March 26 will mark one year since the Saudi-led coalition began launching airstrikes in Yemen at the invitation of the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. As reports surface of Saudi Arabia holding direct talks with Houthi representatives, the reported suspension of cross border incursions and artillery shelling by Houthi fighters into Saudi Arabia and of coalition airstrikes in Sanaa are building rare hope for diplomatic advances. Still, the barriers to a successful negotiation remain high, due to the complex task of reconciling the divergent interests of multiple warring parties, and perhaps even of the Gulf allies leading the military intervention into Yemen. Read more
Hedge fund sharks and currency speculators are circling the Gulf states right now, in search of market opportunities in the wake of the deteriorating fiscal balances of oil rich governments. Hedge funds PointState Capital and Knighthead, according to Bloomberg, are among those currently shorting the Saudi currency in the expectation that the Saudi monetary authority, SAMA, will be unable to defend the value of the riyal against the U.S. dollar. Saudi Arabia has a currency peg, or a fixed price at which the Saudi government (through its central bank) guarantees the exchange of 3.75 riyals to the U.S. dollar, a rate held constant since 1986. All of the Gulf Cooperation Council states use a form of restricted monetary policy, either in a currency peg, or a currency basket. Read more
The year of 2015 revealed to women in Saudi Arabia the limits of the state’s tolerance for women’s rights. Women’s participation for the first time in the December municipal election was clogged with restrictions. “Baladi,” a civil campaign to engage women in the democratic process, was ordered shut shortly before the election. Many women could not register as voters because of technicalities. Women candidates were banned from showing their pictures or engaging directly in campaign promotions with men in their constituencies. Some successful candidates were disqualified by the Ministry of Interior due to their critical opinions and advocacy work. The resulting one percent proportion of women elected testifies to the symbolic empowerment of women citizens in Saudi Arabia. Read more
Jeffrey Goldberg's new article in The Atlantic comes close to realising the familiar cliché about journalism being a “first draft of history". In this mammoth undertaking, titled The Obama Doctrine and running to 20,000 words, Goldberg details how America’s president views his foreign policy legacy. While his supporters will cheer, Barack Obama's critics will find some of their grimmest concerns confirmed. Three key charges seem powerfully reinforced: a capacity for self-delusion; a double standard regarding Iran and the Arabs; and a pseudo-analytical aversion, in the name of “realism", to intervention that can slip from amorality into immorality. Read more
In wake of the Paris terrorist attacks, in which the ISIL, killed 130 people, the French government confirmed on February 10 that it would extend the country’s state of emergency powers with an additional three months. That same day, the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament, voted separately on one amendment in a package that strips citizenship from some convicted terrorists. The amendment passed with a narrow majority of 162-148, indicating that President Francois Hollande faces strong opposition as he seeks to push all of the constitutional changes through the rest of Parliament. Read more
Saudi Arabia has come under intense scrutiny in recent months. Much of it centers on its more assertive and less accommodating foreign policy, as manifested in its unprecedented military campaign in Yemen. The shift in Saudi regional policy has spawned the sudden popularity of two narratives in the Western press, think tanks and even some official circles. Read more
A week after the United States and Russia reached a landmark ceasefire agreement over the Syrian conflict, now into entering its sixth year, the fragile truce appeared to be holding despite initial reports that the regime of Bashar al-Assad and his Russian allies had stepped up airstrikes targeting various positions throughout the northern province of Aleppo. Read more
Location: Washington, DC Period: Part Time (Up to 30 hours/week) Department/Team: Senior Resident Scholars Position Title: Research Associate
Job Summary: Provide research assistance and administrative support to the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. At the direction of the Senior Resident Scholars, conduct research on Gulf politics, foreign policy, culture, economics, and U.S. policy toward the region. Monitor contemporary developments in the Gulf states and in U.S. policy, including reviews of regional media and foreign language sources. Contribute analytical essays, bibliographies, and summaries on relevant topics. Provide administrative, communications, and logistical support to Senior Resident Scholars and AGSIW programs, and perform additional tasks as requested.
For more information, please click here. The deadline to receive applications is Saturday, March 19 by 5:00 pm EST.
Location: Washington, DC Period: June through August 2016 Department/Team: Senior Resident Scholars/Program Outreach and Communication Position Title: Research and Program Intern
The Internship Program at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW) provides talented students and recent graduates with a three-month (or longer) unpaid training opportunity designed to encourage professional and personal development. As a newly established organization, we encourage out-of-the-box thinking and value fresh perspectives.
For more information, please click here. The deadline to receive applications for Summer 2016 is Friday, April 1 by 5:00 pm EST.
