Begun in 2010 on the cusp of the Arab Spring, Fikra Forum is an initiative of the Washington Institute designed to provide on-the-ground perspectives and insight on the most pressing current events facing the Middle East. The platform’s bilingual nature makes our articles accessible to the D.C. policy community as well as both English- and Arabic-speaking publics.
Our hundreds of contributors provide a broad range of perspectives on the region’s political, economic, and social challenges. These diverse viewpoints include journalists, analysts, politicians, human rights advocates, and other engaged individuals from across the Middle East and elsewhere, each drawing on their individual experiences and expertise.
Fikra Forum also works to expand an understanding of these issues from both governing and popular perspectives. Its “Youth in Focus” initiative is designed to promote the voices of younger journalists and analysts, highlighting their perspectives on issues of particular concern to the youth bulge in the Middle East. Fikra Forum director David Pollock’s annual polling series, along with periodic contributions from regional pollsters, allows for a broader look at regional public opinion, tracking both trends and views on current foreign policy concerns.
