Unpacking Israel’s deterrence strategy after Iran’s missile attack Stacie Goddard and Boaz Atzili - April 25, 2024 A conversation with Boaz Aztili on Israel’s deterrence moves – and Iran's calculations
Iran is playing a high-stakes game by attacking Israel Jacquelyn Schneider - April 17, 2024 What political science tells us about conflict, war, and unmanned attacks.
Biden will visit Israel during a war. That’s unprecedented. Elizabeth N. Saunders - October 17, 2023 The humanitarian crisis and escalation fears heighten uncertainty.
Will the Hamas attack on Israel lead to a broader regional war? Elizabeth N. Saunders and Austin Carson - October 12, 2023 Even bitter adversaries have tools to control escalation.
Gaza and Israel: Five things to watch Marc Lynch - October 9, 2023 Here’s what you need to know following Saturday’s attack by Hamas.
Why El Salvador’s mass arrests won’t lower the murder rate Michael Paarlberg - July 10, 2022 By promising to reduce homicides, politicians are forced to make deals with the gangs
How the Ukraine crisis could make the Syrian civil war worse Tiina Hyyppä and Aaron Pilkington - May 23, 2022 Shifting Russian troops away from Syria risks opening up new threats
Can Lebanon’s new opposition win? Sami Atallah and Christiana Parreira - May 12, 2022 The same parties have ruled since 2005 — and they’re counting on old alliances to remain in power
Will the attack on Iran’s nuclear research facility derail U.S. nuclear talks? Dalia Dassa Kaye - April 13, 2021 The Biden administration will find it difficult to contain Israel and Iran’s escalating tensions.
Another unity government won’t solve Lebanon’s crisis Christiana Parreira - August 20, 2020 Research shows ideologically opposed parties rarely share power well
What happens now to Lebanon’s government? Here’s why real reforms may be unlikely. Bassel Salloukh - August 17, 2020 The Aug. 4 explosion may be unable to shift the power structure.
Has Israel been sabotaging Iran? Here’s what we know. Dalia Dassa Kaye - July 15, 2020 Four reasons Israel might be waging its shadow war more overtly — which could backfire.
Will Soleimani’s death change Iran’s relationship with the Revolutionary Guard? Dina Esfandiary - January 8, 2020 Soleimani’s heavy-handed approach of using armed militias and proxies turned local opinion against Iran.
How terrorism helps — and hurts — Iran Daniel Byman - January 3, 2020 Why Iran supports terrorist groups — and what the consequences can be.
How did the U.S. get to the brink of war with Iran? Afshon Ostovar - January 3, 2020 The assassination of Soleimani will provoke Iran to act
The U.S. finally released military aid to Lebanon. Here’s what it will — and won’t — achieve. Zachary Karabatak - December 8, 2019 Don’t expect direct influence over Hezbollah
Why did Iran’s government shut down protests so quickly and violently? Dina Esfandiary - December 4, 2019 Doing so stopped the protests — but probably won’t next time.
These Iraqi militias are attacking protesters and getting away with it. Here’s why. Thanassis Cambanis, Renad Mansour, and Michael Hanna - November 17, 2019 They’re supported by the Iraqi government — and by Iran.
Lebanon’s government resigned. Here are three possibilities for what’s next. Jeffrey Karam - October 31, 2019 One, of course, is listening to protesters’ demands for reforms.
Lebanese are protesting in all regions of the country, not just Beirut. Here’s why that matters. Kelly Stedem and Christiana Parreira - October 23, 2019 That’s never happened before.
Lebanon’s economic crisis didn’t happen overnight. So how did it get to this point? Hannes Baumann - October 22, 2019 Here’s why the government’s latest response doesn’t meet protesters’ demands.
Assad’s control over Syria’s security apparatus is limited Katherine Nazemi and Alexander Decina - July 29, 2019 Beneath an image of centralized authority is a divided system of competing security actors.
