In countries where politics are opaque to outsiders, municipal elections provide an important glimpse into the minds of the population. Oman’s municipal elections held on December 25, 2016, only the second in the sultanate’s history, are an excellent example. Across Oman, 731 candidates ran in the elections, of which 202 were selected as council members for four-year terms. With 623,224 total registered voters, turnout was reported at nearly 40 percent. The results of these elections reveal three important political trends in Oman. Read more
أقل ما يمكن قوله في المشهد السياسي الراهن في أمريكا هو غرابته وسرياليته، إن لم نقل عبثيته. فها هو الرئيس المنتخب دونالد ترامب، وقبل ساعات قليلة من اجتماعه المفصلي صباح الجمعة مع قادة أجهزة الاستخبارات الأمريكية ليتلقى منهم تقريرهم حول أعمال القرصنة الالكترونية الروسية بما فيها التدخل السافر في انتخابات الرئاسة، يخرج علينا من برجه العالي في نيويورك بتغريداته الصباحية ليؤكد لنا من جديد استحالة تخليه عن نرجسيته اطلع على المزيد
The biggest fault line potentially facing the incoming Trump administration in the United States has become clear: relations with Russia. On no other issue is president-elect Donald Trump so isolated or baffling. During the campaign he repeatedly expressed inexplicable admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin, and this has only intensified since. Mr Trump has issued many statements praising Mr Putin's intelligence and leadership in almost obsequious and servile language that seems completely disconnected from any identifiable policy goal and totally incommensurate with the relative power of the two countries. Read more
In the Media
Speaking with The Wall Street Journal, AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish commented on U.S.-Israeli relations, noting that “American politics are starting to mirror Israeli politics, with Republicans looking like the Israeli right and Democrats looking like the Israeli center and left – in both cases with the right having a virtual monopoly on political power right now.” Ibish additionally spoke with Foreign Policy, commenting, "Most Arab countries want to move on from the Palestinian issue, but it’s also obvious that they can’t do so as long as the occupation and the settlement program continues as it is."
Discussing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's energy policies, Voice of America cited AGSIW's piece, "Trump Administration Set to Roil International Oil Markets," by Diane Munro.
Position Title: Grant Writer Department/Team: Programs and Communication Period: Part Time (20 hours/week, no benefits) Location: Washington, DC Read more
