Publications

This paper looks at the internal and external challenges facing the Sunni community in Iraq. Among other things, it describes the reasons for the community's current estrangement from the government i...chevron_right

According to Sharan Grewal, the Tunisian military has had an interesting ride since the country's 2011 revolution. Once marginalized by Presidents Bourguiba and Ben Ali, it has been “depersonalized” as an instrument of state, made coup-proof by former President Marzouki, and had its status improved in unfamiliar ways.chevron_right

This paper sheds light on the group loyalties and identities that exist in the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), which continue to reflect the communal and political divisions that mar Lebanon's broader so...chevron_right

According to Fanar Haddad, the current clash of visions over the Iraqi state’s identity, legitimacy, and ownership long predates the US-led invasion of the country. He also believes the primary source of the clash remains sectarianism, as illustrated by the ongoing Sunni rejection of Shia state-building.chevron_right

This paper explains why four supposedly well-armed Iraqi divisions rapidly disintegrated in the face of the so-called Islamic State’s assault on Mosul in the summer of 2014. The text's author places t...chevron_right

This paper examines the major stumbling blocks to unifying and reforming the peshmerga (army) forces of Iraqi Kurdistan. The impediments include 1) the long-standing distrust between the Kurdistan Dem...chevron_right

This paper explores how military desertions from the Syrian Army have shaped the dynamics of the country’s civil war. The text’s authors specifically remind us that there is a difference between deser...chevron_right

This paper describes the evolution of the grassroots "Hirak" movement, which had its roots in a revolt of Jordanian military veterans and lasted from 2011-2013. The paper’s author explains that the gr...chevron_right

This paper does indeed explain why the Syrian Army’s Officer Corps has remained loyal to President Bashar al-Assad. The sectarian affiliation with the Assad family plays a role, but so does the genero...chevron_right

This paper focuses on the role women play in the Algerian military. More specifically, it argues that even though the Algerian People's National Army (PNA) portrays itself as a progressive, equal oppo...chevron_right

This paper discusses the impact the violence in Iraq and Syria is having on regional and international stability. The text's author specifically argues that the huge numbers of people flowing out of b...chevron_right

This paper discusses how the ouster of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 led to the fragmentation of the country's Islamist groups and made their current struggles with the Egyptian state ...chevron_right

This paper assesses the growth of Salafi-jihadi movements in Tunisia since former president Ben Ali's ouster in January 2011. The authors first explore the roots of Salafi-jihadism and the spread of t...chevron_right

This paper examines the position of Egypt’s labor movement and its relations with the Egyptian state. More specifically, the authors focus on such relations during three periods: 1) prior to the ouste...chevron_right

What steps should local and external actors take to tackle Jordan’s growing refugee crisis? Alexandra Francis’ recommendations include 1) prioritizing the integration of development and humanitarian aid, and 2) enabling access to livelihoods inside the country.chevron_right