Oil probably won’t cause a war with Iran, but it certainly adds fuel to the blaze Jeff Colgan - July 20, 2019 Tensions are high, and liquid natural gas tankers are vulnerable to attack.
Iran’s network of fighters in the Middle East aren’t always loyal to Iran Ariane Tabatabai and Becca Wasser - May 20, 2019 They are more than willing to ignore what Iran tells them to do.
Designating Iranian military unit a ‘terrorist organization’ will make U.S. relations with Iran more difficult. Here’s how. Afshon Ostovar - April 8, 2019 It’s a first for the United States to designate a foreign government entity as a terrorist organization.
Trump’s Golan Heights tweet disregards decades of U.S. commitment to U.N. resolutions Jeremy Pressman - March 22, 2019 Here’s what recognizing Israeli sovereignty of the strategic land could mean for the region.
Lebanon finally has a new government. Here are three reasons for cautious optimism. Jeffrey Karam - January 31, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83351" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, smiles
Is MS-13 as dangerous as Trump suggests? Mariely Lopez-Santana, Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, and Camilo Pardo - December 7, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81146" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Police detain suspects after dismantling a
Yemen’s looming famine has been a long time coming Peter Salisbury - December 5, 2018 [caption id="attachment_81069" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A father gives water to his
An emerging populism is sweeping the Middle East Renad Mansour and Lina Khatib - July 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75521" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr
Does ‘zero tolerance’ protect the U.S. from terrorism or crime? Let’s examine the evidence. Tricia Bacon - June 28, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75064" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Children stand and hold protest signs
Why Iran’s involvement in Syria may backfire Thomas Juneau - June 12, 2018 [caption id="attachment_74447" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A convoy of Syrian government forces
The Trump administration wants regime change in Iran. But regime change usually doesn’t work. Lindsey O'Rourke and Alexander Downes - May 23, 2018 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People march in Tehran on Feb.
What can we learn from Lebanon’s elections? Amanda Rizkallah - May 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73208" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri gives
Lebanese citizens vote Sunday. Here are 4 things to know about the first parliamentary elections since 2009. Jeffrey Karam - May 4, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72951" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A poster of the Koullouna Watani
Putin wants a shining legacy. He has to solve 3 big problems first. Philipp Casula and Camille-Renaud Merlen - April 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72203" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the
Why Gaza’s ‘March of Return’ isn’t dominating Arab headlines Marc Lynch - April 13, 2018 On Friday, March 30, Israeli troops killed more than 20
Should the Obama administration have made different decisions about Syria? This is what a controversial study found. Mona Yacoubian - April 2, 2018 [caption id="attachment_71701" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Civilians flee from reported regime airstrikes
Russia is trying to limit its casualties in Syria. Here’s why that is bad for Syrian civilians. Lionel Beehner - March 28, 2018 [caption id="attachment_71523" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a
New data shed light on the dramatic protests in Iran Peyman Asadzade - January 12, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68064" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Iranian riot police prevent university students
Lebanon’s economic dependence on Saudi Arabia is dangerous Hannes Baumann - December 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66999" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese President Michel Aoun, right, speaks
Survey research in the Middle East needs to be transparent. Here’s why. David Pollock - November 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66326" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Qatari woman walks in front
Why Lebanon’s prime minister resigned Jeffrey Karam - November 8, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65978" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri resigned
What Saudi Arabia’s purge means for the Middle East Marc Lynch - November 6, 2017 International and domestic crises dominated Saudi Arabia over the weekend. On Saturday,
Iran’s involvement in Syria is costly. Here’s why most Iranians still support it. Peyman Asadzade - October 19, 2017 [caption id="attachment_65055" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Mourners escort the truck carrying the
