Qatar’s Regional Relations and Foreign Policy After Al Ula
The agreement ending the rift with Qatar seems to have helped mitigate some regional tensions, but will the spirit of cooperation continue?
Politics and Governance
All the Kings’ Sons
Recent leadership transitions in the Gulf monarchies are crystallizing a trend toward direct lineage and away from fraternal succession, consolidating decision making and centralizing state power.
Slender Beijing-Tehran Agreement: More is Less, Despite Hype
China is not going to jeopardize relations with the United States or the Gulf Arab states for stronger ties with an Iran of marginal economic and political value.
Security
Battlefield Realities Overshadow Some Core Yemeni Concerns in Peace Process
With multiple interests at play, peacemaking in Yemen is a complex problem that goes beyond one party's willingness to take action.
Libya 10 Years After the NATO Intervention: U.N. Report Explains Challenges
The U.N. Panel of Experts report illustrates exactly how militarized Libya remains today as well as how unsuccessful the international community has been in combatting foreign interference.
Can a New Iranian Book Help Develop a Gulf Regional Security Framework?
Ambassador Frank G. Wisner, AGSIW’s board chair, looks at Seyed Hossein Mousavian’s “A New Structure for Security, Peace, and Cooperation in the Persian Gulf.”
Economy
Israel-UAE Normalization: Poised for Economic Breakout
Given the complementarity of long-term economic interests between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, and the ties already taking root, relations will likely continue to growth.
Arar Border Opening: Saudi Arabia Steps Up Economic Competition in Iraq
Saudi Arabia must compete with other regional hegemons, mainly Turkey and Iran, as it works to increase its economic influence in Iraq.
UAE Moves to Retain and Attract Talented Expatriates
Emirati officials are rolling out an array of policies and initiatives intended to attract higher-skilled expatriates, but overlapping initiatives will likely heighten regional competition over foreign talent.
Energy
Iraq Puts Faith in Total To Deliver More Gas, Water, and Solar Projects
A $7 billion deal with French oil major Total could provide a lifeline for Iraq’s fragile economy.
OPEC+ Oil Producers Hold Course as Demand Worries Persist
Saudi Arabia and Russia appear to be on the same page now, but OPEC+ will have to consider the impacts of its market management policies if it wants to avoid the pitfalls that have contributed to oil price volatility in the past.
Oil Price Recovery Reverses 2020 Losses as OPEC+ Stays the Course
OPEC+ producers seem to have adopted a wait-and-see attitude, but as maintaining production cuts becomes more difficult for the smaller producers, they may be tempted to cash in while prices are high.
Environment
Pressure Builds on Gulf Countries To Take Climate Action
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic dealt a significant blow to global climate diplomacy, but the strengthening of a number of trends might signal more momentous changes to come.
Oman’s Tradition of Environmental Protection Runs Into Economic Headwinds
The Omani government’s focus on protecting the natural environment and wildlife goes back decades, but a shift in authorities might jeopardize the country’s progress toward advancing its national climate strategy.
Gulf States’ Climate Change Policies Amid a Global Pandemic
The coronavirus pandemic represents an opportunity to reevaluate existing policies and tools, and climate change provides the needed lens for redirecting development onto sustainable trajectories.
Society
Revitalizing Yemen’s Ancient Traditions of Coffee Cultivation
Young Yemenis set up coffee startups to bolster Yemen’s agricultural sector, setting the stage for economic recovery and social change.
Labor Reforms in Saudi Arabia: Ambitious Focus on Foreign Workers and Unemployment
New labor reforms are an important first step to improve conditions for foreign workers and could open the door for wider reforms.
Abdullah Al Bahrani: Bringing Economic Education and Financial Literacy to Young Omanis
Through YouTube videos, podcasts, and innovative educational programs, an Omani microeconomist encourages informed discussion about key issues of diversification and youth employment.
Arts and Culture
Latifa Al Khalifa: A Local Curator Showcases Gulf Societies
From collecting wedding photos and exploring the evolution of khaleeji music to using humor to write about how people behave during the holy month of Ramadan, a Bahraini curator brings to light intriguing stories about Gulf societies.
Children’s Literature in the Gulf: Reviving the Art of Local Storytelling
Local authors contribute to the region’s art of storytelling and revive the heritage of traditional tales.
101: Stimulating the UAE’s Grassroots Art Scene
During the coronavirus lockdown, young Emiratis set up a platform to support emerging local artists and engage with a wider audience to inspire curiosity and raise awareness about the local art scene.
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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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