levels of Peshmerga forces; developing comprehensive mechanisms and policy recommendations that support compliance with IHL; and demonstrating the Peshmerga’s commitment to protecting fundamental human rights during times of war.
Sharing Visions for the Future of the Middle East
February 17th, 2016 by MERI
In convening such high-level panels and making room for the participation of diplomats, government officials, civil society representatives, and media, the MERI Forum 2015 fostered greater debate and, more importantly, action on these issues.