Middle East and North Africa, Global Health, Security Cyrus Moghadam, Staff Writer Middle East and North Africa, Global Health, Security Cyrus Moghadam, Staff Writer

The Sacred Defense and Public Health: The Revolutionary Guards’ Fight Against COVID-19

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to expand its influence in Iranian public health matters. The United States should watch this development and explore policies to diminish the IRGC's role in public health.

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Middle East and North Africa, International Development, Human Rights Andrew Strahan, Contributing Writer Middle East and North Africa, International Development, Human Rights Andrew Strahan, Contributing Writer

Sudan’s Fight for Democracy is Far From Over

Sudan has undergone an intense military takeover in the past few weeks and, in response, scores of protestors and civil leaders have taken to the streets to condemn it. While the military seems to be relenting, it may only be a false flag, used as a distraction. The international community has all but lost hope for the people of Sudan. The time to count out Sudan is not here. Now is the time to support the Sudanese people as they fight the good fight for freedom, liberty, and self-rule.

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Middle East and North Africa, Security, International Development Sarah Waggoner, Senior Staff Writer Middle East and North Africa, Security, International Development Sarah Waggoner, Senior Staff Writer

China’s Future Role in Afghanistan – Vested Economic and Security Interests and a Shifting Geopolitical World Order

The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan signifies an important shift in great power competition, with China poised to fill the power vacuum and the U.S. refocused.

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Middle East and North Africa, Security, U.S. Foreign Policy Penny Kapusuzoğlu, Contributing Writer Middle East and North Africa, Security, U.S. Foreign Policy Penny Kapusuzoğlu, Contributing Writer

The Aftermath of Intervention in Afghanistan: What Comes Next?

This article aims to analyze the intervention and abandonment of Afghanistan by U.S. forces while assessing new developments following the collapse of the government. The author makes policy recommendations for the international and U.S. response to the conflict.

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Middle East and North Africa, U.S. Foreign Policy Cyrus Moghadam, Staff Writer Middle East and North Africa, U.S. Foreign Policy Cyrus Moghadam, Staff Writer

Najaf and American Foreign Policy: Preparing for a Post-Sistani Iraq

The Najaf clerical establishment’s influence on Iraq’s political development is undeniable, requiring the United States to consider how Najaf perceives its actions.

Therefore, American foreign policy vis-à-vis Iraq should eschew militarization and instead focus on building Iraq’s governance capacity, a policy palatable to Iraq’s clerical establishment.

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Middle East and North Africa, U.S. Foreign Policy Cyrus Moghadam, Staff Writer Middle East and North Africa, U.S. Foreign Policy Cyrus Moghadam, Staff Writer

The Irreversible Decline of the Islamic Republic’s Guardianship of the Jurist Model of Shia Politics

Clerical rule in Iran faces insurmountable challenges in sustaining its legitimacy and will find itself at a critical juncture with the inevitable death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The United States should acknowledge and act on this development to weaken the Islamic Republic’s model of clerical politics.

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The Trump Administration’s Turn to Covert Action Against Iran: A Sign that “Maximum Pressure” Failed

The United States has taken to covert operations against the Islamic Republic, an implicit admission that its maximum pressure policy has failed.

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