On October 14, AGSIW and b’huth hosted a workshop on the challenges and opportunities in a post-war Yemen. Led by b'huth Director General Mohammed Baharoon and AGSIW Executive Vice President Ambassador Stephen A. Seche, the workshop brought together more than 20 experts on Yemen from multiple disciplines, to map out the biggest challenges for any future Yemeni government and the international community, including ensuring long-term peace, and shouldering the economic and fiscal burden of post-conflict reconstruction. Look for AGSIW's forthcoming policy paper summarizing the discussion. Read more
Gulf Arab states face some of the most severe water shortages in the world. The situation emerges from limited availability of renewable water resources and escalating demands that result from the quick pace of economic development, rapid population growth, changing consumption patterns, and management inefficiencies. Accordingly, sustainable water provision is a persistent challenge facing governments of the Gulf Cooperation Council states as they seek to ensure human security, and maintain social and political stability. Read more
The growing importance of gas in a region dominated by giant oil reserves and high oil production capacity has been fueled by explosive population growth, urbanization, increased standards of living, and industrialization in the Gulf Arab states. Natural gas production in the region, however, has failed to keep pace with surging demand from the power generation sector, industrial development, and expanding economic activity in recent years. Read more
ازداد المشهد الانتخابي تعقيدا وغرابة وضراوة في الأسبوع الذي تلى المناظرة الثانية بين المرشح الجمهوري دونالد ترامب والمرشحة الديموقراطية هيلاري كلينتون، ما يجعله ربما الأسبوع الأكثر محورية منذ بدء السباق اطلع على المزيد
Inside the Saudi kingdom, political uncertainty often triggers a surge in public demands. Because the privileges and entitlements of citizenship are based on religious affiliation, gender, and loyalty to the king, many resulting reform movements challenge these prescribed aspects of Saudi identity.
In a radio address to the residents of Mosul on Tuesday October 4, Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi pledged that the city would soon be liberated from ISIS. Abadi also called on residents to cooperate with Iraqi security forces once they enter the country’s second largest city with military support from the US-led International Coalition. Read more
In the Media
AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish appeared on Frontline's "Confronting ISIS." Ibish addressed Saudi Arabia's attempts to counter recruitment for the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, noting, "The problem is so deep that addressing all of the layers of intolerance in Saudi discourse is very hard."
AGSIW Executive Vice President Stephen A. Seche commented on greater U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen for The Guardian, noting the possible Iranian response: "It’s not at all a stretch of the imagination, to my mind, that the Iranians benefit from seeing the US drawn into this." In addition, Seche appeared on NPR's Morning Edition to discuss the exchange of fire between the U.S. Navy and Houthi forces off the coast of Yemen and possible implications: "One of the key moments we face now is to not internationalize this conflict any further." Seche also spoke with Al Arabiya about the conflict. Speaking with VOA, Ibish discussed the escalating situation in Yemen, noting, "Essentially, there is an effort on the part of Saudi Arabia and its allies to enforce, essentially, the terms of [UN Security Council Resolution 2216] but they haven't been able to do that."
Outreach
AGSIW Executive Vice President and former U.S. Ambassador to Yemen Stephen A. Seche was one of three individuals honored by the Yemen Peace Project on October 15. The recognition was given to “public figures who share [YPP's] goals of increasing understanding between Americans and Yemenis, and advancing more peaceful and constructive U.S. policies toward Yemen.”
AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Karen E. Young participated in a workshop at the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, co-sponsored by the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center. She presented research on “Financing Renewable Energy in a Time of Fiscal Austerity in the GCC,” to be included as a chapter in a forthcoming edited volume on renewable energy in the Gulf, to be published by Palgrave in 2017.
AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish was a panelist at a roundtable hosted by the EastWest Institute and the Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient on the status of Iran-Saudi relations and the role of the international community in reducing tensions between both countries.
DATE Sunday October 30, 2016 TIME 5:00 pm LOCATION AMC Mazza Gallerie
5300 Wisconsin Ave NW
Washington, DC 20015 SPEAKERS Lubna Bagsair, Amr El-Bayoumi, Assad Fouladkar, Raymond Karam, Anna Kipervaser, Theo Padnos, Vishwas RSVP
Position Title: Research and Program Intern Department/Team: Programs and Communication Period: January through May 2017 Location: Washington, DC
Job Summary: 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. AGSIW will provide interns with a transportation stipend for the duration of the internship. Read more
JASTA: American Politics and U.S.-Saudi Relations
How Americans and Gulf Arabs See Each Other
