Ninety percent of Iraq’s oil wealth – the fifth largest proven oil reserves in the world – lies under the three southern governorates of Iraq. The proceeds of the sale of this vast petroleum ocean underwrite the entire state of Iraq, from the Fao Peninsula on the Gulf to Zakho on the Turkish border. Despite this oil wealth, 2018 marks the 16th summer that the oil-rich port city of Basra has had no reliable electricity and no reliable supply of water (no electricity means the pumps do not work).
The U.S. decision to abandon the nuclear deal with Iran is bad news for crude oil importers, good news for exporters, and complicated news for those with more entwined relations with Tehran. It injects another element of uncertainty into a market already puzzling over Venezuela, OPEC, trade wars, and interest rates.
Amaani Yahya might not be the first Yemeni woman to rap, but she is one of the first to use the artform to try to reach people outside Yemen. Rapping in English, Amaani has been able to address Yemeni issues not only among her community but with people around the world. Rap for her is “a mission” – a means to communicate with the young generation, and particularly to advocate for women’s rights. AGSIW spoke with Amaani about what she has added to the artistic scene in Yemen and her endeavors to push social boundaries and find a place for herself and her causes.
As Saudi Arabia raises the stakes in its dispute with Canada, the economic fallout could worsen an already serious issue for the kingdom: capital flight. Trade between the two countries is small, valued at roughly $4 billion, but the diplomatic dust-up has heightened the sense of risk in the Saudi investment climate, and is certain to scare even more capital away.
As Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addressed the country’s economic woes and its relations with the United States, most news outlets focused on his assurance “there will be no war” even as he prohibited negotiations with “the current administration” in Washington.
WASHINGTON, August 20, 2018 – The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington is pleased to announce that Robert Mogielnicki has joined the institute as a non-resident fellow. Mogielnicki is a senior analyst with the Siwa Group and a PhD candidate at Magdalen College, University of Oxford; his doctoral dissertation explores political and economic factors behind variation in free zone development across the Gulf Cooperation Council states. Executive Vice President Stephen A. Seche welcomed Mogielnicki to AGSIW: “Robert already has made very welcome contributions to the institute’s work, and we’re confident that, as a non-resident fellow, we will continue to benefit from his informed perspective on issues relevant to the political economy of the Gulf Arab states." Read more
In the Media
For The Washington Post, Senior Resident Scholar Karen E. Young commented on the buyout plan between U.S. car company Tesla and the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
Position Title:Visiting Scholar Period: Spring 2019 Location: Washington, DC
Job Summary: Visiting scholars are individuals who possess a PhD or equivalent professional experience. The length of stay for a visiting scholar is typically a semester or academic year. AGSIW is actively seeking candidates with significant regional experience and fluency in written and spoken Arabic. AGSIW will provide a stipend that can be used to cover living expenses, travel costs, or incidental research expenses. Read more
