U.S.-KURDISH RELATIONS IN POST-INVASION IRAQ Aram Rafaat* The Kurds’ desire to secure and consolidate the freedoms they enjoyed in the decade prior to the U.S. invasion of Iraq has reshaped U.S.-Kurdish relations in many ways. In order to keep Iraq united with a strong central government, U.S. policy tries to ensure that the Kurds do […]
Morocco’s 2007 Elections: A Social Reading
Г?ВЇГ?В»Г?Вї MOROCCO’S 2007 ELECTIONS: A SOCIAL READING Samir Ben-Layashi* This article discusses the social and political context of Morocco’s 2007 parliamentary elections, which brought surprising results. It attempts to explain why the moderate Islamic party, the PJD, did not achieve an overwhelming victory as was expected. It also explores why the formerly undefeatable socialist party, […]
Iran’s Nuclear and Syria’s Iraq Adventures
Г?ВЇГ?В»Г?Вї IRAN’S NUCLEAR AND SYRIA’S IRAQ ADVENTURES Barry Rubin* The two main areas where the alliance of radical forces in the Middle East confront Western interests and pose a danger of major instability are Iran’s drive for nuclear weapons and Syria’s efforts to destabilize Iraq. This article considers these two issues. First, it examines what […]
Islamist Groups in Lebanon
ISLAMIST GROUPS IN LEBANON Gary C. Gambill* The article examines the evolution of three distinct poles of Islamism in Lebanon and how they have adapted to changes in local political and security conditions over the past three decades. Although Lebanon’s ethno-sectarian demography is manifestly unsuitable for the establishment of an Islamic state, the salience of […]
The Waziristan Accord
Г?ВЇГ?В»Г?Вї THE WAZIRISTAN ACCORD Evagoras C. Leventis* The Waziristan Accord between Pakistan’s government and tribal leaders in that country’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has failed not only to curb violence in the immediate region but also to restrict cross-border militant activity—including resurgent Taliban and al-Qa’ida cadres—between Pakistan’s “tribal belt” and Afghanistan. The purpose of […]
Azerbaijan and the Challenge of Multiple Identities: In Search of a Global Soul
 AZERBAIJAN AND THE CHALLENGE OF MULTIPLE IDENTITIES: IN SEARCH OF A GLOBAL SOUL Alireza Asgharzadeh* This article focuses on emerging Azerbaijani identity and its competing versions in the Republic of Azerbaijan, Iran, and in the diaspora. The Republic of Azerbaijan has over eight million people compared with more than 20 million Azeris in […]