How political science can shed light on the Holocaust Museum’s Syria report Matthew Cebul - October 17, 2017 [caption id="attachment_64973" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Smoke billows from buildings after a
Are Islamists making a comeback in the Middle East? Here’s why they succeed — and fail. Marc Lynch, Kristen Kao, and Ellen Lust - September 25, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63878" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A woman casts her ballot at
How 9/11 created a feedback loop for international jihadism Martha Crenshaw and Lisa Blaydes - September 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63827" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. soldiers and Iraqi civilians pull
Venezuela’s instability has far broader implications. Here’s what’s at stake. Annette Idler - August 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56315" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A demonstrator throws stones at riot
Will Trump’s ‘principled realism’ let autocrats off the hook? Quinn Mecham - May 24, 2017 [caption id="attachment_58806" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump speaks during the Arab
Trump just bombed Syria. What next? Marc Lynch - April 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56528" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A satellite image of Shayrat Airfield
Many Syrians are skeptical of peace talks. Here’s why. Dareen Khalifa - February 3, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53522" align="aligncenter" width="960"] From left: Turkish Foreign Ministry Deputy
Designating the Muslim Brotherhood a “terrorist organization” puts academic researchers at risk Andrew March - January 25, 2017 [caption id="attachment_52944" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Election posters in Jordan in 2016, including Muslim
Americans dislike the Islamic State more than Putin or Assad. Here’s how this shapes policy preferences. Shibley Telhami - November 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48800" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Russian President Vladimir Putin walks with
Jihadis in Congo? Probably not. Kristof Titeca - September 27, 2016 [caption id="attachment_46830" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Congolese soldier from the Armed
When does Islam generate Western anxiety? Mujtaba Isani and Daniel Silverman - July 28, 2016 [caption id="attachment_44565" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A girl reads the Koran during
Nice now has a reputation as a breeding ground for terrorists Jennifer Fredette - July 24, 2016 [caption id="attachment_44348" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People arrive with flowers to add to
This is the problem with trying to destroy the Islamic State Colin Clarke and Chad Serena - July 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_42441" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A fighter of the Islamic State
No, Yemen’s Houthis actually aren’t Iranian puppets Thomas Juneau - May 16, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40606" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Armed members of a Houthi militia
How can al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula be defeated? Elisabeth Kendall - May 3, 2016 [caption id="attachment_40035" align="aligncenter" width="908"] People inspect damage at a site
What really stands in the way of a negotiated end to Syria’s war? William Reed, Katherine Sawyer, and Gallagher Cunningham - February 4, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35337" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A civil defence member reacts at
Why Saudi Arabia escalated the Middle East’s sectarian conflict Marc Lynch - January 4, 2016 The Jan. 2, 2016, execution of Saudi Shiite cleric and
This is why the Paris attacks have gotten more news coverage than other terrorist attacks Brian Phillips - November 16, 2015 It seemed like the world stopped. News outlets devoted nonstop
What Iran will really do with its sanctions relief windfall Eric Lob - November 4, 2015 [caption id="attachment_31702" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif
Do public goods have to be public? Not in some African countries. Lauren MacLean, Jeffrey Paller, and Danielle Kushner - September 23, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29755" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] A young girl stands to answer
What a garbage crisis tells us about Lebanese politics Rola el-Husseini - August 4, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28203" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Garbage is piled around a car
When does religion win support for armed groups in Lebanon? Michael Hoffman and Elizabeth Nugent - June 30, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26756" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] In this picture taken Feb.
