Regional Affairs

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Fractured Iraqi Shia Militias in Syria

In the midst of the civil war in Iraq, and as ISIL was threatening the central government in Baghdad, why were Iraqi Shias prioritizing Syria instead of defending Baghdad?

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Why Oil- and Gas-Rich Gulf Arab States are Turning to Coal

Burning coal produces almost double the amount of carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels such as diesel or natural gas. In 2015, coal accounted for 45 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

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Poor Governance, Corruption Spur Iraqi Protests

Ninety percent of Iraq’s oil wealth – the fifth largest proven oil reserves in the world – lies under the three southern governorates of Iraq.

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The GCC is Becoming More – and Less – than the Sum of Its Parts

As the United States and its Gulf partners intensify deliberations toward convening a U.S.-Gulf summit once scheduled for May, all parties are adjusting to new objectives and a shifting strategic landscape.

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Is Another U.S.-GCC Summit on the Horizon?

GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Political and Negotiation Affairs Abdel Aziz Aluwaisheg and Hussein Ibish discuss the state of U.S.-GCC relations and prospects for another summit.

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Four Decades in the Making: Shia Afghan Fatemiyoun Division of the Revolutionary Guards

Iran has provided support to Shia and Sunni Afghan militants for four decades, increasing its presence to fill the power vacuum.

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The Gulf Arab States in Venice: Architecture, Representation, and the Perils of Politics

Five Arab countries are participating in the 2018 Venice Architecture Biennale, including, for the first time, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

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Using Syria as a Training Ground: The Case of the Pakistani Zeinabiyoun Brigade

The Zeinabiyoun Brigade remains one of the least known and most understudied foreign Shia militias operating in Syria.

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Implications of Climate Policies for Gulf States’ Economic Diversification Strategies

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report indicates that each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850.

The UAE’s Network-Based Vision for Economic Integration

The United Arab Emirates’ global trade and investment policy is providing an alternative vision to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

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Through its careful examination of the forces shaping the evolution of Gulf societies and the new generation of emerging leaders, AGSIW facilitates a richer understanding of the role the countries in this key geostrategic region can be expected to play in the 21st century.

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