Saudi Arabia is directly and indirectly waging a war on practically all fronts, whether declared or not. In doing so it has the moral and practical backing of many of its fellow Gulf Arab governments and of its principal defense and security ally, the United States.
To its north, Saudi Arabia has conducted airstrikes in Iraq against targets from the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and is associated with disaffected Sunni Arabs periodically resisting the government. Further north, Saudi Arabia is funding and arming some anti-regime Syrian fighters. To its east, it has deployed armed forces to defend the Bahraini leadership and could do so again. The Jordanian border to the kingdom’s northeast is relatively stable but fear of ISIL penetration is a constant. In Yemen, to its south, Saudi Arabia has conducted a six-month air war and is increasing its currently modest ground force contribution. Read more
Michael Herb is an accomplished scholar of the Gulf Arab states and his new book appeals to the growing academic and policy interest in the sub-region. Conducting research in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states presents challenges: state surveillance, lack of transparency in government decision-making, including access to basic demographic and economic data, and the cultural aversion to discussing political matters publicly. Herb makes an important move forward in the field by applying both methodological discipline and standard concepts of comparative politics to his cases. Read more
On September 9, AGSIW invited undergraduate and graduate students from the Gulf region and those studying the Gulf and the broader Middle East to an open house and reception. AGSIW staff and senior resident scholars met with the students and discussed the institute’s work and mission, how to better engage with youth in the Washington, DC community, and internship and employment opportunities. Read more
In the Media
Ahead of planned resumed peace talks on Yemen, AGSIW Executive Vice President Stephen Seche spoke with BBC World News about increased resistance to Saudi-led airstrikes, the introduction of ground forces, and the potential for success of peace talks. Seche noted, "There has got to be some real commitment on the part of both parties to offer concessions."
The Middle East Eye addressed a possible shift in British policy on Syria, after Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond suggested Britain might consider a plan that would allow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to temporarily stay in power. AGSIW Senior Resident Scholar Hussein Ibish told Middle East Eye that U.S. policy is unchanged, noting “This comes at a time when US rhetoric towards the regime is actually getting much tougher as Washington and Tehran re-engage each other on issues beyond the now-finalised nuclear agreement and, it seems, rediscovering the depth of their disagreement on everything else, including Syria.”
Department/Team: Program Outreach and Communication
Period: Full-Time
Location: Washington, DC
This position is responsible for supporting the Program Outreach and Communication team by developing and coordinating AGSIW’s digital presence and growth including strategy and planning. Collaborate proactively with all elements of AGSIW as appropriate to:
Develop engaging, timely, and relevant digital web content
Create, edit, post, and maintain written, audio/visual, and graphic content for the web
Design newsletters and email campaigns, manage email list-serve
Visiting Scholars are individuals who possess a PhD or equivalent professional experience, and whose primary purpose for residence at AGSIW is to conduct independent research. 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
Location: Washington, DC Close Date: Tuesday, September 15, 5:00 PM
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. Read more
Student Open House and Reception
