Oil, economic growth, and politics have long been intertwined in the Middle East, transforming the region over the past 50 years into a dynamic player on the global stage. To explore the paradigm shift in the international oil market, after two years of dramatically lower oil prices, and the implications for the Gulf region, AGSIW hosted its second annual energy conference, “Petro Diplomacy: Challenges in the New Energy World.” This report summarizes the critical issues discussed and provides a greater understanding of their implications for the energy market and the political economies of the Gulf Arab states. Read more
On October 14, the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington and b’huth, the Dubai Public Policy Research Center, co-hosted the workshop “Yemen After the War.” This report summarizes the discussions from the workshop, which looked beyond the prospects for a cessation of hostilities in the short term and considered paths for political reconciliation and economic recovery in the long term. Read more
Global oil markets have gone from strength to strength following an unprecedented level of cooperation between OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers to reduce global oil supplies in an effort to shore up prices and resuscitate their ailing economies. The alliance of oil-producing countries, which accounts for around 60 percent of global oil supplies, has pledged to reduce output by almost 1.8 million barrels per day (mb/d) starting January 1, 2017. Non-OPEC producers reached an agreement on December 10 to reduce supplies by around 560,000 b/d (kb/d), which followed OPEC’s November 30 production accord to cut output by 1.2 mb/d. Read more
The new Trump administration will likely offer a more transactional view of U.S. foreign policy toward the Middle East, and specifically toward the Gulf states. In perhaps a warning of shifts to come, there was a clear message from U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter at the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain on December 10. Carter bluntly told an audience of Gulf policymakers, analysts, and military staff that the United States would expect the Gulf Arab states to do more in maintaining regional peace and security. Read more
Dissatisfied with existing political dynamics, a group of young activists established a think tank as a new approach to effectively contribute to Kuwaiti politics. The Rai Institute for Strategic Studies and Research is the first private think tank in Kuwait. It aims to provide fact-based research and analysis to better inform the issues influencing, and influenced by, Kuwaiti politics. Khaled Alfadala, co-founder of the Rai Institute, shared the vision behind the initiative, and described the type of research and projects it has been working on, in a discussion summarized by AGSIW. Read more
يجد الرئيس المنتخب دونالد ترامب نفسه قبل أقل من خمسة أسابيع على ادلائه بقسم اليمين أنه يحارب على أكثر من جبهة، وأن عدد خصومه ومنتقديه الذين يغطون الطيف السياسي والايديولوجي بأكمله سوف يزداد إذا واصل إصراره على التصرف بعد انتخابه كما كان يتصرف كمرشح، وكأنه يتمتع بحصانة لا تخترق، وغير خاضع لأي مساءلة أو محاسبة على سلوكه وقراراته اطلع على المزيد
In the Media
Speaking with Al Monitor, AGSIW Chair of the Board Frank G. Wisner commented on ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson's nomination as U.S. secretary of state and his experience with Russia: "There is no question that we have to find some modus vivendi with the Russians.” Wisner continued, “That does not mean we have to give in to them. We have to find some balance in the relationship."
Speaking with The National, AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Karen E. Young commented on a new labor law in Qatar set to replace the kafala system: "Most foreign workers in Qatar will not see any real improvement in terms of mobility between jobs, or freedom to exit."
Outreach
On December 12, Senior Resident Scholar Karen E. Young spoke about demographic changes and economic challenges in the Middle East during a panel discussion at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. Additionally, Young andAGSIW President Ambassador Marcelle M. Wahba attended the IISS Manama Dialogue as delegates, December 9-11.
Position Title: Grant Writer Department/Team: Programs and Communication Period: Part Time (20 hours/week, no benefits) Location: Washington, DC Read more
