Middle East

Refugees
commentary
The Syrian Forever War Has Created Forever Refugees
Shelly Culbertson @SC_Culbertson
Nov 24, 2020
The National Interest
Without a formal peace agreement that commits to safety for returnees and creates a foundation for investment in Syria's demolished infrastructure, Syrians will not go home. They fear returning because of reports of returnees being arrested, imprisoned, and tortured.
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Gender Equity in the Workplace
blog
Working Women, the Intelligence Community, Syrian Refugees: RAND Weekly Recap
Dec 4, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on supporting America's working women, challenges facing the next Director of National Intelligence, how Syria's forever war is creating forever refugees, and more.
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Yemen
commentary
Yemen's Chaos Creates a New Opportunity for the Biden-Harris Team
Daniel Egel, Trevor Johnston
Nov 24, 2020
The National Interest
More than one-quarter million Yemenis have been killed in the nation's civil war. And 150,000 children have died from starvation and left Yemen on the brink of collapse. The foundations of peace must be Yemeni-led, but there is much that the new U.S. administration could do to support the process.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
Schools and COVID-19, Health Care Resources, Leaving Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap
Nov 20, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on allocating scarce but lifesaving resources during a pandemic, insights from America’s educators, the lopsided telework revolution, and more.
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Refugees
commentary
Five Strategies to Address Employment Hurdles Faced by Young Syrian Women Refugees
Namita Datta, Louay Constant @LouayConstant, Kavell Joseph
Oct 30, 2020
The World Bank Jobs and Development Blog
Young Syrian women refugees face enormous challenges in finding meaningful work in host countries, with many relying on humanitarian aid to meet their basic needs. How can employment obstacles be addressed for young Syrian women refugees in a post–COVID-19 environment?
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Middle East
commentary
In the Middle East, Russia and China Expand Their Influence
Ali Wyne, Colin P. Clarke
Sep 18, 2020
Lawfare
While the United States is concerned primarily about a resurgent China's inroads in the Middle East, it is also nervous about the gambits of a revanchist Russia. As the United States decides when and how to contest China and Russia—in and beyond the Middle East—it will have to resist alarmism as vigorously as complacency.
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Afghanistan
commentary
The Islamic State in Afghanistan Is Down, but Not Out
Abdul Sayed, Colin P. Clarke
Sep 14, 2020
Newsweek
The Afghan Taliban is on the verge of entering into a power-sharing agreement with the Afghan government in a peace deal facilitated by the United States. Washington seems to be holding out hope that the deal will stabilize the country. But the Islamic State Khorasan Province remains a concern. The Islamic State in Afghanistan may be down, but it's not out.
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Al Qaida
commentary
Is al Qaida Still a Threat?
Asfandyar Mir, Colin P. Clarke
Sep 9, 2020
Foreign Affairs
Nineteen years after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, does al Qaida still pose a significant threat to U.S. national security? Among researchers, military and intelligence officials, and policymakers who study the group, there is little consensus. An accurate assessment of al Qaida's organizational health must take into account the group's recent and dramatic resurrection.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
The Evidence on Kids and COVID-19, China's Use of Big Data, Telemedicine: RAND Weekly Recap
Sep 4, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on what we know (and what we don't) about kids and COVID-19, how China is using big data, the future of telemedicine, and more.
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Lebanon
commentary
Addressing Lebanon's Ailments, Acute and Chronic
Krishna B. Kumar @kbkumar_, Louay Constant @LouayConstant
Sep 1, 2020
RealClearWorld
The recent explosion in Beirut has again led to calls for political and economic reforms in Lebanon. The country has an economy in crisis, corruption, few job opportunities, and an influx of 1.5 million Syrian refugees. Sustained global investment is needed if Lebanon is to recover over the long run.
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Political Reform Movements
blog
Radicalization, the Gender Pay Gap, Israel-UAE Deal: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 21, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on the potential for a new era of radicalization, insights into the gender pay gap, why the Israel-UAE deal doesn’t merit the hype, and more.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
Why Israel-UAE Deal Doesn't Merit the Hype
Dalia Dassa Kaye
Aug 18, 2020
Al-Monitor
Some have called the Israel-UAE normalization agreement a geopolitical earthquake. But the hyperbole is not warranted; this deal is unlikely to be a strategic game changer in the Middle East.
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International Diplomacy
commentary
What to Watch to Understand the Sino-Iranian Relationship
Colin P. Clarke, Mollie Saltskog
Aug 13, 2020
Lawfare
Beijing and Tehran are in the process of finalizing an ambitious partnership covering a range of security and economic issues. The United States should not overreact to shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East, and should instead keep an eye out to assess the evolution of the relationship and take stock of what is delivered instead of what is merely promised.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
Can America Weaken the Russia-Iran Axis?
Colin P. Clarke, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Jul 31, 2020
Newsweek
America's slow-motion retreat in Syria could embolden Iran and Russia and perhaps lead them to underestimate U.S. resolve to protect its interests in the Middle East. Clearer U.S. priorities and more deliberate engagement could reduce risk and help avoid miscalculation.
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Counterterrorism
commentary
Can Sudan Escape Its History as a Transit Hub for Violent Extremist Organizations?
Peter Chalk, Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, Colin P. Clarke
Jul 24, 2020
Foreign Policy Research Institute
Sudan continues to confront major challenges that could derail its path back to the mainstream of international politics. Sudan must show that it is no longer a haven for terrorist and violent extremist groups and that it is committed to ensuring that this remains true.
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Syria
commentary
With Rollout of Caesar Sanctions on Syria, U.S. Is Just Getting Started in New Bid to End War
Howard J. Shatz @HowardJShatz
Jul 22, 2020
RealClearDefense
In June, the U.S. government announced the implementation of the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act with a flurry of sanctions against 39 people and entities connected with the Assad regime. There is much more to come. Syria, and Russia and Iran, have not yet felt the Caesar Act in full force.
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Middle East

The Syrian Forever War Has Created Forever Refugees

Working Women, the Intelligence Community, Syrian Refugees: RAND Weekly Recap

Yemen's Chaos Creates a New Opportunity for the Biden-Harris Team

Schools and COVID-19, Health Care Resources, Leaving Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap

Five Strategies to Address Employment Hurdles Faced by Young Syrian Women Refugees

In the Middle East, Russia and China Expand Their Influence

The Islamic State in Afghanistan Is Down, but Not Out

Is al Qaida Still a Threat?

The Evidence on Kids and COVID-19, China's Use of Big Data, Telemedicine: RAND Weekly Recap

Addressing Lebanon's Ailments, Acute and Chronic

Radicalization, the Gender Pay Gap, Israel-UAE Deal: RAND Weekly Recap

Why Israel-UAE Deal Doesn't Merit the Hype

What to Watch to Understand the Sino-Iranian Relationship

Can America Weaken the Russia-Iran Axis?

Can Sudan Escape Its History as a Transit Hub for Violent Extremist Organizations?

With Rollout of Caesar Sanctions on Syria, U.S. Is Just Getting Started in New Bid to End War

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