Young and Male: Identity and Politics in Saudi Arabia
Wednesday March 11 | 12:30 – 2:00 pm
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On March 11, Mark Thompson, professor and author of Being Young, Male and Saudi: Identity and Politics in a Globalized Kingdom, will join Kristin Smith Diwan for a discussion of his work on the generational shift in attitudes of Saudi men.

Gulf Security in a Multipolar World: New Defense Ties Reflect Competition for Influence
Wednesday March 25 | 12:30 – 2:00 pm
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On March 25, AGSIW will host a panel discussion with Jon Alterman, Shana Marshall, David B. Roberts, and Bilal Saab examining Gulf defense and security partnerships with regional and global powers. Emma Soubrier will moderate the discussion.

Competition for Mediterranean Natural Gas Deepens as Gulf, European States Join the Fray
Hussein Ibish 

As long as Turkey is seen as an aspiring hegemon it will face opposition from many neighbors.

Public Messaging’s Role in Shaping the Global Narrative of Coronavirus Outbreak
Mohammed Al-Sudairi 

Both China and Gulf states employ propaganda in their campaigns to reassure international public opinion, and each other.

Khamenei’s New Parliament: Cohesive, But Unrepresentative
Ali Alfoneh

The supreme leader’s engineering of Iran's parliamentary elections may help the regime to manage the multiple crises it is facing. But there will be consequences for narrowing the circle of the ruling elites and restricting the path for political participation for Iranian citizens.

Uncertainty Hits Oil Market Ahead of OPEC+ Meeting
Kate Dourian 

OPEC and non-OPEC ministers head into tough negotiations over potential further production cuts amid a whirlwind of negative signals from the market as oil prices decline and demand has been slashed.

Plague-Ridden Islamic Republic Takes Wrong Decisions, Again
Ali Alfoneh via The Arab Weekly

The Iranian regime has prioritized strategic relations with China over concerns about the spread of the coronavirus.

• The New York Times: Hussein Ibish commented on the impact of U.S. sanctions on Iran’s economy.
• Al Arabiya: In an interview, Ambassador Stephen A. Seche discussed concerns over humanitarian assistance delivery in Yemen.
• Refinitiv: Robert Mogielnicki was interviewed on sustainable infrastructure development in the Gulf region as part of a report on China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
• The Beirut Banyan: In a podcast, Ibish discussed protests and developments in Lebanon, and the regional and international dynamics at play.

• Economic Club of New York: Ambassador Douglas A. Silliman delivered a lecture and addressed questions on developments in the Gulf and broader Middle East.
• Foreign Service Institute: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche spoke about prospects for an end to the war in Yemen to a Gulf area studies seminar for U.S. executive branch professionals en route to assignments in the Gulf Arab countries.

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