Events
Syrian Refugees: Lessons from Other Conflicts and Possible Policies
Former Wilson Center fellow Rochelle Davis writes on the ongoing crisis in Syria involving refugees and the internally displaced. She makes a number of policy recommendations based upon the recent experiences of Iraqi and Palestinian refugees.
The Shiites and the U.S. in Iraq
The United States is facing a moment of truth in Iraq, the outcome of which will determine not only Iraq's political future but America's standing in the Middle East. Yitzhak Nakash, Chair of the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Department at Brandeis University explains that while moderate Shiites, who form the bulk of the Shiite majority in Iraq, have not yet joined Sadr's uprising, the U.S. must act quickly to avert an all-out Shiite revolt.
Sanctions and Medical Supply Shortages in Iran
The pronounced role of sanctions in creating shortages of life-saving medical supplies and drugs in Iran may have been unintentional, but it is also irrefutable. Iran’s own mismanagement of the situation has aggravated the problem, but it is not the root cause of it. While the list of issues leading to the supply crunch is long and complicated, at the heart of it all are the obstacles that sanctions have created in denying Iran the necessary banking operations and limiting its access to hard currency. Namazi presents findings based on a recent study that he and a number of Iranian consultants carried out.
The Winners and Losers of Syria's Civil War
Looking ahead to a post-Assad Syria, Aaron David Miller provides a preliminary scorecard of who the winners and losers will be, both within the splintered nation and among foreign stakeholders Russia, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the United States.
Reflections on Women in the Arab Spring: Women’s Voices from Around the World
In Celebration of International Women’s Day 2012
China and the Persian Gulf
Beijing, in its quest looking for energy resources, is slowly and steadily building ties with the resource-rich Persian Gulf states. What implications does this have for Washington which constantly looks to counterbalance China's influence in the global arena? This new book, edited by the Asia Program at the Wilson Center, examines China’s role in the Persian Gulf, evolving views on China from within the Gulf, and what China’s presence means for the United States.
The Media in International Affairs
Journalists and academics from around the world convened to discuss the state of reporting in their respective countries. Panelists discussed journalist's access to, and freedom to disseminate, information and the media's impact on public opinion and policy.
Tunisia’s Islamists Struggle to Rule
David Ottaway, a senior scholar at the Wilson Center, has recently returned from Tunisia. This piece is an overview of his observations of current challenges faced by Tunisia’s leadership.
