RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, February 09, 2012, The Daily Beast
Bruce Riedel argues that should Israel conduct military strikes against Iran, it will also need to prepare for retaliation from Hezbollah in Lebanon. With the recent increases in Hezbollah’s military capacity, says Riedel, such a strike could prove very costly to Israel. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, February 07, 2012, The Brookings Institution
At the one year anniversary of Egypt's revolution, much uncertainty remains. Suzanne Maloney writes that the international community should bear Iran's post-revolutionary experience in mind as it seeks to persuade Egypt’s interim authorities to steer their country’s course in a responsible fashion. Read More
PAST EVENT
Thursday, February 02, 2012
10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
Washington, DC
While regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya eventually fell during the Arab awakening, the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad has clung to power with grim resolution. The regime has slaughtered its people and ignored pressure from domestic, regional and international actors. Meanwhile, Iran has viewed the Arab Spring as a mixture of opportunity and threat, all the while resisting fierce international demands to end its nuclear enrichment program. On February 2, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings hosted a discussion to assess the ongoing crises with Syria and Iran, the potential for escalation, and America’s role in the situation. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Jones, February 01, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Bruce Jones, coauthor of The Arab Awakening, explains that achieving a stable democracy is still far off for many countries in the Middle East, and argues that an ever-changing international order means global leaders are unable to push the region toward this goal.
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RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Bruce Riedel, January 30, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Top Republican presidential candidates are calling President Obama's stance on Iran weak and threatening to use force in the region if elected. Bruce Riedel explains why again taking on a second war before finishing in Afghanistan would be a disaster, and could imperil stability in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Erica S. Downs, January 19, 2012, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
U.S.-China cooperation on Iran in 2010 was the high point of an otherwise very rocky year in the bilateral relationship. Erica Downs explains the reasons behind China's contribution to curtailing Iran's nuclear program despite its opposition to unilateral sanctions and its strong economic ties to Iran. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Kenneth M. Pollack, January 18, 2012, The New Republic
Kenneth Pollack questions the feasibility of the proposed strengthening of U.S. sanctions against Iran. Pollack explains how these sanctions could backfire, negatively impacting the United States in three distinct ways. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Marvin Kalb, January 18, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Marvin Kalb argues that tensions between the United States and Iran could lead to an escalation of conflict. According to Kalb, both sides have drawn red lines that, if crossed, will lead to military action. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Daniel Kaufmann, January 17, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Daniel Kaufmann discusses the controversy surrounding Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Latin America, arguing that Iran's lack of democratic governance and freedom inhibited the leader's warm welcome in many countries in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Steven Kull and Shibley Telhami, January 15, 2012, The New York Times
Shibley Telhami and Steven Kull argue that a nuclear weapons-free zone in the Middle East is more feasible than most assume. Telhami and Kull examine the impact this would have on Iran-Israeli relations and offer recommendations for negotiating a path forward on regional nuclear disarmament. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, January 06, 2012, BBC News
Suzanne Maloney discusses the impact of new economic sanctions on Iran. According to Maloney, it is unclear whether sanctions will be effective in deterring Iranian nuclear ambitions. However, Maloney argues these sanctions will exacerbate the decline of the Iranian economy, which could lead to regional instability. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, January 05, 2012, Foreign Affairs
Suzanne Maloney writes on the effects of the U.S. sanctions against Iran’s central bank recently signed into law by President Obama. Maloney argues that the Obama administration’s approach for dealing with Iran and its nuclear ambitions will only further strain relations in the region. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Suzanne Maloney, January 04, 2012, The Brookings Institution
Suzanne Maloney, coauthor of The Arab Awakening, argues that while Iran has remained somewhat immune to the public protests that have characterized the Arab awakening, the events of 2011 have impacted Iran's domestic state and necessitated a shift in U.S. policy towards Tehran. Read More
RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY
Vali Nasr, December 29, 2011, CNN.com
Vali Nasr argues that proposed U.S. sanctions against Iran, designed as an alternative to military action, will raise tensions between the two countries, and could eventually lead to war. Nasr explains the impact that an escalation would have on the global economy, which includes imperiling the fragile recovery. Read More
PAST EVENT
Monday, December 12, 2011
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Doha
On December 12, 2011, the Brookings Doha Center hosted a special policy discussion with H.E. Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoğlu, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as part of the Center’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Professor Ihsanoğlu’s address focused on the impact of ongoing Arab revolts on the region and on the wider Muslim world, as well as on the OIC’s position toward them.
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