Policy Analysis

Although the Arab League's new sanctions on the Asad regime are welcome, they are unlikely to result in real transformation within the organization.

If recent provocations are any indicator, Tehran might become so fearful of an overt war that it starts one itself.

The second revolution has failed because, since a ceasefire went into effect on November 24, it has been remarkably well contained.

The growing armed opposition movement against the Asad regime is becoming an increasingly important element in the Syrian equation.

Judging from the first day of voting, the Muslim Brotherhood's theocratic political vision, empowered through elections, seems to be in Egypt's immediate future.

The debate over whether to sanction the Central Bank of Iran must consider the effectiveness of such action and the consequences for the world economy.

The Obama administration's once-powerful message to Egypt about strategic direction, democratic institutions, and economic growth has lost its voice. Even as polls open, it is still not too late to engage Egyptians on the consequences of their vote.

Although Israel is in favor of economic and diplomatic sanctions against Iran, its calculus is also based on how much time is left for military strikes to be effective.

For nuclear diplomacy to succeed, Tehran must believe that the United States will take military action against any effort to build a bomb.

As a new round of violence erupts in Egypt, Washington must prepare for the possibility that chaos and uncertainty will dominate the political scene for months to come.

The Bahrain government needs to act speedily on the findings of the inquiry into this year's troubles to avoid even bigger problems.

On November 16, 2011, Ehud Yaari and Normand St. Pierre addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Mr. Yaari is a Lafer international fellow with the Institute and a Middle East commentator for Israel's Channel Two television. Col. St. Pierre, a thirty-one-year veteran of the U.S. Army, retired recently

The following is an excerpt from an article that appeared in the 2012 Foreign Policy compilation Islamists in a Changing Middle East. To read the rest of the article, download the PDF. In addition, the full multiauthor compilation is available from the Foreign Policy website. On November 13, 2011, the

Washington's embrace of Ennahda, Tunisia's leading Islamist movement, should be predicated on the party's actions matching its promises to foster an open, democratic society.

Watch a special Policy Forum presentation on the State Department's proactive efforts to counter the radicalization campaigns that feed violent extremism.

Turkey is rising to the challenge to lead the Middle East by example.

On November 15, 2011, Reza Akhlaghi of Foreign Policy Association interviewed Mehdi Khalaji and Ramin Jahanbegloo regarding the institutionalization of violence in Iran, the regime's foreign policy, internal corruption, and a variety of other issues. The following is an excerpt from their in-depth remarks. AKHLAGHI: In Iran's evolving post-2009 politics

On November 8, 2011, Khalil Shikaki and Shai Feldman addressed a Policy Forum at The Washington Institute. Dr. Shikaki, a senior fellow with the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University, has directed the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in Ramallah since 2000. Dr. Feldman is

Despite technical setbacks and political indecision, the military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program apparently continue and will become even more challenging over time.

When the EU and Ankara decide to renew their decades-long accession dalliance, Turkey will enter the process from a point of strength for the first time.