Why isn't there an anti-Iran alliance? - June 3, 2015 The Iranian flag flies in front of a UN building
Why isn’t there an anti-Iran alliance? Gregory Gause - June 3, 2015 The Iranian flag flies in front of a UN building
Sectarianism after the Saudi mosque bombings Toby Matthiesen - May 29, 2015 Just seven days after one of the deadliest bombings Saudi
Has Saudi Arabia already won its Yemen war? Silvana Toska - May 15, 2015 Despite the current humanitarian ceasefire, Saudi Arabia’s military operation in
How sectarianism shapes Yemen's war - April 13, 2015 Saudi Arabia and Egypt are mounting a military intervention in
How sectarianism shapes Yemen’s war Jeff Colgan - April 13, 2015 Saudi Arabia and Egypt are mounting a military intervention in
How Iraqi Sunnis really feel about the Islamic State Munqith al-Dagher - March 24, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23025" align="aligncenter" width="620"] In this June 16, 2014 file
What's behind Yemen's recent political turmoil - February 23, 2015 [caption id="attachment_21625" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Yemeni man reads a
What’s behind Yemen’s recent political turmoil Stephen Day - February 23, 2015 [caption id="attachment_21625" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Yemeni man reads a
Why academics can't get beyond moderates and radicals - February 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_21194" align="alignnone" width="620"] Protesters from the Islamic Action Front
Why academics can’t get beyond moderates and radicals Jillian Schwedler - February 12, 2015 [caption id="attachment_21194" align="alignnone" width="620"] Protesters from the Islamic Action Front
Cracks in the Hezbollah monopoly Rola el-Husseini - January 8, 2015 [caption id="attachment_19973" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Hezbollah supporter holds up a
The best Middle East political science books of 2014 Marc Lynch - December 29, 2014 [caption id="attachment_19560" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Saudi Shiite protesters demonstrate against the death
Militaries, civilians and the crisis of the Arab state Yezid Sayigh - December 8, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18780" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iraqi soldiers parade inside the main
The resurgence of Arab militaries Robert Springborg - December 5, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18665" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A supporter of Egyptian President Abdel
The politics of Israel's security officers - November 21, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18367" align="alignnone" width="620"] Israeli soldiers from the paratroop brigade
The politics of Israel’s security officers Brent E. Sasley - November 21, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18367" align="alignnone" width="620"] Israeli soldiers from the paratroop brigade
Sectarianism comes back to bite Saudi Arabia Toby Matthiesen - November 18, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18229" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Saudi Shiite protesters take part in
The evolution of Islamism since the Arab uprisings Quinn Mecham - October 24, 2014 [caption id="attachment_17089" align="aligncenter" width="620"] An Egyptian protester ransacks the Muslim
Islamists and their charities Marc Lynch - October 15, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16814" align="aligncenter" width="620"] The Islamic Medical Association's Central Charity
What's so new about the Islamic State's governance? Megan Stewart - October 7, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16637" align="aligncenter" width="803"] The entrance to a museum in
What’s so new about the Islamic State’s governance? Megan Stewart - October 7, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16637" align="aligncenter" width="803"] The entrance to a museum in
How Hezbollah helps (and what it gets out of it) Melani Cammett - October 2, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16487" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] File: Supporters of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader
Who’s afraid of an 'Islamic state'? Lawrence Rubin - October 2, 2014 Trying to make sense of the patterns of alignments in
Who’s afraid of an ‘Islamic state’? Lawrence Rubin - October 2, 2014 Trying to make sense of the patterns of alignments in
Shifting balances of power in Yemen's crisis Silvana Toska - September 26, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16249" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Supporters of the Houthi movement shout
Shifting balances of power in Yemen’s crisis Silvana Toska - September 26, 2014 [caption id="attachment_16249" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Supporters of the Houthi movement shout
What's next for the Syrian regime's non-state allies Ora Szekely - September 10, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15578" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A poster showing Syria's President Bashar
What’s next for the Syrian regime’s non-state allies Ora Szekely - September 10, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15578" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A poster showing Syria's President Bashar
Political science after Gaza Marc Lynch - July 29, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13766" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Smoke rises from Tuffah neighborhood after
Will Eastern Ukraine turn into Northern Ireland? Serhiy Kudelia - July 26, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13669" align="aligncenter" width="908"] An armored personnel carrier flying Ukraine's
Proxy war can have dangerous consequences Erica D. Borghard - July 25, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13635" align="alignnone" width="620"] A pro-Russian fighter stands near a
Why the Ukraine separatists screwed up: Badly organized insurgents can't master complex weapons systems Stephen Biddle and Ivan Oelrich - July 21, 2014 [caption id="attachment_13277" align="alignnone" width="620"] Ukrainian rescue servicemen inspect part of