On April 27, the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington hosted the international conference “Petro Diplomacy: The Political Economy of Volatile Oil Prices” to analyze the critical issues triggered by the recent decline in oil prices. Scholars, analysts, and CEOs from all over the world representing academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, multilateral organizations, and the private sector, including shale oil producers, attended the conference. Read full conference report
For the final session of the conference, several participants joined moderator Stephen Seche, AGSIW executive vice president, for an open forum discussion reviewing the day's proceedings. Watch event video
Norway and Qatar could help defuse future conflicts between Israel and Hamas by establishing an expert advisory group that could consult with Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and Israel on how to develop a strategic roadmap in order to prevent the all too familiar on-and-off conflict pattern between Israel and Hamas. Qatar could play an indispensable leadership role by helping to secure clean water access for Gaza’s impoverished population by coordinating with Israel to bring in urgently needed supplies while at the same time attempt to negotiate a long-term truce between the two opposing parties. Read More
With the international negotiations with Iran entering their final stage, all parties are reading from the same script in terms of managing expectations. The consistent message is that although there are numerous issues still unresolved, everyone is determined to finalise an agreement.
The second half of that statement is even more true than the first. Some of the toughest issues – including details of the inspection regime, the nature and timing of sanctions relief and what kind of nuclear research and development Iran would be allowed under an accord – are still not fully agreed. And while the parties have extended their deadline until at least July 7, they are clearly running out of time. If they do not have a deal by the end of the month, they are unlikely to ever get there. Read More
The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington is pleased to announce that Dr. Karen E. Young has joined the institute as a senior resident scholar. She joins Hussein Ibish and Kristin Smith Diwan on the senior resident scholar team.
Before joining AGSIW, Young was research fellow at the Middle East Centre (MEC) of the London School of Economics and Political Science from 2014-15, where she retains a non-resident affiliation. Based in Dubai from 2008-14, she was assistant professor of political science at the American University of Sharjah (UAE) from 2009-14. Her research interests include comparative politics, international relations, and political economy, focusing on processes of economic and political transition, state formation, and foreign policy decision-making. Read More
In the Media
AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish was quoted in an article on Vox about the threats the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), or ISIS, poses on Hamas in Gaza. Ibish noted that "the secular nationalism" of Fatah and "the Islamist nationalism of [Hamas] have run aground." He continued, "So in come the anti-nationalists, who say 'no, no, that's all wrong. It's all about God, Umma, and the caliphate.'"
